Page 40 of The Devil We Know

He nods and sits up straight in his chair, and the shift between the haphazard and the figurehead is quite abrupt. Shocking, even.

He rises to his feet, and I do the same. He closes the distance between us, extending his hand as he says, “I guess I will be indebted to you twice.”

I take his hand, grasping it firmly in mine. “That’s completely unnecessary. In my family, we take care of what’s ours. We don’t leave anyone to the wolves.”

“I’ve heard that about you. So, tell me what I can do behind the scenes to help you succeed.”

I know at some point I’m going to need assistance to get us out of here. Kaian already got the process moving by delivering my message, but this is about to get far more complicated.

“We don’t have much time to lose since now they want to get this marriage sorted in two days.”

My heart stops in my chest. “Two days?”

He nods and sighs heavily. “That’s what they said. So, whatever you’re going to do, you’ll have to do it fast.”

“I guess I’m going to need you to deliver some messages for me, then.”

He nods and then replies, “Tell me who, what, and where, and I’ll get it done.”

“You’ll have to deliver it yourself.”

“Done,” he replies firmly.

“Have you ever met the Beast?”

He rolls his eyes, and I laugh as he says, “Yes, and I know he hates that stupid name.”

I smile, nodding in agreement. “That’s one reason we use it. But obviously, you’re going to have to go to them and let them know they’ll have to try to get us out of here at some point.”

“There’s no way they’ll be able to come in here without somebody noticing,” he replies. “They may have to recruit some other people.”

“I’m not sure we have anyone left who’s inconspicuous.”

He looks over at me thoughtfully, then his eyes light up, and he says, “I think I can help with that.”

I raise my brows, falling behind him as he walks toward the door. Pausing with his hand on the doorknob, he turns back tome and says, “I know a person who can make anyone blend in anywhere. I’ll take care of it.”

Without another word, he opens the door and disappears through it, shutting it silently behind him. I stand there in the middle of the room, even more exhausted than I was before.

I flip the light switch, and the room falls into darkness. Then I walk over to the bed and flop onto it.

I can’t imagine how he thinks any of my people are going to be able to come here without ending up dead within minutes.

I also know that my people will stop at nothing until they find a way.

17

An Irish Comes Calling

Tony

Tony: Someone wanna tell me why I’m getting word that some Irish mad man is looking for me?

Darius: Well, I don’t know. Is there something you need to tell us?

Antoinette: That definitely sounds like a you problem.

Carolina: What the hell did you do now?

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