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Liam held up his hands. “You need to calm down. Take it from someone who’s been there.”
“That’s news to me that Quinn betrayed you. If I remember correctly, you did the betraying when you didn’t tell her you were engaged to someone else.”
Jude was holding his eye with one hand, his other raised in the air. “Okay, let’s not say things in anger we’re going to regret later.”
I stormed past Liam, his hands balled into fists, his jaw clenched tight. Shooting Jude a glare, I then raised my middle finger. Straightening my jacket, I walked out of my office. “I’m meeting with Cian. Now, are you going to do your fucking jobs and have my back?”
Liam followed with murder in his eyes, and I knew I’d be paying for my comment. But while I might have been livid, I wasn’t too far gone to know I deserved whatever he had in store.
Jude stopped at the office kitchen and grabbed a bag of frozen peas. We had them stored everywhere since this wasn’t the first time we needed them, and it wouldn’t be the last.
Liam drove us, the car encased in charged silence the entire way to the meeting. I didn’t need to brief them. We’d been working together for most of our lives, and they’d both seen the files on the Russians. Which was why they understood the likelihood that Vanna was involved.
Aleksándr was a calculating bastard who didn’t do anything without having a goal in mind. And in this case, it was getting to the top. Even if the payment included his daughter.
When we pulled up to the harbor, Cian was already standing at the entrance with two of his men. He was in full view, not even bothering to cover his back. He really was an arrogant prick.
He watched us pull up, his eyes never leaving us as we walked up to where he was standing. I noticed he didn’t have his usual guys with him.
He did a mock bow as soon as we were close enough. “All hail to the king.”
Since I was running on rage and adrenaline, I had no interest in dealing with his shit. “Fuck off and listen to what I have to say. You think you can do that for once?”
His smirk didn’t waver; instead, it seemed to grow. He made an elaborate swirling motion with his hand. “Of course. To what do I owe this audience that was so important it couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
“The Russians are the ones who took the hit out on our dad. They also killed one of Gunner’s guys. We didn’t realize until tonight that it was all connected. And we need to know where you stand. For once, Cian, you need to pick a side.”
His face fell, and I let out a relieved breath at his surprise. I might have detested the little fuck, but I didn’t think he’d ever align himself with the Russians. He hated them more than he did Liam.
Jude was staring at one of the guys standing next to Cian. I’d been ignoring his posturing until he opened his stupid mouth. “Where’s Sean? You guys are attached at the hip. I heard you even tag team the same girls.”
Cian’s eyes narrowed on my brother. “None of your feckin business. And I don’t give a shite who tried to take out Constantine. I’m definitely not with the Russians.” He spat on the ground. “But I also won’t stand behind you bastards. You gave me two warehouses that were raided by the cops shortly after. I know a setup when I see one.”
His accent was getting thicker, and I shot Jude an annoyed glare. He knew as well as I did that the clearer his words, the better his mood. Once he became impossible to understand, the best advice was to run. We thankfully hadn’t reached that stage yet, and I’d make sure we wouldn’t get there.
We had no time to patch up bullet wounds.
I stepped forward, blocking my brother. “We’re taking them out.”
Cian whistled through his teeth. “And you want my help to do it.”
“I don’t need your men. I have enough of my own to take them on. But I need your reassurance that you’ll stay out of it.”
“I want compensation for the lost shipments in the warehouses.”
I knew that was going to come back to bite us in the ass. Liam had been giving Cian some of our territory, but both times the cops had moved in, seizing anything they could get their hands on. And Cian had clearly cottoned on, realizing we might have had something to do with that.
Liam pushed past me. “Did you really think we’d let you get away with trying to kidnap our sister?”
Fuck my brothers. They’d screw this up. And Liam, of all people, should have known better. But he and Cian had never seen eye to eye.
Cian crossed his arms over his chest, lifting his chin. “Thanks to me, she met the love of her life. Heard he was all too happy to protect her body. If only he’d taken as much care with her virtue.” He cackled, ignoring the murderous stares we all shot him. “Pay up and I’ll stay far away from the war you’re about to start.”
Liam looked apoplectic, and both of Cian’s men took a step forward. He only smiled at us, taking a drink out of a flask he’d pulled out of his suit. “I don’t know why you feckin hate me so much. We could have been great friends. And not sure if you’re aware, but you have one of the most Irish names out there. That alone should make you a little less ornery. We Irish are a fun bunch once you get to know us.”
I coughed in my arm, trying to mask the laugh bubbling to the surface.
Liam, on the other hand, looked ready to shoot something. Or someone. Glaring at Cian, he took a deep breath. “Our mom loved Liam Neeson. No other reason she named me Liam. She didn’t care if it was Irish, Spanish, or made up. Now, can we get back to business, or should we explore the origins of our names a little more? You want a cup of tea as well while we’re having our little chat?”
