to make his case quick, so he played his trump card. “They were willing to go through her two little nieces to get at her. When the first attempt to kidnap all three of them failed, they tried again. I’m telling you, Lucius, I’ve never seen mercs this well outfitted before.”
“They actually threatened the kids?”
“They did more than threaten. Kat was bringing them to Rafferty’s place, hoping that if he’d adopt them into the clan, it would keep the girls safe. The mercs caught up with her half a mile outside the gate and laid down a barrage to keep them pinned down.” He took a deep breath. “Before I heard the shots and rushed over there, Kat did a hell of a good job holding them off single-handedly. She took a bullet to the shoulder warning me that they were strafing the area from a helicopter. The whole time, Rose and Maggie, the nieces, were kept pinned down and terrified under the transport.”
Underneath his rough exterior, Lucius hated bullies of all kinds. “Those bastards deserve to meet up with my Lady Belle.”
Conlan nodded at the mention of his friend’s favorite shotgun. “I’ll even buy the ammunition. One more thing, Lucius.”
“What’s that?”
“Kat didn’t know I was living at Rafferty’s place. Bottom line, it was my decision to get involved. Hell, I’m not one for believing in fate, but I figure there’s some cosmic reason our paths crossed again. I’m getting another chance to complete what I started three years ago.”
Something else Lucius understood: once a man gave his word to do something, nothing short of death itself should get in the way. In this case, that might just happen, but Conlan still had to give it his best shot.
Lucius stared at Conlan briefly, his dark eyes weighing the strength of Conlan’s resolve. Just that quickly, the helo banked to the right and back on course to New Eire.
Chapter 8
They landed on a dirt road beside an old barn an hour outside of New Eire, the capital of the North American Coalition. Conlan hadn’t set foot in the city since the day he’d left prison. It held too many memories, both good and bad, for him to ever be comfortable there again.
Lucius wasn’t staying. He had interrupted a job of his own and needed to get back to it. Before he left, though, he gave Conlan the bear hug that was his usual greeting. It was a good thing they didn’t see each other often, because Conlan wasn’t sure his ribs could survive it.
“You watch your back, lawman. I ain’t got time to attend any funerals right now.”
Message received and appreciated. “I’ll do my best to not inconvenience you any more than I already have. You do the same.”
The big man laughed and clapped Conlan on the back hard enough to send him stumbling forward a couple of steps. “Not a problem on this run. I’m actually doing a little honest work for a change.”
Lucius tossed Conlan a set of keys. “There’s a transport parked inside the barn. The title and plates are clean, so no problems there. I left some cash in the console, you know, just in case. There’s also an apartment in back. Nothing fancy but it’s clean.”
He dropped his voice then. “Go check it out. I plan on having a talk with your lady friend before I leave.”
“Lucius—”
“Go on, Conlan. She’ll be along in a couple of minutes.”
Before he could protest again, Lucius got that stubborn set to his jaw that meant there’d be no talking him out of it. “It’s the price of my help. Now get moving. I’ve got places to be.”
Conlan glanced at Kat, who’d been hanging back, giving the two men a semblance of privacy. However, there was no way she hadn’t heard every word the two of them had said, not with his friend’s booming voice. Normally, Lucius only knew two volumes—loud and even louder.
“Fine, but remember, she’s been scared enough.”
Lucius’s expression clearly said he doubted that, but he was bound and determined to have his say. When Conlan started to walk away, Lucius called after him, “If I find out you needed me and didn’t call, I’ll kick your ass, even if you manage to get yourself killed.”
If Lucius’s warped sense of humor was making an appearance, Conlan knew Kat was safe. But what words of wisdom did Lucius feel duty bound to impart before he left to finish his honest day’s work?
When Conlan was about halfway to the barn, he