Chapter 5
Chapter Five
RONAN
The car is eerily silent as I drive all of us back to our family’s estate in Washington Heights in the early hours of the morning.
It felt wrong to leave the hospital so soon, but Da is dead. There’s nothing I can do to change that, but there is plenty I can do to send a message to the fucker behind it, and I can’t do that from a hospital waiting room.
Kieran sits in the back seat with Brennan, both of them scrolling on their phones, trying to keep up to date with any media coverage.
Lorcan sits beside me in the passenger seat, his body so still it’s as if he’s been carved from stone.
The city blurs past us as I speed through the streets, desperate to reach the safety of our house.
Knowing that the press will be sniffing around for any scrap of information puts me on edge. Being part of such a high-profile family can have its perks, but having reporters constantly on your doorstep is definitely not one of them.
When I approach the wrought-iron gates, I wave to the private security guard to let us in, and immediately some of the tension leaves my shoulders as I drive down the winding driveway toward the Georgian-style house, with its grand columns and arched windows.
My parents bought this house just after I was born, and I’ve always dreamed of inheriting it one day.
I just wasn’t expecting that day to come so soon.
When I park in front of the main house and kill the engine, no one moves right away because we all know that the moment we walk through those doors, the real work begins.
Kieran finally breaks the silence. “I want to find the bastard who did this and tear out his fucking heart.”
I glance at him in the rearview mirror. “You’ll get your chance. But not yet.”
He huffs as he looks out of the window at the house. “You sound just like him.”
“Good.” Taking that as my cue, I open up my door and climb out of the car.
Once inside the house, I lead my brothers straight down the hall on the right toward our father’s study. It’s the only place I trust to have the conversation we’re about to have. It also has the best stocked bar cart in the entire estate, and I could really use a fucking drink right now.
The lingering smell of cigars clings to the walls of the study, and the sight of the oversized oak desk and dark leather chair has a heavy weight settling in my stomach as I step inside.
The ghost of my father is everywhere—in the empty whiskey glass on the desk and the pile of papers stacked on the coffee table beside the couch.
I can’t believe he’ll never step foot in this room again.
Being in here makes his death more real. More real than holding his bleeding body in my hands or hearing the doctor tell me he didn’t make it.
The man who built the Sullivan empire is gone, all because of one fucking bullet.
Lorcan takes a seat in one of the brown leather armchairs, his eyes distant as he looks around the room, no doubt having similar thoughts to my own.
Kieran and Brennan hover by the door, wearing identical expressions of anger and grief.
Lorcan’s voice comes quiet and measured. “You’ve got the floor, Ronan.”
I force myself to take a deep breath and keep a lid on my anger. I can’t afford to lose it now, not when the fucker who killed my father is still out there, roaming the streets of New York like he owns the damn place.
“We need to plan for the next steps. We can’t afford to wait.”
Kieran has his hands closed so tight his knuckles are white. “What we need is to find the bastard who did this. I don’t care who they are or where they are, I’m coming for them.”
Kieran gets this way any time someone is trying to take us down. He’s always the first to act and to get his hands dirty. And that makes him dangerous to our enemies. But it may also make him a liability.
Because he becomes reckless.
“We can’t afford to make a move out of anger. If we retaliate too quickly, we’ll make mistakes, and that will make us look like we’re scrambling to keep hold of our power.”
His eyes narrow. “So, what? We just sit here while some asshole gets away with killing our father?”
“No one is getting away with anything. But we need to plan. To move when it counts.”
Kieran scoffs. “And you don’t think that’s now?”
“No, I fucking don’t. We need to show everyone who’s still in control, and we don’t do that by making stupid mistakes or rushing through things.”
Brennan’s eyes burn through me, so I turn to face my youngest brother.
“Speak.”
Brennan glances nervously at Kieran, who has started pacing back and forth in front of the desk, his face a mask of fury.
“I agree with you, Ronan. We can’t be impulsive, but we do need to make a move. Something that reminds everyone who the fuck the Sullivans are.”
Kieran scoffs, turning his gaze toward Brennan. “So, we sit around here in our dead father’s study and talk about power moves while everyone’s waiting to tear us apart?”
“That’s not what I’m saying—”
“Everyone’s watching us. And I don’t know about you, but I have no interest in looking like a beaten-down dog.”
I step into Kieran’s path. “We need to show strength, not weakness. We need something that makes a statement as well as solidifies our position at the top of the food chain.”
“So, an alliance?” Lorcan suggests.
I blink at his words as an idea takes form in my mind.
My da’s voice floats through me. Getting involved with her could be an easy way to fix some old wounds.
Brennan tilts his head. “What kind of alliance?”
“A marriage,” I say without hesitation.
The room falls silent again, the weight of my words hanging in the air between us.
Kieran tucks his hands into his pockets and leans against the oak desk. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
I stalk over to the bar cart and pour myself a double shot of whiskey.
Only after the alcohol is burning my throat do I face Kieran.
“I’m talking about Ciara McCarthy.”
Brennan’s eyes almost jump out of their sockets. “Oh, shit. I thought Dad was joking when he was talking about that.”
“Talking about what?” Kieran looks between the two of us, a deep crease between his eyebrows.
I shrug. “He wanted me to marry Ciara. He thought it would be a beneficial alliance to merge both of our families, and…I agree.”
“Clearly, Da didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about.”
“Watch your mouth, son,” Lorcan warns, but Kieran doesn’t even flinch.
“Fucking hell, Ronan, are you seriously suggesting we marry into the McCarthy family? They’re falling apart!”
“I’m suggesting we marry into the McCarthy family because they’re falling apart.” I down the rest of my drink and set the empty glass on the cart. “They’re on the brink of collapse, Kieran. They need a lifeline, which is exactly what we can offer them, for a price, of course.”
“Why the McCarthy chick, Ronan? Why not someone else? Someone who isn’t wrapped up in her family’s mess?”
“Ciara is exactly who we need. Not only will marriage reinforce our alliances and project unity among us, it will also prevent outside forces from manipulating the last of the McCarthy remnants, an issue our own father was trying to find a solution to.”
Kieran opens his mouth to retort, but I hold up my hands to silence him.
“Ciara is also in the dark about what her father did, which works in our favor. I can control the influence her family still holds, which may prove to be a very valuable asset.”
Brennan frowns. “So, this isn’t just about power? This is about fulfilling our father’s last wish?”
I nod slowly, my gaze still locked on Kieran, daring him to argue.
“This is what he wanted, and whether you like it or not, this is the move we need to make. The McCarthys are barely holding on, and they’re vulnerable. This is our chance to solidify everything we’ve built and to show the world that the Sullivans are still untouchable.”
Kieran shakes his head. “Sounds more like an elaborate plan to get into the chick’s pants.”
I close the distance between us in two strides and grab my brother by the collar, yanking him away from the desk and pushing him up against the wall by his throat.
“This isn’t about a quick fuck. It’s about fucking power. So, I suggest you get on board or get the hell out.”
“Is this how it’s going to be?” Kieran chokes as I tighten my grip.
“That’s up to you, brother.”
His face starts turning red. “What about Callum McCarthy? He’ll never agree to this, considering what happened to Ryan. After everything—”
“Callum will agree. One way or another.” I drop my hold on Kieran.
He gasps for breath, but the fight is still in his eyes as he straightens.
“How the fuck is this a power move, Ronan? You’re talking about marrying into a family that’s weaker than we are.
A union with someone whose father has made enemies left and right.
You seriously think that’s going to make us stronger? ”
I meet Kieran’s gaze, my jaw tight.
“I’m not asking for your approval. It’s happening, and that’s final.”
“We’ll be the laughingstock of the entire city.”
Brennan is quiet for a moment, his eyes flickering between Kieran and me, as if waiting for Kieran to explode again.
“It makes sense,” Lorcan chimes in. “We need to control whatever influence the McCarthys have left because we can’t afford for anyone else to take advantage of their weakness. Especially now that Seamus is…” He looks over at the empty chair behind the desk.
I nod. “Which is why I need to go after Ciara.”
Kieran opens his mouth to argue again, but I raise my hand to silence him again.
“This is not up for discussion. It’s happening whether any of us like it or not.”
“Do what you want, brother, but don’t be surprised if Callum puts up a fight.”
“Like I said, I’ll deal with Callum.”
Kieran doesn’t look convinced, but for once he stays silent. He knows better than to argue when I’ve made up my mind.
Lorcan locks eyes with me. “So, it’s decided.”
Brennan looks wary. “Are you so sure she’s going to say yes? She literally looked like she wanted to stick a knife in you only hours ago.”
“Don’t worry about me, little brother. I can be very…persuasive.”
Brennan huffs a laugh before pulling out his phone and scrolling. “We should get started on everything.”
I nod, my mind already working through the next steps.
This is the perfect solution. In one fell swoop, I fulfill my father’s last wish, and I get closer to a woman who intrigues me more than she has a right to.
Of course, getting Ciara to agree to marriage isn’t going to be easy. So, I guess I’ll have to make it extra clear that if she refuses, she’s going to live to regret it.