Kara looked at me, her eyes wide.
“Just go with it. It's all for show,” I said, staring hard at Killian the entire time I spoke, making sure he heard the words and the hard edge in my voice. “They're not going to hurt you. You're not going to hurt her, are you, Killi?”
My brother's smile wavered for only a second before he managed to catch himself. I'd used his childhood nickname on purpose, to remind him of what he used to be. He didn't say anything about me using his old nickname, tried to brush it off like it was nothing.
“No, of course not,” he said smoothly – maybe a little too smoothly. “Like Declan said, it's all for show.”
“It better be,” I said, my voice low and filled with a dark threat.
Killian recoiled, looking like I'd slapped him for a second. But, then he gathered himself, shaking hi
s head and his smile returned. He looked at me and I saw that smile didn't reach his eyes. His face was cold and emotionless.
“Don't worry, brother. From a business standpoint, a hostage isn't worth much to us dead or broken,” he said. “So for now, she's safe. Go easy on her, Jim. Ease my brother's mind and be gentle.”
That was all that I needed to know. Kara was safe – for now. If nothing else, it bought us a little time to come up with a plan to get her – and my son – the hell out of this mess.
~ooo000ooo~
“Oh, just so you know, Jack is a really good baby,” Killian said as they finished with the photos and videos of Kara. “A really sweet kid. Meredith has grown quite fond of the little guy.”
“Well, don't get too attached,” I said. “Because I'm taking him back.”
“Of course,” Killian chuckled, patting me on the back. “We're going to be family again soon, Declan. A real family. Just wait and see.”
I pushed his hand off me and stepped back. As much as I wanted to knock the shit-eating grin off his face, being surrounded by four other big guys with guns meant it would have been a bad move to make. I was angry, but not stupid. Now that I had something to live for, I needed to be careful with my own life as well. Getting myself killed wasn't going to do Jack any favors.
“When can I expect the payment you promised?” I asked.
Killian raised an eyebrow. “When the job is done.”
“I did what you asked. I went over to Michael Boyer's house,” I said. “I think I deserve some payment for that. This all is extra. I fulfilled your original request.”
Killian looked amused and contemplative at the same time as he stared at me. “Not thinking about running away, are ya?”
“I’m not going anywhere without my son.”
Killian nodded, knowing I wouldn't abandon my kid. It was the only reason I knew he believed me.
“Fine, I'll give you the first half off your fee,” he said. “Just for going to the Boyer house, not for collecting the money since that part of the job has not yet been completed. Once it is, you'll get the rest.”
“That's fine with me,” I muttered.
Anything would help, truthfully. Not that I could get out of there without my son, but once I found a way to get him back, we were going to be on the road – long gone and out of there before anybody could say boo. Kara too. She was coming with us because I owed that to her for everything I'd put her through so far – everything my brothers had put her through. Also because it was partially my fault she was in this mess in the first place.
Killian handed me a stack of cash and they dropped off some supplies and food and left. As soon as they were gone, I flopped down on the couch and let out a long breath. Kara just stood there, stunned. Almost like she hadn't expected them to leave so easily.
“Sit down, relax a bit. Not like we've got much else to do,” I said.
Kara continued to stare at the now closed front door, through which my brother and his goons had left. She cocked her head and stared at it, as if half-expecting them to come bursting through it again and fill her full of bullets. When it didn't happen after several long moments, and the sound of the car dwindled into the distance, she relaxed and let out a long breath of her own.
“They're not going to go so easy on me next time, are they?” she said softly.
“Probably not,” I said.
She nodded. Most people might have a panic attack or freak out, but she managed to remain fairly calm, even though I noticed a slight tremble in her hands. “We need to get my son,” I said.
“What's that?” she asked.