Chapter 55
OCTOBER 25 – SATURDAY 9:19 PM
N ash
Owen couldn’t have picked a shittier bar for this meet. Mulligan’s was a ways down the road from my club and in the heart of the industrial district. The pink neon above the entrance flashed that they were open, but the road sign had long lost any lights and sat dark. Scanning the road, I didn’t see anyone and turned my attention back to the front door.
There were five cars, four motorcycles, three pickup trucks, two stray cats, and all it needed was a fucking partridge in a pear tree.
It was an overcast night, which worked in our favor when we made our escape with Owen. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I watched as a car slowly made its way up the road. But as it passed under the street lamp, I could clearly see a woman driving.
Myles hadn’t said two words, which was rare for him. Most of the time I was begging him to shut up. His tense jaw, bouncing knee, and clenched fists told me that he was gearing up for a kill.
“Hey, before this all goes down, I want to give this back,” I said, pulling the thick manila envelope from the backseat and handing it over.
“What did ya find,” he asked as he took it from me like it might bite.
When Myles went to Ireland to complete his initiation, he’d spoken to some families on my behalf and gathered more support than I ever expected. One of those families, the O’Learys, had been close friends and allies with Meghan McCoy, Myles’s mom.
Before he left, they handed him that envelope and told him that it had been given to them by his mother before she passed. He didn’t have the heart to look inside when he got back and asked me to go through it for him.
“Mostly paperwork on shady business ventures and copies of ledgers to show that he was skimming money. Lots of things that could’ve been used to have your father arrested. There are also some very personal pages that I skimmed, talking about what Owen was like and how she feared for her life, but more for you and Lip.”
Myles nodded and gripped the envelope tighter. Reaching out, I put my hand on his shoulder.
“There were also DNA test results. Devin wasn’t your mother’s son. There was no mention of who his mother was, but the results are conclusive.”
Myles slumped in the seat.
“Thank the Lord. Doesn’t change the fact that me da is a wanker, but at least when Devin….” Myles looked out the window. “Well, at least he wasn’t me full brother, ya know?”
I nodded.
“There’s more.” He looked at me. “Your mother had two letters inside the envelope. I opened them to skim, but I ended up reading them fully.”
This was really fucking uncomfortable.
“Okay…and?”
“She lied about some things and took the secrets to her grave.”
“What? About what?”
“The first letter also had a DNA test inside and…well…you’re not Owen’s son.”
“I’m sorry, ya wanna say that again?”
“Your father is Matthew McCoy. The letter states that Matthew never wanted to challenge your father, but when Devin started to hurt you, your mother strong-armed him into taking Devin. That’s how he ended up here in the States and going to Wayward.”
“My uncle is not my uncle but my da, and me da is my uncle?” Myles shook his head. “There’s no way.”
“Yeah, she had tests done. The second letter, well…it specifically talks about a time when Owen was really abusive, and well…Lip isn’t Owen’s either.”
“Jesus fuck…I’m almost afraid to ask.” He rubbed his eyes. “Who is his da?”
“Filip is an O’Brien, as in Ethan O’Brien,” I said and watched Myles’s face flow through a million emotions in the blink of an eye. “Before you lose your mind, your mother never told Ethan. Apparently, it was a one-time thing. A mistake when he was over in Ireland for work and had been staying with them for a few weeks.”
Myles just stared at me like his brain was misfiring, and nothing made sense anymore. I’d warred with whether to tell him this before or after the meeting, but I’d already been sitting on it for weeks.
“Look, I know this is insane and a shock, but, on the bright side, if it’s true and we tell Ethan he can get a DNA test and claim Lip.” Myles just blinked. “This is a good thing. It means that Owen can never touch him again. You know what a good man Ethan is, and Ella…well, I have no idea if he told her about your mom, so that’s complicated. But still, you can use this to keep Lip away from him. I don’t know if you’ve given this much thought, but if we kill Owen…I don’t know if a court would award you custody even though you’re his brother, just think about it.”
“What the fuck….what the fuck…what the fuck? He needs to die and sign over his rights. That’s all there is to it.”
“Who, Ethan?”
Myles shook his head.
“Naw, me da. If he’s dead and gives me rights to Lip, then I don’t have to worry, and I never have to tell Ethan or fuck…Blake and Theo…fuck me life, they’re his half-brothers.”
He slammed his fist against the dashboard before his pained eyes found mine.
“I can’t lose Lip, Nash. I love him, and I can’t let Ethan take him from me any more than that bastard I’ve called Da all these years.”
“Ethan wouldn’t do that. Breathe, man, and think this through. You don’t have to say anything now, and I’ll keep quiet. This is your family and your decision. But…Ethan and Ella are good people despite whatever happened. Blake is your best friend, and Theo would never hurt Lip. They already treat him like family.”
Myles rubbed his face, fear over something I never even considered sitting heavy on his soul.
“Well, I guess now I know why Lip has always been so smart and not like me at all. I joked that I had no idea where he came from…fuck….”
“Hey, shut the fuck up. Lip is your half-brother, too, and once Owen is dead, he’ll need you more than ever.”
“I know…I’ll never abandon him, even if he isn’t related to me at all. But letting Ethan take him…I don’t know if I can live with that either,” he said.
I squeezed his shoulder.
“This secret is safe with me. I won’t say anything. But Myles, if it was your son, would you want to know?” Shrugging, I opened my door. “It’s almost time. We should head inside and get set up.”
Myles grabbed my arm before I could slip out of the truck.
“Thanks for tellin’ me and…for reading it. I…I still don’t know if I can.”
“Anytime. Now, you can worry about the rest of it later. Fucking celebrate that you’re not this prick’s son, and let’s go kill him already,” I said, and Myles smirked.
I put my ball cap on and pulled my hoodie up over that to completely cover the sides of my face.
Alright, Owen, show time.
OCTOBER 25 – SATURDAY 9:47 PM
Myles
Nash went straight to the bar when we walked into the dingy pub. I spotted Blake and wouldn’t have known it was him if I hadn’t been looking. He wore a scraggly brown wig and a thin goatee that made him appear ten years older. Walking over to a booth opposite the bar, I sat down with my back to the corner. It allowed me to keep an eye out for me da, and there was less likelihood that he would spot either of the guys.
The closer it got to ten, the more my knee bounced, and my fingers tapped on the table, but it was excitement rather than nervousness. I’d dreamed of killing him for years and always wondered why we never connected and why he hated me. Now, I knew. Maybe he had an inkling all along that I wasn’t his. It really didn’t matter the reason, he was an asshole my whole life, and this was it.
“Do you want anything to drink,” the only waitress on duty asked. I didn’t look up at her and shook my head. “You can’t just sit in here. You need to order something,” she said.
I grabbed the sticky plastic menu, standing up at the back of the table, and looked it over.
“Fries and two pints of Guinness,” I said, keeping my voice low.
If she suspected I was underage, she didn’t say anything. Just scribbled it down and walked away. I put the flyer with the six appetizers away and leaned back, making sure that I could still feel my gun. It was stupid to think it had jumped out of the back of my jeans and taken off, but its heavy weight kept me calm. As calm as one could be with the bombshell Nash had just dropped.
The door opened, and I kept my head down. Two more bikers joined their friends at the far table as I glanced up. Picking up my phone, I checked for new messages, but there wasn’t anything. Shite, I didn’t like this. What if he found out where Liam and Theo were taking Ren? What if he was there right now and had hurt or killed them and taken Snowflake?
I was ready to call it and jump up when the door opened again and in walked Owen. He looked around, and I lifted my arm as he turned his head in my direction.
He walked over with his hands in his pockets, which I didn’t like. He could be concealing any kind of a weapon.
“Hello, son,” he said, sitting down across from me. He glanced around again. “Hope ya don’t mind meeting here,” he said, and I shook my head.
“I ordered ya a Guinness,” I said when the waitress walked over with the two beers. “Why did ya want to meet here? It’s nowhere near where I told ya I wanted to meet.”
He smirked. “Where’s da girl?”
“Safely tied up,” I said and took a sip of the dark beer. “I told ya I’ll take ya to her, but I’m not givin’ ya the address.”
“Why, son? Do ya no trust me?”
I chuckled. “Don’t take me fer a fool. Yer me da and I said I’d help ya, but I want ta know what I’m gettin’ involved in before I do anythin’ else.”
“Yer no the one that gives out orders,” he snarled, his hands clenching into fists.
“Naw, see, we’re not doing that anymore,” I said, and his eyes narrowed. “Devin got a say, and I want one too. Besides, I took all the risk of gettin’ her out of Wayward without being seen. If they find out what I did, then I’m as good as dead. So now that yer calmer, I wanna know what the fuck is goin’ on. The whole story,” I said.
“Lawrence is a feckin’ liar, that’s what. He told me ta go have a meeting, and I no sooner sit me arse in the chair when the entire place lights up with bullets.”
“So ya didn’t kill the Killroy family?”
Owen slammed his fist down on the table.
“Nah, I didn’t. He set me up,” Owen said.
Anything was possible when it came to Owen and Lawrence. They both had killed dozens or more people over the years. I was more concerned with what Owen wanted with Ren.
“Fine, he’s a prick, and we’ll take care of him, but tell me…what of Ren,” I asked, and his jaw twitched.
“What I choose to do wit her is none of yer business. So tell me where the little bitch is,” he snarled, not paying attention as the plate of French fries was placed on the table.
Pulling out my wallet, I tossed a fifty down and put it away again.
“Fine, ya don’t want ta tell me, I’ll take her back to Wayward. I’m no playin’ this game with ya,” I said, standing.
Owen grabbed my arm and sighed.
“Sit. Lawrence says ya have news of Devin. Tell me what ya know and how I can get him back, and I’ll tell ya what you want ta know.”
Fucking Lawrence. He wanted to ensure my father—or uncle, or whoever the fuck he was to me—lost it. Did he really think I’d back out of this moment? I sat down again.
“How was he?”
Tapping my phone, I sent him the photos I’d taken of Devin while Nathaniel tortured him. As a bonus, I added the pic of the open box with his severed cock inside. I stuffed a few of the fries into my mouth as Owen opened the text. His lips pulled up into a snarl, and his eyes darkened.
“You were there, and ya didn’t do anythin’?”
“What was I gonna do? That place is a fortress. Didn’t know where I was going and didn’t have a choice but to watch,” I said, eating a few more fries.
He hit the table again, and people took notice.
“Bollocks, that’s all ya did. I bet ya sat back and laughed. I bet yer in this with Lawrence, aren’t ya,” he asked, his voice getting louder.
“I hate him,” I said. “Why would I work wit him?”
“Ya hate me, and yet here ya are,” Owen said.
“I don’t hate ya. I just never understood why ya hated me,” I growled back.
It might not be the truth now after all he’d done, but it had been true. At one point, all I wanted was for him to love me.
“I couldn’t figure out why ya considered me worthless and Devin perfect. You’ve made yer thoughts of me very well known. All I wanted was yer approval, for ya to look at me the way you did him.” I sat back and crossed my arms as I glared at him. “Fine, ya want the truth about Devin…I didn’t care if they killed him or what they did. I couldn’t have saved him if I wanted to, but I didn’t want to,” I said, and Owen’s eyes narrowed.
“Is he still alive?”
I shrugged. “Don’t know, and I don’t care.”
His fists clenched, and he snatched the beer off the table, chugging it like we were at a frat party. Owen wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and slammed the mug down.
“So yer not working with Lawrence?”
“Naw, never. Come on, let’s get out of here, and I’ll take ya to Ren,” I said, standing once more.
He didn’t stop me, but Owen smirked and poked me in the chest as he rose to his full height.
“Is that so?”
“Aye, why do ya keep askin’?”
He pulled a switchblade out of his pocket, and I stepped back as he clicked it open.
“Then tell me, son. Why is Nash’s truck parked down the street? Did ya really think I wouldn’t notice it?”
“Hey, I don’t put up with that shit in my bar. You want to fight, then get the hell out,” the bartender yelled.
I looked over to see both Nash and Blake moving slowly into position behind Owen.
“Honestly, yeah. It’s a nondescript, black truck parked between two others. This tells me that you were sitting outside watching and saw us park. Besides, Nash is not Lawrence.”
Nash inched closer, trying not to draw his attention.
“Always so quick, ya are. It amazes me that ya never put together that I hated yer stupid face because you weren’t mine. I never loved ya,” he said, and I snapped.
Not giving a fuck about the knife, I swung at him and clipped his jaw, forcing him to step back. Owen glared at me while I let all my hatred show in my smile.
“Good, then it brings me even more joy to tell ya that Devin is nothin’ more than fish food. I watched every glorious second of his death. He asked for ya the whole time. Too bad ya never got the chance to say goodbye.”
Owen roared and lunged at me. I grabbed the arm holding the knife, but he yanked his wrist and shocked me with a kick in the gut. I hit one of the tables as I stumbled and landed on my back with the air knocked out of my body.
I clutched my chest, gasping as I watched Nash dodge the knife that Owen was wielding like a small sword. Blake got in a shot but gave away that there were three of us, and the blow wasn’t enough to knock Owen down.
He staggered to the side and screamed as he swiped at Blake. Owen narrowly missed slicing him right across the face. I rolled off the table, trying to catch my breath, and watched in horror as Owen lunged for Blake again. Nash jumped in and blocked the strike as the blade carved through his jacket and hoodie to cut open his arm.
“Ahhhh,” Nash yelled.
I grabbed my gun, aiming, but the bartender fired first. His shot went into the ceiling from a shotgun that deafened us all. I jerked and ducked as he pumped it to reload.
“I said get the fuck out of my bar,” the bartender yelled, pointing the gun at us this time.
Owen was the first one out.
“I got him,” Blake said as he tore open Nash’s jacket.
Running after him, I caught sight of Owen as he streaked around the side of the bar. My adrenaline pushed me faster than ever as it thrummed through my body. We were both sprinting down the center of the road and I was gaining when a truck pulled out of an alley. Owen pushed harder and grabbed the tailgate to pull himself into the truck bed. He turned to look at me as I followed after the vehicle. He smiled and waved while a coldness swept through my body.
No, he couldn’t get away. He needed to die.
Taking the risk, I aimed and unloaded my clip. Six shots rang out in the night. One of them winged him. He grabbed his leg and dropped down as I watched the taillights until the truck disappeared around the corner.
“Fuck! No!”
The rage was all-consuming as I screamed over and over. He was in my grasp, and I’d let him escape.
“Myles?” I turned back toward the bar and Blake’s voice. “Nash needs stitches, let’s go.”
I glanced back down the empty road and spit.
“I’ll get you, Owen, and when I do…I’ll make sure you wish you died as easily as Devin. That’s a promise.”