Page 61 of Cowboy
"Remember," I murmur to her, "if you see him, don't approach. Signal me or Pyro, and we'll handle it."
She nods, but I can see the determination in her eyes. I just hope she can keep her promise when the moment comes.
As we weave through the market, the scents of spices and street food fill the air. Under different circumstances, it might be a pleasant evening. But tonight, every shadow holds a potential threat; every face in the crowd is a possible enemy.
Suddenly, Pyro tenses beside me. "Three o'clock," he says quietly. "By the flower stall."
I follow his gaze, and my heart jumps. There, examining a bouquet of roses, is a man who could be Dylan's twin. But is it really him?
Caoimhe gasps softly beside me, her hand gripping my arm. "It's him," she whispers, her voice a mixture of fear and anger. "It's Dylan."
I feel Caoimhe tense beside me, her body coiled like a spring ready to snap. I grab her arm, holding her back.
"Easy," I murmur. "Remember the plan."
She nods, but I can see the struggle in her eyes. Every instinct is telling her to confront Dylan, to demand answers. But she knows that's not how this works.
I signal to Pyro, who discreetly alerts Travis and Tank. We begin to close in, careful not to spook our target. Dylan seems oblivious, casually examining flowers as if he doesn't have a care in the world.
Suddenly, he looks up. His eyes scan the crowd, a flicker of unease crossing his face. Has he sensed something? For a moment, his gaze lands on Caoimhe. There's a flash of recognition, then shock.
Before we can react, Dylan bolts, shoving his way through the crowd.
"Shit," Pyro growls. "After him!"
We give chase, weaving through startled shoppers and overturned carts. I can hear Caoimhe's ragged breathing beside me as we run. Dylan is fast, but he's panicked, making mistakes. He takes a wrong turn, ending up in a dead-end alley.
As we corner him, Dylan's eyes are wild with fear. He looks nothing like the confident businessman we once knew. Now, he's just a cornered rat.
"It's over, Dylan," Travis says, his voice cold. "Time to answer for what you've done."
Dylan's gaze darts between us, finally settling on Caoimhe. "Sister," he says, his voice trembling. "I never thought I'd see you again."
Caoimhe steps forward, her face a mask of pain and anger. "Why, Dylan?" she demands. "Why did you do it? Your own sister..."
Dylan's shoulders slump. For a moment, he looks like he might break down. But then something hardens in his eyes.
"I had to take care of you. I gave up everything to ensure you were taken care of," he spits. "Our aunt liked us, maybe even loved us, but she wasn’t prepared to take care of us. That was left down to me. I was the one who became your parent even though I didn’t want to. So when they approached, I saw my way out. Not to mention the money. God, the money was good."
Caoimhe recoils as if slapped. I step forward, placing myself between her and Dylan.
"You're going to tell us everything," I growl. "Every name, every location. And then you're going to face justice for what you've done."
As Pyro and Tank move to secure Dylan, I turn to Caoimhe. She's pale, shaking slightly.
"Are you okay?" I ask softly.
She shakes her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know," she whispers. "I thought... I thought knowing why would help. But it just hurts more."
I pull her into my arms, holding her as she finally breaks down. Over her shoulder, I watch as the others lead Dylan away. His eyes meet mine over Caoimhe's shoulder, and I see a flicker of something, regret? Fear?, before he's gone.
I hold Caoimhe for a long moment, letting her cry out the pain and betrayal she's been carrying for so long. When her sobs finally subside, she pulls back, wiping her eyes.
"What happens now?" she asks, her voice hoarse.
"Now," I say gently, "we get the information we need from Dylan. And then the club deals with him."
She nods, her expression hardening. "Good."
