Heartless

by Vi Carter

  HEARTLESS

  WILD IRISH SERIES BOOK FIVE

  BY VI CARTER

  Other Books by VI CARTER

  A BROKEN HEART SERIES

  SAVING GRACE

  CLAIMING AMBER

  TAKING LAURA

  WILD IRISH SERIES

  RECKLESS (prequel)

  VICIOUS #1

  RUTHLESS #2

  FEARLESS #3

  MERCILESS #4

  HEARTLESS #5

  THE BOYNE CLUB DUET

  DARK #1

  DARKER #2

  THE OBSESSED DUET

  A DEADLY OBSESSION

  A CRUEL CONFESSION

  CHAPTER ONE

  LIAM

  Wild green eyes stare up at me. I push the tip of the nail into her palm.

  “Get Connor!” Her fear is growing and I devour it.

  “I don’t take orders from the likes of you.” Color drains from her face as I raise the hammer.

  “I’ll tell you everything.” Fear chokes her words.

  “Liam.” I don’t remove my focus from Margret.

  “What is it Shane, can’t you see I’m busy.” Now I look at my brother.

  “You.” Something almost feral enters Margret’s voice. Craning her neck back, she’s trying to see Shane behind her.

  “You. You killed Bernard.” She’s struggling and pulling. Her words don’t put Shane off as he steps forward.

  “You. You killed Siobhan and tried to kill me.” Shane tells her with as much hate in his words as she seems to carry for him. I still hold the nail, but step back to let Shane closer to her.

  Spit flies from her mouth but it doesn’t reach its target, Shane side steps it.

  “They are coming for you.” Angry words turn her face red as she threatens Shane, my brother, my family. My fingers close tighter around the nail. The movement is so minimal, but it grabs her attention. Her eyes flicker to my hand before returning to Shane.

  “She’s demanding to speak to Connor.” I watch Shane’s back stiffen. “But maybe you are enough of a substitute.” Shane faces me and I hate the guilt I see there, I wanted to be wrong but the truth was etched into his face.

  “What did you bring upon our family?”

  “Death,” Margret’s voice fills the basement and Shane flinches before he reacts. His hand connects with her face, blood splashes on the floor from the impact. Both of them seem to be breathing heavily and when Margret looks up at Shane, a promise shines in her eyes.

  “Will I get Connor?” I ask to Shane’s back again. His shoulders rise and fall and when he doesn’t answer me, I take my phone out. It rings three times before Connor picks up. “I have Margret Murphy, a member of the Irish Republican Army strapped to a chair in our basement. If you’re not here in twenty minutes, I’m slicing her throat.” I hang up, not giving him a moment to answer.

  Shane glances at me over his shoulder.

  “You’ve been lying to me,” I say.

  “Withholding the truth.” His voice is low.

  “There’s a difference?” I ask, but shake my head in disgust.

  “That girl died because of you.” Margret taunts Shane and once again I observe.

  Shane grips the chair, his knuckles turning white as he leans into Margret’s face. “That girl died because one of your people took her life.” He pushes away and takes a quick look at me before walking towards the door, but he doesn’t leave.

  “You want to tell me who killed Siobhan?” I know she won’t answer, but we have time to kill.

  “I hear you have the niece of the Czech’s leader here.” Her words catch me by surprise.

  I laugh. “Now, now Margret. Is that a threat?” twirling the nail between my fingers catches her attention.

  I walk away from her and wash my unused nails and hands. Checking my phone after I see only ten minutes have passed since I rang Connor. “Only ten minutes left Margret,” I tell her while placing the phone in my pocket. She looks away from me. Shane moves around the room but avoids all eye contact with me.

  “You can leave,” I say to Shane as I get a knife out of my bag.

  “That would be great.” Margret’s response is quick.

  I glance at her and she showcases a grin.

  “I’ll wait.” Shane glances at the door as it opens and Connor steps in. His eyes immediately flicker around the room before landing on Margret.

  “You’re a fucking traitor.” It wasn’t the reception I was expecting Connor to have, since she asked for him.

  “Be quiet.” His words are quick as he steps into the room.

  “No. If I’m going down, so are you.” She’s angry, angry on such a personal level that I wonder what exactly he is to her.

  “What are you doing here?” He faces her, but his eyes shift to me and then Shane.

  “Just hanging out with your real family. You know the ones that mean more to you.” Hurt laces her words.

  The door opens again and Darragh steps in. Closing the door behind him, he doesn’t ask questions but lights up a fag and leans against one of the pillars.

  “Just let her go.” Connor finally speaks to me.

  I take a step towards him. “Just like that?” I hold the knife higher.

  “You’ve tortured her and she clearly isn’t speaking.” Blood still oozes from all her cuts.

  “I’ve only just started Connor. She’s going nowhere and neither are you.”

  “I killed one of their people.” I’m surprised when Shane speaks up. His voice is low as he steps closer to me. “They retaliated.”

  “You didn’t think we should have known that the RA had put a target on our backs?” Darragh crushes the cigarette under his boot, his temper flaring.

  “I was under the impression that it was sorted.” Shane speaks to Connor now, who stands straighter.

  “It was.” Connor bites back.

  Margret spits from the corner of her mouth, blood and saliva splash the floor. “We aren’t stupid.”

  “Who killed Siobhan?” Darragh lights up another cigarette as he moves around the room.

  “Fuck you.” Margret’s getting braver now that Connor is here. Her hostility to him is hurt, but she still trusts him.

  “Maybe Connor would like to share that knowledge with us,” I say.

  Everyone is staring at Connor as his shoulders hunch forward, the strain on his body rolls down into his clenched fists.

  “Maybe you could tell us who killed our mother?” he fires back at me.

  I smile, it’s slight but make sure he sees it clearly. “You already know,” I say. Darragh’s shifting from foot to foot, and the urge to look at him so he will stop moving is almost overwhelming. But I hold Connor’s angry eye.

  “I want to hear you say it.” Connor takes a step towards me and I place my free hand in my trousers pocket and relax my posture.

  “What are you doing?” Shane steps towards Connor but he stops when I flicker a warning glance at him. His betrayal hurt more than any of the others.

  “I’m doing what I asked you to do.” Connor answers Shane.

  “Not like this.” Shane doesn’t heed my warning but steps in front of Connor stopping him.

  “Do you know who fucking shot me?”

  “Yes.” Connor answers and Margret starts squirming in the chair.

  “Was it her?” I point at Margret.

  “No.”

  “Don’t you fucking dare? It was me. I did it.” Margret’s fear is expanding and turning into panic.

  “Shut up!” Connor’s own composure is slipping.

  Darragh leans against the wall and I take the moment to look at him. He’s pale, too pale.

  “What do you think would be a fair punishment Margret?” I ask her and Shane turns to look at me as Connor takes a step towa
rds Margret.

  She’s looking at Connor like he might save her.

  “I asked you a question.” I hold the knife a little higher.

  “I don’t know.” She finally answers. The door opening announces Finn’s arrival. He looks at each of us before slipping into the room.

  “Did she reveal anything?” His innocence often intrigues me. How did he grow up in the same house as us and remain so naïve to things?

  “Yes, a lot actually. We know that Shane killed a RA member, so in return they attacked,” I answer frankly.

  “Siobhan was a revenge kill.” He staggers backwards like someone pushed him.

  “Finn, I didn’t know this was going to happen,” Shane tries to defend his actions.

  “You could have warned us.” Finn stares at the floor before glancing at all of us. “He could have warned us.” I nod in agreement.

  Surprise flitters through me as Finn launches himself at Shane. He was no match for Shane. Finn easily takes him to the ground and unleashes his hurt and pain onto Shane who covers his face but doesn’t retaliate. We all stand and watch but it’s Connor who finally breaks them apart. Darragh helps to hold Finn back.

  “You killed Siobhan.” Finn’s angry words are said as he pushes Connor and Darragh away from him, they finally release him.

  Shane gets off the ground, wiping blood from his face. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know this would happen. It was sorted.” Once again, he glances at Connor.

  “Connor, you seem to be the man with all the answers.” Everyone looks at me. “You know who killed Siobhan; it’s someone close to Margret.” I glance at Margret, who struggles in her chair.

  “You know who killed Siobhan?” Finn’s hurt pours into his eyes as he stares at Connor. They were close and the hurt of the betrayal is evident on his face. He doesn’t give Connor a moment to answer.

  “What about you, do you know?” He questions Shane who’s still nursing a bloody nose.

  “No, of course not.” Shane sounds tortured now and I don’t want the attention taken off Connor.

  “Finn, Shane didn’t know. But Connor does,” I say it frankly, capturing everyone’s attention again.

  “You of all people. I fucking hate you.” Tears burn Finn’s eyes but he doesn’t attack Connor, it’s like everything in him has given up. Like the weight of betrayal is too heavy on his limbs.

  “So tell us Connor, who killed Siobhan,” I say.

  “You’re such a shitty brother.” His reaction doesn’t surprise me. He never could watch his mouth.

  “Just tell us.” Darragh’s anger swipes out across the room. Color has re-entered his face, but I want him subdued and silent. He’s too volatile.

  “Tell me who killed my mother and I’ll tell you who killed Siobhan,” Connor says. Margret starts pulling at her restraints like she might be able to break free and shut Connor up.

  “A group of unknown men killed our mother, Connor. We all know this,” I say.

  “Bullshit.”

  “What do you expect me to say?” I move towards Margret slowly.

  “You did it.”

  I laugh at Connor’s accusation.

  “Stop it Connor.” Shane sounds deflated but irritation still growls in his voice.

  “No, I won’t stop until I know the truth.”

  “The truth?” I step closer to Margret.

  “You are the one who can’t seem to tell the truth. You claim you are family, yet you know the person who killed Siobhan and tried to kill Shane, but you protect them.”

  I move swiftly, it’s not fast, but it’s efficient until my knife rests on Margret’s neck. “Does she mean more to you, than your own brothers?”

  “You’re making a huge mistake. If you kill her, they will come back here.”

  I nod in agreement. “The difference this time is that we will be ready.” I flicker a glance at Shane.

  “We can be prepared.”

  “Prepared for a war, Liam?” Connor questions.

  “Yes.” I answer before exhaling heavily. “This is the final time I’m going to ask both of you.” I glance at Margret and Connor. “Who killed Siobhan?”

  “Don’t you dare!” Margret’s screeches fill the room. The snap of her restraints is loud as she tries to free herself.

  “I already told you, I’ll tell you when you tell me who killed our mother.”

  “It was me. I did it.” Margret’s hysterical answer has the room growing still. I nod at Margret and a silence pours into the room as I run the knife across her throat. It’s quick and does the job as blood pours down her chest. She’s choking, gasping.

  I step away as Connor grabs the wound and tries to stop the bleeding. “Jesus Christ.”

  He won’t save her. Turning my back on him, I wash the knife down.

  “She didn’t do it!” His roar is close now.

  Dropping the knife in the sink, I face him. “Of course she didn’t.” Drying my hands on a cloth, I glance at Margret. Her head has fallen back, blood still oozes from the wound but she’s dead.

  “What did you kill her for?” His roar grows with each step and I don’t look away, but can feel the shift in the room as my brothers step closer to me and Connor.

  “Because I could.” I sidestep his angry blow. Connor is a fighter, but when he is angry, he doesn’t think correctly, making him a sloppy fighter.

  “I could take your life right now and no one would stop me.” I was hoping everyone was angry enough at him not to contradict me and I’m right as he glances at each brother.

  Connor deflates and faces me again. “I tried to protect this family.” He points at Margret. “But you just put them all in danger.”

  Dropping the towel on the table, I roll down my shirt sleeves and button them. The sound of Darragh lighting a cigarette is the only sound in the room.

  “You placed every one of us in danger. We all know this. So you can twist your words, but they are still your words.”

  “Who killed Siobhan?” Finn is starting to sound like a broken record. But I allowed it, to see if it would poke at a different part of Connor.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

  “What? Siobhan doesn’t matter?”

  Connor rubs his face. “That’s not what I’m saying. This...” He’s pointing at Margret again. “This is going to cost us, one death won’t be enough this time.”

  Connor reaches for the binds on Margret’s wrists.

  “What are you doing?” I ask him.

  He doesn’t stop.

  “She’s my kill.” I state.

  He’s in my face. “Do you know you sound like an animal? She’s not a kill. She’s a person who didn’t do this.”

  “A person you chose not to save, she obviously meant very little to you.” I retort.

  “Fuck you Liam.”

  “Get away from him.” Shane clamps a hand on Connor’s shoulder. “He’s right. You did nothing to save her.”

  “You did nothing to save Siobhan.” Finn’s emotions start to run his mouth again.

  “She wasn’t the target. Una was,” Shane’s voice rises.

  “Then why isn’t she dead?”

  “Finn.” Darragh places a hand on Finn’s shoulder.

  He shrugs it off. “Why did my innocent wife have to die?”

  “Una is innocent too.” Shane’s retaliation is taking this conversation down an emotional road.

  “This isn’t about who is more innocent. Right now we need to prepare for a war that is coming.” Connor steps out of my way as I untie Margret.

  “It was her brother Matt who carried out the shootings.” I untie her legs before standing and facing Connor.

  “You could have saved us a lot of trouble if you just told us that earlier, Connor.”

  “Fuck you!” Connor storms away.

  Finn blocks him from leaving the room. “Are you going to warn him? The man who killed Siobhan? She really liked you.”

  “I’m sorry, brother.”

&
nbsp; “I’m not your brother.” I know that will hurt Connor. He’s always been an outsider, but not to Finn.

  “Let him warn his friends. It will do no good.” I tip Margret forward until her body hits the floor with a loud thud. I watch Connor’s reaction, his eyes fire up as he stares at me.

  “I’m not warning anyone. I’m going to try to stop this from spreading. You’re like a disease, Liam.”

  “You can’t stop this Connor,” I called after him.

  The slam of the door is loud in the room and the mood is subdued. I stare at Margret’s body that lies at my feet. I wasn’t sure what to do next but I knew this thing with Connor wasn’t over. He knew more about our mother’s death then he was willing to share, and I had a feeling he wasn’t going to let it go.

  CHAPTER TWO

  SVETLANA

  The air on my cheek is what stirs me awake. I don’t open my eyes. Holding my breath, I wait but whoever is there doesn’t speak. My lungs burn, my muscles tighten painfully, and I try to relax. Once I do, I can smell shoe polish and I open my eyes. Dark black ones focus on my face, moving from my lips and now to my eyes.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask Liam. I feel vulnerable under his stare. He’s changed since I last saw him; the suit has been swapped for jeans and a black snug t-shirt.

  “It is now.” His full lips capture my attention. My heart does a small jump as he leans in closer.

  “As opposed to it wasn’t before?” I know he won’t answer me. I want to know where he went, what he was doing. I want to know Liam.

  “You were dreaming.” Liam sits back and the surge of disappointment rises within me. But I try to focus on his words and sit up against the headboard.

  “Yeah I was dreaming about my parents.” When I dream of them it’s in color, it’s a memory.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Liam searches my face.

  “It was just a memory.” I shake my head as if I might knock the smiling faces away.

  “I have memories.”

  I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. “You want to share?”

  “It will cost you.” Liam’s serious.