Page 73 of Linger

“Unicorns and magic rainbows, five-oh,” I bit out before Kieran could make things worse by telling the fucking cop that we were mafia. “Harry Potter shit.”

Jentry just watched me for a second longer before looking expectantly at Kieran. When neither of us gave, he asked, “So, how does this work? I do what you say or end up like these guys?”

A scoffing laugh left me, but Kieran was the one to speak. “We aren’t going to kill you, but you aren’t calling this in either.”

Jentry’s head roughly shook. “I’m not going to be a dirty cop just because my sister married—” He gestured to Kieran, struggling to find the words before giving up. “I won’t work for whatever you are.”

“Not asking you to,” Kieran assured him, then gestured between himself and me. “None of us work with cops. But it’s safer if you and Rorie stop looking into things you shouldn’t. It’s easier if you understand things like today. Because I fucking promise you, this town is safer now that these brothers are dead.”

When Jentry wavered too long, I added, “What Kieran said earlier? This isn’t an everyday part of our lives—it’s as needed. Even then, it’s only to help others and protect our family. And so you know, your family has been included in that before.”

Shock and something close to horror coated Jentry’s expression as his stare snapped to Kieran.

“Events like today have directly saved you, your wife, and your kid without you even realizing it because we clean up these messes,” I continued. “The people in this town feel safe because of what we do and because police don’t get involved. Understand?”

“My family?” Jentry asked Kieran, sounding like he didn’t know if he wanted to rage at him or was about to get sick.

“It’s dangerous to be connected to us,” Kieran replied simply, the pointless reminder like a punch to my gut that I tried to ignore.

I couldn’t lose focus. Not now.

But damn it if my gaze didn’t briefly drift to the line of houses, searching for the girl who wouldn’t be there.

Jentry muttered a curse and dropped his head back to face the sky. “What are you?” he asked without looking at us.

“Your brother-in-law,” Kieran answered smoothly.

“Hungry,” I added numbly as the need to check on Willow grew stronger and stronger.

A bitter laugh bled from Jentry as he let his head fall with a bouncing nod. “If my wife and son have been dragged into shit like this, and if you want me to walk away without calling it in, then I wanna know.” He held up a hand before either of us could respond. “I know—Aurora and I are pretty sure we know. Just fucking tell me.”

“I’m your brother-in-law,” Kieran said unwaveringly.

“You think it’s dangerous being connected to us?” I asked, unable to keep the urgency from my tone. “That danger magnifies once you get the answers you’re looking for because then you’re in something you can never truly escape, and other people will know that. Understand? So, Kieran’s your brother-in-law. I’m fucking hungry. You and your wife need to stay out of our goddamn business. And we’re done here.”

For a long time, Jentry didn’t move or speak. When he did, it was to send a questioning glare at Kieran. “And Jess knows? Everything,” he hurried to add. “Not the watered-down version you’re trying to give me.”

“It’s how I met her,” Kieran confirmed.

At that, Jentry gave a decisive nod and said, “Then how do we clean this up?”

“No,” Kieran and I said at the same time, but Jentry already had his hands raised as if he expected the retaliation.

“I’m already involved because now I know whatever shit you’re involved in puts my family in danger. And knowing my twin sister is in on this?” He rubbed at his chest, his gaze pulling away momentarily just as my phone went off with a string of messages. “She’s had to deal with enough without me there to help her. I need to be there for her now.”

“She has me,” Kieran said gravely as I pulled my phone out. “She’ll also kill me if I don’t make you leave.”

A breath of a laugh left me as I opened the messages, even though I knew Kieran was probably telling the truth.

Maverick

Police and fire chief are done talking to Dare about the house.

Where the hell did you go?

Is Kieran with you?

“I’ll deal with her,” Jentry said dismissively as I tapped out responses.

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