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“How many men?”
“Seven of ours. Murph and Finn are dead.”
My head spun, and I clutched the phone. It was that fucking mole. Had to be.
“There’s more,” Tommy’s tone was deadly. “Somebody broke into Cassidy’s apartment. I went up there to pack her shit, and the entire joint was trashed.”
A wave of ice flooded my veins. “Did they take anything?”
“We won’t know until we ask her.”
There was no way in hell I was letting Cassidy back in there. Not after it had been broken into while we had eyes on the place. “Where’s Alfie?”
Tommy was silent.
“Where is Alfie,” I repeated. He was supposed to be my point of contact. God, if anything had happened to him—
“I don’t know. Nobody’s seen him in a couple days. He wasn't at the warehouse when it got hit, Teag hasn't heard from him since.”
My hand tightened on the phone. “Find him.”
“Teag’s on it—“
“Fucking find him, Tommy. Then get your ass back to Lady D’s, we’re figuring this shit out. Tonight.”
Tommy didn’t even try to joke around with me. “We’re an hour out from the summer house. Callum rallied the troops to give you an escort home after what happened at Cassidy’s apartment.”
“Don’t bother. I’ve got a car, I can get us home safe.” Knowing there was a mole in our ranks, I didn’t feel exactly overjoyed at the prospect of dozens of possible traitors breathing the same air as Cassidy.
“Non-negotiable, Connor. Callum’s orders.”
I cursed. About the only people I trusted right now were Tommy and Alfie, and half that equation was missing. I hung up on Tommy without saying goodbye. I had a million things to do, and only an hour to get them done.
I tucked the phone in my pocket and walked back to the bedroom on numb legs. I wasn’t used to feeling this way. This kind of thing had happened before, and my body’s usual response was one of cold anger, of excitement and anticipation, steeling itself for the fight and locking down all emotions. The only emotion I felt, though, was fear, and I knew why.
I had something to lose, now.
I sat on the edge of the bed and watched Cassidy as she slept, completely oblivious to the danger we were in. The bruising on her temple had faded, but it was still visible. As were her other scars. She hadn’t wanted this life. She tried to walk away from it once, and now the noose was tightening around her neck, drawing her back towards the flame.
This past week, I watched her walls come down one-by-one. Cassidy was like a different person, now. She laughed and smiled. Teased me. I liked the woman I saw. I didn’t want to lose what fragile ground we’d gained. Most of all, I was afraid of what she’d do if she found out. Cassidy wasn’t one to take orders, especially when she was afraid. A part of me had hoped Moretti would back off once we were married, and I could tell she’d bought into that, too. What would she do when she found out how close they’d gotten?
I wouldn’t tell her. There was no point, really. Cass would just try to take matters into her own hands again, and it could jeopardize my security measures—or worse, place her in even more danger. I couldn't tell her what was really going on. I couldn't risk losing her.
My breath caught as I pulled the covers up to her chin and softly kissed her temple, trying to memorize the way she looked in this moment. It would get me through the next few brutal days. Then, I turned and walked into the bathroom. Time to wash away the bliss of our week together and pick up my weapons once more.
The honeymoon was over. It was time to go to work.
12
Cassidy
Iwoketoanempty bed.
The covers were tucked around me, heavy and confining. I shrugged them off and reached out for Connor, only to have my hand land on empty blankets. His side of the bed was cold. Frowning, I sat up. Rosy, pink tendrils of sunrise were just beginning to peek their way over the windowsill. It was still early.
Dread pooled in my belly. That sly voice in my head laughed, full of hauteur and I-told-you-so’s. I almost gave in to it, until I smelled coffee drifting past the closed door.
I sighed with relief.
