Page 170 of Deceived Wrath

Ronan looks into the wall, seemingly lost in thought. “This isn’t a coincidence.”

“None of this is a coincidence,” Kieran clarifies.

I collapse into a chair, letting the shock of this news slowly turn into rage. I rub my hands up and down my thighs. “It’s exactly what I thought. Lorcan has been working with Adrian this entire time.”

“It is proof of that, yes. But we might have a bigger problem now.”

“No shit. I just killed his son.”

Ronan frowns at me. “Adrian isn’t the kind of man who’ll just let this go. He’ll want revenge, and he’ll use Lorcan’s situation to do it.”

I ball my hands into fists, pressing down on the anger, on the paranoia that’s been gnawing at me since the ambush.

“Cormac, you need to consider the possibility that Adrian might know about Scout?—”

“No. I’ve been too careful. Adrian can’t know about Scout. It’s not possible.”

I don’t miss the look Ronan and Kieran share.

I clench my fists. “I’m not burying my head in the sand.”

“We know you’re not. But you’re also a father whose child is at risk. You’re not thinking straight. Which is why we’re here to help cover your ass. We need to stay vigilant.”

“Ronan’s right,” Kieran agrees. “And believe me, I hate admitting that.”

I nod, though my mind refuses to slow.

Vigilant isn’t enough. Every moment I’m not watching him…

I can’t risk it. I need to keep him close. No exceptions.

“What do we have on Adrian’s reach? What do we think he’s capable of in the next few hours?”

Kieran huffs. “Not much. At least not until Brennan gets here and goes through the phones and laptop you found. But we need to prepare for all potential retaliation. Adrian likely already knows his son is dead, which means…”

I nod. “He knows it was me.”

Everything about tonight has proven how quickly a single misstep can turn deadly, so I let the knowledge that Adrian Smirnov is on my tail sharpen my paranoia.

By the time my brothers and I surface from Kieran’s office, it’s almost three in the morning, but sleep is a distant memory.

I find everyone in the living room, looking like they’re running on fumes.

Ciara is juggling one of the twins on the couch, who is fighting sleep, and Riley rocks her newborn daughter with heavy-lidded eyes.

I stay near the doorway, my hands clenched, watching.

Everyone’s trying to hold it together, masking exhaustion for Scout’s sake, but it’s a fragile front.

Scout drags his stuffed dinosaur over to Ciara and forces it into her hand. “This helps me sleep. Maybe Nico wants it?”

Ciara looks on the verge of tears. “That’s so kind, Scout.”

Scout glances over at me and grins. “I’m looking after my cousins like you told me to, Daddy.”

I try my best to keep my voice steady, though tension claws at my chest. “You are doing great, buddy. Just stay close and keep your eyes on them, and listen to Fiona?—”

Her name gets stuck in my throat as I’m hit with a wave of panic.