There was a moment where I thought he might show his true colors but then our eyes met and the shift was immediate.
“I’ll make the announcement this Sunday.”
I took that opportunity to glance back at Liam, who approached the second our eyes met, my phone out for me to take.
All good. Talk soon.
Her vagueness bothered me but the rules were simple.
“All good” meant she wasn’t in immediate danger but couldn’t speak.
“Should I book that flight or…”
“If…” I shook my head and pressed the phone into his palm. “Whenshe needs us, she’ll find a way to let us know. Until then, I need you focused.”
He nodded and unexpectedly yanked me back, maneuvering his body in front of mine.
My first reaction was to snatch away but Liam’s grip only tightened, forcing me to look up and actually evaluate our surroundings.
“Your husband isn’t always around, I see,” my father threatened softly as he passed us to leave the sanctuary.
Liam released me once he was out of sight.
“Didn’t mean to grab you that tight, but I don’t like him,” he said, eyes tracking each member as they left. “I don’t care how confident you are. He’s sneaky and dangerous.”
I nodded, knowing my father better than anyone.
He conceded to save face and game plan, nothing less or more.
“Him, too,” Liam added as Blake approached more cautiously than our dad had.
“I almost thought you wouldn’t show and miss your opportunity.”
Liam angled himself so that I was slightly behind him, not hiding his disdain.
“It was an opportunity I created for myself,” I said, feeling a little antsy all of a sudden. “What game are you playing at?”
“My actions have you spooked…” He held his hands up in mock surrender. “I get it, I do. But I’m trying to show I’d rather be on your side than his, Blair. I want to introduce you to the network before he plants a seed you won’t be able to dig up.”
The network had been my father’s best kept secret.
He only ever did business with them individually, never meeting with any of the members at or near the church. I learned over time he used his deal to distribute guns in and around five points with the O’Sullivan’s as a cover.
We lived below our means all my life, never had security or a home bigger than the average middle class family. It was all to look like a small time dealer if someone came knocking but the truth was a much different story.
“Corporations or families?”
“More like freelancers with power,” he replied immediately, looking around then waving for us to follow. “Come to my office.”
I ignored Liam’s attempt to get my attention and obliged, too intrigued to refuse.
He took us down the administrative hall to an office that only ever belonged to the church’s youth director. But sure enough his name was on the door, that very title etched beneath it.
“When did this happen?”
He tapped the mounted nameplate before pushing the door open.
“Three years ago,” he said nonchalantly. “Same year Caden was barred from entering the church during business and service hours.”
