Page 78 of Iron Crown

He’d be in even more danger because if I knew my husband, he’d be front and center the entire time, making himself a target.

“Someone has to.” He shrugged nonchalantly, that charming smile on his lips.

It was cavalier, casual… dismissive.

“Why are the Irish the ones taking the most risks?” I asked, my hands clenching into fists.

There was silence in the room. Blink adjusted his collar, giving a slight cough. Jericho was also rifling through the papers, a scowl on his face.

“I volunteered, Wife,” Eoghan said carefully. “It is my war after all.”

“Ourwar,” I said, correcting him. “And I don’t believe that for one second.”

Was Jericho rifling through his papers because he didn’t want to make eye contact? Because he didn’t want to own up to his decisions?

“You’re assigning him that just because you don’t like him,” I said, my eyes hard as I stared down the head of the Bratva, and the head of Paradigm. I wasn’t sure which of those two distinctions was more intimidating.

“He volunteered,” Jericho said, before he moved on, turning back to the screen. “I had nothing to do with these assignments.”

He lifted his eyes to Blink—and I suddenly knew who was responsible. Betrayal coursed through me. How could my friend do this?

“Wife…” Eoghan said with the tone that made me sound like I was a wild animal in need of soothing.

He was thoroughly unaware of the fucking maelstrom that was happening in my chest. A hurricane of pain and discontent. The way the floor had opened up under me, and I was in a free fall.

He volunteered?

That meant he knew. He’d discussed this with them before. They’d decided before I was ever in the room. They knew. Everyone knew except me. Did Blink?

My breaths came in ragged and harsh, as my throat constricted. My heart was in a whirlwind, my heart beating a million miles a minute, as loud as an ocean wave crashing on the shore again, and again, and again.

Then everything went silent, as if the pieces had all fallen into place.

The only thing I felt was… betrayal.

“No,” I said in a whisper. “No.”

I grabbed onto Eoghan, waiting for him to tell me that it wasn’t true. My heart was in my stomach, and I couldn’t…

If I ever became a widow…that’s what he was talking about.

“My love.” Eoghan stepped down from the podium, coming to stand near me. He took his finger, placed it under my chin, and lifted my eyes to meet his. “Don’t contradict me in front of your agency friends. It sends a mixed message.”

He gave me a swift kiss, turned, and left me there, my mouth open.

“Yuliya,” Jericho said, his lips pursed. “We’re making a change. You will be taking command and control of this mission in my stead.”

“What?” Yuliya lurched forward in her seat.

“I’ll be taking your place.

“That is an abuse of power,isoveli!”

“Not at all,” Jericho said with a cool expression. “We have talked a while about a change in leadership, as I and some other old men start stepping down. This will be good training for you to take my place.”

Yuliya scowled at him, leaning back to grumble, “I did not say I would take your place.”

“What was that?” Jericho said, lifting a single brow.

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