Page 81 of Forbidden Protector

Connor straightens up. “And we’re certain it’s Duffy’s?”

Arnie leans in a little closer. If the Maguires are planning on taking one of Padraic’s shipments, that might aid us in our own plotting.

Martin glances at the assassin before responding. “Positive. They’ve used the supplier before, and we got a positive ID on that blonde woman.”

He hands Connor a photo that Arnie peers at, too.

“Excellent,” he mutters.

But Arnie’s brow furrows. “That’s Kate St. Michael.”

Connor throws the photo onto his desk, revealing the blonde bombshell talking to someone on the phone. The picture means nothing to me, but Arnie’s face turns sourer by the second.

“We go in three hours before ETA to establish a perimeter,” Connor says, ignoring Arnie completely. “Calico, you’ll book out the adjacent lot and station the men there.”

“I thought Kate St. Michael defected along with her cousin,” Arnie presses.

I don’t miss the way Martin looks away as he responds. “She did.”

“You’re not targeting Padraic Duffy.” Arnie’s anger begins to simmer. “You’re hitting Jack’s shipment?”

“What? Why?” I turn to my brother. “Padraic is the person we need to be targeting right now. Jack isn’t a priority.”

But Connor merely waves me off dismissively. “You’re too new to all this to understand.”

“So explain it to me.”

“There’s nothing I need to explain to you, Roisin,” Connor counters. “This is our strategy and we’re sticking with it.”

“Why? If someone insulted you like this,” Arnie growls, “you wouldn’t hesitate to direct all manpower to take him down.”

“That’s what he’ll expect us to do,” Calico counters. “The attack on your house was personal. He’ll be anticipating a rebuttal in kind.”

Arnie sneers at him. “So? Connor, this is our reputation at stake. You’ve almost gone to war over less.”

“No, Arnold. It’syourreputation,” Connor booms with finality.

Arnie shakes his head. “Your sister could have died.”

“And whose fault is that?” Connor slams his fist on the table. “If she’d stayed here like I told her to, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“Arnie didn’t do anything wrong.” I step forward. “If it’s anyone’s fault here, it’s the mole who sold us out to Padraic in the first place.”

Martin looks up at me, alarmed. “What?”

“TheDead Eyesseemed to know about our engagement,” Arnie clarifies.

“The way you were shouting about it yesterday, Padraic probably heard you himself!” Connor snaps at me.

“That doesn’t explain how they knew where we were,” I try to reason.

But Connor is having none of it. “I don’t have time for this. We have to plan our attack on the shipment.”

“So what, you’re not going to do anything?” I counter.

“What do you expect me to do? Drop everything to go after the most feared man in New York?” Connor roars. “Or are you forgetting the fact that your sister is still missing?”

“Why are you so obsessed with Jack Duffy?” I hiss. “Is it because Aimee chose him over you?”

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