Page 74 of Dirty Legacy

“Here is what will happen,” he says, speaking slowly and clearly. Brad trembles, deadly white and sweating. “You will delete my wife’s photos and videos. You will smash your hard drive with a hammer. I will send a man to ensure this happens. Do you understand?”

“Y-y-yes, Mr. Maguire. Sorry, Mr. Maguire.” Brad stammers, flinching away.

“Apologize to my wife.”

“I’m sorry, Angie!”

“You too, Ms. Lavender.”

“I’m sorry.” Lavender keeps her eyes down in her lap. “I didn’t mean it. I really didn’t. The money⁠—“

Connor grabs Brad by the throat and slams him against the wall.

It happens so fast. One moment we’re talking, Lavender is apologizing, and the next Brad’s skull bounces against the plaster. He groans as Connor draws a knife from his belt.

“Please,” Brad gags.

Connor drives the blade into Brad’s right knee, stabbing deep.

He screams in horror. Connor twists and yanks, the steel coming free in a spray of blood. I see bone, cartilage, something yellow. Brad collapses to the floor, sobbing in pain.

Lavender tries to scramble away, but Connor catches her by the hair. His face is calm as he carves a line down her right cheek, cutting her from eye to jaw, then saws away her long hair, tossing the severed locks down over Brad.

“Photographs will be deleted,” Connor repeats, shoving his knife away. I’m aware of people staring. Blood wells down Lavender’s face, dripping down her front. Brad’s rolling in a pool of it, sobbing. I don’t think he’ll ever walk right again. “My men will confirm.” Connor offers me his arm. “Wife? Shall we?”

As if in a dream, I slip my hand against his elbow, and he draws me back through the bar. “Cover your face, angel,” he says quietly, holding a hand to block his eyes as if shading them from the sun.

I realize why. Phones are held up all around. I quickly duck my head and raise my arm, stumbling after him, until we’re out on the sidewalk again.

“Connor, I⁠—“

“Don’t talk.” His demand is sharp. Marcus waits a few feet away beside a black Mercedes. Nadia and Rowan are with him, both looking ashamed, while Marcus seems like he’s having the time of his life. “Marcus will take these two home—“ Connor gestures at them and tightens his grip on my arm. “You and me are going to have a chat.”

“Don’t be mean to her, Connor, I’m the one who got us out of the mansion,” Rowan says quickly.

But her brother silences her with a look. “I’ll deal with you later. Get going.”

“Ladies.” Marcus draws them away. “I’ll handle your car too, don’t worry, Nadia. I’m Marcus, by the way, nice to meet you…”

I hurry to keep up with Connor as he pulls me to a waiting G-Wagon. I climb into the back with him and the driver pulls away without having to be told.

“Where are we going?” I ask, shame and fear flooding me. I never should’ve done this. I never should’ve snuck out like that.

Except… watching Connor stab Brad in the knee and slice Lavender’s face up, dispassionately and efficiently, sent an electric trail down my skin, and now it feels like I’m on fire.

He protected me.

I broke his rules and he still came here to help.

“I want to show you something.” And he doesn’t speak another word for the remainder of the ride.

23

CONNOR

Istand at the edge of the salvage yard. At night, the cars look like twisted trees, a strange forest of scrap metal and ruin. Angie stays by my side, her body close and warm.

“What are we doing here, Connor?”