Ryan Reign (New York Ruthless #4)(28)

“Yes,” they all nod their heads and voice their agreement.

“Good. Now clear off,” I say and they all stand to leave. “Not you,” I say to Cormac and he nods his head and takes a seat again.

“Nicely done,” Paul says when there are only the three of us left in the room. “Now how about you fix all of us a nice whiskey from that well stocked bar there?” He nods his head toward it.

“What am I? Your fucking bartender?” I frown at him.

He laughs and shakes his head. “I don’t see my nephew for twenty-five years and this is how he treats me.” He slides off his suit jacket and hangs it over the back of his chair. “Shall I fetch us a drink then?” He coughs and rubs his chest.

“Sit down, old man,” I say with a sigh. “I’ll get us a fucking drink.”

“Take off your coat if you’re staying, lad,” Paul says to Cormac. “Makes me uneasy when people wear coats indoors. Like they’re hiding something. We’re all friends, aren’t we?”

Cormac looks at me and I nod my head and take off my jacket too before I walk behind the bar and pour us all a large measure of fine Irish whiskey.



When we each have a drink, Paul, Cormac and I raise our glasses in a toast. “To the most evil cunt to have ever walked this earth,” Paul says before his downs his. Both Cormac and I nod our agreement but I have never seen such obvious, undisguised hatred for my father from Paul before. I mean I knew that he always hated him, but his venom now is only matched by my own, and I had plenty more reasons to hate my father than our uncle did. Or so I always thought. Now I know differently and my conversation from two days ago with my Aunt reminds me that I need to speak to him, but it’s a conversation we need to have in private.

Cormac and I down our whiskey too and the three of us slam our glasses down onto the table. Paul wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “I need to go.”

I frown at him. “Now?”

“Yeah. Something I have to do.” He stands up and puts his jacket back on.

“I need to talk to you about something, Pol.”

“Yeah, I know,” he nods his head. “Later, though. I want to meet this girl of yours too.”

“Then at least leave me your number?” I frown at him.

“Okay,” he nods his head and takes his cell out of his pocket before pressing some buttons. My own cell phone vibrates in my pocket.

“Now you got it,” he says, still clearly distracted by something.

“Dinner tonight?” I suggest.

“Tonight,” he agrees but he is a million miles away.

“Good to meet you Paul,” Cormac says as my uncle starts to walk away.

“Yeah. You too, kid. See you later, Shane.” He winks at me and then he walks out.

“Seems like he had to be somewhere real fast,” Cormac says with a smile.

“Yeah,” I frown as I watch him leave. “Slippery fucker. Did he say anything while I was getting drinks?”

“He only asked how long I’d known you, but then I had to take a piss, so we didn’t talk long.”

I nod my head absent mindedly and then I remember the real reason I am here today. I have known Cormac since we were teenagers, ever since we both started working for my father. He has always hated Sean O’Connor as much as I have, and he was never my father’s biggest fan either. I lost touch with him when we moved to New York, but once I found out Patrick was dying, I reached out to Cormac and he soon proved himself to be the perfect choice to take over here.

“I appreciate you giving me this opportunity, Shane,” Cormac adds. “I won’t let you down.”

“I know.”



I spent another two hours with Cormac discussing the next steps for our businesses here in Ireland, and I am even more sure now that I have made the right choice in appointing him as the new head of our operations. He is a good businessman, rational and fair, but ruthless when he needs to be. I’m happy to be able to leave this behind and focus on our business in New York.





Chapter 17





Jessie





I sip my tea and stare out of the window at the beautiful view. I had a hot video call with the twins earlier and it was so much fun I had to shower after, but now I’m bored. I should have insisted on going with Shane today. I hate being in my own company for too long.

I wonder if his Aunt Em is busy? She said we should visit as soon as we could and I bet she wouldn’t mind if I went alone. I could ask Shane if his driver could take me and then he could meet me there later. She and I got on so well. Maybe going without Shane would be a better idea anyway, because she could give me all of the stories from his childhood that he’d probably rather she didn’t.

I smile to myself at that thought and look around the room for my cell and frown when I don’t see it. I must have left it in the bathroom.

As I stand up, I hear the sound of the door handle and look toward it. The door opens and my heart skips a beat. “You’re back early,” I shout as I make my way to the bathroom.

He doesn’t reply and I turn to look at him.

“Hello Jessica.”

It’s not Shane.

My feet seem to grow roots, anchoring me to the carpet. My blood turns to ice as it trickles through my veins and my heart stops beating in my chest. Time stands still. I want to run but my body won’t let me move.