fast, but the work is good. We were able to use the image from the doorbell camera to trace the mask. It was a limited edition, and we traced it to the point of purchase. From there, we were able to get security feed from the store to see who bought it. It was one of Blackstone’s men.”
“Good work. Go on.”
“Also, the string on the box. We traced that back to Chicago.”
I look between the two men, duly impressed. This has all happened in an incredibly short period of time and it’s some damn good forensic work. Then again, Devlin has more money and resources at his disposal than the average police force.
“Keep going,” Devlin says.
“The most damning thing is where I should have started in the first place,” Ronan says. “Blackstone himself bragged about the hit. We’ve had an informant in place for a while,” he adds, shifting his attention to me, since Devlin would already know that.
“He’d been hanging around the fringes of Blackstone’s organization for a while, and we had him move in closer after the security leaks started in Vegas. I had him arrange a meeting with Blackstone about something minor, then see if he could steer the conversation around to the news about Devlin and The Wolf. Our informant managed it beautifully, and Blackstone flat out admitted he made the hit. Sounded positively gleeful.”
“This is incredible,” I say.
“It is,” Devlin agrees. “Although it helps that Joe’s a braggart. That man never was one to hold his secrets close to the vest. He likes recognition for what he perceives as his own brilliance. And his ego just nailed him.”
“It’s a huge victory for us,” I say.
“It is,” Devlin agrees. “Unless he’s playing us. Could be he’s not even trying to hide. Maybe he wants us to come after him.”
“Well, he’s going to get his wish, since that’s exactly what we plan to do,” Ronan says.
“Where’s he located?” I ask.
“Just outside of Chicago,” Ronan tells me. “He has a farmhouse there that’s been fortified.”
“Do we have a way in?”
“We’re analyzing that now, but the short answer is yes. We found a few ways to breach that appear to be low risk.”
“Good,” Devlin says. “We go in tomorrow. I’ll have Marci change the flight plan and meet you in Chicago. Can we get the operation in place by then?”
“Not a problem. I’ve been working on it since I got the news,” Ronan says. “But how exactly are you defining we?”
“I’m going with you,” Devlin says, and I stiffen beside him.
“The hell you are,” Ronan says, before I have a chance to voice that exact thought. “It’s too personal.”
“He’s right,” I say.
“Dammit,” Devlin says, leaning closer to the camera. “It is personal. Tracy was killed as a warning to me. And as a threat against Ellie. You really think I’m not going?”
Ronan moves in closer, too, his face filling the frame. If I didn’t know better, I’d expect him to leap through the screen. “Yeah,” Ronan says. “I really think you’re not going.”
“Dammit, Ro—”
“No.”
Devlin pulls back, his head cocked as he eyes his friend.
“You want me on your team because I don’t let you get away with stupid shit,” Ronan says. “I’ve already fucked up once dealing with Blackstone and his fallout. I’m not making another mistake again.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I should never have let you be in the house the night it all went down with Anna. Not you, and damn sure not Ellie. Ellie was the target, and you were too emotionally invested. We’re lucky it didn’t go completely south.”
“Ronan—” Devlin begins.
“No. It worked out, but you know we could have blown it. We don’t do personal missions for a reason, and that was your rule.”
“He’s right,” I say softly. I haven’t really been involved in this conversation. I’ve just been sitting and listening and watching these men do their work. But I’m not going to stay quiet any longer. Joseph Blackstone has it out for the man I love, and I am willing to do anything to ensure that I don’t lose him.
“Ronan’s right,” I say again. “But think about it this way. Blackstone wants you, right? And considering what happened with Anna, he’s going to expect you to be coming for him. He’s got his eye on you, too, and we know it.”
Devlin’s turns to face me, and I lift a shoulder in a casual shrug. “So let him watch you.”
“What are you talking about?”
On the screen, I see Ronan smile. He’s