“I’ll go and check on Ciara.” She slips past me before I can stop her.
Standing outside alone, I look down the winding drive and exhale.
Riley barely escaped death today, and the thought makes me shudder.
This feeling, the gut-wrenching ache in my chest that makes me feel as if someone is ripping out my insides, is exactly why I’ve avoided relationships.
I saw what almost losing Ciara did to Ronan, and it was enough to put me off for life.
But I also know that I would happily endure a lifetime's worth of pain if it meant having Riley in my life.
Another set of headlights races down the driveway toward me, and I know that the time for contemplation is over.
It’s time to get to work.
“Did I miss anything?” Brennan slams the car door shut.
I ignore his question as I peer into the car.
“Cormac’s not with you?”
“No. Was he meant to be?”
“Fuck.”
Brennan frowns, his eyes looking over my right shoulder. “What happened to you?”
I glance over my shoulder as Ronan approaches us, and the sight of his bloodied hands makes my stomach churn.
“The safehouse got ambushed by two guys, but I took care of it. I didn’t recognize either of them, though.”
“You think they’re working for Sean?” Brennan asks.
“Initially, I would have assumed they were. But after the stunt that was pulled with Finn, I can say with confidence that I have no idea.”
Brennan laughs. “That’s reassuring.”
“I have an idea who it could be,” I say under my breath.
Ronan frowns, tucking his bloodied hands into his pockets.
“Cormac’s phone is disconnected.”
“You sure it’s not just switched off?” Ronan challenges, and I grind my teeth.
“When are you going to accept the fact that our brother is acting shady as fuck?”
“Why don’t we just go over to his place?” Brennan suggests. “Because I don’t think we have time to waste arguing over whether or not our brother has stabbed us in the back.”
I nod. “Fine. We can talk on the way.”
“I call shotgun.” Brennan’s smile quickly vanishes at the look on my face.
I’m not in the mood to mess around. Not when I have a feeling our brother might be the missing piece we’ve been searching for.
“Brennan, you’re staying with the girls,” Ronan orders.
“Seriously? You’re putting me on babysitting duty again?”
