AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After I end the call, I open one of Jessie’s files on my computer. I make a quick scan of the document, which comprises bank details and money transfers dating back at least ten years. I have no clue what I’m looking for, but I’m hoping something might jump out at me. Because I am no closer to finding out where Alexei Ivanov is, and I know he holds me and my brothers responsible for losing his daughter — again. It’s only a matter of time before he comes looking for vengeance. And when he does, he will most definitely find it, because I have made it my mission in life to kill that psychopathic motherfucker for everything he has put Jessie and my brothers through.
Once he gets a sniff that she is back with us, he will act quickly to get her back. So, we need to strike first. But it’s hard to do that when we have no idea where the slippery Russian prick is, whereas we’re right where he knows to find us. However, I’ll be fucked if I’ll run and hide from him or anyone else. The Ryan brothers hide from no one.
A few minutes later, I turn off my computer again. My conversation with my uncle is playing on my mind. Something is niggling in the back of my mind like an itch that I can’t quite reach to scratch. So, the Wolf is back? Why now? Has Alexei’s discovery of Jessie’s survival reached him too somehow? Nobody knows who the Wolf is. He could be one of Alexei’s own men, for all we know.
I close my eyes and rub my head again. This whole fucked up situation is making my headache even worse. And the best way I know to soothe any tension is currently a half day’s drive away. But tonight she’s going to be standing right here. And fuck, I might just tie her to my bed and bury myself so far inside her that we both forget about everything that’s happened these past three months. Except that as much as I wish I could, I can’t forget. I may even be able to forgive her one day, but I will never be able to trust her again.
“Hey, Erin is here.” The sound of my younger brother Mikey’s voice snaps me from my thoughts.
“What? Why?” I frown at him. I’m not expecting her.
Mikey shrugs. “I don’t know, bro. But she’s on her way up now.”
“Fine,” I sigh as I lean back in my chair.
“I can tell her you’re in a meeting if you like?” he offers.
“No. It’s fine,” I say with a shake of my head. “She’s been working on some contracts for me. She might have some news at last. Just tell her to come through.”
“Will do,” Mikey says with a nod of his head before he disappears out of the doorway again. Of all the days Erin decides to show up here, it has to be the day Jessie is coming home. I already have a ball of dread in my stomach at the thought of facing her after everything that’s happened. Perhaps I’m fooling myself that Jessie coming back here has anything to do with me. I sent Conor after her, because I see the love she has for him. The connection they have runs deep. He never doubted her, even when I was sure she had betrayed us.
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
JESSIE
Wiping my hands on my napkin, I look across the table at Conor as he finishes his last mouthful of steak. I smile at him and he winks back at me.
“I have loved these past few days with you,” I say.
He swallows his food and puts his knife and fork on his plate. “I’ve loved them too, Angel. I’m almost sad we’re nearly home.”
“Almost?” I arch an eyebrow at him.
“Being on the road with you and having you all to myself has been incredible, but I’ve been gone for two months. I’ve never been apart from my brothers for that long before.”
“I’m sorry,” I say as a wave of guilt washes over me.
“Don’t be,” he frowns as he places his large hand over mine. “I would do it all again in a heartbeat, and I would spend my entire life searching for you, Jessie.”
“I’m glad you found me, Conor,” I say before I begin to chew on my lip absent-mindedly.
“You nervous about going home, Angel?” he asks softly.
“I’m nervous about seeing him.”
Conor nods, knowing that I’m talking about Shane. Of all of them, it took him the longest to let me in. I know it cost him. And despite the promises I made to him, I left as soon as I had a single doubt. “I’m sure he’s feeling the same,” Conor says with a smile. “You two have a lot to talk about.”
I take a deep breath. “Yeah.”
“That’s if Liam and Mikey don’t steal you away as soon as you set foot back in the apartment,” he laughs, and his brown eyes twinkle. The closer we have got to New York, the happier and more relaxed Conor has become. That I have kept him away from them all for so long weighs heavily on me, no matter what he says.
A few hours later, Conor presses me against the wall in the elevator in his New York apartment building and kisses me softly. “These last few days have been incredible, Jessie,” he breathes when he breaks our kiss.
“I know.”
“As soon as we get into the apartment, my brothers are going to want you all to themselves, and I need to get back to work in the club. But know that I will be thinking about you every second. I love you so fucking much, Angel.”
