Vengeful Secret (The Burkes Mafia #3)

17. Sutton

17

SUTTON

I head into the bathroom, changing out of the outfit and letting out a breath I’ve been holding too long. I saw the way Gray looked at me, and I almost wish… it doesn’t matter what I wish.

What I have to do is focus on the plan tonight.

When I come back into the bedroom, Gray’s gone. I spend some time alone, thinking about this plan.

It’s dangerous, and not what I want for myself and Ciara. But it could make us safe at the same time.

I sigh, curling up on my bed to wait for Ciara to get out of school. I didn’t think I would fall asleep, but I do, almost instantly.

When I wake up, my phone is buzzing with an alarm, telling me that it’s time to pick up Ciara. I hurry outside to the car, making it there without incident.

When I arrive, I just go through the drive through to pick her up, and Ciara bounces to the car before pouting slightly.

“Where's Gray?"

“He's stuck at work, honey.”

She huffs out a put-upon sigh but gets in the backseat, buckling herself up in her booster seat.

“And you’re going to go stay with Marisol tonight. Will that be okay?”

“Sure. I like Marisol.” She pauses. “Do you have a date with the prince?”

I stiffen as I pull out onto the road. “What do you mean?”

“If I’m a princess, then you’re a princess,” she says, as if it should be obvious, and I’m a little stupid for asking. “So, you date the prince.”

“I guess we sort of do.” I smile.

She bounces in the seat. “We’re already living in the castle.”

I laugh, unable to help myself.

My daughter has such a big personality, and although she can be difficult from time to time, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

When we arrive at the mansion, Marisol is waiting for us outside.

“Sutton, Ciara!” She smiles at my daughter. “Ready for a slumber party with me?”

Ciara nods. “Mom has a date with the prince.”

Luckily, Marisol knows the truth and just smiles at her.

“And you have a date with me. Now let’s go. I can’t wait to get this party started.”

As they walk around the house to the pool area, I wave to Ciara, and she waves back. I don’t want to make too big a deal out of this, but I wish I’d given her a kiss.

I head inside and Gray is downstairs with Lara and Declan, having a heated conversation.

“If you don’t want her to be targeted, you can’t send her into the Murphys’ den!” Lara exclaims.

“It’s okay.” I walk up beside her. “I said I’d do it, and it’ll be fine.”

“We have a plan,” Gray explains.

“Why wasn’t I told about this plan?” Declan asks.

“Because I’m in charge here, not you. Besides, I’m telling you now.”

Declan balks, but he quiets.

Lara looks over at me. “I want to go with you.”

“You can’t. They know who you are,” Declan points out.

“It can only be me and Gray.” Although I think Gray showing up is kind of a stupid idea. They don’t know about our connection, though, so in the end it should be okay.

“Go through the plan with us,” Lara says. “Step by step.”

“Gray and I go in. He heads to the bar, I head to the VIP section. I find someone to hit up, and try to get my way in.”

“What happens if everything goes sideways?” Declan asks.

“I signal Gray.”

“How?” Lara asks. “You need to work all that out before you go.”

“What if I brush my hair back?” I ask Gray. “From the top, like this.” I demonstrate, and he nods.

“That means things aren’t going well, and you need to get out of there. What’s an ‘everything’s okay’ signal?”

“I put my hair behind my ears,” I suggest, and Lara nods.

“The guy will just think you’re nervous or flirting. It’s perfect.”

“Perfect is a strong word,” Gray mutters, like he’s having regrets about this whole thing.

“Do you have an outfit?” Lara asks, and I nod. “Let me see it.”

I head upstairs, putting it on and coming back down.

Declan whistles, and Gray elbows him in the stomach, making him double over.

Lara gasps. “You look incredible. No snake will be able to resist you.”

“That's the plan.” I feel a little silly wearing no shoes and no makeup with my hair up in a bun. But apparently the outfit is doing what it’s intended to do.

“I can’t believe you agreed to this,” Lara says.

“I can’t, either. This isn’t the kind of stuff I like to do.” I glare at Gray.

“Unfortunately, it’s what needs to happen,” Gray says firmly. “I’m sorry that it ended up like this, but we need you, Sutton. You aren’t going to be recognized by any of Murphy’s men, and when we know what they’re planning, we’ll be able to retaliate.”

Declan nods. “He's right. There's no one else we know that wouldn’t be instantly targeted.”

“I wish I could be a honeypot assassin,” Lara sighs.

“She’s not killing anyone, Lara.” Gray groans, “Just getting information.”

And I can’t help but bark out a laugh.

Why am I laughing? This is dangerous. This is terrible. It’s also oddly exciting, but I don’t want this life. That’s why I left in the first place. That’s why I hid Ciara from him.

Can I really be feeling excited about doing something so dangerous?

But this is for the right reasons. I’m going to find out what’s going on with the Murphys, report back, and everything is going to be fine. Gray is going to protect me and Ciara.

We talk for a while longer, and then it’s time for me and Gray to get ready.

I walk upstairs and hop in the shower, shaving and taking my time. There’s plenty of time left before the club opens, and I want to look my best.

I put on a little bold eyeshadow and do my eyeliner, which I never do, and as I’m poking myself in the eye, Lara knocks on the door.

I answer it, and she laughs at my attempt at makeup.

I pout. “I know; I don’t wear it much.”

“Let me help you. I'll do your hair, too.”

I let Lara have full reign, and by the time we’re finished, I look in the mirror and look like a totally different person.

It’s similar, really, to the girl I was five years ago, and it’s something to see.

“You’re ready,” she says after curling the ends of my hair and straightening my bangs. “Remember the signals.”

“I’ll remember,” I promise, and she leads me down the stairs to where Gray is waiting, looking absolutely edible in a black suit with no tie and a navy-blue shirt.

Gray looks up at the stairs from his watch, clearly impatient, and his eyes widen as he looks me over.

“Jesus Christ,” he murmurs, and I can’t help but smile as I descend the stairs.

“Are you ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I take his arm.

Once we’re outside, he opens the passenger side door of one of the SUVs for me, and I slide inside.

“You look incredible.”

“Thank you,” I say, the nerves starting to get to me.

What was I thinking earlier? That this is exciting? This is terrifying.

The men I’m going to be flirting with and trying to speak to are absolute villains, and I know this. I’ve heard around town about Niall Murphy and their beef with the Burkes, and when I was with Gray I was well aware of the ongoing war between the clans.

Gray drives another SUV and uses the valet. My driver drops me up at the door, before also using the valet.

I notice that there are two other black SUVs following me, presumably Gray’s men.

I feel the nerves tightening my stomach and realize that I haven’t eaten all day and make a mental note to keep from drinking as much as I can.

Gray is a step behind me. “Are you all right?”

I nod slowly.

Gray heads straight for the bar, and I head to the VIP section.

But it’s difficult to get through the throng of people, and I’m not sure Gray can see me at all.

I get closer to the section, seeing the velvet ropes tying it off, and I try to use the noise of the club as a cover.

I’ve got my ears perked up when I hear the name ”Murphy," and I see a man standing by himself, just outside of the velvet rope.

“What’s going on in there?” I ask, sidling up next to him.

He looks down at me and then does a bit of a double take, his blue eyes widening.

“Well, hello, beautiful.”

“Hello.” I plaster on my prettiest fake smile. “I’m Catherine. What’s your name?”

“Brady,” he answers, putting a hand on my lower back. “If you want to know what’s going on in there, I can get you in.”

“Can you?” I croon, swaying against him.

“Sure, baby. I can get anyone in anywhere,” he says smoothly, pulling me toward him.

I try not to wince, looking over for Gray, feeling a little worried.

Gray’s nowhere to be found, and I frown.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Brady asks, too close to my ear, and I panic.

“I think I need another drink,” I mutter, feeling in danger because I can’t catch sight of Gray. There’re too many people. It’s hot in here. I’m sweating.

I move away from Brady even as he protests, making my way back to the bar through the crowd, but it’s only a moment before there’s a hand on my arm, ushering me to the exit.

I look up, wondering if it’s Gray or one of his men, but it’s an unfamiliar face with sharp angles that greets me.

“Who are you?” I run my hand through my hair, giving the sign that something is wrong, but I have no idea if anyone has eyes on me.

I try wrenching away from him, but then I feel the cold metal of a gun against my bare back.

My breath starts to come shorter and shorter as he drags me out into the alley.

“None of your fucking business,” he snarls.

I do the hair signal again. But I don’t think anyone is coming to save me. Panic rises in my throat.

“I know who you are, though, Sutton McIntyre.”

“How do you know my name?” I gasp.

“You’re Gray Burke’s girl. And you’ve got a little daughter. Ciara, isn’t that her name?” He sneers. “You don’t even know the target you have on your back.”

Fuck.

This is exactly what I was worried about when I hid Ciara from Gray. I was worried that we’d become targets for his many enemies, and here I am, at the mercy of one of them.

I look around the back of the building, wondering if anyone would hear me scream, but there’s no one around. Everyone’s in the club or in the smoking area, which is a few hundred feet away. Maybe if I could sprint over there?—

As soon as I start to run, my captor grabs me around the waist, picking me up.

“Scream, and I’ll shoot you in the back,” he growls, and I slowly go limp.

He sits me down on the ground. “Now, I want you to tell me everything you know about the Burkes.”

“I don’t know anything.” I hope that he hears the sincerity in my voice. I really don’t know anything, not that I would tell even if I did.

“Don’t fucking start with me.” He picks up the pistol, swinging it at my head.

I duck, and he punches me in the stomach.

All the air goes out of my lungs, and I double over, heaving.

“You’re coming with me,” he says, and my vision starts to go black.

I’m going to fight as soon as I can breathe again, but I can’t breathe .