Page 66 of Corrupted Union

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I’d never seenthis scale of operation come together so quickly. We summoned every man available and each were given a specific station in or around the warehouse. Luckily, only one warehouse was situated on 30thacross from the High Line, so we knew we had the right place.

It was run-down and looked abandoned. So stereotypically perfect for a lowlife like Flynn. The interior was full of dust-covered shelves still loaded with inventory, which made for excellent cover. One portion of the building by a garage bay showed signs of recent activity—tracks in the dust-coated floors and several crates that were newer than anything else in the building. Six of us positioned ourselves inside, just out of sight. We only had minutes to wait before the side door opened, and Flynn entered.

The stupid motherfucker was alone. It was no wonder the Donovans had ceased to exist. No one survived in our world without people watching your back—that was why families stuck together, and men like the Russian were so rare. There was power in numbers.

Knowing Flynn was meeting with someone, we had all agreed not to make a move until both parties were present and we could assess the situation. We sat silently while Flynn remained glued to his phone.

A half hour passed, and just as I’d begun to think the meeting had fallen through, a knock sounded at the metal door. Flynn rushed to open it. When the scar-faced Russian walked in with two men flanking him, I couldn’t believe our luck.

A calm certainty chilled the blood in my veins.

This was our chance—two birds, one stone. I wouldn’t waste the opportunity.

“Mr. Donovan,” Damyon said evenly in his Russian accent. “Thank you for meeting with me again.”

“Of course, you know I’m always happy—”

Damyon held up his hand. “Before you continue, you should know that we aren’t alone.”

Flynn stiffened, his eyes darting to the sides.

“Please do join us, gentlemen.”

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Things were not supposed to go down like this.

Oran and I shared a wary look, then stepped from the shadows. We still outnumbered them, and I’d be damned if I ever showed an ounce of fear to a man like the Russian, advantage or not.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Flynn spat, his face contorting in anger.

“If anyone here is answering questions, it’s you, Donovan, so shut the fuck up until you’re spoken to.” Oran’s command sliced through the room with lethal calm. He then turned to Damyon. “I’m surprised someone with your reputation willingly deals with this sort of incompetence.”

He raised his palms in an acquiescent gesture. “Normally, I wouldn’t. But you see, I didn’t come to the city for business and have no plans to stay long-term.”

A shocked silence echoed in the air.

“Is that so?” I cut in. “Because it looks like you’ve been establishing connections between Flynn here and your time at the Wellington house.”

Damyon raised a brow. Seems we managed to surprise him as well. “Tell me, Keir. Were you interested in my activities or those of my associate when you were watching the house?” His use of my name was intentional—a display of his knowledge and power.

“Your associate. You were just an unlucky coincidence.”

Flynn began to fidget. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Your Russian friend here works with Lawrence Wellington, the shipping mogul. Apparently, the two are in the skin trade together,” I explained.

“Not exactly,” Damyon said. “We have a mutually beneficial arrangement for the moment.”

“You’re telling me you weren’t the source of the woman he has chained up in his house.” A tendril of anger snuck its way into my voice.

“Lawrence is too focused on financial gains to mess with keeping a pet. Now, his son, on the other hand…”

Adrenaline surged through my veins, sending my heart rate into orbit.

Stetson? The fucking runt? He’d been responsible for the girl in the attic? Surely not. If that was the case, he was infinitely more dangerous than I’d ever suspected.

I clenched my fists to keep from pulling my gun. An overwhelming need to get the fuck out of there jackhammered inside my head, demanding I do whatever was necessary to get to Rowan.

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