And just like that, the war between the Kellys and the Doyles is once more.
“The place is surrounded,” I inform her, needing to bide my time. “Y’ll not get away. Y’ll end up like yer family. I’ll make sure of it.”
Her green eyes narrow, and I recognize what’s reflected in them—revenge. She wants revenge on the man who destroyed her family, just like I do.
A cane echoing on the wooden planks offers me relief. We can’t lose. We have Alek on our side.
Or, so I thought.
“Hello, Annette,” Alek happily says as he rounds the corner.
Cian and Sean follow close behind, held at gunpoint by Austin.
Cami whimpers because she sees this for what it is. We have been played—not by Sean but by Alek. He’s been in on this the entire time.
“Yer the supplier?” I ask him even though I know the answer.
“You got me,” he replies with a smirk. “To be fair, I did tell you I had dealings with the Doyles.”
“You fuck,” I curse, shaking my head. “We had a deal.”
This is my fault for trusting him.
“Yes, this is true, but I also had a deal with Annette. This is business. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”
Tonguing my cheek, I take a moment to compose myself. “I’ll appreciate yer mutilated corpse when I rip the head from yer shoulders.”
Alek laughs loudly. “I’d like to see you try. You think I got to the position I’m in by siding with the weak? I need leaders. Strong men who aren’t afraid.”
“Afraid?” I scoff, training my gun on him. “I’m not afraid. Right now, I’m fucking pissed off I didn’t kill you when I had the chance.”
“Missed opportunities. That’s all you seem to have.”
Alek is right. I should have done this alone. I had enough manpower to win. But I was afraid. Not afraid of losing, but rather…I was afraid of winning. I was afraid of not living up to Connor. I would have rather given it away because that was the easy way out.
But look where that’s got me.
“I’m here to watch who wants this”—he spreads his arms out wide—“more. That’s the person I want to work with. Not someone ready to give it all away.”
When Sean steps to the side, I expect Alek to reprimand him, but when he doesn’t, I realize Annette’s contract came with a clause. Cami and I watch as he hobbles over to Annette, and when he places a kiss on her cheek, I scoff, sickened.
She reaches into her handbag, giving him a gun.
“This is fucking incestuous. Can’t you date outside yer social circle?” This isn’t the time to be making jokes, but what the fuck?
“He’s as much to blame as I am,” I state, in case Annette has been blinded by “love.”
Annette shoves Shay away, which is the opportunity I need. Cami knows it too. We just need to play it cool.
“He wasn’t the one who used my husband’s head as a football!” she screams, pointing her finger at me. “He wasn’t the one who set Hugh on fire!”
The memory is a fond one, and I can’t help but grin, which angers Annette further.
“He wasn’t the one who killed my brother-in-law! He wasn’t the one who slaughtered my Liam.”
I suppose when listed that way, I can see why she would be angry, but they deserved it.
“Given the chance,” I state, eyeing her coolly, “I’d do it again. In a heartbeat.”
A scream leaves her as she comes charging for me. Sean grips her arm, however, stopping her. “Let’s get this over with.”
My interest is piqued as I want to know the real reason we’re here.
“I can’t have two kings,” Alek reveals, looking at me. “I thought it was you, but you so easily gave up. You should have taken me up on my offer to sleep on it. But you’re impulsive. You have a rotten temper.”
Rolling my eyes, I reply, “I didn’t realize this was a therapy session.”
Alek chuckles. “Your father has made a deal on your behalf, to save your life.”
“Let’s hear it then.”
Shay is standing off to the side. I need him closer.
Where the fuck are Ethan and the rest of my men? I suddenly realize they’re not coming because I all but served Alek up on a silver platter when I introduced him as their new leader. They are looking for the enemy, and I vouched for this fucker when I said he could be trusted.
He’s attacked us, Trojan horse style.
The only backup I have is myself. I won’t put Cian and Cami in any more danger.
“He has bargained for your life, on the terms you leave here and never come back,” Alek explains, detailing a deal I want no part in. “Very generous, if you ask me. But you can take your wife and child and leave.
“I will only offer this once.”
“And what if I tell ya to go to hell?” I challenge, not backing down.
“Then I make you watch as I kill your family,” he calmly replies. “You’re a risk to me alive, and honestly, I’d rather you were dead. But a deal’s a deal.”
“Oh, you think yer funny?” I mock because what about our deal? Clearly, they mean nothing to him.
“Hilarious,” he counters while Austin’s lips twitch. “I think it’s kismet—a Doyle and a Kelly uniting this country.”
“And I think you shouldn’t speak on matters ye have no idea about,” I warn, my gun never wavering from him.
The more he speaks, the angrier I become. Not at him, but rather, myself. I was so worried about Sean betraying us, I didn’t even see this arsehole for the snake that he is. If I get out of this alive, I will kill Ron Brady for introducing us.
“Shoot him,” Cian says, but I don’t know who he wants me to shoot first.
Alek knows I won’t be shooting anyone. As long as Shay is here, I will bend to his demands, which is why I lower my gun.
“No, Cian, I can’t,” I sadly confess. “I wanted out. I got my wish, it seems. If ye can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?”
“Good choice, my friend.”
“Shut yer fucking mouth,” I snap at Alek, not interested in comradeship. “Fine, you win. Take it all. I don’t want it.”
Cami turns to look at me, horror reflected on her face. She wants me to fight, and I will—once she and Shay are safe.
“C’mere, Shay,” I order gently because the moment I have him in my arms, it’s game on.
He turns to look at Sean, who nods.
That, that breaks my heart more than any betrayal. My son looking at a monster for guidance instead of listening to me—his father. Sean must have brought him here, knowing that Shay will always be my weakness because Shay trusts him.
And that’s the only reason he ever got involved in Shay’s life; for a circumstance such as this. To manipulate and use him for his own personal gain.
That burns the fire brighter. I’m going to kill them all, including this fucking smug Russian bastard.
Shay doesn’t run. My brave boy dares not show weakness. He looks at Cami, who drops to a squat, opening her arms. I breathe a sigh of relief because it’s almost over…
Just not in the way I ever thought it would be.