Page 49 of Illicit Heir

Shake my head. "No. Alaina's on the warpath. We've been summoned to take over for tonight."

"What the fuck did ya lot do?" he asks.

"None of your business," I reply.

"Sorry," he mutters. Then he opens the door to tunnels. The stench creeps into the city air, and I hold down my bile. He motions to the ladder and then disappears down it.

"Fuck's sake," I mutter. I put a handkerchief over my face and follow him into the dark hole. When I reach the bottom, I use the flashlight on my phone and glance around the space, but I can't see very far. Sewage swirls around us, and even though the water's low, it's still knee-deep.

Brogan has a coughing fit.

"It'll take a few minutes to get used to it," Jackie declares.

Tynan belts out, "Get used to it? How the fuck do ya ever get used to this?"

"Ya just do."

"Doubt that."

"Jesus Christ, I can't stay down here," Brogan says and tries to climb back up.

"Ya will stay down there, or you'll receive the next consequence," Alaina's voice fills the air.

He freezes on the ladder, pushing his mouth into his arm, gagging into his sleeve.

"Jesus, is she everywhere?" Tynan mutters.

"I can hear ya," Alaina threatens.

"I told ya going to Dublin was a bad idea," Cathal complains again.

"Said like a fucking saint. I didn't see ya complaining when ya were sitting in front of that lass ya banged," I point out.

"No bird's worth this," he states, pulling his scarf tighter, his face turning even greener.

Jackie whistles. "Ya'll went to Dublin? That's some balls!"

"Don't get any ideas," Alaina booms.

He holds his hands in the air, stating, "I'm not."

I glance around but don't see where the speakers or cameras are, then give up and ask, "Jackie, how far is it?"

"A few kilometers."

"You've got to be kidding me."

Jackie shakes his head. "Nope. Ya got at least two and a half kilometers."

Alaina's voice comes back over the speaker. "Jackie, take the night off and thank your four fellow assholes for the big bonus that you're getting."

Confusion fills his face. "Bonus?"

"Yep. Their wages for today are going to ya. Go enjoy the night with your family."

Shock fills Jackie's face. The bonus is probably more than he makes in a month. He freezes.

I motion to the exit. "Get going." He nods and scurries off, closing the tunnel door, and the air grows thicker.

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