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Ariana doesn’t say anything. Instead, she wraps her hand around my arm and allows me to escort her as a gentleman should. Her touch grounds me. And yet, the farther we make it into the opera house, the less gentlemanly I feel. Based on the light recon Gio and I did prior to our flight, I’ve already spotted three known members of the Irish mob among the crowd. Though no Gallagher yet. Just the thought of being in the same room as him, breathing the same air as him, makes my blood boil. So much so, I keep my eyes pointed away from Ariana as we make our way into our private seating area. It’s more than me not wanting her to see the monster within. She’s a distraction, a breathtakingly beautiful distraction. And right now, I have to stay focused if we’re going to make it out of here alive. Avery Gallagher and his former boss may not have been the ones to order the hits against my sisters, but had Joseph Cullen lived, they would’ve. This man is my enemy, and we are in enemy territory. I can’t forget that.
“Hey,” Ariana says, moving her hand to mine. I allow my fingers to intertwine with hers, but do not turn to her. “We’re going to survive this, Alister. And we’re going to return to New Orleans and destroy whoever has been working against your family, whoever hurt Cara.”
At the mention of my sister’s name, I’m reminded of the night I thought I’d finally avenged my sister, the night I thought I had justice. Little did I know, there was so much more to the story. So much more and yet I almost died for a sliver of the truth. Not only me, but Emma. I promised her I’d keep her safe, that the brotherhood wouldn’t touch her, but they quickly made me break my promise. I don’t want to break a promise to another woman, which is precisely why I’ve offered Ariana no assurances. And yet, as I feel her skin against mine, the warmth of her body, the soft pulse of blood in her veins, I know I cannot let her walk into battle on my behalf without offering her these words. More importantly, I know I cannot say them without being willing to enforce them, even if that means going head-to-head with the Irish mob all by myself or walking away from the mission altogether. For her, I would do both.
With resolve, I turn to her. Her lips part in anticipation as I continue to hold on to her hand. “I want you to know that you’re safe with me. I won’t let anyone hurt you and I will kill anyone who tries.”
Ariana appears to savor my words as I savor her stunning face and the delicate way her dark curls fall loosely around her cheeks, breaking free from the pins meant to hold them. Unable to restrain myself any longer, I bring my hand to her cheek, just like I did the night before. It’s the same one one of Gallagher’s men buried his fist into nearly two months ago. I brush my thumb over the place that was once red and swollen. I didn’t know her then. I didn’t trust her. Now that I do, I can’t imagine allowing anything like that to happen to her again. And yet, it very well could if we go through with this plan.
“We can still call it off, you know,” I tell her. “I can get to Gallagher another way. My quest for vengeance shouldn’t jeopardize even more innocent lives. It shouldn’t jeopardize you.”
“No.” She pulls away from me then. “No, you need to know who’s coming after Sophia. If we return to New Orleans now, we’ll be sitting ducks waiting for another attack.”
“We?”
“Yes,we. If it wasn’t obvious, I’m in this, Alister. Not just for tonight, but until the end. I’m not walking away. And I know the only reason you’d even consider abandoning the mission is to keep me safe. I’m telling you that isn’t necessary.”
She’s right. It would test my self-control like nothing else to leave this city without stripping every piece of intel from Gallagher he has to give. But I would do it for her. I would do it to keep her from suffering the same fate as Cara. And yet, as the thought comes to me, I’m reminded that if I walk away without the answers I need, Sophia will remain at risk of suffering just that. Like I said, distraction. Because when I stare into Ariana’s warm eyes, I forget everyone and everything else so much so it’s dangerous.We’redangerous together, and not in the way that sends fear shivering down the spines of our enemies. But in the way that makes us vulnerable, and not just us, but my entire family, the people I’ve pledged my life to protect. So, she’s right. I can’t walk away. I guess I just wish she would. I don’t know how I’ll live with myself if something happens to her because of me.
I offer her a nod as the orchestra begins their piece, signaling the start of the production. Ariana reaches into her clutch and pulls out a pair of binoculars I remember seeing as part of Cassio’s weapons display. “Here.” She hands them to me. “They’ve already been programmed with Gallagher’s information. When the lights go down, scan the room. Once we know where he is, we can keep an eye on him until he excuses himself for a drink or restroom break. It’s then that we should attack. And, if a moment doesn’t present itself during the production, we’ll grab him on his way out.” Ariana remains calm and calculated as she speaks. It’s as if she’s done this a thousand times before. For all I know, she has.
“Hmm, I guess you’re right. I shouldn’t worry about you.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Ariana says, relaxing into her chair. “It felt kind of nice.”
As the lights dim around us, Ariana leaves me with a smile before focusing her attention on the stage, though I let my eyes linger so I can live in this moment a little longer. Because what comes next won’t be pretty or innocent or coy. It will be painful, dangerous, and bloody. And it may just change everything between us.
19
When the announcementfor intermission is made, Avery Gallagher stands and excuses himself from his balcony seat and his three companions. From what Alister says, the man Gallagher is meeting with looks to be one of the mob’s bosses. The other two men are his and Gallagher’s security, which means we’ll have to be quick and careful not just in interrogating Gallagher but also in escaping the opera house without drawing their attention.
“He left his detail behind, which means he’s probably going to the bathroom,” Alister says.
“It’s time. He won’t be without his security again.”
Alister and I share a knowing look before exiting our private balcony and making our way through the throngs of people to Avery Gallagher, the man whose truth may change Alister’s life forever. As we walk, it occurs to me, maybe Alister wanted to call off the mission for more than just my safety. Maybe he’s afraid to know who in his inner circle has betrayed him. Because once he knows, he loses them. And he’s already lost so much in his mother, father, and Cara.
I slow my pace as a wave of sympathy rushes through me. Alister isn’t close with many people, at least, from what I can tell. If, by chance, the traitor is someone he trusts, it’ll be even harder for him to hear and even harder for me to make sure Alister doesn’t cross a line that may get us caught in enemy territory.
“Having second thoughts?” Alister asks, moving his hand to my lower back. His touch sends shock waves through my body, though they aren’t strong enough to alleviate my nerves. I turn to him.
“No. I’m just…worried about you. We don’t know what Gallagher will say. What if he says something you don’t like?”
“You’re worried I’ll do something stupid,” Alister says, seeing straight through me. As we round the corner and the men’s restroom comes into view, Alister moves his hand from my back to my hip and pulls me with him to the side of the corridor. Hidden from view by a large marble column, Alister leans in and whispers, “Don’t worry. No matter what Gallagher says, I won’t do anything to put you at risk.” His words do little to reassure me. And yet, as his breath tickles the delicate skin of my neck, it isn’t my nerves that make the hairs on my arms rise. “I told you I’d protect you and I mean what I say, every word.”
Alister pulls away from me, and there’s something in the way his golden-brown eyes pour into mine that makes me believe him. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking because I have no other choice and I’m high on electric butterflies. Ever since last night, I’ve done my best to pretend that things haven’t changed between us. But they have. I can feel it in every touch, every glance, and every word. Though none of that changes the fact that we are about to go about up against one of the most dangerous men in the country and our lives literally depend on my ability to be sexy. Yeah, easier said than done.
Alister peeks around the corner of the column while I use the mirror from my clutch to check my reflection. The false eyelashes and pink lipstick Sophia sent me add a sultry yet innocent vibe to my pale gray, diamond-encrusted ensemble. I feel and look like a princess. Well, a princess with cleavage and side-boob. My ensemble will work well for the angle I play when I attempt to convince Gallagher to take me somewhere private. A man like him—rich, powerful, manipulative, and greedy—wants an innocent, naive damsel he can impress and dominate. So, that’s what I’ll give him, at least until Alister shows up and—
“Gallagher just came out of the bathroom. He’s in line for a drink at the bar.” Alister turns to me. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” I nod.
“Are you sure?” Alister asks, sensing the hesitancy in my rigid stance.
“What if it doesn’t work? What if I can’t get him to leave with me?”
Alister gives me a once-over, taking in every inch of me. As his eyes meet mine, his lips draw up into a sexy smirk. “It’ll work.” Two words, short and to the point, and yet they make everything inside me turn to goo.Focus, Ariana.This man is dangerous.Though, as the thought comes to me, I wonder if I’m subconsciously referring to Gallagher or Alister.
