Chapter Sixteen
Locked in the study,Liam double-checked the background of the guards Archer had hired to make sure there wasn’t anything they’d missed. They couldn’t afford any mistakes.
He didn’t have to look up from the screen to sense his brothers close by. Archer was on the phone, burning the ear off a poor soul over the line.
Kai was going through the guards’ schedules, almost pulling out his hair, trying to make sure everything was perfect. With his military background, Liam was confident everything would be flawless.
Sam was standing as usual, looking through the window. He looked darker each time he saw him, and it worried Liam. Pushing away from his desk, he went to his half-brother.
Sam didn’t acknowledge him, but his stance shifted. Outside, the forest was covered with a fresh blanket of snow, only the guards’ footsteps marring nature’s perfection. Nobody was in sight, but that was expected. Security wasn’t meant to be seen, especially the one the brothers had selected.
It took a few seconds for Sam to speak, and Liam knew it was better for his brother to come out of his shell when he was ready.
“I should’ve killed him when I had a chance.”
This simple sentence echoed strongly with every single one of the brothers, one that could easily overwhelm and blur simple logic.
“You can’t go there, Sam. We didn’t know how twisted Finch could be, to what extent he’d react to our opposition.”
A muscle twitched in his brother’s jaw. “Liam, I hear you, but I see every time we should’ve been more vicious. I should’ve gone after him much sooner and killed him. Maybe I could have prevented Lazarus being hurt and your women being threatened, forced to flee and hide.”
Liam felt the pain emanating from his brother and touched his shoulder. “Brother, I prefer you keep your humanity. You’ve suffered enough. It would pain me if you lost yourself in the process. Finch isn’t worth it.”
For the first time, Sam lifted his head and locked a fiery gaze on him. “But you’re worth that sacrifice. All of you are worth it to me.”
Liam felt the same toward all the bastards. “Let focus on what we can do. Catriona will cut off Finch’s finances, and he won’t be able to run. Give it time, Sam. Have faith.”
Liam wasn’t sure if Sam was convinced when he nodded, but it was the only guarantee he had for the moment.
Archer pierced the fragile calm inside the room with a string of curses just before his cell phone flew into the wall.
Kai was the only one stupid enough to whistle. “Easy, brother. You’re rich, but you still need that phone. If it’s not smashed beyond repair.”
Archer scowled, which didn’t impress any of the men in the room.
Liam shook his head. “I guess your little talk with the police wasn’t as fruitful as you expected?”
The businessman shrugged off his jacket which was a sure sign of his deep annoyance. “The police, the FBI... they’re all morons, all they can tell me is that the investigation is ongoing and to lay low for a while. They offered us the witness protection program.”
It was Kai’s turn to curse. “No fucking way. I’d prefer to see him coming than be a sitting duck.”
“Even better, I prefer to attack.” Sam made sense, but in their current situation, it was impossible.
“There’s too many of us, and with Lazarus down, it plays against us. Our best move is to lay low. Finch can’t find us for now.”
Aleksei arrived in the room just as Kai finished speaking.
“Brothers. I’ve made a few phone calls of my own, and hopefully, we’ll be warned if Finch puts another contract on our heads.”
Archer crossed his arms. “From what Lucas told me, Aunt Helen isn’t young or skilled. I guess she acted as a decoy for her dear brother.”
Liam looked at his other brothers, and each and every one of them had been thinking the same thing. She’d tricked Archer when she’d become his personal assistant when he moved to Chicago and put Zoe’s life on the line when she’d revealed herself.
“You mean our evil aunt. She’s like a snake and must be put down.” Sam’s focus was undeniable.
Something beeped on one of the computers and Kai took a quick look and smiled. “Well, our little nun is making good use of the office I’ve set up for her. If we’re lucky, she’ll stop this madness sooner than later.”
All brothers nodded, but Archer didn’t seem as confident. “That is, if she doesn’t bail on us again.”
