Page 30 of Retribution

“I’ll need you to go back to the O’Malleys.”

Rearing back, I say, “Are you kidding me?”

“No.” Lorcan grimaces.

“Why?”

“Finn controls the finances. If things go the way I think they will, I’ll have no money. I’ll be dead in the water.”

“He doesn’t know you’re going to work with the O’Malleys.”

“Nope. Would ruin the element of surprise.”

“Derry O’Malley is such a prick.”

Lorcan chuckles. “We’re all pricks.” His hazel gaze meets mine. “And don’t say he’s a bigger prick than me. I’ll be offended.”

“No one’s bigger than you.” I bat my lashes.

Laughter rumbles through his chest, and parts of my body warm in response. “I like the sound of that,” he says. “I may need to get it recorded so I can play it back whenever I’m having a bad day.”

“You’d be playing it an awful lot,” Finn says from the doorway of the kitchen.

Startled, I glance up; my bubble with Lorcan popped. I almost forgot Finn could be around somewhere, lurking.

Wandering into the kitchen, he takes a beer out of the fridge and twists off the cap. He tosses it in the garbage and eyes our bowls.

“Irish stew. How quaint.” He gulps his beer and stares at Lorcan. “Where’d you go today?”

“Out.”

“So did I.” Finn gestures to me. “Kim and I had a drink together.”

“Shame you didn’t feed her.” Lorcan takes another spoonful of stew and raises it to his lips. “Would have saved me an inconvenience later.”

I stir my stew while I listen to them spar, not focused on either of them. Nothing would have saved him the inconvenience. The reaction I had to seeing Chad’s photo surprised me. The memory swirls in my stomach and bubbles in my throat.

Rising, Lorcan takes his bowl to the sink. Over his shoulder, he says, “Come find me later, yeah?”

“Yeah.” My voice isn’t much louder than a whisper.

Finn drinks his beer in silence, leaning against the counter. “What sights did my little brother show you this afternoon?”

Looking up from my stew, I say, “The Cage.”

His pale eyes sharpen, and his jaw hardens. “The O’Malleys.”

Chapter Twelve

Finn pushes away from the counter and comes to lean across the island. “What the hell is mydeartháir beagdoing takingyouto the O’Malleys?”

I bristle. “You have a problem with me going to The Cage?”

“I have a problem with anyone associating with the O’Malleys.”

“Except you used to fight for them.”

“Means to an end at the time.”