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“Does anyone know I’m here?” he asks.
“I don’t know. Who cares? It’s probably just—” I shrug, not sure who.Keep making out with me, idiot.
But Ronan turns away when there’s another knock. He stalks over to his jacket and lifts a gun from its folds. There’s another knock, more insistent, and he goes to answer with the gun at the ready, aimed at whoever’s standing outside.
“Who’s there?” he calls at the door.
I hold myself back, tense and worried.
“It’s Seamus.” The voice is muffled and soft, but unmistakable.
Ronan looks back at me. He’s obviously surprised. I’m about to tell him not to open the door, but he unlocks the bolt and steps aside.
Seamus looks tired. He hangs out in the doorway, rubbing his hands together nervously. There’s nobody else with him—Ronan checks the hall—and he doesn’t complain when Ronan refrains from lowering his gun.
“I guess you didn’t expect to see me here.” Seamus glances at me and seems—chagrined? Sad? Angry with himself? I feel totally lost in this moment as Ronan closes the door and moves Seamus deeper into my apartment.
“What are you doing here?” Ronan asks. “And how’d you find us?”
“I followed you,” he admits. “I’ve been waiting for a good time, and I just?—”
“You thought it was now?” Ronan’s voice is soft with menace. “When my girl is here?”
“We’re safe here. Cormac’s not going to think to check this place, you know?” Seamus glances around, clearly nervous. “I just want to talk, that’s all.”
“Then talk.” Ronan leans back against a table, half-sitting, gun still trained on his cousin’s chest. “The only reason I’m not hurting you right now is because you didn’t pull the trigger before.”
“I know.” Seamus lets out a long breath. “I fucked up, Ronan. I fucked up big time. I never should’ve gone with Cormac.”
Ronan lets that sink in. I can tell Seamus really means it, and although Ronan’s pretty pissed off that so many of the cousinsdecided to betray him, I also know that he’s trying to find a way to bring them all back into the fold. Real contrition like this is a very good first step toward mending the rift.
“All right. I believe you. But why are you here?”
“I want to make things right.” Seamus straightens up and meets Ronan’s eyes. “Cormac was saying all this stuff about bringing honor and glory back to the family and how you’re dragging us away from our core values, like you’re the one tearing the family apart. But that’s not remotely true, right? It’s Cormac who’s making the mess. He’s saying all this shit to the cousins and they believe him, but really all he wants is to sit behind your desk.”
Ronan grunts and I can tell he feels vindicated to hear that coming from Seamus. It must’ve been so hard for the poor guy to come here and admit all this, even knowing that Ronan tried to make him see the light already, and he still made the wrong choice. But now Seamus seems to get it, and that’s huge.
It means Ronan has an insider to help.
“What do you plan on doing about it then?” Ronan asks cautiously.
“I don’t know where Cormac’s keeping the drugs. Only Cormac and his inner circle know that.”
Ronan’s gaze sharpens. “Then how can you help?”
“I can tell you their next move, and if you’re fast and careful, you’ll be able to find out where Cormac’s hiding right now.”
“You don’t know?” Ronan glances at me, and I can tell he’s not buying this.
“Cormac’s smart, right? He’s keeping everyone separated. I think he doesn’t trust me, so I’m sort of on the outside looking in, but I know where they’re hitting next. I want to help, Ronan. I want to stop this madness. I want to do something right for the family for once.”
Slowly, Ronan lowers the gun. Seamus looks relieved, but he doesn’t move. Ronan doesn’t put the weapon down, but he’s not aiming it at his cousin’s chest anymore.
“You really want to help?” Ronan asks.
“Give me a chance. That’s all I’m asking.”
“All right.” Ronan cocks his head. “Tell me everything you can.”
