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But I don’t let it show.

Instead, I sigh, crossing my arms like I’m weighing the plan."It won’t work," I finally say, shaking my head.

Cian’s brows knit together."What do you mean?Of course, it’ll work."

I exhale, letting my voice take on a mix of confidence and experience."I’ve been working at the hotel for months.I’ve watched how Mr.O’Sullivan moves.How his security operates.He’s never alone.If you try to box him in, it won’t be his blood on the pavement.It’ll be yours."

Cian’s frown deepens, but I see the shift in his eyes.He knows I’m right.

Stepping closer, I lower my voice."But there’s another way."

That gets his attention.

"Go on," he says, intrigued.

I let a slow smirk curve my lips."He’s interested in me, and I’ve played into it.If I tell him I’m delivering Ruairi to him, he’ll come running.No security.No backup.Just him.And when I get him alone…" I trail off, letting Cian fill in the blanks.

His grin spreads wide."You’re fucking brilliant."

I give a slight shrug like it’s nothing."I know."

Cian’s practically vibrating with excitement now.He presses for details.He wants to know exactly how I plan to pull this off.

But I can’t give him that.Not yet.Because that would mean revealing Ruairi’s location.

So, I lean against one of the rusted beams, exhaling like I’m thinking it all through."I need a little more time."

"Time?"

“I need time to gain Eamon’s trust so I can convince him to come alone.If he has even a shadow of a doubt, he’ll bring his men.If that happens, we won’t stand a chance."

Cian exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair.He wants to push.I can see it, but I’ve dangled the perfect scenario in front of him.

In the end, he can’t resist.

"Fine," he says after a moment."But don’t take too long.The sooner we do this, the better."

I give him a slow, knowing smile."Trust me.No one will see it coming."

He grins, stepping in closer, his hands settling at my waist."You really do have a devious fucking mind, Aoife."

I let him kiss me, let him think he’s the one in control.

But the truth is, Cian’s already eating out of the palm of my hand.

And he has no idea.

Eamon

Aoife standsat the edge of the pit, her posture deceptively composed.She’s always been good at hiding her emotions, too good, but today, something’s different.There’s a crack in her armor, subtle but undeniable.A slight tightening around her mouth.A flicker of uncertainty in her eyes before she steels herself again.

For the first time since this started, she looks unsure.

Even as she speaks, poised to deliver a far crueler blow than any that came before, there’s a hesitation.A weight bearing down on her, dragging at the edges of her bravado.She tries to bury it, to tuck it behind the sharpness of her words,

But I see it.I feel it.However, this isn’t the time to question it.

So I keep my distance, watching in silence, letting her command the moment, letting her be the one to decide how far she’s willing to go.