Page 74 of Filthy Lies


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Our enemies weren’t just overseas but inside the corridors of power that few traversed.

Their names were hidden and protected, their identities in the shadows.

Weren’t my brothers and I working to uncover the identities of Sparrows in office?

Hadn’t we already erased a couple of senators and a congressman?

Didn’t a Sparrow almost sit in the vice president’s chair?

And, worse than all that, hadn’t a Sparrow been seated in the Supreme Court? Not just any judge but the chief justice, and not just any Sparrow, but theheadof them all.

Unable to school my expression, I turned away from her.

She might have believed she served a higher power, but that didn’t mean I did. Especially now that Da was dead.

Yet there was no denying the singular truth that our nationwasimbalanced.

I never claimed to wear a white hat, but at that moment, I’d never wanted to right those wrongs more than I did now.

18

CONOR

PRAY - SAM SMITH

The so-calledemergency landing had us disembarking at Helsinki Airport.

An hour later, we were guided onto a private jet where we set off on the next leg of a journey that I was completely in the dark about. Our final destination was still a mystery even after we landed.

We were still in Eastern Europe—the weather alone told me that. Never mind the guttural language Black uttered as she spoke to the driver of a limo that was idling on the concourse, its engine surrounded by dancing eddies of steam as the heat tangled with the frigid air.

I wasn’t sure if I was about to be hit over the head and dragged into the trunk, but no, the door was held open for me and my carry-ons were handled with care and deposited where I’d imagined I’d be sitting for the next part of our journey.

It was only when we were on the road that I worked out our eventual destination—Dubrovnik.

“She’s in Croatia?” I sputtered.

Black sighed. “Not much gets past you, does it?”

“I’m getting pretty fucking sick and tired of your sarcasm.”

“Ditto.” She sniffed. “Luckily for you, I’ll be leaving shortly. My job was to deliver you where you need to go. My task is almost complete.”

“Probably for the best. When Star realizes you double-crossed her,” I taunted, “you’ll need to be on the other side of the world.”

For the first time, I knew I’d said something that scared her.

Her throat bobbed.

That was it.

A bare whisper of a micro-gesture.

But it was enough.

Satisfaction filled me, enough that I sank back into the leather seats and just settled in for the ride once I’d updated my brothers who were clucking over my messages like mother hens.

Me: Change of plans. Flight rerouted and am going to be staying in Croatia. Will be in touch when I know more. DO NOT blow up my messages because I won’t answer.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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