Page 68 of The Silencer

"I'll be back as soon as I can," he says, his eyes intense.“Fuck, Clo.”He shakes his head, his eyes closed.

I feel that deeply.I know what he’s feeling because I feel the exact same."Me too," I whisper, pressing my hand against my chest.

He gives me a blinding smile and his eyes hold promise of what’s to come.He winks and turns to leave.With that, he's gone, the door clicking shut behind him.I stand there for a moment, the apartment suddenly feeling too big, too empty without him.

God, I never thought I could be so happy yet so sad at the same time.

TWENTY-THREE

emmanuel

Leaving Clodagh was hard.It’s hard to fucking believe how much has changed over the past few days.I knew the moment I walked away from her that it was the wrong fucking thing to do, but at the time it was right.Clodagh needed time to grow, to find out who she is.Her life has been filled with fear and constant uncertainty.When I killed my father, I ended that fear for her, but she needed to find herself, find out who she is, without having to constantly look over her shoulder.

I knew that the moment she turned eighteen, I was going to come for her.There was only so much time I could wait.I just hoped that she didn’t hate me.I hurt her, broke her heart by walking away after that kiss, but I always knew she was who I wanted.I just had to bide my time.

Two fucking days, that’s all I managed to get with her before I had to leave again.Thankfully, I can leave knowing she’ll be waiting for me when I return.Right now, I’m determined to keep my life in Dublin away from her life in Galway.She’s thriving there.She loves being in college and she’s made friends.I don’t want to disrupt her life.She’s got a four-year course to do.We’ll make it work.There’s no way I’m walking away from her again.

The sound of my cell ringing fills the car the moment I get onto the motorway.“Yeah?”I answer, my voice gruff.I don’t want to be away from Clodagh, but I don’t really have a choice.

“You on your way?”Jer asks.I didn’t tell anyone where I was the past three days, but I know Jer’s not stupid.The man sees a hell of a lot more than he lets on.It wouldn’t surprise me if he knows exactly where the hell I am.

“Yep.Want to tell me what the fuck is going on?”I ask, wanting to know what the fuck I’m being called back to Dublin for.

“Guess who got on a delta flight out of Boston six hours ago?”

“Don’t leave me hanging.Who?”I hate guessing games and I’m in no fucking mood to play right now.

“Tetchy fucker,” he grunts.“William ‘Mad Bill’ Harrington.He used an alias and boarded the flight.The cunt will be arriving in Dublin in a matter of hours.”

I grin out the windshield.Fuck yes.“What about that cunt of a son of his?”

Jer lets out a whistle.“That was what I called you about yesterday.There was an explosion at Trace’s mansion two nights ago.Reports from the morgue in Boston tell us Trace Harrington was in that mansion and died.”

My brows raise.I hadn’t expected that.“Fuck,” I say low.“Now, Jer, you’re full of fucking surprises.We get rid of this cunt and those bastards are gone.What about the rest of the Syndicate?”

“From what Henry and Denis have uncovered, the rest of the syndicate aren’t involved in this bullshit.”

My jaw tightens.“How certain are we on this?”

“Right now, it’s all that we have to go on.But from everything the Gallaghers have said, they’re positive they’re not involved.”

I sigh.I hate relying on others for information, but the Gallaghers aren’t ones to let shit lie.They’ll dig deep and they’ll do it thoroughly.“If we get wind that they’re part of this?—”

“We’ll take them out,” Jer assures me.“Once you’re in Dublin, we’ll get ready to take that prick down.He’ll have no idea that we’ll be waiting for him at the airport.”

I grin.Fuck yes.This is what I need, what I’ve been waiting for.These cunts worked with my father, helped that prick escape from prison, and gave him the ammunition to go after Clodagh again.The sooner William Harrington is six feet under with his son, the fucking better.

“I’ll see you soon,” I tell him.

“I hope Clodagh had a good birthday,” he tells me with a laugh and ends the call.

Bastard.But she did, in fact, have a good birthday.Not only that, but she gave me the gift of her.I didn’t expect her to be a virgin, but fuck, she’s all mine.

My phone buzzes with a text.It's from Clodagh.

Clodagh: Made it to class safely.Miss you already.Be careful x

I smile despite myself, feeling some of the tension leave my body.She's safe, and she's thinking of me.It's more than I deserve.

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