Page 63 of Knuckles & Knives

“There was an attack on your shipments?”

“All kinds of people are crawling out of the woodwork since you’ve returned, and some are trying to muddle the waters and turn everyone against each other.”

“It’s a trap,” I say slowly.

“The best kind. He’ll think he’s walking into an ambush, but instead he’ll find himself isolated and vulnerable.” Kieran’s hand slides down to rest on my hip. “Marcus will appreciate the elegance of it.”

“What about the rest of your family?”

“My father’s been wanting to retire anyway. James, one of my cousins, would rather run the legitimate businesses. It’s really just Richard and a few of his old-school supporters who need to be… removed.”

I shiver. This is the Kieran I always suspected existed beneath the polished exterior, as ruthless as any of us when the stakes are high enough.

“Your uncle won’t go down easily.”

“No,” he agrees, “but he doesn’t know what’s coming. And he definitely doesn’t know I’m willing to burn down everything I inherited to keep you safe.”

We’re standing close now, the fog swirling around us as if we’re the only two people in the world.

“When this is over,” I say quietly, “when your family is handled and Dom is fully healed?—”

“When it’s over,” he interrupts, “I want what Dom has. What Axel has. What Marcus has.”

“Which is?”

“You.” His hand tightens on my hip. “All of you without reservation. No more divided loyalties, no more conflicted interests. Just us.”

The promise in his voice makes my pulse race. “That’s a lot to ask for.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m willing to give everything in return.”

This kiss is a promise, a seal on the bargain we’re making.

I rest my forehead against his. “Dom’s going to want to be involved in planning your uncle’s takedown,” I murmur.

“I wouldn’t dream of excluding him. It’s his blood Richard spilled.” Kieran’s thumb strokes along my jaw. “Besides, I suspect he’ll want to return the favor personally.”

“And Axel will want to make it creative.”

“Naturally.”

“Marcus will want to make it clean.”

“Also naturally.” Kieran chuckles low in his throat. “And you? What will you want?”

“I want it to send a message. I want everyone in this city to understand that we’re not just individuals anymore. We’re a unit. Anyone who threatens one of us had better be prepared to face all of us.”

“Consider the message sent.” Kieran’s smile is sharp with anticipation. “Richard is about to become a very public example of what happens when you fuck with the wrong people.”

We arrange the details quickly—when and where to spring the trap, what story Kieran will feed his uncle, how to coordinate our response. We need a few days to ready the trap, but our plan is efficient, professional, and completely at odds with the electricity still crackling between us.

“I should get back,” I say reluctantly. “Dom will be wondering where I went.”

“Tell him I said thank you.”

“For what?”

“For taking that bullet. If he hadn’t…” Kieran’s jaw tightens. “If something had happened to you because I wasn’t there, I wasn’t fast enough, I would never have forgiven myself.”