Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“I was in the house that night your guys came. When the shots started, I hid in the closet. I didn’t see anything, but I heard it. All I know is that when I finally came out, Muerto was dead.”
The vein in Crow’s neck pulses. “Conor, I’m going to need a word with ye in private now.”
“It was the best day of my life—” Ivy blurts.
Crow cocks his head to the side and studies her carefully, looking for any sign of weakness or dishonesty.
“I know that sounds crazy,” she admits. “But it really was. If it weren’t for your guys killing Muerto, I would still be there. I would still be his prisoner.”
Crow glances at me for confirmation. “It’s true. She told me her story.”
“And you believe her?” His voice is caustic.
“Aye,” I growl. “I do. Kind of like you believed your wife back when you were in a situation not so different.”
His mouth pinches into a hard line, and I know I shouldn’t have brought it up. But he shouldn’t have accused me of being ignorant when it comes to Ivy.
“What exactly are ye getting at, Conor?”
“I’m just reminding ye that we’ve all done things that don’t necessarily fall in line. I know what ye asked me to do, and I had every intention of proving myself, since it seems like I never get the bloody chance. This was it for me. And you aren’t going to like what I have to say, but I’m going to say it anyway.”
He takes up the seat behind his desk again, and if I didn’t know any better, he almost looks amused with this shite. “By all means, if ye have a point to make, then get to it.”
I look to Ivy, and to drive it home, I reach for her hand. She takes mine without hesitation, and warmth fills the space between her fragile fingers in mine. Crow’s eyes flick between us, searching for the answer I have yet to give him.
“I haven’t got the rings yet, but it’s legal.”
“Fack off with this shite, Conor,” Crow bites out. “You’ve got to be joking me. Don’t tell me ye actually went and married her.”
My hand tightens around hers. “Aye, I did. She’s my wife now, and according to our laws, that means none of the brothers can touch her.”
There’s a full minute of silence in which Crow doesn’t move or speak. He just sits there, staring at the both of us like he’s trying to sort out who to murder first.
“What do you make of this?” he asks Ivy.
The question comes out of left field, and it’s something I didn’t prepare her for. I have no bleeding idea what she’s going to say, but I’m almost dead certain it won’t be anything good.
Ivy squares her posture and looks him straight in the eye. “I know what you wanted him to do, but you can’t fault him for having a heart. He’s given me the chance to let my son grow up with a mother. He’s a good man. An honest man. And I think that he saved my life.”
My eyes drift over her, drinking in the details of her face. I’m looking for the lies in her words, but I can’t find them. She’s vulnerable, but not as delicate as I thought. Her honesty comes off as genuine, and surely Crow will recognize that too.
Crow pours himself another drink and swirls the amber whiskey around his glass. “Ivy, I need ye to do me a wee favor now then. I need ye to wait up at the bar for Conor.”
Our eyes meet, it looks like she’s actually worried about me. But I rationalize it’s more likely she’s only worried what will happen to her if Crow decides to off me tonight.
“I’ll be out shortly.” I squeeze her hand. “It’s okay.”
She wraps my coat around her like a security blanket before she takes her leave, allowing Crow to speak his piece.
“You went against a direct order,” he barks. “And ye have it in your thick head that you can just come in here and tell me that it’s all sorted?”
“That isn’t what I said. I know there are other details we need to work out, and ye have every right to throttle me for what I did. If that’s your wish, then I don’t need to grant ye my permission. My loyalty is to the brotherhood, let there be no bones about that. But I can’t stand for an innocent woman and child to suffer just to save our necks. This was the only way I saw fit. And I know ye must be able to understand that, given the past history ye have with Mack.”
“Quit bringing up my goddamn wife,” he says. “She’s got nothing to do with this. That was different.”
“How?” I ask.