don’t want to lie to you but there’s not a lot I can tell you. This isn’t for the Boar, this is for someone very important to our family. The moment I can tell you, I will.”
He stares at me for a second and then lets out a slow breath. “I guess that’s all I can ask for. Are you safe? Is it a risk to you?”
“Not that I’m aware of. I think we’re all safer the quicker I can clean that club out. Being thousands of miles away doesn’t help with things and finding spies is almost impossible from this sort of distance.”
Aodhan sits up and starts looking through the photos on the wall again. “I might actually be able to help with that. You know the Demons spend a lot of time down here at the docks right? The fishing side of town though. They’re around a little less these days but they used to be here every other fucking month.”
I did know that but I didn’t realize he’d see much of them. “Illi did say he’d seen them there. His loyalties are mostly Silver City Serpents and a few of the local Unseen.”
“Those two assholes we met at his place? Yeah, they don’t seem all that fucking great. Who’s this guy? He’s… familiar.”
He’s pointing out Luis Martinez, the president of the Shreveport Unseen charter. “Another Unseen president. You recognize him?”
He nods. “I’ve seen him around. I’ve seen way too much of Grimm and his boys too, is that why you were asking about them?”
I nod, because it’s easier than trying to find a truth I can say without sending myself spiraling again.
“Is there anything… specific you need to know? Other than who the rats are in the Unseen?”
I glance back over to him but his face is open and sincere. He wants to help me with this even though I won’t give him more than the barest of details.
I stare up at Grimm Graves’ face for a second and still feel the same mix of thankful and loathing. Thankful that I have Lips, but ready to gut that man for every last one of his many sins.
I think I could even do it myself.
“I need to know everything I can about Grimm. I need to know his plans, where he spends his days, how he runs his club, if he has a regular slut in his bed… I need to know what he eats for breakfast. I need everything about him.”
Aodhan purses his lips a little. “I’ll see what I can do, Queenie.”
Our secluded time at the loft can only last for so long before our responsibilities come knocking.
I don’t have anything pressing to do, other than ensuring I answer messages from my family checking in so they don’t send the calvary after me, but the O’Cronin family need to see the head of the family occasionally and Aodhan needs to check in over some work they’re due to do for the Boar.
I’m expecting him to leave me here to my work, but the moment we wake up wrapped up in each other, naked and warm, he murmurs to me to get myself moving because we have places to be.
I feel weirdly nervous.
Mostly because I’ve spent years of my life loathing the very idea of the O’Cronins. They had destroyed Harley’s family and were the biggest threat to taking him out. They’d stolen my mother’s money, his rightful inheritance, and were blackmailing him to force him into a life he didn’t ever want.
They were messing with my family and I don’t take that lightly, not then and certainly not now.
I realize that the men responsible for all of that are now dead thanks to Aodhan and Jack cleaning house but there’s still something… wrong about going there in broad daylight and making nice.
I’d been to visit Aodhan there once, at night, with Harley guarding me like I was a prized and delicate courtesan. I barely saw a thing and besides Jack, I wouldn’t have even known Aodhan had family there.
This feels too important so I obsess and fuss like only I can.
I pick out my most Beaumont outfit that I’d packed. A Chanel skirt, blouse, white blazer with pearl buttons, and a pair of Louboutins to finish it off. I curl my hair and do a full face of makeup. I haven’t been this polished in weeks, probably since the Morrisons’ charity ball, and it’s soothing to me.
I know how to be this version of myself.
Aodhan takes