Page 75 of Beautiful Vengeance
If Sloan had learned anything over her life, though, it was that every one of her siblings needed to find their own way—herself included.If she wanted the freedom to make her own choices, she’d be a terrible person to curtail Carrigan’s choices.Even if her sister would allow it.
By the time their plane descended into Boston, it almost felt like old times again.If Carrigan had stopped partying, her stories had only gotten wilder now that she was moving through the upper crust of Boston.The rich had more secrets than they had money to bury them, and Carrigan had always been effective at getting people to talk when she wanted to.
As the plane taxied to a stop, her sister’s smile fell away.“I’ll see you to O’Malley territory, but I can’t go farther without risking an incident.”She glanced at James.“I’d fight for you, Sloan.Never think I wouldn’t.But there’s more at play than just us now, and I have to think about the people who rely on me and James for protection—and the girls who don’t have anywhere to go and no money to get there.I’ll try to help in any way I can, but—”
Sloan covered her sister’s hand with her own.“I understand.I’d never ask you to go to war for me.”She hesitated.“But I’m not going to O’Malley territory.I’m going to the Sheridans.”
***
“Tell me again.”It took every bit of Aiden’s not-inconsiderable willpower not to yell the words.The week had gone to shit after he’d tracked down Charlotte Finch.Her not telling him to get lost permanently was theonlything that had gone right.He’d have to follow up with her before too long, but he could read people well enough to know that she’d stew on his offer until he forced her hand.The issue was getting the timing right to prevent her from digging in her heels through sheer instinct.
But that wasn’t the problem right now.
Hisproblemwas sitting right in front of him, head hanging, her hair a tangled mess from the fact Liam had pulled her out of bed.He looked over Keira’s shoulder and Liam gave a short shake of his head.
She wasn’t telling the full story.
Keira blinked bloodshot eyes at him.“We’ve gone through this—three times.I was minding my own goddamn business and he showed up.Next thing I know, his thug hauled me to his car and tossed me into the backseat.Then he drove me here.End of story.”
It was possible that was all there was to it, but Aiden had seen the footage of the front of their townhouse.She’d climbed out of the backseat, her clothes a fumbled mess, and the look on her face as Romanov had driven off…
Aiden didn’t like it.He didn’t like it one bit.
But he couldn’t do a single damn thing if Keira wouldn’t talk to him.“Did he…Did he hurt you?”
“Hurt…” She blinked those hazel eyes at him, and then laughed.“Oh my God, are you asking if he raped me?Does that word bother you, big brother?Rape.”
He gripped the edge of the desk, trying to keep his temper and figure out if she was attempting to provoke a response because she was pissed at him, or because she actuallyhadbeen hurt.“Answer the fucking question, Keira.”
She pushed to her feet and shoved her hair back.“No, he didn’trapeme.Fuck, Aiden.Stop trying to pretend that you’re this ultimate protector, Seamus 2.0.You’re not.You’re worse than our father is.”She shoved past Liam, but stopped in the doorway.“And Dmitri Romanov didn’t lay a hand on me, though I would have gladly fucked him just to wipe that goddamn look off your face.”
She slammed the door shut, leaving him staring at her, her accusation ringing in his ears.
Fuck.Just…fuck.
He sat back.I have to do something about Romanov, sooner rather than later.That, at least, was a problem he could theoretically fix.He didn’t know how to fix his sister, how to fix his broken family.
She was right.He wasn’t their father.He didn’t know how to be.
Things would be easier if he could detach the way Seamus did.If he were more ruthless, he would have brought Sloan back into the fold by now, would have ground out the last of Keira’s rebellion, would have eliminated their enemies one by one until no one stood strong enough to threaten them.
Instead, he’d chosen to go about things in a less direct way.He motioned to Liam.“What have you got?”
“Your brother didn’t manage to bring Sloan back.He went to Washington with eight men, and he’s coming back with eight men, but several are injured.”
Judging from what they’d discovered about Jude MacNamara in the time since Sloan told Teague who she was running with, he didn’t find that surprising.The man had to be good at what he did if he’d survived as long as he had.Mediocre hit men didn’t last long before someone put them out of their misery.
Aiden drummed his fingers on the desk.“It’s time I had a conversation with my brother.”Teague wouldn’t like hearing that they’d tapped his phone, but that was too fucking bad.Aiden didn’t like that Teague was informing for the goddamn FBI.It was time to address that, too.
“There’s more.”
Of course there was.He raised his eyebrows.“Yes?”
Liam gave a tight smile.“Carrigan and James Halloran just landed on a private airstrip north of the city—with Sloan.”
He should have known Sloan wouldn’t callhimfor help—especially when it appeared Teague was trying to do the noble thing and retrieve her despite her wishes.She wouldn’t trust Aiden.But she apparentlydidtrust their sister.The irony wasn’t lost on him.
He drummed his fingers faster, considering the implications.Sloan wouldn’t have come back here without a reason.As great as it’d be to think that she was coming home, he knew better.This had to do with the man she’d chosen for her own.First Carrigan and now Sloan.God only knows who Keira is going to fall for when the time comes.
