Page 18 of Three Irish Kings

“I’m sure.” He sits on the passenger seat.

I sigh as I look at Dare, who stands there for a moment, staring after Liam.

It’s strange to see Dare in a melancholy mood. He’s usually the clown of the group. Not that he is a happy go lucky kind of guy. I mean, in our field, who can afford to be that? But he is the one who brings levity to an otherwise dark and drowning world.

I guess I need to be the one bringing the levity now, since I need him to cheer up, or at least, snap out of this funk. “At least, we got it done without bloodshed.”

“Not yet.” His words sound ominous, and I hope to God they don’t come to pass.

I don’t know if I can kill a woman, and since I’m the weapon, it will fall on me if that is Ronan’s decision for her. I can’t afford to lose Ronan or Liam. They are my family. The only ones I have, even if not by blood.

If they send me away, if I disappoint them, what will I do then? Who will I be if not their weapon?

And as much as being a weapon takes its toll on me, as much as it breaks my spirit a little more each time I have to watch life leave someone’s eyes, the thought of having no one, of losing these two men, destroys me even more. It would crush me.

I guess my soul is already gone, hopeless, so I might as well do whatever I need to make sure my time on Earth includes the people who matter the most to me. The Hayes.

Dare shakes his head and gets into Liam’s SUV’s driver’s seat, taking off.

I follow them to the house, not sure what to expect.

All I know is it’s going to be alongnight.

Chapter Five

ISLA

I screamand kick in the trunk until my voice is hoarse and my muscles ache.

It feels like we’ve been driving for a long time, but with the dark and the quiet, I can’t make out anything but the low murmur of their voices, and not even much of that.

I have to take long, slow breaths through my nostrils not to hyperventilate. I don’t need to pass out.

How much oxygen is in a trunk, anyway? Oh god, what are they going to do to me?

This is not worth it. This story is not worth my life.

I don’t want to die…

What was Ithinking, going to this gala?

I now know why the name Dare Kavanagh was so familiar.

He works for Liam, all right. Liam Hayes. And boy, have I heard of Liam Hayes. He is rumored to be the dark prince of the Irish mob.

There isn’t much about him out there. A few articles, a few arrest records.

I knew there was a possibility that some of the Irish underground would be there, but what were the odds I’d get entangled with them? I’m no one.

I live for my job, sure, but I’m not that good yet that I would uncover anything major at the gala. I hoped I could find some connections, get some key contacts, but nothing like this.

And the worst part is, I really liked Dare.

And now I’m going to die. Or be tortured. Or…

I shiver.

What I have to do is fuckingrun.Run as if my life depended on it, because it probably does.