Page 169 of Bound Lies

“I’m getting the girls out now. Do you really think I would leave them there when their current location is likely in the hands of Sean O’Keefe right about now?”

This has just gone from bad to worse.

“No. If Riley is in danger, I’m going myself. I’ll bring her back.”

“I’m closer. Think, Kieran. You can’t afford to be reckless, not when whoever killed Finn could be waiting nearby to ambush you.”

I’m barely listening to a word he’s saying as I storm back out of the cell and head through the warehouse to where my car is waiting.

“She’s mine, Ronan! I won’t sit here while she’s exposed⁠—”

“You think I don’t get that? You think I don’t care?” The strain in his voice is clear as day. “Ciara’s out there too. My wife. My kids. I’m telling you the truth. You can’t reach them faster than I can. Let me handle it.”

I rake a hand through my hair, breathing hard.

Everything in me is wired to fight, to get behind the wheel and put distance between myself and Finn’s corpse until Riley’s safe at my side. The thought of her without me, of someone else touching what’s mine, makes me see red.

“Call me the second you’ve got her,” I say through clenched teeth. “Not a minute later. I need to hear her voice, Ronan.”

“You will. She’ll be fine. I promise.”

The call ends, and I stand in the quiet, my free hand trembling at my side.

He says that like it’s a promise he can keep. But promises don’t mean shit if someone already has her.

I kick at the dirt beneath my feet as I call Brennan.

Until all of my brothers are caught up, there’s not much I can do.

It’s clear that whoever is on our tail is starting to overtake, and we can’t afford to miss any details, so I’m going to need as many eyes on this as possible.

Brennan picks up on the first ring. “What happened?”

“Finn’s dead. It was an inside job, and now every safehouse we’ve got is burned. Ronan’s bringing Ciara and Riley back to his place.”

“Jesus Christ. Everything’s gone to shit.”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

“This has to be related. There’re too many moving parts for it not to be.”

I scoff. “No kidding. Meet me at my place. We’re going to need to regroup and come up with a plan.”

“On my way.”

I hang up and immediately dial Cormac.

Normally, I would have Ronan take care of informing him of any significant issues, but seeing as he’s currently focused on keeping Riley safe, that job is now up to me.

The line clicks once before the automated voice comes on, informing me that the number has been disconnected.

I pull the phone away from my ear and frown.

What the hell? Why would Cormac’s number be disconnected?

I hit the call button again and immediately get the same message. I try a third time, hitting the call button harder as if that will somehow reconnect the number, but of course, it doesn’t.

A cold dread snakes through me.