Ruthless Reign

Chapter 6

A horn blared as I revved through an intersection on a red light, slamming my palms against the steering wheel with a string of indistinguishable curses pushing out through my clenched teeth.

“What the fuck were you doing there?” I asked as if the night sky could answer, cranking the wheel right and then left, taking the ramp onto the highway. My teeth clenched hard as I spun the dial for the volume, turning up the music to drown out all other thought and distraction, needing to think clearly. With a single focus.

Whatnow?

Twowords. One question. An indeterminable amount of fucking possibilities, each one more repulsive than the last.

Whatthe hell were they thinking bringing her there?

Werethey that fucking daft?

Shecould have been hurt. She could have been killed.

Itook the second exit, one that led to a darkened county road where I pulled half a mile into nothingness before turning down the first long drive and throwing the Lincoln into park near a twisted almond tree.

Icouldn’t be certain how long I sat there, music blaring, the Pixies begging the question WhereIsMyMind.

Yeah. I scoffed into the dark as I turned the music down and released the steering wheel, sinking back into the seat with a sigh. Where the fuck is my mind?

Ilet my head drop, digging my cell out of my pocket as I ground my teeth. I stared at the message on the screen there with a sour taste in my mouth. It was from Da.

Séamas

Is it done?

Aodhán

It’s done.

But there was a complication.

Isent the replies before I could overthink it.

Thephone rang in my hand before I could finish typing out the next message. I swallowed hard and leveled out my breathing, slowing my heart rate enough to answer by the end of the second ring.

“Complication?”

“Finn and Eoghan were?—”

“Not on the phone,” he hissed down the line. “I’m at your flat.”

Myteeth clicked as I shut my jaw. I wouldn’t bother asking why he was there. A son who didn’t have anything to hide wouldn’t wonder, but it was the first and only time he’d stepped foot there.

“I’ll be there in two hours.”

“Twohours?”

“I have bones to bury.”

Ihung up before he could reply. He’d like the insinuation. He’d like to think I killed one of the Kents. He might not even be angry if I told him I killed two instead of his allotted one. The single life to be taken for non-payment.

Iwaited to see if he would call back, but as I suspected, he didn’t. Which meant I had a chance. There was a chance I could come up with something good enough to save her life.

Momhuirnín.

She’dbeen hanging over my head like a guillotine ready to fall ever since I told him.

She’sthe daughter of DamienSt. Vincent.

Why? Why couldn’t I have kept that one secret for myself? Why couldn’t I have kept her for myself?

Ioffered her like a lamb for slaughter and now it was only a matter of time before my father came to collect. He was biding his time, but I knew he’d use the information whenever he thought it would have the most dramatic impact.

Ifhe found out DamienSt. Vincent’s adopted sons and his fucking biological daughter killed two of our men tonight, would he take her? Would he hurt her? Send her back to Damien in pieces to keep him on a leash?

Iwouldn’t let it happen. I wouldn’t have her blood on my hands.

Myphone vibrated and I glanced down to find her name there on the screen. A new message from Rebecca. I didn’t think it was a coincidence. I’d sent her at least half a dozen messages in the last couple days since I cut the wire at the safehouse. She left me on read for every single one. Granted they were all trivial, insignificant texts. I couldn’t let on anything.

Ifshe hadn’t put it together yet I wouldn’t give her the clues she needed to do it.

Butit seemed her hero moment tonight put some things in perspective as I read the simple message.

Rebecca

You played me.

…and you were so very easy to play, mo mhuirnín.

Somethingthat felt suspiciously like guilt squeezed in my chest like a vise and I bared my teeth against it, hating how she had the power to draw something so hateful out of the box where I kept useless emotions hidden deep, deep down.

Iinhaled to clear my mind, setting my phone down on the seat before starting the SUV. I drove for fifteen minutes until I found a dirt road so desolate and unkept that the Lincoln struggled to bump over the uneven terrain. Only then did I park again, going around to the back to pull the pickaxe and shovel out of the trunk. I hefted them over one shoulder before setting off into the dark, through the trees and into a barren expanse of land only illuminated by the moon and stars above.

Idug two shallow empty graves and filled them back in. IfDa doubted me, he would check for them, but I doubted he’d dig them up.

Itwas a risk, but one I’d have to take.

Myhands were dry, the calluses screaming with new blisters as I drove back into SantaClarita. The flat I rented just off campus was to back up my cover as a student. I even threw a small house party there when I first moved in and the neighbor’s cat had taken a liking to me as if I’d lived there for years instead of barely a month.

Iassumed the green sedan parked outside was Da’s current ride. He had a new one daily. Part of Eoghan’s job was to ensure he never drove the same vehicle twice. He’d have to find someone else to fill that position now.

AsI pulled up behind the sedan, I cleansed my expression of all emotion, feeling the mask of SéamasO’Sullivan’s son slip into place over my face. As it settled, every remaining ounce of trepidation or guilt fell from my shoulders, replaced with the cold, calm certainty Da expected. The son born of the mold his whip pressed me into.

Islipped from the Lincoln and took the small pavestone path to the front door, walking into the house without bothering to kick the dirt from my boots.

Thesmall flat was dark and vacant inside, but I could feel him. The bachelor’s kitchen sat untouched. The cushions of the only sofa in the adjacent living room were undisturbed, but I wasn’t surprised. Da never got comfortable. He barely slept.

Iwalked through the living room and into the hall, passing the pocket-sized bathroom before heading straight for the bedroom, drawn to him like moth to flame.

Ipushed the door open and found him standing beneath the glow of the naked bulb in the closet of my bedroom. He didn’t turn, and as I approached he fingered the sharp corner of a photograph pinned to the wall. The edge sliced into his flesh, leaving a slender papercut. He lifted his finger to the light, rubbing it against his thumb as if mesmerized by the shade of crimson.

“I thought you’d outgrown your…fascination with death, fuil ma chuid fola.”

Ididn’t enter the closet. There wouldn’t be space for us both, and I didn’t need to look at the evidence of my depravity tonight.

“You found the key.”

Helifted it without looking at me and I took it from his fingertips.

“So, tell me about this complication.”

Heturned to face me and for half a second, I almost lost my nerve, until I remembered who I was. Who he made me. And what would happen if I did.

“Eoghan and Finn are dead.”

Avein in his temple bulged. “Explain.”

“I killed them.”

Hisknowing eyes scoured my expression for information he might not find in my words. “Why?”

“They were skimming the take.”

“Eoghan?” he asked incredulously.

“I think it was Finn who convinced him.”

“And how?—”

“I’d suspected they weren’t loyal for a while. I confronted Eoghan before they went into the Kents. He buckled. Said it wasn’t his idea. Bastard even offered to cut me in if I’d keep quiet. Finn drew his weapon. I ended them both.”

Ihad to pray the Saints would want the entire ordeal cleaned, hushed, and buttoned the fuck up, otherwise Da might hear of a certain girl and her exploits behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle just outside Lancaster.

Hislips pressed into a thin line.

“Dìlseachd thar gach ni eile,” I said, invoking the old adage he drilled into me from the moment I was old enough to repeat it. Loyalty above all. The words tasted like bile on my tongue.

“And the take?”

“I needed to clean up our own mess. I’ll ring Sam and Reagan. We can collect now.”

Iwiped at some dirt beneath my nose, moving to turn back to the living room, but Da stopped me with a rough grip on my shoulder, spinning me back to face him.

“Their lives were not yours to take.”

“They didn’t deserve to breathe the same air we breathe,” I snapped back, letting some of that bottled emotion through in red hot rage that made my da awaken with the shine of approval in his eyes.

There you are, I could almost hear his thoughts as my own. My mad dog of a son. My loyal mutt.

Idid it. He bought it.

Aslow smile sputtered on his mouth as he lifted his shoulders to look down his nose at me, his head tilted to one side. “You were sent for the take. Nothing more. You overstep, fuel ma chuid fola. Perhaps you need a reminder of your position in my ranks?”

Itasted phantom blood on my tongue and before I could stop myself, my fists clenched.

Danoticed.

“Yes. I can see that you require a lesson.”

Ididn’t respond.

“Come.” He kept his arm around me as he led me back to the living room, to the middle of the floor, where he waited for me to kneel. Waited for me to unbutton and remove my shirt, discarding it on the floor.

Iheard the whisper of leather cord uncoiling from the back of his belt beneath his jacket and closed my eyes.

“WhenI am finished, you will organize a return for the Kents’ take, but you will not be seen or heard.I need your cover intact for our next move. I’ll not return here for the same reason and you should not allow any of my men to meet with you here, either.”

“Our next move?”

“You will know when I need you to know.”

IfSéamasO’Sullivan had an idea, he wouldn’t wait long before acting on it. Which meant I had a finite amount of time to warn her. Rebecca needed to get as far away from SantaClarita as possible. I could buy her some time, but not much. I prayed it would be enough.

Ipressed Ma’s four leaf clover charm between my thumb and index finger as the first lash fell, slicing across ancient scars and fresh wounds, making new strokes in the macabre canvas of Da’s living work of art.