When life was going to hell around him, sometimes it was all about finding pleasure in the small things.
“Tell me again.”
Carrigan bit back her impatience. “I already told you twice. Dmitri is planning on killing James. You have to call him and warn him.”
Teague ran his hands through his hair. “I did. Five times. He’s not answering.”
She knew that. God, of course she knew that. It didn’t stop the panic from hurtling through her, growing stronger with each minute that passed. Where was James now? Had this Michael already done his work, and was the love of her life even now bleeding out in some back alley? She dug her nails into her palm, trying to keep control of herself. “Then we need to find out where he is and go to him.”
Her brother shot her a look. “Easier said than done.”
“You have connections. Use them.” She’d never felt so helpless in her life. Not when she was shipped off to Connecticut for supposedly her own good. Not when her father basically sold her into a marriage she didn’t want. Not even when Devlin died. James was in trouble and she was stuck here in Teague’s apartment, pacing the increasingly small space and throwing shitty ideas at the wall.
She bet Aiden knew where James was. He always seemed to know everything. But he wasn’t someone she could call in for help and know without a shadow of a doubt that he’d help her instead of hauling her back to Dmitri. He didn’t approve of James, and she couldn’t risk him working against her instead of with her.
Callie came out of the back room, the phone to her ear. “Thank you, Micah. You’re a lifesaver.” She hung up. “The Hallorans have a meet up with a flesh trader tonight down at the docks. I can’t confirm that James will be there, but if he’s not answering his phone, it’s a safe bet.”
He’d been serious when he asked her the other day about freeing women from the slave trade. She’d wondered but…It doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is getting to him and making sure he’s safe.
And if she put a bullet into this Michael in the process, she wouldn’t cry herself to sleep at night over it.
She started for the door, but Teague blocked her way. “No.”
“We know where he is. We have to go now, before it’s too late.”
“If you think for a second that I’m taking my sister and my wife into a meeting with two enemies, you’re out of your mind.” His gaze jumped from her face to Callie’s and back again. “We’re not rushing into anything.”
She eyed the door, but even if she got past Teague, what was she going to do? She needed help, no matter how much the delay had her in danger of tearing her hair out in frustration. “You have a plan? Then let’s hear it.”
“We need backup.”
The last thing she wanted to hear. Carrigan threw up her hands. “Who are we going to call? There isn’t a single member of our family that would help with this. Every one of them would be willing to let James burn if it meant they wouldn’t have a Halloran at their back.” Or with her.
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
As if on cue, the door behind him opened and Cillian walked through, Liam at his back. Her younger brother raised his eyebrows at her shock. “I don’t like that bastard, but even I can see that he’s head over heels for you. And if the Russian is willing to take out one of the three main players in Boston, there’s nothing to stop him from trying the same shit with us whenever he feels like it.”
Nothing except Carrigan marrying him. But he’d already proven he wouldn’t keep his word if it didn’t suit him. He’d had James’s death planned from the beginning, regardless of what he’d promised her. She swallowed hard. “I appreciate this. From both of you.”
Liam came to stand next to her. “I’ve been doing whatever it took to keep you out of trouble for years. I’d be a heartless monster to stop now.”
She smiled her thanks and turned her attention back to Teague. “I’m all for backup, but do you really think two people will be enough to turn the tide?”
“No.” It was Callie who answered. “That’s why Micah and a group of my men will be meeting us there.”
She realized what the goal was—to keep as many O’Malley people out of the mess as possible—and nodded. “Then I’m going to need more Taser cartridges.” The Sheridans were now more stable than either of the other families in Boston. They couldn’t care less if she married a Halloran, since all it would mean was that Boston would become stronger as a whole for the new alliance. If only her family could see things that way.