Page 98 of Brutal Obsession

Chapter 28

Cian

“I’m going with them.” Riley’s voice is firm.

“Absolutely not.” Finn white-knuckles the steering wheel.

“She’s my sister.” Riley faces Finn. “And we need all the help we can get.”

Finn gives a gruff reply. “If you’re going with them, so am I.”

“Out of the question. You’re still recovering. Driving the getaway car is about the only thing youcando safely with that arm.”

“Since when are you my supervisor?”

“Since I became your nurse.” Riley levels a stern glare at the heir to the Irish Kings. “I mean it, Finn Gallagher. If you try to fight before your arm’s better, I will shoot both your legs.”

“I love you.” Finn says it at such a low volume that no one overhears but me.

The words stab at my heart. A reminder of just what’s at stake.

“Eyes on the road.” Riley tangles her fingers with his as Finn flattens the pedal to the floor, and our armored caravan flies down the dark interstate.

Finn and Riley have been like this all day, tenderness interspersed with terse arguments. Eavesdropping on them is all I can do on this never-ending drive.

Meanwhile, I’m barely functioning.

I forgot how quickly my world could fall apart.

This has been the longest day of my life. Every second we don’t find her alive and breathing is agony. Guilt stalks my every thought. Rage shadows me, stalking my every move. But I’m numb.

My muscles are coiled so tight with tension, I might just combust. I’m so angry at myself, at the De Lucas, at the scum-ridden underworld we live in, that I don’t recognize myself.

I could kill the first person who crosses me with only my thumb and index finger.

And enjoy it.

Indestructible fury courses through me.Immortal.It won’t die until every De Luca operative, ally, and sympathizer is dead, until Harper is back in my arms safe and sound. Maybe not even then.

Every minute that my rage grows, my father cackles from within his coffin. If we don’t find Harper soon, I’ll snap. When that happens, there may be no survivors.

Optimism has long since deserted me, but I do have the facts.

After Enzo bluffed about having Harper, I spent weeks extensively and painstakingly researching the De Lucas’ real estate holdings across the country. I analyzed their purchase patterns and property preferences. To retrieve information about their growing underground network and sniff out details about Harper, I even stormed a few of the locations.

All that work was a rehearsal for this moment.

“We’re here.” Rory’s words drop an ominous shroud over the whole van. That’s my cue.

From the seat, I get to my knees and rip open the concealed weapon cabinet built into the floor of every King vehicle. I grab two submachine guns. A double holster. Extra magazines.

The road beneath us gets rough.

A moment later, bullets pepper the sides of our armored van like a percussive welcome song.

“Darren!” Finn shouts from the front seat, yanking the wheel to the right. The van shudders as Finn mows down one of the shooters, crushing the body beneath our giant wheels.

“One step ahead of you.” Darren’s already in position against one wall. He presses a button and opens a window the size of a Rubik’s Cube. Taking aim, he launches a tiny device of some sort at the nearest threat. “Punch it!”

---