Just that I feel…off.
I pull out my phone and text my parents, suddenly desperate to hear from them.
Dad’s cryptic messages from the other day still gnaw at the back of my mind. Ronan’s become convinced my family has betrayed his. Could he be going after Dad and the others? Would he be so depraved as to hurt my family like that?
We hate each other… or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
But some part of me still struggles accepting the fact that even he could ever be that cruel and heartless…
I watch the screen, waiting for a response that doesn’t come.
“Everything alright with your darling parents?”
I look up to find Eddie watching me in the rearview mirror, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
A frown crosses mine; I can’t help being disturbed by his tone. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mock or taunt me about my family.”
He laughs as if the request is a joke. “Why the hell not? When you’re behind what’s been going on?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That’s what Ronan thinks, isn’t it?” he asks amusedly, green eyes glittering in the reflection. “That you and the Langstons have set up the Callahans. You’re the reason the Albanians are about to destroy us. Pretty fucking ironic if you ask me.”
Anger heats me up despite the winter cold, burning away the unease. “Shut up,” I snap as the car brakes for a red light. “I’m warning you, Eddie. Shut your mouth or?—”
“Or elsewhat, princess?” He twists in the driver’s seat for a direct look at me, his smirk widening crudely. “What are you gonna do? Tell Ronan on me? Fat chance. He won’t give a damn either way. He’s so torn up over my dad’s murder he’s not seeing straight. He’s convinced it’s you and the Langstons who’ve done him and our family in.”
I refuse to be mocked like this. Disrespected like this.
I don’t give a fuck if he’s a Callahan himself.
“Unlock the door,” I demand when I try to rear passenger and it doesn’t budge. “Let me out. I’d rather ride the subway home than spend another second in this car with you.”
“Quiet your pie hole and behave like you’re supposed to, or I might have to make you.”
“Eddie,” Fionn interjects finally. He sounds exasperated, like he’s miffed he has to involve himself at all. “Let up, why don’t you? Ronan’s made it clear we’re to respect his wife. Not taunt her.”
“Blow me, Fionn. That’s what you think. I don’t give a fuck about that anymore.”
“Listen, you little asshat. Leave the woman alone or Ronan’ll hear about it. Understand?” Fionn snaps. “Maybe Killian’s right about you. You’ve been smelling yourself a little too much lately, especially for some twenty-year-old punk who hasn’t earned?—”
“That’s enough out of you.”
Eddie pulls out a gun from the inside of his jacket and squeezes the trigger, shooting Fionn point blank in the face.
It happens so fast and suddenly, I’m frozen in shock for seconds to follow. I can’t even bring myself to scream as the gunshot rings through the enclosed space of the towncar and blood splatters across the interior.
My ears ache as I gape at the disturbing sight and a wave of dizziness passes over me. Almost enough to make me pass out on the spot.
Eddie glances over at me in the backseat and releases a dark laugh at the frozen panic he finds.
As if on cue, the streetlight we’ve been waiting on turns green.
“Buckle up, princess,” he says crudely. “You’ve got a long night ahead.”
TWENTY-THREE
Ronan