Lifeline

“Vaso Bregu. You’ll get to meet him at the party,” Joseph informs me.

We climb out of the car and walk toward the side entrance. “Have you met him?”

Joseph nods. “Also Armand, Vaso’s older brother. He’s the one in charge of everything, but we only meet with them once a year.”

“At this party?” Giving Joseph a curious look, I ask, “What kind of party?”

Berisha moves in behind the counter, taking a bottle of alcohol out. “Today, we celebrate with raki.”

I watch as Berisha pours the traditional Albanian drink, and when each of us has a glass, he toasts, “To Danny.”

Swallowing the alcohol, my chest warms.

I’ve made it to the inner circle.

Glancing at the men who now trust me, I feel a sense of camaraderie with them as if I actually belong.

Joseph throws his arm around my shoulder as John fills the glasses again. “Danny wants to know what the party will be like.”

John lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. “All the pussy you can eat for an entire weekend on a yacht.”

Meaning?

Joseph shakes me, a grin on his face. “The hardest part is over, Danny. You can relax. The party is all fun and no work.”

My eyebrows draw together. “What about the test Zef will give me?”

John shakes his head again. “He’ll probably just watch you closely at the party. You’ve proven yourself to us. Stop worrying, and let's celebrate.”

Taking the drink he offers me, relief starts to trickle into my veins, knowing I’ve made it.

JJ

I haven’t seen O’Brien for three days, and I’m about to lose my mind from worry.

Staring at the phone for the hundredth time, I’m tempted to call the number he gave me when there’s a knock at my door. Lunging from the couch, I run and yank the door open. My eyes scour over every inch of O’Brien, and when I’m sure he’s not hurt, I dart forward, faceplanting against his chest. “My God, I was so worried.”

His arms wrap around me, and I’m lifted from my feet. He moves us into the apartment, and after shutting the door, he holds me tightly.

My relief shudders through me and clinging to him, I take deep breaths, filling my lungs with his scent.

Once I have my emotions under control, I ask, “Where have you been?”

My question has O’Brien pulling back. He steps away from me and heads to the couch, dropping down on it. “I had jobs to do.”

I take my usual seat across from him, my gaze glued to his face and searching for any sign that I’m losing him to the Albanians. The scruff on his jaw is darker, thicker. The intense look in his eyes is sharper, more guarded.

Apprehension trickles into my heart. “What kind of jobs?”

“Mostly debt collecting.” He pauses, his eyes flicking away from me. “I made it to the inner circle.”

God.

The blow hits much harder than I expected, making my body sway for a moment. My voice is nothing more than a hoarse whisper when I ask, “You killed?”

It takes a long, heartbreaking moment before his eyes flick back to me, then he nods.

There’s no guilt for the life he took.

Another blow hits, breaking my heart for O’Brien and what he was forced to do, but more so, how it’s changing him.

Getting up, I move around the coffee table and sit down beside him. Where I usually would’ve hugged him without hesitation, something holds me back. I take a good look at his face, searching for the reason for my apprehensive feeling. “Look at me, Daniel.”

He lets out a harsh breath, then his eyes snap to mine. I stare at him until the sharp edge starts to melt, and the man I love creeps into the rich brown of his irises.

“The lines are blurring,” I whisper. “I’m losing you.”

He shakes his head hard. “I’m fine.”

Forcing a determined look to my face, I inject strength into my voice. “Don’t lie to me. You’re not fine.”

“I’m fine,” O’Brien snaps, his eyes burning on me with anger. “I’ve made it to the inner circle. There’s a party this coming weekend where I’ll finally be face to face with Zef Rama and the Bregu brothers.”

My eyes widen at the news. “You sure?”

“I just need until Saturday night.”

“We need to place a bug in your phone. I want to know everything about the party. Where it will be. What time. Every single detail. We need eyes on the party so we can swoop in the second the Bregu brothers make their appearance.”

“Got it,” O’Brien bites out, his features still tight, his eyes hard.

Scooting to the edge of the couch, my words are laced with steel as I say, “It’s my job to make sure we don’t lose you, and Daniel, I will not fail. So help me God, I’d rather have you hate me than have you become one of them.”