Epilogue
Declan
Iwatch Lyra and Nora walk toward the fire pit, hands clasped like children afraid of being separated, hits me hard. It's not the satisfaction of a successful business deal or the adrenaline high of a fight. It's different, a deeper rightness I've never felt before.
Not to mention Lyra looks fucking weightless. Like gravity has released its hold on her. For a long time, all I saw on her face was pain and worry. Now it's nothing but light.
And the way they are laughing, like the way sisters laugh when the pain has finally broken loose and joy rushes in to fill its place.
That's everything.
That's all I wanted.
To give her peace. A future. Family.
And Max stands nearby looking like he doesn't know whether to sit, help, or run. Poor bastard's in for a wild ride.
I glance at the ring on her finger, the diamond catching the light.
My greatest victory isn't some warehouse I've secured or enemy I've eliminated.
It's giving this woman, this fierce, beautiful woman, the life she never thought she could have.
A connection with her sister who adores her.
A man who would burn the world down to keep her safe, and a child growing inside her that no one can take away.
And she's changed me, too. Lit a path inside me I didn't know I needed.
Made me believe that I might be enough just as I am, even if I never become Don.
Even if I'm always the second son. Because to her, I'm first. To her, I'm necessary.
Hell, if making her smile is my purpose now, that's a good fucking reason to get out of bed.
Shit. Who would've thought that?
I tear my eyes away from her and walk toward the deck where Callum and Keira are talking in low voices. They're standing near the railing, looking out over the trees. Keira's arms are crossed, her jaw tight. Callum has that stoic look he gets when he's hiding something.
"Hey," I say as I approach. "First off, thanks for coming. I know things are tense back home, so it means a lot."
"You think I'd miss this?" Keira says, arms still folded. "You proposing to the only woman who's ever managed to both patch you up and put up with your shit? Not a chance."
I laugh.
"Still, I can't believe it," she continues, moving closer and gripping my arm. "Declan Killaney settling down. I never thought I'd see the day. But Lyra, she's perfect for you."
Callum nods. "Even with everything going on, it's good to see you happy, Dec."
"Yeah, well, thanks. But seriously, what the fuck are you two whispering about over here? You look like you're plotting a bank heist."
Callum gives Keira a look. She sighs.
"Can we just tell him?" she asks.
Callum hesitates. "I don't know if now's the right time."
"No. Fuck that," I say. "Tell me."
Keira looks at Callum and then at me, "It's some shit, Dec."
I brace myself.
Callum rubs the side of his face. "Remember when you told me about the Shadowharbor card and I told you the name sounded familiar?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I went back home and looked over Dad's ledger because I knew I'd seen that name."
My stomach tightens. "And? What did you find?"
Callum looks at Keira, then back to me. "The Shadowharbor Foundation isn't just some random name. They've been tied to the Killaneys for years. In every way that matters."
"What does that mean?" I ask, frustration edging into my tone.
"I'm talking construction permits, judges, political favors, donations, joint fundraisers. Fucking everything."
"Wait, why the hell are we tied to one company for all that?"
Callum shrugs. "I don't know, but Dad's worked with them going back a decade. Maybe longer."
"Jesus," I say.
"It gets worse, Dec," Keira says, her voice dropping. "Cal, tell him."
Callum fidgets with his tie, a rare display of agitation from my usually composed brother. "The Morrigan? They're not just some rogue angry vigilante crew. They're a fucking secret, organized order. High-level and dangerous."
I rub my jaw, taking in all the terrible news my brother is telling me.
"And they are tied directly to Shadowharbor somehow," Callum continues, "I don't yet know exactly how, but the connections are real."
"Okay, wait. You mentioned fundraisers? Like galas and shit?" I turn to Keira. "Philanthropy is your area. Do you know these people?"
Keira laughs, but it's hollow. "Know them?
Shadowharbor is the biggest philanthropy org on the East Coast. They've got deep pockets.
You know that huge art gala we have every year?
They're behind it. Our names are on the signs, but Shadowharbor backs it, funds it, sources the artwork, everything.
We split proceeds with them. Oh, and they also host their own large gala," she says and brushes some hair out of her face, "the fucking president of the United States attended last year with his wife, ya know, no big deal. "
I nod. "Okay, so they're a big player, but I'm sure they make money off us, right? Why would they want to take us down? Or be affiliated with anyone that's trying to harm us?"
Keira nods. "Yeah, I know, I don't—"
"That's what we're going to find out," Callum interjects.
"Okay, I'm down," I say, adjusting my jacket. "When I get back, I'll walk right over to their offices—"
"And what? Walk in guns blazing and kick down every door and let them know we're onto them?" Callum cuts in. "No. You're not doing anything."
I narrow my eyes. "Then who is?"
He pauses and looks at Keira. "She is."
Keira does a double-take. "Excuse me? What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Yeah, Callum. What?"
"Look, Keira," he continues. "Think about it.
You're already inside their circles. You handle all the Killaney galas and charity events, and you sit on a ton of boards for us.
You're one of them and you know everyone who matters in that world," he pauses, "You can get close without raising suspicion.
The Shadowharbor network is too politically powerful for brute force.
We need to play chess even though some fucking order is trying to take us out. "
"Shit, Callum, I don't know," I say and look at Keira. "No offense, sis, I just. I don't know."
"There were three more black-feather attacks last night," Callum says, his voice hard.
I straighten. "Where?"
"They hit supply lines. Warehouses and two trucks."
"Casualties?"
"Two dead. Four wounded. They did manage to leave us some death threats on the side of one of the trucks."
"This sounds like war," I say, my fists clenching at my sides.
Callum shakes his head. "No. It's worse. If Shadowharbor gets involved, and they pull things out from under us, we won't just lose Boston, we'll fucking lose everything."
There's a moment of silence, the weight of his words sinking in. I look back at Lyra, laughing near the fire with Nora. Her hand rests on her stomach, protective and tender.
I glance back at Lyra, whose loud laughter caught my attention, and then I turn back to my sister.
"Your call, Keira," I say finally.
She takes a deep breath, hesitating for a second. "Yeah. He's right. Fuck it. I'll do it. Whatever it takes for the family. Tell me what you need me to do. This family isn't failing on my watch."
"And if Shadowharbor isn't connected?" I ask, needing to hear all angles.
"Then we find that out," Callum says. "But this Morrigan order, they have people and money; it's got to be coming from somewhere. We cut that off, they'll crumble."
Keira looks at me then at Callum. "They're coming no matter what we do, aren't they?" she asks.
Callum nods.
He then places a hand on my shoulder. "Keira will handle this. You and I will work the other angles, where our means are more useful, while making sure she’s protected at all costs."
Callum looks at both of us. "This will be the greatest thing we ever do for our family name.
It'll be our biggest fight. Because the truth is.
.." he pauses and looks over at Lyra and then back to me.
"This Morrigan order wasn't created to scare us.
" His voice drops lower. "They were created to replace
He leans into me.
"All of us."
I turn to look at Lyra, her face bright with laughter. She's everything I never knew I wanted, now everything I can't lose.
Keira taps my arm. "Don't worry, Declan. I've got this. You focus on her. On that baby. Let me burn these motherfuckers from the inside out."
I nod. The only thing that crosses my mind is, I just hope we're not too busy celebrating to notice the walls are already closing in.