Chapter 41

They were knocks on the door.

“Liam Byrne. Police. Open the door.”

What happened next was confusing and noisy. Paddy went away, and Elias was able to roll onto the floor as he struggled to pull his clothes back on.

After a bit, a woman took his arm.

“Hey. Is everything okay?”

Elias blinked and saw the woman that looked like an ice queen. She seemed very, very pissed off.

He nodded and looked around. There was this woman and two more holding Liam and Paddy.

“Can you stand up?” the Ice Queen asked. Again, Elias nodded, even though he wasn’t really sure he could. “You have to come with us.” She stared at the money on the ground and gave him a nod, and Elias tried to ignore the expression of pity and something similar to reproach that he saw there.

“You’re Elias, aren’t you?” she asked gently.

“Yes.” He was able to answer, despite feeling like one stone rubbing against another inside his throat.