Page 94 of Reckless Promises

I assumed Sascha’s anger toward me at the auction was because of Odette. But what if that was only part of the reason? If his goal was to take my father down and dismantle my family, he wouldn’t have been thrilled about me stepping in to take his place.

“Well, either way, they’ll both go down tomorrow.” Shane plants a hand on my shoulder. “It’s too big of a shipment for them to not be there.”

He’s right. I was hoping only Gabriel would show so it would be easier to sell the lie that Sascha leaked the schedule to the Feds, but this will have to do.

And as much as I’d like to be the one to get my revenge on both of them directly, this is the only way to cut off both families at the root.

Walking back over to my desk, I pick up my phone and text Adam the date and time so he can pass it off to his contact.

If the tip comes from me, they’d only be more suspicious because it doesn’t matter how legit I’m operating, the Cross family name has a bad reputation. Plus, I need to keep myself as far away from this as possible. The impact of tomorrow night will ripple to my house already, given the fact that I’m married to Gabriel’s daughter. I don’t need to make it any worse.

Adam: Got it.

To the point, and I know he’ll get it done. After saving his life more than once in the years I worked for him, he owes me this favor—if not more. And it doesn’t hurt that he’ll benefit when we free up the docks for his personal use.

“We’re all set. Tomorrow night,” I tell Shane.

I’m about to set my phone down when it starts to ring, and I see Fallon’s name flash across the screen.

“Speaking of trouble.” I hold it out so Shane can see who’s calling before I hit answer, and we both drop into our seats.

“What are you two getting into now?” I brace myself for whatever she and Odette are spending my inheritance on today.

“Cillian.” Fallon is out of breath, panicking, and scared.

I shoot upright. “What’s wrong?”

Shane leans forward at my shift in demeanor, his focus narrowing.

“We were just eating lunch. And then the waiter came by and got us more water. I thought she looked pale, but you know how I’m always thinking too much of things—”

“Spit it out, Fallon.” It’s rare I snap at my sister, but the realization is settling that Fallon is the one calling, not Odette.

“Odette’s sick. Like, really sick, and she passed out. We’re taking her to the hospital. I don’t know what—”

“Tell Daniel to text me which hospital and don’t leave her side, Fallon.”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Good.”

I’m out of my seat before I even hang up the phone. And I know in the deepest pit of my gut, something is wrong.

She wasn’t feeling well earlier but was nowhere near passing out. This wasn’t an accident.

34

Odette

Almost as if astorm is brewing, I know the moment Cillian enters the hospital. The air changes. Static pulses. My eyes flutter open as voices fill the hallway, and I feel him like a magnet drawing closer.

Electricity that ripples through me.

“She was what?” Cillian’s voice echoes like thunder rolling a few moments after lightning strikes.

You know it’s coming, but it doesn’t erase the unease of the brewing storm.

There’s more yelling, and then there are only feet. Even steps slapping against the hospital tile as he makes his way to my room. Quick but controlled. Scared but certain.

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