Page 133 of Bound Lies

Sean leans back in his chair and runs his hands up and down his thighs as he looks between the two of us. “You’re bluffing. You wouldn’t risk a full war over this.”

I arch a brow. “I don’t have to. The media would eat this up, and the feds would storm your warehouses in a matter of hours. Any allies you have would scatter like rats.”

His eyes darken, but he says nothing because he knows I’m right.

“You’re over,” I say flatly. “Unless you back the fuck off. I’m talking no more hits, no more men sent after my family, and no more games. You’re done.”

Sean looks between us, weighing his odds. He knows he’s cornered, and that one wrong move turns him into a headline.

He finally exhales through his nose. “Fine. You want peace? You’ve got it.”

I nod once. “Let’s hope you mean that.”

Brennan and I don’t hang around long enough for Sean to change his mind and convert this little get-together into a shootout.

Outside, the sun beats down on us overhead, and Brennan kicks at the gravel as we head to the car.

“That’s it? The bastard says he’ll back off, and we’re just expected to believe him? He might have killed Dad⁠—”

“We don’t know it was him,” I hiss under my breath as I eye the guards. “Not yet.”

Brennan follows my gaze and snaps his mouth shut until we’re safely back in the car.

“We’ve got that document Riley found. Surely, that’s enough evidence to prove he did it.”

“We don’t even know what’s in it.”

Brennan scoffs. “Come on. You’ve had it under your nose for weeks, and you’re telling me you’ve not once asked to see it?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Why?”

I stare straight ahead, my hands gripping the steering wheel as we idle at a red light.

“I think part of me doesn’t want to know.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“If what Riley has proves Sean did it…” I pause. “Then I have to do something about it. I have to finish this. And Riley… She’ll be in the crossfire again.”

Brennan doesn’t say anything, but I can feel his judgment brewing in the silence.

“That’s not all of it, though. If I push her for it now, it could look like the only reason I’m with her is because of that damn document. What if she thinks that’s all this ever was?”

Brennan lets out a breath. “You really care about her.”

“More than I ever thought possible.”

“Then tell her that, and then ask for the evidence. Because it’s about time we avenged our father, Kieran.”

I shake my head. “I just got her back. I can’t risk making her feel used.”

Brennan’s quiet for a beat. “But if she has the proof and it’s real, that changes everything. We can’t just sit on that kind of information.”

“I know. But I need to be sure about us before I ask.”

“Fair enough. But the longer you leave it, the harder that conversation’s going to be.”