Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“You do that, I will find her,” I bite out.
“Aye, we know. Ye should take a step back and think about what yer doing. What happens when ye cause Oland to raise his head?” Ken says, narrowing his eyes at me.
“You sound like you’re afraid of the oul bastard. I did some digging. I know who you are. Why not just kill the oul piece of shit and be done with it?”
Ewan snorts. “Ye think we’ve been who we are by charging into every battle headfirst. Yer a young lad, so I’ll give ye a pass.
“I know Ian taught ye better. Every cause has an effect. Removing O’Brien comes with consequences. Ireland remains balanced with him where he is.
“He is feared and with good reason. His replacement has to be as feared and steadfast as he is. Not someone who’s all talk, but someone who’s going to get the job done.
“Yer da has already expressed he doesn’t want to return to handle the job. Yer brother has plans of his own, and from yer words, he’s not currently available. Who does that leave?
“Ye? Every family in Ireland and Scotland who’s ever wanted to be at the top will become volatile. That’s a war many aren’t in a position to fight right now, but will find irresistible to deny.
“It’s not worth the blood of our people. We chop off his head, all the bullshit that follows rolls downhill. That becomes our problem.
“That affects more than our clan or his. Some things have a bigger answer and solution. Our solution has been discussed. We’re doing our part for now.”
“You’re talking in circles. I see a problem, I handle it. My da is the only reason I haven’t handled my granda. He owes me,” I snare.
Ewan throws his hands up. “Ye don’t understand a thing. Why am I wasting my time? Ye need to go.”
“Not before ya tell me where I can find yer nephew’s daughter.”
Ken narrows his eyes at me. “Aye, ye don’t understand what ye have stepped into. Stop asking questions and leave.
“We shouldn’t have said this much. We don’t know if we can trust ye. Weren’t ye the grandson Oland wanted to leave things to?”
I snarl and get to my feet. “You know nothing about me. I would kill that bastard sooner than I would join him. I will not return here if that means Deja remains safe, but I’m not leaving Scotland until she and I have an understanding.”
“Then ye be making a mistake. Don’t say we didn’t warn ye and when ye get her hurt, we’ll be the ones ye have to answer to,” Ewan snarls.
“So be it.”
I storm out, pissed off. I now have more questions than answers. The one thing I do know is that I won’t put Deja in danger.
However, it’s not an option for me to leave her alone. I need to think through my options and how to move forward with all of this.
The one thing that’s been loud and clear is that Deja has been here for her own safety. What that has to do with my brother, I have no idea. It’s not like I can get answers with him lost in a prison where we can’t contact him.
It’s time to do things the Brooklyn way.
Deja
I’m so mad fire could come out of my ears. This is the first time my mother’s words about not trusting my uncles have rung true for me. I’m both confused and lost about what I should do next.
I had to come home to clear my head. I begin to play what was said today over in my head and then my mind begins to replay what happened all those years ago to bring me here.
It’s been eleven years, but I still have no clear idea of what happened. I’m angry with Cole for showing up and opening all those wounds. I take a breath and begin to play over the things Cole said when he first came here.
Missing?
Why the hell did he think I was missing? Finlay had always known where to find me. As I push into the house where I stay with my great-grandmother, my head hurts from trying to put it all together.
“Deja.” Cough, cough. “Come here, love. I’ve missed ye today,” my great-gran says between a coughing fit.
I move into the sitting room where she is sitting on the sofa under her favorite blanket. I smile as she looks a bit better today. There is color to her cheeks.
I guess it’s best that I now know I can’t trust Cole. It doesn’t look like I’ll be taking off anytime soon. At least not with him.
I enter the room and take a seat on the sofa with her. Gran lifts the blanket and covers me with it as I settle in beside her. I smile and move into her side.