Page 88 of Crown of Smoke

"You're a fool," Ash says, "but we won't let you do this alone."

"We've got your back," Blaise adds. "Always have."

Relief floods through me. "Thanks.”

“Can we do this without revealing who we are?” Blaise asks.

"I might have an idea," Phoenix says.

The tracking dot blinks steadily on my phone screen. It shows her in the house. I’m a little surprised it’s still on. Didn’t they take her phone?

Doesn’t matter. The Keans have no idea what's coming for them.

The estate looms ahead, a monument to everything the Keans stole from us. It’s time for me to walk through those gates again and show the Keans just who they’ve fucked with.

I check my weapons that Phoenix brought me, ready to protect what's mine. Lucy might hate me for lying, might never forgive me for dragging her into this world, but I'll die before I let them hurt her.

31

LUCY

Iblink rapidly, but the darkness remains absolute. The room is cold, almost damp, making me think I’m in a basement. Like Ash, they blindfolded and then tied my hands before we arrived. Now I’m tied to a chair and filled with regret. What have I done? In my determination to expose the truth, I've put my and my baby’s lives at risk. Tears sting my eyes as panic fills me. God, why didn’t I listen to Flint?

"Hello?" My voice cracks in the silence. No response except the echo of my own voice.

Tears slip down my cheeks as I think about Flint. I never told him about the baby. The guilt gnaws at me, knowing he might never know he has a child. But maybe that's better. At least this way, he'll only mourn losing me, not his child too.

Light floods my prison as the door creaks open. I squint against the harsh brightness, making out Ronan's tall figure in the doorway.

His smile is sickening. “This is a much better place to chat, don’t you think?”

"Your hospitality leaves something to be desired." Maybe I shouldn’t be snarky to the man who can make me disappear.

“You have more balls than brains.” He grabs a chair and sits it in front of me. “I’d offer you a drink, but well, you’re all tied up.” He laughs like that’s funny. “Let’s get to business. Tell me who’s been feeding you information about my family.”

“No one specific. Just connecting dots from my research. Public records and such.”

“Why so many questions about the Ifrinns? They were criminals, you know? They got what they deserved."

"Were they? They did a great deal of good in the community. More than your family.”

He crosses his arms. “Why bring up Marshall?”

“Who?”

“Ah, now don’t be coy, Ms. Ketchum. You know who he is.” He leans forward. “Tell me, do you know who really killed him?”

My pulse quickens, but I maintain eye contact. "The news said it was a mugging."

He laughs coldly. "We both know that's not true. Just like we both know you were seen talking to him that night."

I swallow.

“I’ve been looking at the video footage. You were there the night my men were jumped. What do you know about that?”

“I know your men put you at risk.”

His eyes glint with interest. “Do tell.”

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