Page 74 of Crown of Smoke

“I think he secretly wanted to be Dad,” Phoenix says.

“That makes it easy to find a way in to fuck with him.” Ash glances at the papers Blaise set out.

“But it exposes Dad… us if we take over,” I say.

This is what matters. Not Lucy. Not the way my chest hurts when I think about her. The mission. Taking down the Keans. Making them pay for what they did to our family.

I catch Ash and Phoenix exchanging a look—relief, maybe. They've been walking on eggshells since the Marshall incident. Hell, before that. They’ve all been worried I'd let my feelings for Lucy compromise everything we've worked for.

"I've got another fight tonight," I add. "Some of them are pretty chatty.”

“I don’t know.” Phoenix’s blue eyes study me, and I try not to squirm. “Might be best if you lay low for a while.”

“Why? They’ve pinned Marshall’s death on a mugger or one of Kean’s men. There’s been no mention of me.” I never mentioned my run in with O’Brian and Connor the other night as I know for sure that would have Phoenix pulling me out. But I need to fight. I need something to rid myself of the anger and pain coursing through me. Something to give me peace from thoughts of Lucy.

“What if the journalist shows up?” Blaise purses his lips at me. “When she’s around, you can’t think of anything but her.”

Even when she’s not around, I think but don’t say.

“She won’t.” Of course, I have no idea whether she’ll show, but I doubt it. Her story won’t be found at the fights. The only reason for her to go is to see me, and I know she doesn’t want that. “Besides, I made it to the next round. It might be more suspicious if I don’t show up.”

Phoenix nods approvingly. This is what they want to see—their brother focused, strategic, not distracted by a woman who could bring everything crashing down.

“By the way, your old buddy O'Brian's missing," Blaise announces.

My gaze jerks to him. “What?”

“Was it you?”

My jaw drops. “No.” I look at my brothers, wondering if they all suspect me. I lift my arms in surrender as I realize they do. “I swear to God, it wasn’t me. If I were going to kill him, I’d have done it that night in the alley when…” I don’t finish, not wanting to bring up Lucy’s name.

Blaise laughs. “Must be me, then.”

All eyes turn to him.

“Not that I killed him. But I did start the rumor that he killed Marshall.”

I lean back in my chair. "Good riddance." I think about O'Brian, probably lying in some ditch or at the bottom of the harbor. I should feel something—guilt, regret, something. But all I remember is how many lives he ruined, how many women he hurt. His hands on Lucy… The world's better off without him.

“It appears that the Keans are cleaning house,” Blaise says.

"They're spooked," Phoenix agrees. "Which means they'll be watching everyone closer now. Including you, Flint. Those fights you've been winning have put you in their spotlight."

Fuck, is he going to try and pull me out again? "Let them watch. They see what they want to see, just another street fighter trying to make a few bucks."

"We do need to be more careful," Ash says, glancing at me. "No more improvising. No more unexpected deaths. We stick to the plan."

I nod. “Don’t need to worry about me.”

"The Keans being paranoid works in our favor." Phoenix scratches his chin. "It appears they’re suspecting their own people."

"We could use that." I lean forward. "Maybe Blaise can use his mad rumor starting skills to make them think someone inside is working against them."

“You are on the inside working against them,” Ash says.

“Nah. I’m on the periphery. I mean like a soldier or associate. Someone in the family.”

“Not Ronan,” Blaise says. “He’s a mini-Hampton.”

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