Ruthless Arrangement (Underworld Kings)

"It'll be him and me this time unless you need more of us, sir."

I can't find any reason that I should just flat out say no. I can't just go with a gut feeling. Ryan O’Leary asked for these two himself and he would need more than my gut feeling. I guess I can ask around about their past jobs. It won't be hard to inquire about Donovan. Someone will spill something.

I slide a folder across my desk to Donovan, instantly wanting to pull it back as his greasy hands grab it up.

"Everything is in there. Have Bones review it. He'll meet with me here on Monday afternoon at five. He better make sure he isn’t late. Or I'll pull the job." I stare Donovan down, and he relents under pressure, wiping his hands nervously against his jeans.

"You got it, Mr. O’Leary, sir." He's nodding, trying to keep the excitement off his face and failing.

"Warn Bones that if anyone outside of us three gets any of this information, it'll be the last thing either of you will ever get the chance to discuss," I say, the venom in my voice clear as day. I don't need to yell to intimidate. I just make good on my threats. Considering my distaste for Donovan, I won't hold back if something goes sideways on this job. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal, sir," Donovan answers, nodding his head.

The way he's calling me sir grates on my nerves. I get that it's a sign of respect, but something in his tone tells me he dislikes showing me any type of respect at all. It’s nothing blatant, just a small trickle of unease. I can't tell if I just don't like the guy in general or if it's because this job was thoroughly planned out until O'Leary stepped in to undermine my authority. Either way, this has my ass on the line, and I don't fucking like it.

CHAPTER 7

BELLE

I bite my tongue as my father goes on and on about something. I’m not even sure what it is. I tuned him out thirty minutes ago. It’s almost a relief when his phone rings. He snatches it up as he goes down the hallway towards his room. He only does that if it has to do with work. Any other time, he answers it right then and there. When it has to do with the O’Learys, he doesn’t talk in front of me. In the beginning, it was because he didn't want me to know anything or be associated with anything he does, but now it's more so because he doesn't want me to hear how often he works, so I can't put together how much he loses a week in gambling. He doesn't shut the door all the way, making my brain start screaming that I need to hear what he has to say. Ever since meeting Killian and seeing the dangerous glint in his eyes and the way he commands every inch of space around you as he speaks, I’m worried. My father is not the sharpest tool in the shed, and if he crosses Killian—which is something he would try if it would make him a dollar—he won’t be left breathing. I shouldn’t worry about it, but I do.

I stand just at the edge of the fridge where he can't see me as he talks. He’s not being quiet, and he stopped short of going into his room. Still, if he caught me spying on him, I know I’d live to regret it.

"Bones, this is it, man. Orla has it all in motion. She’s the one that got old man Ryan to pick us. She’s convinced him that I’m a distant family relative—if you can believe that shit.”

I bite my tongue, my breath feeling heavy in my lungs. Who is Orla? This doesn’t sound good at all.

“Orla says she has something to set Killian up. She won't say what until we meet with her.”

It clicks then. Orla is Ryan O’Leary’s wife. I don’t know them, but I do know my father has served as her personal driver on numerous occasions. It’s hard for me to fathom it, but if she’s helping to betray Killian, this is bad. Really bad.

"Nah man, she's good for it. I swear it. That woman wouldn't cross me. We're in love.”

What? Jesus, is my father that delirious?

“I’m telling you—this is it! Are you ready?" my father asks excitedly.

My father in love? He loves his beer and his bets. That's the extent of emotional profoundness he's capable of. There’s also no way that Orla O’Leary could find anything in my father that would meet her standards. Why would she? She has everything with Ryan O’Leary, and even though material things aren’t love, she’s married to the head of a mafia family. She must know what it would mean to cheat on him—especially with the likes of my father.