Page 35 of Corrupted Pleasure

I’d find every single one of those motherfuckers and I’d make them pay, I vowed.

“Liam.” My name was barely a whisper and my eyes snapped to my best friend. “Get the kids. Keep them safe.”

My eyes roamed the room. Where are the kids? Did they take them?

My ears rang, the buzzing sound almost deafening me. I gasped for breath, keeping the lid on my rage. There’d be time to fume later. Now it was time to save my best friend.

“Your arse better not die on me,” I warned him. Smoke burned my throat and my fucking lungs. Fear fisted my throat, breathing almost impossible. Though guilt was even worse.

Meeting my friend’s eyes, the terror I saw on his face gutted me. “I’ll get you out,” I vowed, lifting him up. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

It was all my fucking fault. I didn’t play my cards right.

“Too late,” he said. He kept glancing over my shoulder and I followed his look. Why was he staring at the blank wall?

“Too late for me. Get my kids,” he begged, his breathing erratic, blood running down his face. “In the wall.”

My pulse thundered and I forced my heartbeat to ease, so I could focus.

That was when I heard it.

Muffled cries filled the air, mixing with the pop and crackle of the raging fire.

I saved Juliette and Killian, but I couldn’t save my friends.

If we grew weak, Aisling and Wynter could end up paying the ultimate price. My sister already paid the price, and it was all for the debts of our father’s sins. Gio learned who Aisling’s grandparents were on her mother’s side. And just as my father aimed to use the Pakhan’s daughter, Gio had the same exact plan. He wanted to get closer to the Pakhan. It sickened me to work with the DiLustros, but I had to pick the lesser of two evils.

It was always the weak that paid the price. Aisling’s mother. My sister. My niece would be next unless I kept her protected.

If for anyone, I’d fucking get married to protect them, as well as Juliette and Killian. My father might not consider them family, but I fucking did, and they’d forever be my kids.

My phone rang again. Unknown number. Fucking hell, I just couldn’t get a goddamn break today. My phone was like fucking Grand Central Station.

“Hello?” I barked into my phone, agitated as fuck.

By now, I was convinced both Wynter and Juliette were ignoring my calls. And those of my sister, because I had Aisling call them too. At least I had a few moments to catch up with her. I didn’t go out to see her much and she hadn’t set foot in New York in over twenty years.

I had a feeling that no matter how safe I made it, she’d never be back.

“Mr. Brennan.” This better not be a fucking sales call or heads would roll. Everyone in our family had burner phones for a reason – being untraceable and the perk of not having sales calls.

“This is Sergeant Matthews, from the Hampton police, calling about your house.”

“What about it?”

"The alarm was set off and the alarm company alerted us. It seems the alarm stopped but they lost connection. They believe there's a chance that someone cut the connection. Would you like for us to go check it out?"

I frowned. Nobody would dare break into my beach home. It was well known that it was ours.

Unless… Unless my rebellious daughter and niece decided to break into my beach home.

“Thank you for letting me know,” I told him. “No cause for alarm.”

If it was an actual burglar, I’d deal with him my way. If Juliette and Wynter went to the beach house, I’d deal with them too. I didn’t want them in trouble with the police.

“Very well, sir. Thank you.”

I glanced at the clock. It was almost nine at night. If I got in the car, I could be there by ten.