Chapter 51
Gun Smoke
Onyx
Present day ...
I wake with a smile on my face. I have way more to smile about these days. Spending time with Deja and my grandbabies is the highlight of my life.
“Time to go check on my wee monster,” I say to myself as I stretch my arms over my head.
I told Deja not to worry about the kids today. I know it’s not her real wedding, but she can still enjoy as much of the experience as possible. Besides, I can handle getting three little ones ready for the day.
I’ll start with Patrick. I can’t wait to see my handsome boy in his little tux. I’ve missed out on so much, but getting to be there when my grandson was born meant everything to me. Patrick Ian O’Brien is the most precious baby ever.
That smile melts my heart whenever I see it. Deja is such a good mother. I’m proud of Cole too.
He’ll do anything for my daughter and their kids. I know Ian would be proud of him. He reminds me a lot of his grandfather.
While lost in my thoughts of how Ian Black’s plans have all begun to come into fruition, I shower and get myself ready first. Once dressed in my robe, I go to the nursery where Patrick is.
It’s when I’m right outside the door that I hear a young voice inside. Patrick isn’t even one yet, so it’s not his voice. I stop with my hand on the handle as I listen.
“Hey, Patrick. A lot of people are going to be angry with me after today, but I have to do it this way. I had to lie.
“I’ve seen all the paths this day could take. This one is the only one where we don’t lose anyone. Not permanently.
“In the other paths, you lose your grandma and grandpa. I can’t allow that. You will need both lions to roar beside me. I need you like you need them.
“I’m doing this to make it right. I’m still learning, but I know this time I’m doing the right thing. You will see.”
Sammy, that’s Sammy’s voice. I release the door handle and take a step back. I stand wondering if I should tell the others what I’ve heard.
Then I cover my mouth. This child has never been wrong. If I say something, I could die today.
Deja has spent enough of her life without me. I can’t allow that to happen again. However, this child has just admitted to lying, and everyone is prepared to put their lives on the line today based on his word.
Just when I am ready to turn and find Brooklyn, the door opens and Sammy steps out. He looks me in the eyes with his piercing gray ones and lifts his finger to his lips.
“Trust me,” he whispers, then walks off as if he has said nothing.
“Your little ass is the reason I have gray hair,” I mumble to myself and head into Patrick’s room.
Brooklyn
Now that the shock has worn off, I shouldn’t be so surprised this woman has defied me and is here by my side. We argued for weeks about her role in all of this. This was not the plan.
Learning what my woman is truly capable of was a shock, but I hate it to this day. Not because she doesn’t need me, but the fact that she’s so willing to jump into action because she’s fucking badass. That’s fine, but at any minute, any one of us could take a hit.
I would lose my mind if I lost her to any of this. Patrick hasn’t even turned one yet. Yet here we are, explosions happening all around us, gunfire ringing out, and chaos ensuing all over the estate while our family and guests are all underground.
We’ll be lucky if any of them show up for the real thing in Scotland. The guest list, the wedding invites, all had to look authentic.
Thank God Sammy suggested at the last minute that we send non-family to another location, only allowing guests who understand this life to be a part of today.
We couldn’t have too many in attendance as the weight on the trapdoors had to be precise. Sim and Sammy were geniuses for coming up with the idea to put the scales under the photo step and repeat for everyone’s weight to calibrate the door release and ease down of the seats.
Every detail of today was thought out and planned to a tee. Nothing should go wrong. As I have that thought, my clip runs out.
I rush for cover to reload. A flash of white catches the corner of my eye. I take my gaze off my task for a second and find my soon-to-be wife covering me.
God, she’s beautiful and so fucking amazing. Shots hit the stone statue I’m behind and I snap back into action. Fully loaded once again, I focus on the enemy ahead.
“Abort, abort. Stop now, da. She’s getting away,” Misha’s voice comes through the comms.
“Ach, then go after her,” I snarl.
“Net, Czar has been hit. Lovie, get his wife here, now,” Misha commands.
My chest grows tight. Czar is Misha’s cousin; of course, he’s done. Czar’s life takes priority.
“Lovie, do you hear me?” Misha says.
“Keep calm. She has taken Lovie and Milanie. They will be okay. This has happened just as I wanted,” Sammy says in a static voice. I would think he was asking his parents to go to the park, not talking about a kidnapping.
“What?” Misha roars. “Why would she take them?”
My head is pounding as I put all that has happened together. Czar is down bad enough for Misha to call this all off. Lovie has been caught up in all of this again and Misha’s daughter has also been taken, but this bitch is still breathing.
Fuck, my family has just been sucked deeper into this. If I thought I was going to sit DJ’s ass down after this, I can fucking dream on now. Yet it’s Sammy’s next words that nearly make my head explode.
“Because that’s the only way she could be sure you and DJ would come. However, she didn’t know to account for me.”
“This is done. I do my way.” Misha seethes.
“I know. Your way is the one needed. I’ll be with you, Uncle Misha. It’s time to take care of her. She’s in Mishutka Mishyenka’s way.”
“Jamie, where are ya?” Logan and I say in unison.
I groan when neither of us gets a reply. Tell me why I’m not surprised. Here we go.