AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He is right upstairs, Wolf. Surrounded by people who cannot protect him. On a ship in the middle of the river. He won’t get away.”
For a moment, there is silence between us, thick and heavy. Wolf’s breathing is ragged, his eyes wild with a mixture of rage and desperation. I let go of his hair and step back, watching as he processes what I’ve told him.
“Upstairs,” he repeats, his voice barely a whisper.
I nod, feeling a cold satisfaction settle in my chest. “Yes. This is your chance, Wolf. To take back what’s yours. To show them all that you are not to be underestimated.” His gaze flickers like he’s considering my words, but I don’t want to leave any room for error.
I kiss him deeply, more lovingly than I intended. Oh, the things we sacrifice when sealing deals.
“We could rule it all, Wolf. Only one old man stands in our way,” I whisper against his lips.
Wolf kisses me back furiously, painfully. His hands grip me with a desperation that borders on violence. He stands up, draws his pistol, and starts up the stairs to the deck. I watch him go, my heart pounding in my chest.
I know I can't follow him directly. I need to maintain the illusion that I’m not part of this. I opt to go further down the deck before making my way topside.
As I navigate the sleek, modern corridors of the super yacht, the sounds of merriment above grow louder. I pause at the base of a different staircase, taking a deep breath to steady myself. I can’t afford to make any mistakes.
I emerge on the upper deck a few moments later, slipping into the crowd unnoticed. The guests are all gathered, admiring the view of Dublin’s lights reflecting off the River Liffey. I spot Wolf on the other side of the deck, his eyes fixed on Victor, who is surrounded by sycophants, laughing and toasting as if nothing in the world could touch him.
I position myself near the edge of the crowd, feigning interest in the view. The cold night air bites at my skin, but I barely feel it. My attention is wholly on Wolf as he moves closer to Victor.
“Such a beautiful night,” a woman next to me remarks. I nod absently, not really hearing her. I’ve allowed my hair to fall across my damaged cheek in hopes of concealing the mark that Wolf left on me.
I watch Wolf move toward Victor. No one seems to notice him, like the ghost he is.
Excitement bubbles up inside me. I’m feeling something for the first time in a long time.
I have played my part well, and now it’s time to see how the pieces fall. The masks are off, and the real game has just begun.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Diarmuid
THE NIGHT IS cold, typical of early December in Dublin. I shiver, feeling the chill seep through my coat. I want to keep both of them close to me, to use my body to make sure they stay warm. Every instinct in me screams to get them out of this, to take them somewhere private and make sure they are warm and safe. But the circus had begun. It's time for the King to be a Jester, to paint a smile on my face and act like the friendly neighborhood assassin.
Cocktails are served. Some cold. Some warm. It's a night of pretentious elbow-rubbing among the kind of people who make decisions that affect millions of lives over a bet and a handshake. People who feed off the souls of those below them.
Selene and Niamh play their parts so well, smiling at all the fake-friendly faces. I nod and greet everyone as I move through the crowd. We’ve all been given drinks; I leave mineon a nearby table as I greet people. I don’t intend to drink tonight. I’m ready to keep moving when Niamh pauses, looking out over the railing of the boat. The city lights twinkle, and it is a beautiful sight, but I’m not here for sightseeing.
She untangles her arm from mine. “I want to get a closer look.” She smiles up at me and with excitement bubbling in her gaze.
“Stay in sight,” I say, not wanting her to go.
“Hello, Mr.O’Sullivan.” The voice cuts through the air, and I turn to an early arrival, a lady wrapped in a gold dress that appears to have been dipped in the rare metal.
She waves a hand dripping in more of the jewelry. Gold isn’t native to our planet; it comes from fallen stars that rained down on Earth. It’s a precious metal but one flaunted by the rich.
“You look wonderful,” I say, not knowing the lady’s name.
She giggles, her face unmoving, and glances at Selene, who seems to tighten her hold on my arm. “Not as stunning as this beauty on your arm.” She smiles at Selene, but her gaze is assessing. I have the overwhelming need to step in front of Selene and block her. She’s too pure for this world.
I glance around the deck, my eyes searching for any sign of Niamh. She wandered off to look at the city lights. I can't blame her; anything would be more appealing than this crowd. Yet, I had told her to stay in sight.
“Thank you,” Selene says, drawing my attention back to her, and I really look at Selene.
Sleek, beautiful Selene, with steel blue eyes that seem to pierce through me and read me in a way I have never been seen before. She moves closer, dangerously close—the kind of close where I don’t trust my mind to slow down my body.
“Well, I shall leave you both to it; young love is such a beautiful thing.” She waves her hand in the air, and I nod with a small smile as she departs.
