Page 76

The car ride is silent,the air thick with the weight of everything that’s happened tonight.Eamon’s hands grip the wheel too tightly, his jaw locked, eyes fixed on the road ahead, but he hasn’t said a word.I had every intention of telling him about the meeting and giving him exactly what he needed to strike Ruairi.But then he freaked out and dragged me out of the penthouse.And now we’re in the car, going God only knows where.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Ruairi’s text messages made it even worse.I scroll up, rereading his hateful words.

First, you whore yourself out to O’Sullivan and now to Cian?You think that earns you a seat at the table?

The message stares back at me.Ruairi’s always been controlling, but this is a low he’s never stooped to.His words cut deeper than I care to admit.

And then there’s Cian.

I glance at the pictures again, the ones he sent right to Ruairi.I knew he couldn’t be trusted.This only cements it.He played his part perfectly today, acting like I was something special, all while feeding Ruairi exactly what he wanted him to see.

Bastard.

I shove my phone into my pocket and cross my arms, staring out the window.The city lights have long since faded, replaced by winding roads and endless stretches of dark countryside.

“Where are we going?”I ask.

Eamon doesn’t look at me.His hands stay steady on the wheel, his expression unreadable.“You’ll see.”

The vague answer grates on my nerves.“Eamon.”

He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t give me any indication that he even heard my voice.We continue on the main road until he makes a turn onto a narrow dirt path.Up ahead, looming against the night sky, stands an old castle.

I frown.“What the hell is this?”

Eamon shifts the car into park and finally turns to me.“One of my holding sites.”

I glance up at the castle, a cold sense of unease curling around my spine.Holding site.I don’t need a translation for that.“Why are we here?”I ask.

“You said you wanted to be in this world,” Eamon says and watches me for a long moment.“If you’re having second thoughts, just say the word, and we’ll go back to the penthouse.”

I square my shoulders, my tone firm.“I already told you I’m all in.”

He nods slowly like he’s measuring my conviction.“Tonight will prove to me, and everyone else, that you mean it.”

My chest tightens, but I keep my face neutral.

Eamon steps out of the car, and I follow, my boots crunching against the gravel.The castle is even more imposing up close.It rises tall and unyielding, its jagged stone walls looming against the night sky.The narrow windows are dark and empty, like hollow eyes carved into a cold, watchful face.

A few of Eamon’s men linger near the entrance, their heads snapping up in surprise when they see him.

“Didn’t expect you here, boss,” one of them says, his brows lifting.

Eamon’s voice is firm, unwavering.“I’m handling things in person tonight.”

The men exchange glances, but no one questions him.

I swallow hard, my nerves creeping in, but I push them down.This is what I wanted.

Eamon doesn’t slow.“Follow me.”

He leads me deeper into the castle, past spiral staircases, and arched stone doorways, the air growing colder with each step.We stop at a stretch of unmarked wall, indistinguishable from the rest of the corridor.

Eamon presses his hand to a carved stone near the base.With a faint click, a section of the wall shifts, grinding open just enough to reveal a narrow passage beyond.A hidden doorway.Without a word, he steps through.

I hesitate.Eamon notices.

He smirks, stepping onto the first stone step.“Having second thoughts?”