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“Just dandy,” Summer and I say together, which eases the tension and makes her smile.
She takes in the men milling about the parking lot and breathes out. “I’ll stay here.”
Exchanging a glance with Ciarán, I will do whatever he says.
“We can’t risk leaving you here alone,” Ciarán says, his eyes scanning the surroundings. “We’ll bring you with us but stay close and do as we say.”
Summer shakes her head, her expression determined. “I’ll be fine here. I don’t want to go in there.”
Ciarán’s jaw clenches. “Summer, I don’t think that’s a great idea.”
“Look, I’m going to be nervous as fuck going in there with hundreds of men. I’ll be a distraction, and they’ll spot my weakness. I’d rather just stay here. Lock it up, I have my phone and knife. Maybe leave me a gun...”
I’m already holding one out to her that was shoved into the top of my other boot. “Sure about this?”
She takes it with a shaky hand. “Yes.”
“I’ll leave Ronny to look out for you,” Ciarán states, not arguing with her, which surprises me. Maybe he is as worried about her going into the lion’s den as she is. “That SUV won’t be back, but Ronny will protect you if anything else goes down. Call us, and we will be right out.”
Summer pulls out her phone as Ciarán edges the car closer to the building.
A metallic grating noise, which doesn’t do my head any favors, sounds into the silence as the men open up the warehouse delivery entrance.
“Perfect,” Ciarán mutters as he drives in.
“Stay safe, Summerbell. Fire and ask questions later, got it?”
Summer tries to look confident as we exit the car, guns drawn. Locking her in, we quickly make our way towards the warehouse entrance. Ciarán’s men fall into step behind us, their weapons at the ready.
The smell of sweat, steel, and oil hits us like a wall. My senses are on high alert as we step inside. The space is enormous, with stacks of crates and pallets lining the walls and a few battered vehicles parked haphazardly in the center.
“Keep your guard up,” Ciarán warns as we make our way deeper into the warehouse. “We don’t know what we’re up against here. I know this gang, but not well. They could be bullshitting about knowing anything.”
“No stone, though, right?”
“Right.”
With a last look back at Summer, we head into the meet, but my expectations aren’t high that we will immediately find who tried to kill me. If anything, this meeting might just be a trap to take us out for good. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever is coming.
7
SUMMER
Sitting in Ciarán’s car, the smell of leather and the subtle undertones of aftershave fills my nostrils as I wait for him and Cathal. My fingers tap restlessly against my thigh. I’m not sure what all of this was about, except they have a lead on whoever tried to kill Cathal. Freezing suddenly, I stop breathing. Did anyone check this car before we piled in?
Remembering Ciarán saying something about having eyes on it the entire time, I think he meant a spy camera. Hopefully, we are fine.
“Bit fucking late now,” I mutter, breathing out and taking my lumps. I’m not getting out of the car, so it’s tough shit.
To say I’m scared would be a massive understatement. I’m shitting myself. I have no idea how to use a gun, point and shoot? What about a safety? Isn’t that supposed to be on?
“Dammit, guys. You’ve seriously left me flying blind here.” That pisses me off, not at them, but at being helpless. I need to be more badass, fit in with their lifestyle, and learn how to shoot and stab things. Hopefully, I will never have to, but I’d like to know how anyway.
Climbing through the seats into the passenger side, I feel slightly less nervous. I can see more from here. Placing the gun in the glove box, I grip the knife and scan the area.
Outside, the warehouse seems quiet. An eerie silence pervades, only interrupted by the distant wail of a siren and the rumble from the train tracks close by. The men have gone further into the warehouse, so I’m alone, save for Ronny, whoever the fuck he is,whereverthe fuck he is.
The sky, seen through the open doors of the warehouse, is bright on this summer day. But there is something so sinister about being in this warehouse. It doesn’t feel real. The closeness presses in, making the space feel smaller and more suffocating. I shiver involuntarily, even though the temperature inside is comfortable.
