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28. Victoria

It'spitch black out when I wake up alone in my bed. Wondering if the guys have left already so Sorcha can make contact with me, I sit up and yawn.

My body aches deliciously from the sex earlier, a constant reminder of their touch. I stretch, feeling every muscle protest in a slow, satisfying burn. The clock on my bedside table reads 3:17 AM.

I slip out of bed and wrap myself in a satin dressing gown, yawning as I head downstairs. Everywhere is dark and quiet, and I shiver in the chill. Turning the thermostat up a bit, which sits near the living room door, I spot a note on the side table. Crossing over, I pick up the paper and read the neat handwriting.

We've gone.

We're watching you.

Use this if you need it.

Turning my attention to the small black box with a big red button, I smile. Picking it up, it's lightweight and fits in my palm.

The last line is written in Cian's messy scrawl.

Use the fucking thing, bitch.

"Sure thing, fuckface," I mutter and put the alarm in my pocket. "Coffee."

Wandering through the empty downstairs, I miss the guys. It's been a whirlwind, but I'm used to their company now.

The kitchen is a quiet sanctuary, and the hum of the appliances is the only sound. I flick on the light, its sudden brightness making me squint. Grabbing a coffee pod, I set about making a big mug of coffee. My mind wanders to Sorcha and what she could possibly want from me. The unknown makes me uneasy, but I feel, somewhere deep down, that she isn't here to hurt me. Taking my full mug back to my bedroom, I place it on the bedside cabinet and curl up in bed, pulling the covers over me as I pull out my phone and dial.

Cian's groggy voice comes over the line after one ring. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. But you all just left," I pout.

"That goodbye wasn't good enough for you?"

Giggling, I reply, "Nope."

"I love you," he murmurs. "All of you, every scar, every flaw, every perfection, every fucking thing. You know that, right?"

His words wrap around me like a warm embrace. "I know," I whisper. "I love you too."

"Get some sleep, killer. I have a feeling things are going to move pretty quickly now we've fucked off."

"Hope so. I hate waiting."

"I know you do. Me too."

Hanging up, I snuggle further into the bed, the conversation leaving me more settled but still restless.

The coffee grows cold on my bedside table as I drift in and out of a light sleep until, eventually, it becomes impossible to settle.

Dragging myself out of bed again, I decide a hot shower might help clear my head. The water stings in the best way against my bruised skin, each mark a reminder of last night's intensity.

Dressed and feeling slightly more human, I head downstairs with my cold coffee, I dump it on the sink and try again. While I'm waiting, I go to the front door and peer out of the peephole. All appears to be clear.

So, I risk it and open the door.

"I knew it, you cryptic bitch." Bending down, I pick up the black box and shove the door closed with my foot. Moving the box to my hip, I lock the door again with my free hand and then take the box back to the kitchen. It's light-ish, so at least I know no dismembered body parts are going to be stashed in it.

I hope.

Grabbing my mug of coffee, I sit down and stare at the box for a few seconds. When it doesn't blow up in my face, I quickly flip the lid up and purse my lips. A note folded over rests on top of a pile of red roses. Reading it, I chew my lip.

About time you got rid of the guys. This is between us. Two empowered women who don't need those idiots.

Snorting at her choice of words, a few weeks ago, I'd have agreed, but things have changed now. These three idiots are my ride-or-die. They are mine, and there isn't any force on this earth, not even death, that can sever the blood bond between us. Remembering, I glance quickly at the thin red line on my palm and, with a slow smile, press it to the hot mug. Hissing at the burn, I also relax a little bit, not realising how tense my shoulders were.

"So, Sorcha, my baby half-sister-in-law. What is it you think two empowered women should be doing? Hmm?"

"Do you always talk to yourself?"

Jumping at the voice coming from the box, I glare at it and then root through the petals to find a small burner phone set to speaker.

"At least I have some clever comebacks," I say, placing it on the table. "Sorcha, I presume. Last name unknown."

"Mullen," she says slyly. "As if you didn't know."

"Of course," I mutter. "So, if Oisin was your dad, Christopher was your mother's brother?" I take a stab in the not-so-dark.

"Yep."

"Who is your mother?"

"Bridie Mullen."

"Is she still alive?"

"Yep."

"Are you Red Reaper?"

"Good guess."

"Not hard."

She giggles. It's a cute giggle that would disarm, but I know without even knowing this woman that she is deadly under that sweetness.

"So, what do you want?"

"The usual shit. Money, power, Quinn's head on a pike."

"Can't give you that last one. He's goo."

She sighs. "Yeah, I know. Still, a girl can dream. You really went to town on him."

"Do you blame me?"

She giggles again. "You aren't going to ask me how I know?"

"Let me take another shot here in the dawn. You were working with the Quinn juniors. Or rather, they were working for you."

"She's so fucking clever. Big brother needs to lock you down, fast."

"Already has."

"So, we're, like, sisters?"

"You could say that. So, sister, you want to tell me who trashed my room the other night?"

She hisses like a cat, and I raise an eyebrow. "A traitor. He won't be bothering you again."

"You killed him?"

"Let's just say, he won't be wanking again anytime soon."

"Did you cut his dick off, sis?"

There's that sweet laugh again, tinged with a side of psycho. "Maaaybe."

"Nice. But I don't need your protection."

"I know, but you don't tell me what I can and can't do."

"Nope, not my place. Cut as many dicks off as you like."

"Even—"

"Except my three idiots. Touch them, and you'll see how the big girls play."

"Ohhh, badass. I like it."

"Can we cut to the chase here? What is it you want from me that you don't want to do this in front of the guys?"

There's a pause, and then the doorbell rings.

Snatching up the phone, I stride through the kitchen and across the entrance hall. When I open the door, I'm not surprised to see her standing there, but her glorious beauty takes me aback. Fiery red hair and bright green eyes, her skin is alabaster with a smattering of freckles across her nose. She has her hands in her coat pocket and a smile on her face.

"Sorcha," I say, stepping aside to let her in.

"Victoria. Nice to finally meet you in person."

"Likewise." I shut the front door and hang up the phone, shoving it in the back pocket of my jeans. "Coffee?"

"Eww, tea," she says, wrinkling up her nose.

I roll my eyes but head to the kitchen. "Fine, tea it is. Just make yourself comfortable."

Sorcha follows me in, taking a seat at the kitchen island. She looks around, absorbing the surroundings. "Nice place you've got here."

"Thanks," I mutter while filling the kettle. "So why are we really having this little meet-and-greet?"

"To see if we're on the same page," she replies, her voice suddenly serious. "And to decide if we're going to help each other or get in each other's way."

I grab some tea bags from the cupboard and toss them into two mugs. As the kettle boils, I turn back to face her. "Help each other how?"

She leans back, crossing her arms over her chest. "Power."

The kettle whistles, and I pour the boiling water into our mugs. I hand one to Sorcha and sit down across from her, watching as she stirs her tea, before she gets up and searches through the fridge for milk. She pours in a splash and returns it to the fridge before sitting down again.

"Are you proposing an alliance?" I ask.

"For now," she says with a shrug. "But let's be honest, that could change at any moment."

"Fair enough," I murmur, knowing how true those words are. "But what do you need me for?"

She stares at me, her face slightly sad. "If I went to Cian, he'd laugh me right out of town."

"I don't think he would. He has already grown fiercely protective over you, even though you are being a bit of a cunt."

She snorts into her tea and then wipes her mouth delicately with her fingers. "Okay, you don't mince words. But I'll take it." She turns sober. "You think he would take me seriously?"

I lean back in my chair, studying her. Sorcha's not someone you underestimate, not with that fire in her eyes. "He can be a prick, but he's not blind to opportunity or family. If you've got something worth his time, you'll get his attention."

Sorcha nods, taking a sip of her tea. "And do you think we can play this game together without stepping on each other's toes?"

"I don't give a fuck about toes, Sorcha. If we're aligned, that means something to the players. But if you cross us?—"

"Relax," she interrupts, holding up a hand. "I'm not here to make enemies. I want Quinn's spot, and I want power. Same as you."

"Then talk," I say sharply. "What's your plan?"

She gives me a sly smile. "I have resources Quinn never thought about. Contacts, favours owed to me across the continent. I want to use those to expand our influence, take control from the inside out."

"But why now?" I ask, suspicion creeping into my voice. "Why come to me now and not earlier?"

Sorcha sighs and looks away, staring into her tea as if it holds the answers to the universe. "Because Quinn underestimated me until it was too late. He didn't see me as a threat until I started cutting off his revenue streams." She looks back at me, fierce determination in her eyes. "And now I need an ally who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty."

I smirk at that last bit. Getting my hands dirty is practically my entire personality. "Quinn worked with my dad…"

She shakes her head. "He did, but he also had side gigs. He was working his way up to take his place as one of the big seven."

Now it's my turn to snort into my tea. "Are you fucking serious?"

"There is very little I don't know about that asshole, so yeah, I'm fucking serious."

"So the Red Reapers are out for this place? But answer me this. Why were you taking out next gen?"

She sighs in irritation. "We weren't. We were taking out strategic targets. Dunsany was Quinn's recruitment ground."

"And Norwich?"

"That was the dead wanker and his crew who decided they wanted the power for themselves."

"Let me guess… they underestimated you as well?" I say dryly before taking a sip of tea, but my mind is working overtime.

"Everyone does."

"I can see why."

"Is that a compliment?" She preens.

"You've definitely got the sweet psycho aspect working for you."

"Aww," she murmurs, curling a lock of hair behind her ear and blushing. "You're nice to say that."

"I only speak the truth. So you want Quinn's network? You've got it as far as I'm concerned. There isn't really much anyone can do about it unless they also want it. It's kind of how these things work. But if it was a secret, then you're probably not going to face much resistance until it's too late."

She nods slowly, taking in that sage piece of mafia advice. She might have power, but she is still young, and she hasn't been bred into this life the way I was. It's more like she was dumped in the shallow end of the pool by her asshole dad. I get now why Cian hated him so much. He was a complete dickhead. "See? I knew coming to you would be a good move."

I lean forward, folding my arms on the table. "Okay, Sorcha. I'll bite. How exactly are you planning to take Quinn's place? And what do I get out of it?"

She raises an eyebrow, a glint of challenge in her eyes. "You'll get your cut, and you'll keep your station strong. Plus, if we play our cards right, we both get more power than we ever had."

"Fine," I say. "But don't think for a second that I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart. If you fuck me over?—"

"I won't," she cuts in sharply, gripping her mug so tight I think it might crack. "I know better than to cross someone like you."

I relax slightly but keep my eyes fixed on hers. Trust is a rare commodity in our world. "Good. Now, what's the first step?"

Sorcha leans back, her manner shifting from confrontational to calculating. "You don't need to do a thing. All I need is the ability to name drop now and again."

"That's it?" I'm suspicious, as that sounds too easy.

"That's it."

"And what happens when the Red Reapers suddenly sprout up as one of the main players in this game?"

She smiles. It's a creepy kind of smile that nails home how dangerous this woman is. "We share the spoils. You get your cut, and I get my seat at the table."

I nod slowly, feeling the weight of her words settle in my mind. This isn't just about money or power anymore; it's about survival. Aligning with Sorcha could mean life or death, not just for me, but for everyone I care about because I have a feeling that going against her would be a big mistake.

"You've got a deal. But remember, I don't give a third chance."

"Third? You mean I'm already on my second?"

"Damn straight, Red. You've fucked with me once, this is the final shot."

She nods, determined etched onto her face, taking me deadly seriously. "Fair enough. Just don't underestimate me like Quinn and everyone else did."

This is important to her. She doesn't want to be seen as the underdog. I get it and to be fair, I think anyone who underestimates her deserves whatever comes at them. "I won't. Do you have anything to do with Kellerman, by the way?"

Sorcha frowns. "Don't worry about him. He is on my shitlist."

"Was it you who killed Oisin?"

The question takes her by surprise. "Yes. Are you going to rat me out to Cian?"

"He needs to know, but he will probably thank you. Maybe. He's not impressed that Oisin's death handed the mantle to him. Robert may be harder to convince."

"Ah, Robert. The golden boy." She nods and takes a sip of her tea. "Tough shit. It's done, and it wasn't just for my own selfish reasons. I wanted Cian where he is in order to make my move."

"Understood." Makes all the sense in the world. "Do you want me to share this conversation with Cian?"

"Yeah. I'm headed up north to Dunsany. I'm transferring in and that's where I'm needed to pull this shit off. You probably won't hear from me again for a while."

"You know where I am if you need me, and, Sorcha? This time use the fucking phone. I'm done with cryptic bullshit."

She giggles again as she stands up, ready to leave. "But it's so much fun."

I wave her off, grumbling, "Yeah, for you maybe."

When I hear the front door, I slowly pull my phone out and dial Cian. This is going to be a conversation and a half.

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