Fearless (Broken Love, #5)(12)

“On the contrary, pet. It has everything to do with you. You’re here, and he doesn’t know it. You snuck away to see me. Do you think my son will give a damn what your purpose is?”

“He won’t find out.”

“He will. I’ve kept eyes on him long enough to know where his obsession lies. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has eyes on you right now. Come here, girl. I’ll make this worth the pain you’ll feel when he finds out you betrayed him.”

But it wasn’t betrayal. I was here to protect him. If not me, it would be Keiran standing in this room. Mitch would already be dead, and Keiran would face the rest of his life in prison if he were caught.

I inched closer to the bed watching Mitch warily. His bloodshot eyes came into clear view as he watched me, too. His skin was pale and too weathered for even his age. He was no longer the strikingly handsome man he once was.

“I hear my brother died.”

“Yes. I’m sure you had something to do with that.” I blinked away tears for John. Tears that Keiran failed to shed for his uncle. I shifted from one foot and then quickly shifted to the other. Each minute that passed, I drew closer to getting caught. I should have already been gone.

“I won’t deny it,” he smugly drawled. I sucked in a breath and hated that he noticed. “Though I regret to inform you my involvement was… indirect.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The man who I’m sure killed John was hired by me for a different job.”

“What job?” He didn’t need to answer, though. I realized the answer as soon as I voiced it and felt rage transform my body. I welcomed it and channeled it to my mind. I needed to go through with this.

“My grandniece.” His eyes sparkled with a sick sense of pride over what he’d done.

“Or your grandchild,” I corrected. Just as quickly, the light in his eyes was extinguished, and he was glaring back at me with the same disdain I showered on him.

“So I’ve heard.”

“You’re pathetic,” I blurted.

“I never asked for him. He is worthless to me! I already had my meal ticket until his whore mother stole it from me.”

“He’s a person. Your son. He’s not the answer to your sick perversion of happiness.”

“You think money is a perversion? Have you ever had millions upon millions, little girl? Anyone would have done what I did if given the chance.”

“Keep telling yourself that. But where has it gotten you? You’re dying, and there’s no amount of money that can change it. Chances are, if you had succeeded, you would have gambled it all away by now, and you’d still be dying.”

“I no longer find the fight you found from dating my son endearing. I’d tread carefully.”

“How did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Hire three men to kidnap an innocent child with no money?”

“Who says I don’t have money?”

“The string of bad debts trailing you.”

“You shouldn’t listen to gossip, girl. I have money. What I don’t have is enough of it. I don’t have enough to pay all my loans with interest.”

“And you still want to use your son.” I shook my head with barely constrained disgust. “Where did you find those men?”

“As it turns out, there are people who owe me.” His voice took a harder edge despite his frailty.

“Who are they?” The last thing I expected to hear was that there were more people out there who wanted to hurt Keiran.

“That would be telling but not to worry, pet. They aren’t interested in my son. I merely fed their guilt and collected.”

“These people paid you money to hire those men?”

“Not quite.”

“I’m sick of riddles.”

“Then ask the right questions. Did you really think I’d make it easy for you?”

“It doesn’t matter. I didn’t come here for answers. I came for your life.”

“Oh?” Rather than appearing frightened, his lips twisted with amusement. He and I both knew I wasn’t a killer, but I was desperate. I was tired of waiting and wondering when I’d lose Keiran to the grave or prison. “You think I’d let you kill me, girl?”

“You’re weak. You can’t protect yourself and there is no one here to protect you.”

“Or you,” he countered.

“Your henchmen? Vick and Freddy?” I felt my lips curl with disdain as I delivered the blow. “They’re dead. You have no one,” I reiterated slowly.

“And the third? I believe my son hospitalized him, but he isn’t dead. Where is he?” I faltered because what else could I do? Greg was the missing link to John’s death that hadn’t been obvious until now. “Do you know why I am able to die so easily, girl? Because I’ll die knowing my son will eventually lose. He’s got more enemies than men twice his age.”

The truth behind his words caused the well holding my emotions to overflow. “It’s all your fault,” I gritted. I tasted my tears. They ran freely over my lips and down my chin, escaping into my mouth.

“Maybe.” He shrugged his thin shoulders. “But his temper doesn’t exactly help, does it?”