“Impromptu visit,” I said, attempting a smile. Reggie gave me a strange look—which led me to believe that my attempt had failed. He held open the door, and I stepped inside.
I knew the way to the gym and didn’t wait for Reggie to lead. I stepped into the open space and saw Con with another man. They were in the ring and appeared to be demonstrating for the boys. Or maybe it had started as a demonstration and turned into a full-on boxing match.
I waited, my heart hammering harder with every strike either man landed, until one of the boys whacked an old school boxing bell with a mallet.
Con and the man separated. They were about the same height, same build, with same hair color, although the other man’s was buzzed short. And then there were the tattoos. The resemblance was… uncanny. They could’ve been brothers. I froze. Are they brothers? Con had never mentioned a sibling, but he’d also never said he didn’t have one.
But if they were brothers, why would Joy and Andre Leahy have adopted only Con?
Con saw me and grinned.
The knots in my stomach twisted even tighter, and my guilt at what I had to tell him multiplied.
“What’re you doing here, babe? Should’ve called first.”
I stalled, wanting to see him smile for just a few moments longer before I ripped his heart out.
He slipped between the ropes and hopped out of the ring.
“You look like you’ve been cloned.” I nodded toward the other man, who’d turned to talk to the boys.
“That’s Lord,” he said.
“And he is…?”
“The manager of Chains. Helps out here sometimes too.”
“And?”
Con stripped off his boxing gloves and lifted my chin. “And I think you’ve figured out what else.”
My eyes widened at his confirmation. I wasn’t sure how many more surprises I could handle today.
“You have a brother?”
“Yeah.”
“And I didn’t know this because?”
“We don’t really tell people. But I was going to introduce you on the Fourth. He was one of the buddies who was coming over.”
“Oh.” I stumbled backward until I felt the bench behind me and sat
“Whoa, princess. You don’t look so good. I guess I should’ve told you—”
“It’s not that. I have to tell you something.” Lord walked up just as I finished speaking.
“So this is the famous Vanessa Frost, in the flesh? I can see why Con wouldn’t let me meet you until he had you locked down. He was afraid you’d leave his ass for me.”
At any other time, I would’ve found the words funny and even charming, but right then I couldn’t process them. Con had sobered.
“Lord, take over with the boys. I need to talk to Vanessa.”
Lord’s joking demeanor evaporated. He was like a chameleon, taking on Con’s same expression. I couldn’t handle it.
“Whatever you need, man.”
Con reached down and wrapped a hand around my upper arm, helping me to my feet. “Let’s get you some air.”
I followed him down the back hall and out into the parking lot—where Lucas Titan was waiting, leaning against his car.
Con stilled mid-stride. “What the fuck?” He looked to me and then to Lucas. “What. The. Fuck?” he growled again.
Lucas didn’t flinch at Con’s tone. But I did.
“I gave her a ride. She wasn’t really in a condition to drive, Leahy. You might want to hear her out.”
I wanted to put a muzzle on Lucas. I wanted to find a corner, curl up into the fetal position, and not think about everything I’d learned today. I felt like my entire life—my sanity—was unraveling. Only Con’s strength held me up.
I didn’t know how to tell him. I should’ve fought Lucas when he’d taken me to Voodoo. I should never have given him directions to get here. I should’ve come up with a plan first. Should’ve come up with the right words to explain. Maybe if I’d given myself more time, I could’ve found words that would soften the blow.
Except there weren’t any.
So I just laid it out baldly. “I think I know who killed your parents.”
Con dropped his hold on my arm, and then immediately snatched it back up again and turned me to face him.
It was like looking at a stranger. “Who?” he bit out. “And how?”
I sank my teeth into my lip until I tasted the coppery tang of blood. “I don’t know who pulled the trigger, but I’m pretty sure I know who ordered it.”
He shook me, as if trying to rattle the information out of me quicker.
“Who, goddammit?”
His chest was rising and falling, his anger building and ready to burst like a thunderhead.
“Archer,” I whispered. “We think it was Archer.” I gestured to Lucas, taking the coward’s way out. “Tell him what you found.”
Con dropped my arm like I was diseased and turned on Lucas. My knees gave way and when Lucas lunged to grab me, Con blocked him, letting me fall to the pavement.
The back door of the warehouse flew open, and Lord stalked out.
Con barked, “Take her inside.”
Lord scooped me up, and I fought against his hold.
“Calm down. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but Con looks like he’s about to fucking detonate. You’re better off outside the blast radius.”