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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

UNA

F inn’s phone rang the instant we touched down, and he turned his back as he spoke. I passed a weary hand over my face as we exited the plane, were whisked through customs, and got into the waiting car.

Finn instructed his driver to drop me off, then head to the hotel. Silence stretched between us, the sound so loud it screamed in my ears. I clutched my purse handle so hard, my knuckles were white. It took all I had not to turn to Finn and beg for Brian. Plead with him to make an exception. I knew this world. I knew the dangers and the pain of being in it.

Which was why I had wanted out of it for so long.

But being out of it meant losing Finn, and I wasn’t sure I could do that again.

The consequences of my brother’s actions, however, might have ended it for me.

“Una.” Finn’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I glanced at him. “We’re here,” he stated, indicating my apartment building.

“Right.” I stepped out, taking my bag from the driver. Finn watched me, not getting out of the car. Unsure what to do, I began to walk to the door, tears filling my eyes. Then I heard him call my name, and I turned, seeing him behind me. He grabbed me, bringing me flush to his body and holding me.

“We’ll get through this, mo chroí . I swear it.”

But even I heard the doubt in his voice.

He stood, ensuring I walked into the building, then I watched as his car pulled away, feeling as if my entire world had just disappeared.

I headed upstairs, entering my apartment. It smelled musty, and I got busy, emptying the garbage and the fridge, glad I hadn’t been shopping before I left. There were only a few soft grapes and a mushy cucumber to toss. The sour milk, I poured down the drain. My plants were a little droopy, so I watered them and hoped they’d bounce back. I unpacked, my body on autopilot as I did. The new clothes Finn had purchased for me, I put away, the sadness bearing down on me. I paused as I ran my hand over the softness of a sweater.

Would he ever see me wear it?

I sat down, my shaky legs not able to keep me on my feet.

Would Finn kill Brian? Was my brother on drugs? Was he doing what Finn suspected?

I rubbed my aching head. In Finn’s world, there was only black and white. Obedience was expected. Loyalty was demanded. You stepped out of line, you knew the consequences.

I sighed as a tear slipped down my cheek. I knew that—and so did Brian. Finn was right, and I had always coddled my brother. Took his side.

I still remembered the older brother who was sweet and funny. Who taught me how to skate. Held my hand the first day of school when I was afraid. Comforted me at night if I woke up from a bad dream. He always brought me water and sat with me.

I wasn’t sure when our roles reversed. Probably when my mum died and I had to grow up fast. Help more with chores. Learn how to cook. After she passed, my dad left all that to me, and somehow I became the mother Brian had lost.

What, I wondered, would she tell me to do right now?

She always supported my dad. He used to say she was the glue that held the family together. That because of her, he was stronger. Was I strong enough to be that for Finn? To accept his decision and keep moving forward?

I wiped my face. I couldn’t answer that right now. I was too tired and drained.

And I needed to talk to my brother.

* * *

I went for a run, needing to stretch my legs and clear my head. There was a trail by my building and a small park, not as nice as the one that had been in my old neighborhood, but it was fine. I noticed a man walking toward me as I headed away from my building. He looked at me, his gaze focused intently on my face as I went by. He was older, his expression cold and removed. I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I had a feeling if I looked over my shoulder, he’d be staring at me, so I kept going, grateful when I went around the corner and spotted two other women running. I kept close to them, following them around the small park and veering off once I got close to my building again. I looked around as I slowed, feeling as if I was being watched, but I didn’t see anyone and I shook my head in annoyance at myself. I was tired and overwrought. One creep with a lingering glance was all it was. He probably leered at all the women. Inside, I stepped off the elevator, running into my neighbor.

“Hey, Emily.”

“Hi.”

“Um, didn’t you get my note?”

She frowned. “Sorry?”

“About watering my plants while I was gone?”

“I did, but I saw Brian in the hall, so I assumed he was doing it.”

I was confused. “Brian moved out a few weeks ago.”

“Oh.” She scratched her chin. “I was sure I saw him coming out of the apartment, but maybe I was mistaken. He’d probably dropped over to say hi and he was walking away. Oh God, are the plants okay?”

“They’re fine. I only buy the hardy ones,” I assured her.

“Okay, great. Sorry for the mix-up.”

“No problem.”

I stepped into the apartment, feeling anxious. Emily thought she saw Brian leaving. I checked his keys, but they were still on the hook, the dull bronze matching the one I had. I knew the super wouldn’t let him in. Emily must have been mistaken, as she said. I hadn’t told him I was away, so he must have dropped over to say hi. Unless he’d had a second key I didn’t know about. Why would he come inside, though?

I went to his old room, pushing open the door. I sniffed, the air a bit stale with a slightly odd scent mixed in. Everything was in its place. I crossed to the closet, opening the door. The backpack he’d put in it was still tucked into the corner of the shelf. With a shake of my head, I shut the door then headed for a shower, leaving the bedroom door open to air it out a bit.

A while later, I came down the hall, stopping in confusion. The bedroom door was almost shut, but I had left it open, hadn’t I?

I pushed it open, looking inside. Everything was normal. No one was there. I headed to the front door, checking that it was closed. It was locked, the dead bolt firmly in place. The bedroom door probably drifted shut on its own and I was making too much of it.

I sat down, staring at the floor. I rubbed my eyes. I was tired and overreacting. I was sure I was, but I decided I would ask the super about changing the locks the next time I saw him.

* * *

I was tired the next morning, having hardly slept that night. I tossed and turned, thinking of Finn. Worried. Upset he hadn’t called.

Then I realized not once in my worrying had I wondered about Brian.

And I wondered if my subconscious was telling me something.

I went to work, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. As I stepped off the subway, I got the feeling again of being watched. I looked around, but the station was busy—packed with morning commuters. I thought I glimpsed the same man from the day before, but he was gone too quickly for me to be sure.

Then I shook my head and ran for the bus, not wanting to be late. I was nervous as I walked in, wondering how the staff would treat me. If Finn would be waiting. But I was greeted in the same warm fashion, and Finn was nowhere to be seen. The morning was busy with checkouts and getting reservations organized for a large group arriving on the weekend, and it flew by. I had my lunch by the fireplace, feeling strangely bereft. I glanced at the cameras, somehow aware that Finn wasn’t watching me back.

I recalled his words. “I’m not playing this game with you, Una.”

I had to swallow the lump in my throat. Had he given up this time, knowing the bumps ahead were too large to smooth over between us?

On the way home, I sensed eyes on me, but when I looked around the crowded subway car, I saw no one I recognized. No mysterious man leering at me.

I was overtired and upset and seeing things that weren’t there. Jumping at shadows.

I stepped out of the elevator, rounding the corner, shock stopping my feet when I saw Brian outside my door.

“Brian?”

He blinked, looking surprised. Or was that guilt?

“Hey, Una. I was just leaving. I knocked, but you weren’t home.”

“I was at work. You know that. And you didn’t answer my call or text last night.”

“Yeah. I don’t have the old phone anymore. I, ah, had to give it back.”

“When you quit.”

“Guess I’m not surprised you know about that.” He scratched his head. “Can we talk?”

I went past him, glancing down. He had some keys in his hand. “What are those?”

He looked down. “My keys.”

“Do you have a key to my place?”

He looked annoyed. “No. I gave it back, Una.” He held up the ring. “These are to my new place and my car. Jesus,” he muttered, pushing them my way. “You want to check?”

“No.” I huffed a sigh. “Come in.”

* * *

He went past me, and I wrinkled my nose. “Have you started smoking again?”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re not my mother. I bummed one earlier. I was tense.”

I looked at him. He was thinner, his dark eyes almost black. He seemed on edge. Unhappy.

“Are you on drugs, Brian?” I asked.

“Fuck’s sake, Una,” he snapped. “Not you too. You and the mighty Finn. So fucking moral.” He snorted.

“You saw Finn?” I gripped the back of the sofa, relief pouring through me. He’d seen Finn, and he was alive.

“He sent his men after me, so yeah, I went and saw him.” He winced as he sat down. “We had words.” He leaned back. “Really, Una. It’s been a day. Can I have a whiskey?”

I poured us each a finger in a glass and handed him one. He tossed it back and held out his glass for more. I poured him another and he frowned, so I added a splash more then sat across from him.

“What happened?” I asked quietly.

“Oh, your boy was full of questions and accusations. I had to prove to him I wasn’t some sort of low-life arsonist. I’ve been busy with Juan, building our business. I don’t give a flying shit about Finn or his world anymore. That fucker Roman Costas filled his head with lies.” He sat back with a smirk, an ugly one. “I set the record straight.” He took another sip of whiskey. “And I paid him the money I owed him, so I am free and clear of him.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew an envelope. “And there’s yours.”

I gaped at him, not touching it. “Brian, what are you doing to get that sort of money?”

“We got an investor in our company. I told him everything. And you know what? He didn’t care. He fronted us the money, and Juan let me take this to pay off my debts. I’ll draw a lesser salary to pay it off. Without fucking interest. I owe nothing to you or your fucking precious Finn.”

I shook my head. “What sort of investor does that? What have you gotten yourself involved with?”

“Why am I not surprised that my sister has zero faith in me? First, I had to listen to Finn all afternoon. Get tossed around. Swear my fucking fidelity to someone I hate.” He took a drink of whiskey. “And now, you’re all sanctimonious, as if you’re so fucking pure.”

He narrowed his eyes, and I shivered at the look of them. Empty. Cold. Angry. And far too black. He leaned close, the scent of cigarettes and something else washing over me. It was all I could do not to gag or lean back.

“You think you’re all high-and-mighty, my little sister? Fucking big bad Finn? Throwing me to the wolf and walking away? You think he can always protect you?” he laughed, the sound unpleasant. “Yet I’m here with you. Alone. I could slap you around, hurt you, and he could do nothing.”

My stomach rolled at his words and his implied threat. Then he sat back. “But I never would.”

His words should have calmed me, but the fact that he’d uttered them frightened me.

“I asked Finn to let you go,” I whispered.

“And he did. But you didn’t ask him to forgive the loan. Or to make sure it was known I wasn’t to be touched. That only applies to you, doesn’t it, sister dear? I guess you need to suck his cock for protection.” He stood. “At least I haven’t lowered myself to that. Sleeping with the man who killed our dad.”

His words and the hatred with which he spewed them shocked me.

“Dad was doing his job. He took that bullet out of loyalty.”

“And got nothing for it but pissing and shitting himself until he died,” he snarled. “Finn did nothing.”

I stood, angry now too. “He paid all the medical bills. The mortgage. For nursing care. He made sure Dad never went without. He looked after him.”

“And what about me?” he roared, his whiskey-soaked breath hitting my face. “I should have been promoted. Given special treatment to make up for it.”

I gaped at him. “Oh my God, that’s what you think? Dad got hurt, so you should have it easy? What makes you think you should be entitled that way?”

He grasped my arms, shaking me. “Finn O’Reilly owes me.”

“No,” I gasped. “He doesn’t. You owe him.”

His grip tightened to the point of pain. Then with a snarl, he pushed me away. I fell to the floor, hitting my hip, staring up at him with new eyes.

“He is going to pay. He thinks this is over, but it’s not. One day, he will bow to me.” He grinned, an evil, twisted grin I had never seen on him before. “And I’ll show him the same mercy he showed me.” He picked up his whiskey and drained it, throwing the glass against the wall. Then he picked up the envelope. “You know what? Ask Finn for your money. You’re his whore now. I’m going to take this and enjoy myself. See you around, sister.”

He left, slamming the door behind him. It took me a moment before I got off the floor and raced to the door, throwing the dead bolt.

Whoever that person was who had left in such anger wasn’t my brother. I didn’t recognize that man.

I covered my face as I sobbed.

Finn had been right all along.

But it might be too late for me to tell him.