Page 49 of The Thief
Trace Harrington wanted a war. He's going to get one.
But first, we bury our dead with the dignity they deserve.
The drive back to Henry's feels longer than it should. I need to see Alastríona, I need to be around something real and alive. Need to remind myself that not everything good in this world ends in violence.
Jer's dead. But I'm still breathing.
And as long as I'm breathing, I'll make sure his death means something.
CHAPTER EIGHT
freddie
My phone rings at half six in the morning, dragging me out of dreams filled with blue eyes and whiskey-flavored kisses.
Stephen's name flashes on the screen. It’s never good news when Stephen calls this early.
"Yeah?"
"We got him." His voice is tight with excitement, it’s the kind of controlled energy that comes when a long shot finally pays off. "Lorenzo's contact. He's in."
I sit up, suddenly wide awake. "Who is it?"
"Benjamin Sullivan. One of Trace's lieutenants. He’s been with him for three years, handled security and logistics."
"What's his angle?"
"Personal. Trace assaulted his wife at a party eighteen months ago. Beat her so badly she spent two weeks in hospital. Sullivan's been looking for a way to get back at him ever since."
Eighteen months ago. What the fuck is this man doing? He was married to Ava at this point. It makes me wonder what else Trace was doing while his world was falling apart.
"He's solid?"
"Lorenzo thinks so. He says Sullivan's got access to Trace's schedules, his security protocols, his safe houses. Everything we need to get close."
Finally. A break in this fucking war that's been bleeding us dry for months. A chance to put Trace Harrington in the ground where he belongs.
"When do we meet?"
"Tonight. Neutral ground. Lorenzo's setting it up. The man's in Dublin already, which means so is Trace."
"What's the timeline?"
"Soon. Sullivan says Trace is planning something big. Something that involves the Gallaghers’ little princess."
Alastríona. Of course it comes back to her. She's the symbol everyone wants to use, the prize everyone thinks they can claim.
"What kind of something?"
"Don't know yet. But Sullivan thinks it's happening within the week."
Fuck. Whatever Trace is planning, we're running out of time to stop it.
"I'll be there," I say.
"Freddie?" Stephen's voice is careful, controlled. "There's something else."
"What?"
