“They said that might be a side effect. We’re all connected now, for better or for worse,” I explained, feeling completely content for the first time in a long time.
“Hopefully for the better from now on.” Edison scooted in closer, wrapping his arms around us as he finally settled in to sleep.
Later, as both men slept soundly next to me, I stared up at the white canopy trying to push down the nagging sense of worry that still hovered in the back of my mind.
Somehow, I had a feeling that we weren’t done yet.
Thirty Four
EDISON
“And all of the men are on the same page?” I asked Rhodes as I sorted through paperwork.
Three days had passed since the end of Perrie’s heat and the mountain of things to do had only grown since my impromptu vacation.
I’d spent the entire day organizing my plans to retire the older generation of Keane branch heads, replacing them with their sons.
It should have happened a long time ago, but I’d never felt the need to rush it until now.
Thanks to the presence of Perrie, who was sitting on the couch busily editing photos for her photography class, and the life that she now carried I knew it was time to end all of this once and for all before they could try and hurt my family.
My plans were going smoothly now that the Russians were out of the way and Volkov was in FBI custody.
And that was exactly my problem. It was when things went smoothly like this that I couldn’t shake the feeling that shit was about to hit the fan.
“Yes, though O’Rourke is still a bit fidgety,” Rhodes told me, showing me the latest text from the alpha in question.
It made sense that Ciaran O’Rourke was nervous. He was all of seventeen and he actually liked his father. But the elder O’Rourke was pushing eighty and I was fairly sure they were hiding some kind of degenerative disease that the old man had.
The last time I’d spoken to the old man he’d called me by my father’s name.
No. We needed to get rid of the generation of men who were alive long before the invention of the computer. They could either choose to retire peacefully to a life of relaxation or we would make them retire in less than savory ways.
“He’ll be fine. His father is probably the least of our worries. You find Liam or Rory yet?”
Ever since the night of the fire and aside from Rhodes’ grainy video footage, we hadn’t seen either of the men.
I assumed that they were somewhere in one of Volkov’s properties, but one call to Isaac Vance confirmed that neither of the men were in his custody.
That was the loose end that was still bothering me.
Rory Flannagan was one of my most loyal men and Perrie told me that he’d been forced to help Volkov’s men get onto the property, even apologizing to her.
So where was he? And where was Liam Flannagan?
I wouldn’t feel comfortable or secure until we found them.
With a sigh I stood up from my desk and crossed the room to get a drink.
“Whiskey this late at night will give you heartburn,” Perrie chastised without looking up from her laptop.
We hadn’t been married longer than four months and she was already nagging me about my health. With a sigh I opened the little mini fridge next to my liquor cart and pulled out a bottle of pale ale, offering one to Rhodes who took it gratefully.
“You know, my darling,” I said as I took a swig of the ale. It was fine, but definitely not the aged whiskey that I’d been going for. “Sometimes heartburn is worth it for a couple of fingers of whiskey.”
Gray eyes finally lifted from her computer to look at me incredulously. “You say that and then complain about heartburn while we’re in bed together. I swear our nightstand is going to be full of lube and Pepto Bismol if you keep it up…”
Perrie trailed off, her auburn brows drawing together as she frowned.
“Pet?”
The bottle of ale in Rhodes hands slipped out, shattering as his expression shifted from laughter to shock.
Following Perrie’s confused gaze down, I found a glowing red dot in the center of my chest.
Time slowed as I glanced up at my two pack members who were starting to move like sand towards me, their mouths opening to say my name as I moved to try and avoid the inevitable.
The sound of shattering glass filled my ears as a bullet ripped through my shoulder, sending me spinning.
“Get down!” I managed to holler as Rhodes did the right thing and jumped for our omega, pulling her down to the ground as my knees gave out and I crumpled right alongside them.
“What’s happening!” Perrie’s shrill cry came over the sound of more bullets whizzing into the room, shattering the long windows that lined the entire wall behind my desk.
Somehow, instinctively, I knew it was Liam. My one loose end and the only one who had someone who knew enough information about my plan to take full control of the Keane clan.
With difficulty, I pulled myself along the carpet and propped myself up against the back of my desk. It was only seconds before Perrie was next to me, sobbing and pressing her hands into the wound in my shoulder. It was still too close to my center mass for comfort.
