Page 63 of Sweet Revenge

“Me too, what?”

“If I have to listen to another lecture about my relationship with Evie, someone is going to get shot.”

“I’m not lecturing.” Finn chuckled. “I’m not! People like Evie, they always have. She makes you look like a real person instead of a tyrant. So if you’re going to go, take her so you don’t make people nervous.”

“Maybe I want people to look at me like I’m a tyrant. A little fear never hurt anyone.”

Finn snorted. “How’s that going, by the way?”

“Are we going to braid each other’s hair and talk about girls now?”

“Oh, so it’s serious,” Finn replied to Declan’s sarcasm. “That’s interesting.”

“It’s also none of your business,” Declan snapped.

“I wouldn’t say that. My son can’t hold the future of the Callahan syndicate up by himself forever. You’re going to have to get busy making little Declans sometime.”

“So everyone keeps reminding me,” he mumbled.

Finn slapped Declan on the shoulder. “I like her. Cait’s been devising ways to get her to stay since she first ran into her. I’m sure you two could come up with something.”

“Mmm.”

Declan was saved from answering when Helen knocked then poked her head in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but someone left a note for you with the hostess. They said it was urgent.”

Helen placed the note into Declan’s outstretched hand and then left, closing the door quietly behind her. He quickly ran his finger under the sealed flap of the envelope and slid out a piece of stationery with the initials EG at the top.

Evie O’Brian is in danger, the looping script read.She’s got a fifty thousand dollar bounty on her head the Italians are eager to collect. Watch your back.

Declan shot to his feet and crossed the office in two quick strides, yanking open the door. “When did they leave this note?”

Startled, Helen jerked around to face him. “Amy said she sent it right up. So less than five minutes ago.”

Declan slammed the door and stalked back to his desk, throwing the note at Finn as he reached for his phone and punched in Brogan’s number. Finn bit off a curse.

“It’s not signed. You think this is legit?”

“We’re about to find out. Brogan,” Declan said when his brother answered, “I need you to pull up the security cameras in the lobby of Breá from about five minutes ago.”

His tone brooked no argument, and he could hear Brogan sprinting up the stairs seconds before the clacking of keys.

“Someone dropped a note off to the hostess.” Declan paced in the silence, rage twining with fear in his chest.

“Got her. A woman, blonde, curvy. I can only see her profile, but she hands a sealed envelope to the hostess and leans in to whisper something. Hang on.” More clicking. “She’s Italian.”

Stopping short, he demanded, “How do you know?”

“She’s got a Giordano tattoo on her forearm.”

Declan disconnected the call, shoving his phone into his pocket. “It’s legit,” he said to Finn as he crossed to the door. “I’ve got to find Evie.”

“Shit. Fuck.” Finn followed him out the door. “She’s at the park right now. The one closest to our house.”

“How do you know that?” Declan asked, slamming into the stairwell and taking the stairs two at a time.

“Because she’s there with my wife and kid.”

* * *