Page 90 of Riordan's Revenge

I grimaced. “He wasn’t home, but we were chased by Piers.”

“We? Don’t tell me ye took Cassie along.”

“No, I didn’t.” I put meaning into the words.

Understanding lit in his gaze. “She went anyway. Fits, considering she apparently can’t be apart from ye.”

I rankled at the taunt.

Across the rooftop, Arran held up a hand. “Red has the video. I’m expecting his call. Eyes on me for silence.”

A hush fell over us. A new tension rose in me at the thought of the drug lord seeing his second-in-command in the position Arran and Shade had put him in. At the words Bronson had said. A month ago, Red had told Arran he wasn’t responsible for themurder of Cherry, but now the responsibility was in his lap. It had been his man.

Shade waited at my side.

In her huddle, Cassie continued watching the screen, a parting of her lips the only tell that what she was watching was affecting her.

I flicked my gaze back to Shade. “Cassie wanted Bronson. Ye knew that.”

“He wasn’t hers to take. I’ll find someone else for her.”

“Better, or it could be me next.”

Shade blinked then laughed at my moment of levity. I’d surprised myself.

“You’re a riot, Riordan.”

“Call.” Arran’s words pulled all attention back to him. Standing alone in the centre of the roof with the sparkling city behind him, he set the phone on loudspeaker. “Red.”

A long moment of silence played out, then, “Doctored?”

“I’m not dignifying that with an answer.”

Red breathed audibly. “That fucking idiot. On behalf of my people, I express our regrets for Alisha. This was not done under my direction.”

“You lost control of your man,” Arran sneered.

“A junkie who had no hope of keeping his position. He was on the outs. It won’t happen again.” Red’s voice hardened, as if he spoke through gritted teeth. “Is he dead?”

“He is.”

“An eye for an eye. Then that’s an end of it.”

It should’ve been. Surely it was. From Red’s explanation, Bronson had gone rogue and acted solo. I didn’t know Red other than in passing when I’d taken a job from his gang in order to keep a roof over Gen’s head. I hadn’t even dealt with Bronson, so low down was the connection. But Arran’s expression held nothing of peace or resolve.

His smile chilled me.

“See you around, Red.” He hung up the call, my sister going straight into his arms.

Everly made her way over to where Shade and I stood. She had her hands clamped around herself, only a thin sweatshirt keeping out the chilly night. “As nice as it is to see that destroyed, the smell of smoke is making me nauseous. I’m worried about it being poisonous. Mind if we go downstairs?”

I shook my head in the negative, and she and Shade left.

Likewise, Arran guided Gen down the steps with words about talking to the crew. Jamieson had already gone, when, I didn’t notice.

It left just me and Cassie on the roof.

I crossed the tarmac and settled down beside her, keeping my eyes off the screen where Bronson was fast-talking. She shivered against me.