20. Connor
CONNOR
The west salvage yard still has bloodstains from the attack. I pause getting out of my armored G-Wagon. “Who was supposed to wash down this parking lot?”
Deck looks over at the stains. “Not sure. Want me to check?”
“No… no, it’s fine. Where’s Lorcan?”
“Waiting further in. Not sure how he got past the fences though.”
“Our security needs to be tightened.” I give him a meaningful look. Deck glowers back. “Let’s get this over with.”
I follow a squad of men through the main gates. The employees of this yard are nowhere to be seen. Deck must’ve cleared them out. I wonder what they think of all that dark muck on the ground, if they understand what it is and what it means.
There are ruined cars everywhere. They’re piled in the dozens, stacked like kindling, some ripped to shreds, some in surprisingly good shape.
Engines are tossed like bricks; spare doors tumbling in drifts.
Glass crunches underfoot. It’s a maze in here, and we make a few turns before a group of men appear at the end of a long alley, standing among the wrecks of vehicles.
Lorcan Gallagher’s a handsome man, especially compared to his brothers.
He’s around my height, stubbled cheeks and chin, wearing a decent suit and that ever-present smile.
He reminds me of a banker or a salesman.
Except all he’s got to sell is death. Behind him, several Gallagher thugs lurk, looking meaner than snakes.
I stop fifty paces back.
“Glad you came,” Lorcan calls, waving a friendly hand. “I know, it’s not really my scene, but—“ His nose wrinkles happily. “I figured you’d be more comfortable on home turf.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk.”
“We did enough talking the other night. There’s still dried blood on the ground from that conversation.”
He waves a dismissive hand. “Come on, Connor, did you think this was going to be easy? It’s a war. Someone’s going to get killed. It’s what happened. Honestly, what did you expect?”
“I’ll ask again, why are you here, Lorcan?”
“Because it’s a war, and wars are expensive.” He comes closer. Deck reacts by reaching for a gun, which makes his men overreact and grab for theirs, and Lorcan has to physically shove one back. “Sorry, sorry, seems like everyone’s twitchy right now.”
“Can’t blame them.” I make sure Deck stands down. “If you’re here in good faith, you won’t have trouble from me.” I turn to my lieutenant so he knows I mean it.
Deck grunts sheepishly and crosses his big arms over his chest.
“Here’s the thing, Connor.” Lorcan stops a few feet away from me, rubbing the back of his head. “I hate fighting. All the shooting? The running around? I get all sweaty and have you ever tried to clean blood from real Italian leather loafers? Huge pain in the ass.”
I’m not sure how to take that. I’ve only met Lorcan in passing over the years and don’t know the man well, but he’s got a decent reputation. Ruthless, definitely, but clever and a good businessman. Most of the families like him and work with him.
“I’ll make sure not to bleed on your shoes then.”
Lorcan laughs loudly. “Thanks! I’d appreciate that!
” He brushes his jacket and gestures around.
“Here’s the thing. We have a mutual problem.
You got another woman pregnant and left my sister at the altar, and now I have to swear some oath to murder you and everyone you ever loved.
It’s exhausting and there’s zero profit in the end.
We’ll probably win, but you’ll bleed us dry in the process.
It’s a lose-lose proposition, and I hate that kind.
I much prefer the kind where everyone gets something. ”
I nod at him and start to walk. Lorcan falls in step. I leave my men behind and he does the same. “It was never my intention to start this.”
“Don’t play around. You knew what would happen when you married that girl. But I’m not here to litigate the past. I’m here about the future.” He stops and leans a hand against a black sedan, its roof crushed, missing all its doors and half the bumper. “We can cut a deal.”
“Does your father know you’re here?”
He waves a hand at that. “You have things we want. This yard, for example. I hear it’s very profitable. I looked into your Washington business and it’s legitimate, isn’t it?”
“WashCo isn’t on the table.”
“Oh, I love that name!” He snaps a finger in the air.
“What a great ring. WashCo! Shit, I can already see the commercials. But seriously, let’s make something happen.
We both know your marriage isn’t legit. Set the girl aside, have the union annulled or whatever you have to do, and marry my sister the way you’re supposed to.
Pay off my father with a big chunk of WashCo. Make everyone happy.”
I study Lorcan, trying to figure out if he’s being serious, but he seems sincere.
Only there’s no way that’ll work.
“Sinead wouldn’t marry me, even if I did divorce Angie, and your brothers and your father would never stand for it.”
“Let me worry about them. Come on, Connor. Let’s profit together.”
I shake my head. “You don’t get it. I started a war for this girl. I turned my life inside out for her. You think I’m going to send her away because you show up?”
Lorcan’s smile dips. “I hoped you would.”
“I don’t know what you’re doing, but hear me right now. I’m not leaving Angelina. She’s my wife and she’ll always be mine. I’m sorry for Sinead, but that’s not happening. You want a deal, we can make a deal, but that’s non-negotiable.”
“I’m really disappointed to hear that. I hate it when people aren’t reasonable.”
I turn and walk back to my men. “Then we’re finished here. You can leave. Nobody’s got to die today.”
“Are you sure?” Lorcan calls after me. “Your marriage isn’t real, Connor! Whatever priest you strong-armed into filling out the paperwork, it’s simply not legitimate! Give up the girl and make the right choice.”
I don’t bother to answer. I return to Deck’s side. My lieutenant scowls at Lorcan, eyes screwed up like he’s thinking. I have to grab his arm and turn him. “We’re leaving,” I order.
Deck grunts in answer. “Right, understood. We’ll keep you covered.”
“I’m sorry it went like this,” Lorcan shouts as I make my way back through the yard. “Just so you know, it’s not personal, and it’s not what I wanted!”
“What the hell does he mean?” Deck asks, sounding unnerved. “We checked the place. There’s no ambush.”
“Keep moving.” But an ugly feeling sinks into my toes, and by the time we reach the G-Wagons, my phone starts to buzz urgently.
It’s Marcus. He sounds breathless. “Connor, there was a bomb.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I got the call a second ago. A bomb went off at Dockside Boxing Club.”
I stop and grip the side of the car. “Was anyone there?”
“I don’t think so. But the whole building’s a wreck.”
“I’m coming.” I hang up and look back at Deck grimly. “They hit the boxing club.”
“Motherfuckers.” He pulls his gun and turns, gesturing for his men. “Should we kill them?”
I grit my teeth. We could race after Lorcan, but he’s probably gone already. “No, they need us at the gym. Get in the cars, we’re going.”
Deck curses, but he obeys. I pause a moment, looking out at the husks of ruined cars and the splotch of brown blood on the ground, and wonder why Lorcan came here alone.