Page 31 of Killian

“How was the pick-up?” I ask.

“Perfectly fine, sir,” a young soldier says.

“Could have gone better,” Conor says under his breath, catching my attention.

“Come again?” I ask calmly as I set the grenade back in the box. Giving Conor my full attention.

When he doesn’t respond right away, I let my temper flare.

“Upstairs,” I demand, walking toward the staircase.

Silently, Conor falls into step with me, leaving the men to do their jobs. They’ve been doing this long enough they know what we need to keep and what goes to who. Stepping into the vacant office, I shut the door behind Conor.

“What happened?”

“What happened?” he scoffs. “What happened is it’s a good thing we moved the time frame on the pick-up up. When we were leaving, we got word that there was a group trying to make their way into the docks. Thankfully they were a little too late and behind us, giving us a clean escape, but it was a close fucking call.”

“You think someone found out.” It’s a statement, not a question.

I can see he thinks that.

“We both know someone did,” Conor says with a pointed look.

“Could anyone tell you who they were?”

“No. All in black. Faces covered, for all I know it could have been the feds.”

“Okay,” I say, rubbing my face, trying to think of what our next steps should be. “We have a month before our next shipment. Let’s switch it up. See if it happens again. Keep the details quiet,” I say, making Conor scoff. “Do you have something to say?” I ask harshly.

“Yeah, in fact, I do,” Conor says, squaring up to me, hands on hips. “Today could have been a shit show and you would have never noticed.”

“Excuse me?” I hiss. “Are you questioning my authority?”

“Your authority? No. Your judgment? Yes. Your head has been in the clouds ever since Greer came back into the picture. You spend all your time with her and hardly spend time with the men at the pub.”

He’s acting like a petulant child who isn’t getting enough attention from mom and dad.

Stepping forward, I crowd Conor. “I spend all my time with her at the pub while we both work. I never want to hear you speak her name again. Do you understand?” I hiss, watching fear fill his eyes as he swallows hard. “I took you in off the streets. I gave you a home and helped you work your way up the ranks. Let’s get one thing straight, it’s not the men who miss my presence at the pub, it’s you,” I sneer. “You just see the short game while I’m over here playing the long game. If you can’t handle Greer being in the picture, then maybe it’s time for you to leave. Is that what you want?”

Conor breaks eye contact, unwilling to answer.

I grab him by the throat, squeezing the sides of his jugular. He reaches up, clawing at my arm as I shove him into the wall. “Greer stays. If you stay, you protect her with the last breath in your body, do you understand?”

Conor nods his head as his face turns purple. “Use your words,” I hiss, letting up slightly, allowing him to speak.

Conor gasps, sucking in as much air as possible. “Yes.”

I drop him and take a step back. Adjusting my cufflinks, I ask, “Do I need to question your loyalty, Conor?”

“Never,” he rasps adamantly as he’s hunched over, hands on his knees.

“Good. I expect a finished report in the next two hours,” I say over my shoulder as I step out of the room. Walking down the stairs, I force myself to keep a calm demeanor in front of the men as I make my way outside.

Inside, though, my blood is boiling.

Once outside, I spot Conor’s bike and walk toward it, ignoring my driver. Throwing my leg over the bike, I get on. Spotting the key in the ignition, I shake my head.

“Idiot,” I mutter as I start the bike.

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