Page 55 of Among the Sins of my Father

“They’re siblings, Jericho. It’s not a fucking crime!”

“It’s obviously retaliation. We killed her husband. We tried to kill her too.” I can’t believe they’re fighting me on this.

“I’ve got an idea, but you’re not going to like it,” Barrett says, breaking my eye-line with Hope.

My heart is pounding. It’s taking all my strength to merely stand here when I want to knock the fucking doors off the Gorman’s house and hunt for Berkley. The image of Michael’s gaze on her, the way he looked at her so possessively, echoes through my mind.

“Spit it out,” I bark.

“Invite them to the next game.”

“Invite them here?” I almost choke.

“Why not? He fits in with the clientele perfectly. It would give us a chance to suss them out. It would also ensure they weren’t at home for the evening, an ideal chance for me to scope the place, see what sort of security they have.”

I hold my hands out in front of me. They’re shaking. They want blood. They want to feel the crush of flesh beneath my knuckles.

They want vengeance.

Hope gets up and comes across to hold my hands in hers. “Don’t put my daughter at risk, Jericho. We’ve got to come up with a plan. We can’t just barge in there all guns blazing and risk their lives.”

I know they’re talking sense. But I don’t want to listen. I want to listen to the primal scream for blood that’s pulsing through my veins.

“The last time we rushed something without checking it out first ended badly.”

“Thanks to you,” I snap at Barrett and then instantly regret my words when I see the pain flash across his eyes.

“Yes, it was my fault. I didn’t do the job properly. I will take the blame for that. But if you recall, sir, I advised you to wait.”

Hope squeezes my hands again, looking at me pleadingly.

“We have nothing to go on other than the familial connection,” Barrett continues. “There’s been no talk, no suspicious behavior, no motive—”

“We haven’t exactly been watching them day and night though, have we?” I need them to be the ones. I need to have someone to blame, someone to exact my revenge on.

“No, we haven’t. So we need to do that. We need time to ensure that we’re making the right move here. The last thing we want to do is add to the danger Berkley or Odette may be in.” Barrett and Hope exchange a look. It’s one of relief. “So, we’re in agreement then? We proceed with caution?”

I nod, and it takes all my strength.

Hope looks at me, eyes narrowed. “We need to make sure there are enough people there to dissuade anyone from creating a spectacle.”

I know the ‘anyone’ she’s talking about is me.

“Rather than the more intimate affair you usually host, we could consider a casino themed occasion. Bring in some of the staff from the club. Set up different gaming tables. Get in some live music.”

“Yeah,” I wave, dismissing him. “Whatever you want.”

I don’t care what sort of theme it is. Standard practice is we cater the night to appeal to whatever client I’ve got the most interest in obtaining information from. I don’t see why this should be any different.

chapter twenty-one

BERKLEY

I’m sitting in a chair in front of the mirror staring at my reflection. It’s one of those mirrors that has lightbulbs dotted along its edges. They make my skin appear paler than usual, but there’s also a dullness to it, almost an insipidness. I don’t recognize myself. My shoulders are weighted with defeat. There are dark marks beneath my eyes. I’m dressed only in lace underwear.

Reflected in the mirror, through the crack in the door is Michael. He’s sifting through the shopping bags his assistant Maggie just dropped off.

“I think you should wear this to dinner tonight, what do you think?” He holds up a dress. It’s pale pink with a key-hole neckline. He mentions the name of the designer, a label I’ve never heard of.

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