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Finnan.
His nostrils flared as he followed the line of my arm to the end of the muzzle pressed hard against Torin’s head. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“What I have to.” I was breathing heavily through my mouth as I shoved the gun in tighter to Torin’s skull and said, “He’s the rat. He rescued me from the bathroom the night of the shoot-out only to escort me to one of Mannix’s Rovers waiting out back. He walked me out of the Bèar clan’s compound not more than two hours ago without any challenge. They know who he is. Theytrusthim.”
It felt as if the whole room held its breath. The silence echoed, making my pounding pulse somehow louder in my ear.
“Finnan,” Torin said softly, not moving. “She’s lying.”
“I can prove it.” Reaching down, I stopped when the dozen guns that were trained on me were chambered—a round readied. “I’m just getting something out of my pocket.”
“Caolan,” Finnan called, his eyes still on Torin. “Get it.”
“No. I get it, or I blow his brains out.” I shoved the gun in hard, making Torin suck in a hissed breath.
“Caolan!” Finnan barked, halting the man with nothing more than his name. “Reach for it carefully, lass. One twitch and my clan will open fire, then fuck your lifeless body into oblivion.”
Dipping my chin, I acknowledged his warning and slowly reached for the book. I took it out, holding it up so Finnan could see the embossed letters on the front.
He didn’t look impressed. “What the fuck is that supposed to be?”
My lips and mouth were dry when I drew in a deep breath through my nose and said, “The Bèar clan’s money book.” I watched the reaction of everyone in the room. “Mannix King’s ledger. It has everything in here, including payments to Torin for his information about your hijacked shipments. Every single one of the deals he made. Every single deal the Mac Tíre clan had that was targeted.”
“She’s fucking lying, Finnan,” Torin said, desperation giving his words volume. “Shoot the bitch.”
“I’m not lying. Why would I fucking lie about this?”
Finnan jerked his chin in Grayson’s direction. “To save his life.”
He was right. I would do anything to save Grayson, but that same spark of defiance was back in his eyes, making me hesitate.
“Give me the book.” Finnan held out his hand for it.
“No.”
“Aye, Sloane. You will give me the book.”
I shook my head vigorously. There was no way I was giving up my only bargaining chip. “The only way I’ll give it to you is if you agree to break the engagement. To let me go. To let me leave this room unhurt and to leave me alone forever.”
Well, that certainly surprised him. “You have one chance, and instead of saving that cocksucker bleeding on the floor, you save yourself?” He appraised me carefully, looking… pleased with my decision. “You’re ruthless.”
I gave him a saccharine smile. “In more ways than one.”
“Perhaps you would’ve made a better wife than I’d given you credit for.”
Grayson caught my attention, nodding this time—the barest movement of his head. “The book for my freedom. Do you swear it?”
His eyes darted to Torin, who had started to sweat. He knew his luck had just run out.
“Aye, Sloane,” Finnan eventually said. “We have a deal.” He reached for the book, but I pulled it out of reach.
“You all heard it.” I spoke loudly, making sure every clan member was listening. “A man is nothing without his word. Do you all agree?”
Everyone nodded.
“And Finnan agreed to break the marriage contract and set me free.”
A chorus of “ayes” went up, and I had to trust that the Irish mafia, like my father’s American-Irish, meant their word was their bond.
