Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
My chest is heaving like there’s a giant cement block resting on top of it. It’s getting harder to breathe. My eyes dart around the room seeking out objects to ground myself. I can’t lie to him. He’s going to know. But I can’t give up Ronan. Correction. I won’t give up Ronan. He did what he did for me. And he’s carried that secret for these last two years knowing that I could be a threat to him.
He could have killed me at any time, but he didn’t. Because he trusts me. And I trust him. And I won’t betray that trust, no matter what. Lachlan is his brother, but Lachlan is also loyal to the syndicate and all of the rules that come with it. I don’t know what he’d do in this situation, and I’m really not willing to find out.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you.” My voice comes out shaky. “But I don’t know what happened to Blaine. I already told you…”
“What you told me was a lie,” he says. “We checked flight records. Blaine never went back to Ireland.”
“Well, then I don’t know,” I say quickly. “Maybe he went somewhere else. Maybe he’s still in the states. I don’t know what he’s doing.”
Lachlan narrows his gaze and stalks closer, kneeling down until he’s on my level. He’s a lot scarier when he’s this close. And I know he senses my nerves. I’m all over the goddamn place. I’m shaking. My eyes are watering. And I think he really might kill me now.
But I won’t give up Ronan. I wouldn’t even be alive if it wasn’t for him.
“Sasha,” Lachlan says, his voice softening. “If somebody hurt him, and it wasn’t you, you have nothing to be concerned about. All ye have to do is tell me. And I will take care of it. Hell, I’ll even give you some extra cash to disappear with.”
My bottom lip trembles, and I bite it to keep from telling him to go fuck himself. Because that’s all I really want to do. He’s pushing me, and I don’t know why. But I can’t handle it. Not right now.
“Look, I don’t know anything!” I yell at him. “You’re barking up the wrong fucking tree, okay? I don’t know what you want me to say. Blaine is gone. I haven’t seen him. Haven’t heard from him. That’s all there is to it. Nothing you do or say is going to change that.”
Lachlan rocks back on his heels and rises up to his full height. And then he just nods and walks toward the door. I’m left completely stunned when he pauses with his hand on the knob and turns around.
“I have to admit, Sasha,” he says. “I really thought you might break. Ronan was right about you.”
“What?” I whisper in confusion. “He told you?”
“Aye,” he says. “Because he had no other choice. And you’d do well to stick to the same story whenever anyone asks about it.”
He leaves, and I fall back against the sofa in a state of disbelief. Ronan told him. And didn’t even warn me. He just let him come here and test me, and there probably would have been a very different outcome had I told the truth tonight. He could have killed me.
It pisses me off. But worse than that, it hurts. I can’t believe Ronan did that to me. I pull out my phone and debate calling him when I realize there’s no point. This is the way it is.
So instead, I pull up my calendar and count the days to Mack’s wedding. Five more days. And then I’m gone. For good.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sasha
It’s the day before Mack’s wedding, and I’ve spent the entire week packing up the apartment and helping her with wedding things.
It’s not going to be a big event. Mack says she doesn’t see the point in going overboard on everything. That’s just part of the reason why I love the girl. I haven’t spoken to Ronan or Lachlan since the day of Ma’s burial. And that’s honestly the way I prefer it.
So when Lachlan’s name flashes across the caller ID of my phone, I debate on ignoring it. But then I think maybe they need me to help with something else for the wedding, and my guilt gets the better of me. So I answer it.
“Sasha,” Lachlan’s voice filters through the phone. “Are you there?”
“Yes.”
“Look, Kaya twisted her ankle. She’s going to be out for a couple of weeks. I know ye’re leaving on Monday, but we have a special event booked on Sunday and I really can’t do without another dancer.”
“I don’t know.” I bite my lip and glance around the apartment, looking for any excuse to keep me from going back to the club. I don’t want to see Ronan again. I don’t want to get sucked back in, and I’m afraid that’s exactly what will happen if I go.