Page 65 of Cowboy
The memory fades as Ciarán circles my chair, his boots scuffing against the concrete. His eyes are cold, calculating, nothing like the warmth I glimpsed when he spoke about Caoimhe last night. That's what threw me off guard. The tenderness in his voice when he said her name. The flash of genuine concern that crossed his face.
I never expected that from him, this fierce protectiveness. Not from a man who deals in violence as casually as breathing. But I've seen enough to know now: Ciarán would burn the world down for her. And that makes him more dangerous than I ever imagined.
21
COWBOY
As I enter the room where we're holding Dylan, my blood is boiling with rage. This man, who I once considered a friend, betrayed not just his sister but countless innocent lives. I clench my fists, struggling to maintain control.
Dylan looks up as I approach, his face a mask of fear and resignation. "Ciarán," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "I?—"
I don't let him finish. My fist connects with his jaw, sending him sprawling. "Talk," I growl, hauling him back up by his shirt. "Tell me everything."
For the next hour, I alternate between questioning and punishing. Each blow is for Caoimhe, for Saoirse, for every life he's destroyed. And slowly, painfully, the truth comes out.
Dylan spills everything, names, locations, the entire structure of the trafficking ring. But it's his admission that he went willingly, that he wasn't forced or coerced, that hits me the hardest.
"Why?" I demand, my voice raw. "How could you do this to your own sister?"
Dylan's laugh is hollow, tinged with madness. "You don't understand. The power, the money... it was intoxicating. And Caoimhe? She was just collateral damage."
I see red. My fist connects with his face again and again, until I feel a hand on my shoulder pulling me back.
"Enough," Travis says firmly. "We've got what we need."
I step back, breathing heavily, as Travis takes over the interrogation. My mind is reeling from Dylan's revelations.
As I leave the room, I find Caoimhe waiting outside, her face pale but determined.
"Did he tell you everything?" she asks quietly.
I nod, unable to meet her eyes. "Yes. And Caoimhe... I'm so sorry."
She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "Don't be. He made his choices. Now it's time to make him pay for them."
As we walk away, I can't help but marvel at her strength. Despite everything she's been through, she's still standing, still fighting. And I swear to myself that I'll be by her side every step of the way as we bring this entire operation crashing down.
As we make our way back to the hotel, the weight of Dylan's revelations settles heavily on my shoulders. The trafficking ring is far more extensive and deeply rooted than we ever imagined. Taking it down won't be easy, but we have to try.
Caoimhe walks silently beside me, her face a mask of determination. I can only imagine the turmoil she must be feeling after confronting her brother and learning the full extent of his betrayal.
"Are you okay?" I ask softly, reaching for her hand.
She squeezes my fingers, giving me a small, tight smile. "I will be. Once this is all over."
Back at the hotel, we gather with Travis, Pyro, and Tank to discuss our next moves. The atmosphere is tense as I relay the information Dylan provided.
"Jesus," Tank mutters, shaking his head. "This goes all the way to the top."
Travis nods grimly. "Which means we need to be smart about how we proceed. One wrong move and this whole thing could blow up in our faces."
"So what's the plan?" Pyro asks, his eyes hard with determination.
Travis spreads out a map on the table. "We start here," he says, pointing to a location Dylan identified as a key distribution center. "We take it out, gather what intel we can, and work our way up the chain."
As we hash out the details, I can't help but notice Caoimhe's intense focus. She's not just a victim anymore; she's become a warrior in this fight.
"I want to help," she says firmly when there's a lull in the conversation. "I know you want to protect me, but I need to be part of bringing these bastards down."
