Honored_ An Alpha Mob Romance(54)

Breaking into Colm’s place, that was the easy part though.

We climbed into Leary’s car and began driving. We didn’t say anything as we went, but there was a general sense of elation rolling from Leary. We had done it, though neither of us had been sure that we could. Finally, Leary pulled over at a corner and nodded at me.

“Well, we’re still alive.”

“Yeah, we are.”

“Good shit back there. I didn’t think we could do it, but fuck, we just stole from Colm Brennan.”

I laughed. “Yeah, Leary, we did.”

“You owe me for this.”

I grasped his arm and nodded, genuinely grateful. “I’ll pay you back, I promise.”

“Fine. Get out of here now, before I decide to rip you off.”

I laughed again and grabbed his duffle. It was as heavy as my own. I climbed out of the car slowly, heaving the second bag over my back. I paused for a second, and then I pulled the one duffel open and tossed Leary the two big stacks of cash from Colm’s safe. He grinned at me.

“See you, Leary.”

“Stay safe, Liam.”

I nodded and he drove off. I waited a minute or two until he was completely out of sight until I started my long trek back to the safe house, taking a circuitous path.

Hopefully, there was only one more suicide mission, and all of this could be over. Hopefully, the people that deserved my revenge would get it. I pictured that as I trudged along, lugging the two duffle bags on my back.

The real work could begin.





Chapter Twenty: Ellie


It was late and I was exhausted, but it wasn’t like I was going to get a wink of sleep, not with Liam out there breaking into the office of the most dangerous guy in the city.

I sifted through the pages spread around me in the living room again idly, though I don’t expect to find anything new. I’d been through them top to bottom maybe a hundred times, and I had them practically memorized. Unsurprisingly, nothing new jumped out at me, although the signs were all still there: small money moving around to various offshore accounts, all very shady and weird. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but Liam insisted that it suggested Colm was stealing from the old boss.

Frustrated, I tossed the papers across the room and flopped onto my back. I knew I wasn’t really mad at the papers; really, I was worried as hell about Liam. He had been gone for a few hours, and it was almost dawn. I could practically feel the sun starting to peek over the horizon. He should have been back, or at least he should have called. Actually scratch that; I didn’t have a phone.

I groaned. I wished more than anything that I could be out there with him, even if I was just off to one side keeping watch. I couldn’t remember the last time I had been stuck in one place for so long. I itched for something. Really, I itched for him, for his cocky smile and his muscular body, for the depth underneath his stupid jokes and tough-guy act. Over the long days of living with him, I had discovered something I didn’t expect. The worry churning up my gut meant something, and I knew that I should figure out exactly what, but I was afraid.

There was a scratch at the door, and the knob turned, and instead of the usual fear I felt every moment since it all started, relief flooded through my system. When he pushed open the door and stepped into the room, two huge black duffle bags slung over his back, sweat dripping down his brow, I didn’t hesitate. As he dropped the bags on the floor and locked the door, I threw my arms around him, pressing myself against his broad, strong back.

“Hey—” he said, but I squeezed him and he shut up.

I breathed his smell in deeply, savoring the sweat and the feel of him. He was so solid, the most solid thing I had ever felt in my entire life, and I couldn’t imagine him leaving me. I couldn’t imagine him disappearing.

“It’s okay,” he said softly.

I pulled away, feeling a little embarrassed. “I know it is. I’m just glad you’re back.”

He turned and grinned. “Missed me?”

I rolled my eyes and gestured toward the bags. “Is that it?”

His eyes lit up and he nodded. “Everything from his office.”

“And you didn’t get caught?”

He laughed. “I’d be dead if I did.”

“You’re incredible.”

“I know.”

I walked over to the first bag and dragged it into the middle of the living room, clearing out the old papers. I upturned the bag, letting the papers and binders and folders spill out like an avalanche, cascading all over the space. Even though each page meant hours of more work, I felt elated and excited. Finally, I was going to be able to help out. I was going to have a job to do.

“Easy there,” he said.