Chapter Nineteen
Ronan
When I walk into Crow’s office, I notice straight away that something is off. He’s sitting at his desk, staring at a manila envelope when he gestures to the chair across from him.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Someone delivered this to the diner,” he says. “Asked Niall’s sister to give it to him.”
“And?”
“And Jaysus, Ronan.” He throws a stack of grainy photos across the desk. “Did ye really fucking kill Blaine?”
Tension springs up inside me, and all I can think of as I sort through the photos is Sasha. Wondering if there is anything in here that will implicate her in any way. I need to be sure that doesn’t happen.
“Aye,” I admit. “I did.”
He stares at me and sighs. He’s getting married next week, and this is the last thing he wants to sort out.
“I’ll take whatever punishment you see fit,” I tell him. “Whatever the cost.”
“Care to tell me why?” he says. “Or is that all I’m going to get?”
“He was hurting her,” I say. “So I stopped him.”
“For good, apparently,” Crow replies dryly. “Niall knew something about that wasn’t right. He’s suspected it, Fitz. He wants answers. Whoever sent this is likely to have more copies.”
“Probably,” I agree.
“Are ye even aware of the fact that he could have you killed for this?” Crow asks. “Or do ye really just not give a shite about any of it?”
“I do,” I answer. “I told you I’m prepared for whatever punishment you see fit. So long as none of it falls on Sasha.”
Crow leans back in his chair and appraises me. “So that’s what this is all about.”
“She had nothing to do with it. I won’t stand to see her harmed in any way.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Crow grins. “Now who’s gone mad?”
“I’d have done the same for any woman in the same situation.”
“Ah, sure,” Crow replies. “Of course.”
I don’t like his tone, but I’m in no position to argue at the moment.
“You let Donovan of all people see you,” he says. “I can’t even fathom how that occurred.”
“I was distracted.”
“By?” Crow presses.
I clear my throat and look away. I don’t want to tell him about this. But perhaps it will make him understand.
“I fucked Sasha after.”
His brows raise and he’s holding back a grin. He covers his mouth with his hand to keep from laughing.
“Ye’re kidding me.”
“I wish I was. I took her on the floor next to her dead boyfriend.”
“That’s quite a way to lose your cherry, Fitz.”
My cheeks burn, and I ball my fists up. I feel like he’s laughing at me, and I don’t like it.
“I understand now,” Crow says. “Ye don’t have to say anymore.”
“I had no intentions to.”
“Leave it with me,” he says. “I’ll find the best way to bring it up with Niall. In the meantime, I suggest you start shaking some of Donovan’s trees and see what kind of vermin falls out.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“And, Fitz, I’ll still need to speak with Sasha.”
My eyes snap up to his, and he holds up his hand before I can argue. “I just need to know I can trust her,” he says. “She won’t be harmed. But Ronan, you need to be aware that with this kind of evidence floating around out there and her as a potential witness, ye could do far worse than being killed at the hands of the syndicate. You could be looking at prison.”
“You can trust Sasha,” I tell him.
“We’ll see.”
“If you threaten her…”
Crow narrows his eyes at me and cuts me off.
“What, Ronan? What are you going to do if I threaten her?”
“Don’t,” I warn him. “I fecking mean it. If you even so much as scare her, you’ll have me to contend with.”
The air between us thins as we stare at each other across the desk. Crow and I have never had a problem. But things with Sasha are different. And I need him to understand that she isn’t like anyone else that he can say whatever he wants to. In my mind, she already belongs to me, even if I can never really have her. And I will protect her, no matter the cost.
“I have to admit, Fitz,” he says. “You’ve jacked this whole thing arseways. But if there’s anyone who can understand, it’s me. So out of respect for you, I will not threaten her. But I just hope your loyalties don’t prove to be wrong.”