Page 36 of The Silencer

The tension in the room ratchets up several notches.I resist the urge to reach for my weapon, keeping my hands relaxed on the table.Beside me, I can sense Maverick and Stephen doing the same.

"We don't know for certain that they've all turned," Jer says carefully."But they've all been approached by the Syndicate.It's possible some have remained loyal and simply failed to report the contact."

Henry's laugh is cold and humorless."Failed to report?In my organization, that's as good as treason."

He stands abruptly and begins pacing behind his chair.The movement puts us all on edge, but we remain seated, watching him warily.

"You've done me a service by bringing this to my attention," Henry says finally, turning back to face us."The Gallagher family doesn't forget its debts.What do you want in return?"

Jer leans forward slightly."We want to work together on this, Henry.The Syndicate is a threat to all of us.If we combine our resources, we stand a better chance of stopping them before this escalates into all-out war."

Henry considers this for a long moment, his eyes sweeping over each of us in turn.When his gaze lands on me, I feel like he's looking right through me, seeing every secret, every kill.

"And your young Silencer here," Henry says, a ghost of a smile on his lips."Would he be part of this joint effort?"

I feel Jer tense beside me, but his voice is steady when he replies, "Emmanuel is one of my best.If you need his skills, they're at your disposal."

Henry nods slowly."Very well.We have a deal, Jerry.We'll work together to root out this Syndicate and any traitors in our midst.But nobody outside of the five of us knows that we’re in business and it’s to stay that way."

As Henry and Jer shake hands to seal the agreement, I can't shake the feeling that we've just made a deal with the devil.But if it means stopping the Syndicate and preventing a war, it's a risk we have to take.

"Now," Henry says, sitting back down and refilling his glass."Let's discuss strategy, shall we?"

As the conversation turns to plans and tactics, I listen carefully, committing every detail to memory.Whatever comes next, I know one thing for certain: this is just the beginning of a very dangerous game.

FOURTEEN

emmanuel

THREE YEARS LATER

“Emmanuel,”Ma says the moment I walk into the house, her eyes shining with unshed tears.She wraps her arms around me and I hug her back.

“What’s wrong?”I ask, wondering who’s made her cry.

“Son,” I hear the deep tone of Declan O’Brien, Ma’s husband.She met him after she got out of rehab.She was hesitant about dating, especially after what happened with my dad, but Declan isn’t like my father.He’s not a drunk, he’s not an asshole, and he dotes on my ma like she’s the reason he breathes.He treats her like the queen she is.

“What?”I ask, Ma still holding on to me as a tremble runs through her body.

“Your father called today,” Dec tells me, his eyes flashing with rage.

I grit my teeth.Fucking hell, what the fuck does he want?

“He wants to see you,” he continues.“Unfortunately, it was your ma who answered the phone.”

Ma pulls back, her eyes brimming with tears.I watch as they spill down onto her cheeks.“He’s adamant about speaking with you.”

Declan reaches for her and pulls her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her head as he holds her tight.

I feel a cold fury building inside me as I process what they’ve just told me.My father, the man who destroyed our family, who traumatized Clodagh O'Rourke, who I've spent years trying to forget—he wants to see me.

"Like hell," I growl, my hands clenching into fists at my sides."He lost any right to speak to me when he kidnapped that little girl."

Ma reaches out, placing a trembling hand on my arm."I know.I told him as much.But he was...insistent.Said he had important information, something you needed to know."

I shake my head vehemently."No.Whatever game he's playing, I want no part of it.He can rot in that prison cell for all I care."

Declan nods approvingly."That's what I said.But..."he hesitates, exchanging a look with Ma.

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