The Warrior’s Salvation (Sins of the O'Rourke Empire Book 4) by Ariana Cooper

Author:Ariana Cooper [Cooper, Ariana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-05-06T16:00:00+00:00

16

LOCHLAN

Fog hangs thick over the docks tonight, swirling around our ankles as we move between shipping crates stacked high like a steel maze. The damp chill cuts right through me, but I barely notice. Draco walks ahead, popping open a crate to reveal neatly packed weapons ready to move tomorrow morning.

Jasper steps up beside me, leaning forward to inspect the shipment. He whistles softly. “Quality stuff,” he murmurs appreciatively. “Cormac’s not gonna like our expanding business under his nose.”

“He doesn’t have much choice,” Draco says, confidently folding his arms. “The factory strike’s settled. Doyle lost leverage there. He backed down, just like we expected.”

Jasper snorts, nudging my shoulder with his elbow. “Guess the Doyle boys got cold feet. Didn’t want a real fight after all.”

I give Jasper a sideways look, suppressing a smile. It’s easy for him to joke now that the immediate pressure is off, but something still sits uneasily in my gut. “Cormac Doyle isn’t chicken,” I say quietly as my eyes rake over the weapons thoughtfully. “He’s patient, calculating. He’s playing a longer game.”

“Come on, Loch,” Jasper replies lightly, stepping back and crossing his arms comfortably over his chest. “We took their leverage. They’re licking their wounds. Let’s enjoy the win for once.”

Draco laughs quietly, shaking his head. “Jasper’s got a point. Even Doyle knows when to quit.”

I shake my head slowly, fingers tracing the cold edge of the crate. “He’s not quitting. He’s changing tactics. Trust me—he’s more dangerous now that we’ve cornered him. Whatever he’s planning next, it’ll be lethal.”

Jasper sighs, but his voice softens with reluctant understanding. “You really think he’ll escalate again?”

“Not a doubt in my mind,” I reply honestly. “This isn’t about pride for him anymore. It’s survival. He’ll hit harder, smarter. He wants us to feel safe so he can catch us off guard.”

Silence settles between us, broken only by the distant echo of waves slapping against the pilings. I glance at Jasper’s thoughtful expression and soften my tone. “Look, I know you handled the strike well. But Doyle’s dangerous because he doesn’t react impulsively. He waits.”

“Like a snake,” Jasper mutters, shaking his head as if finally absorbing the seriousness of it.

“Exactly like a snake,” I confirm quietly. “And when he strikes again, it won’t be something we see coming.”

Draco nods soberly, catching my meaning clearly. “We’ll double-check security tonight. Make sure we’re airtight.”

“Good,” I say firmly, stepping back from the crate. “I’ll stick around a while, keep an eye out. Something feels off.”

Jasper claps a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his expression more serious now. “You worry too much, Loch.”

I’m about to reply, to brush off Jasper’s concern, when an abrupt crack echoes across the dockyard, freezing us all mid-motion. My blood chills instantly. Gunfire.

Draco’s eyes flash wide in shock, his hand going instantly to the weapon at his waist. “Ambush!” he shouts, and then the night erupts in chaos.

Bullets rip through the air, whizzing past us, splintering crates and ricocheting off metal containers. Jasper dives for cover beside me, pulling his gun free and firing back blindly into the smoky dark.

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