Page 67 of Merciless Sinner

"What did you find?" I ask.

Cillian walks in and pulls up the chair in front of me. "I've managed to track down Kevin and a man called Freddy, another possible member of the team who helped my father. I'll have to go to England. I'm planning to leave the day of the wedding. I don't really know what I'll find, if anything, but it's easier if I'm there."

"Well, hopefully, it will lead us somewhere."

"Hopefully." He cracks his knuckles. "The difficulty is finding out what the guys knew. Like Olivia said, my father kept information to a minimum. Some people he worked with didn't even know who he was.”

"I get it." I nod, understanding. "We do similar things. It's just difficult in times like these."

"Exactly," Cillian agrees.

It's strange, the two of us sitting here. We haven't done that since high school.

"Well, that sounds promising."

"God, I hope so. We need something more than what we have. How are things on your end?"

"The same," I reply.

He looks at the computer. "I guess I feel more assured knowing you're checking things out. Not many people have your skills."

I can't remember the last time Cillian O’Ridian paid me a compliment.

"Is that what you wanted to talk about? I know it's not."

"No, there's more."

"What else could there be? I thought you heard everything last night. Looked like you chose a good spot to listen in." I’ve never been one to beat around the bush. I always launch in when I have questions. I think people appreciate me for it. Cillian seems to because he smiles, and then he reaches across my desk to take a cigar. He lights up as if it's his office, and I allow him. His openness is a sign the dust might be settling in the feud between us.

"It was interesting to see you stand up to your old man like that." He nods. "It's about damn time.”

“You know I couldn't before. Especially that last time.”

Cillian is the first person I told about what my father did and the blackmail to do with my sister. The next person to know was Dante.

Anyone who knows me would realize that was odd because I tell Dante everything. I never told him, though, until I had to, probably for his safety, but mostly because of my guilt. He simply believed I lived up my father's ass and did everything he told me to do all for the sake of power. I didn't, but I suppose I allowed him to believe what he wanted to believe, too.

With Cillian, it was different. I told him because I wanted to explain my part and the reason for his sister being there on the day her parents were attacked.

"It's still about time," Cillian insists. "There's stuff you haven't told Olivia. She still doesn't seem to know why she was at my parents' house at the time of the attack. I take it you didn't tell her what happened between you and Amelia, or what you did, so I didn’t.”

“I’m going to, but now's not the right time."

"I couldn’t agree more, but…” He raises a finger. “It's not the kind of thing I think she should remember on her own. You never can tell what that might do to her."

"I know. I feel a coward every time I think about it, but I need her to trust me first, so she understands."

"I think she’ll understand your part, but I worry about her friendship with Amelia.”

“Me too, but she seems good for her. She’s comfortable with Amelia in ways she isn’t with anyone else.”

“I just want to make sure she’s happy.”

"I’ll take care of her, Cillian.”

“I know you will, but there is too much darkness and bad blood in the past between our families. I never wanted her to be part of that. At the same time, I accepted long ago that I would never force her to marry somebody she didn't want to be with. But now you have."

"That's the way you see it," I say, although I know he's right.

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