Page 58 of Merciless Sinner

"How about we start with the police reports, then work through the documents from the Creed,” Dante suggests.

“That sounds good.”

“I also want us to put together a plan for everyone else before the Creed meeting.”

“I’m sure we can do that.”

At that meeting, everyone will be informed that Olivia is back. Thankfully, we've managed to keep that information contained until we set up our investigation on everyone in the Creed.

In our world, when you suspect everyone, you do what you need to do first, then ask questions later. That way, your enemies don't get a head start.

We have eyes on everyone in the Creed, and all the people who were friends, family, and enemies of the O’Ridians.

I suspect that once the word is completely out of Olivia’s return, something might happen. Or nothing.

It all depends on what Olivia saw before she lost her memory. If she saw something or someone she shouldn’t have, we have to be prepared for that person to strike.

"Let’s work on this for the next three hours then check in on the club. Then pull in another few hours," Dante says.

"What about me?" says a voice from the door in a deep Irish accent. “What should I do, old friends?”

We both turn to find Cillian O’Ridian standing at the door, his eyes fixed on us.

He's as tall as us and just as muscular. The only thing separating him from us is his lack of tattoos.

He straightens, looking from Dante to me. But that look of dark menace lurking in his eyes is only for me.

"Cillian." Dante smiles, piercing the fog of tension that has filled the room with Cillian’s presence. "You're back."

"I came as soon as I heard Olivia had been found."

Dante gets up and shakes Cillian’s hand. He then looks back at me. "How about I leave you guys to talk? You need to." Dante nods.

"Yes, I agree. We have lots of things to talk about," Cillian replies.

"That works for me." I keep my voice just as measured as he does his.

Dante leaves us, and Cillian walks in. I stand so we're on equal footing, but I wonder what he's going to say to me. He looks mad as fuck obviously, about the wedding, but relief over his sister being found seems to have provided some balance.

"You found her," he states in the same voice.

"I did."

He glances down for a moment, and his guard drops, so I can read the gratitude in his eyes. It's still there when he looks at me.

"Thank you. I can't thank you enough for not giving up when most of us did. Me included."

"You don’t have to thank me," I reply.

“Yes, I do.” His tone is stiff, revealing the layer of irritation lurking in his voice.

The last time I saw him was more than a year ago, after that sighting in Germany. We messaged one or two times after that. That was it. Nothing more.

"Obviously, I spoke to Seamus." The irritation becomes more prevalent now. "He told me about the marriage, Virgo. What the hell are you thinking? Don’t get me wrong, I'm over the moon you found my sister, but what the hell is this?"

I stare back at him. I expected this conversation. In fact, I expected his fist in my face.

I expected a fight, like the one that followed when he found out I was seeing his sister. But this is better, so we can talk man to man.

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