Chapter 35 Declan
DECLAN
That stupid hag of a nun surprised us and Ewen panicked.
He was caught canoodling with me. The closest thing to a metaphorical sex tape being released of him.
I’m afraid he regrets me. All the times I told him I loved him without him saying it back never hurt.
I knew in time he would. He just needed to be comfortable admitting it to himself first. I can see it in his eyes, or the way he touches me.
He’s always treated me like I’m a fragile dream, ready to disappear if he touched it.
I gave him a break like he needed so he could sort his thoughts.
Sitting in a back booth of Murphy’s, I sip my whiskey.
Fiona isn’t working this evening, but the staff was originally mine and they know if I want to talk, I will.
But not right now. I just need to be alone.
I couldn’t just sit there and wait for him.
What if he said he couldn’t be with me? Went back to his life without me?
I’m taking the final sip of my drink when my phone buzzes. Sliding it from my pocket I see the notification from my security system saying there’s movement at my front door. I click it and see Ewen letting himself into my place.
Throwing a fifty-dollar bill on the table, I head out. I always tip well, even if I don’t pay for my drinks.
He came back. That has to be a good sign, right?
My steps home are slow and hesitant. I hope for the positive but fear for the negative.
Another alert vibrates my phone in my pocket so I pull it out to check.
SYSTEM SHUTDOWN. Someone has cut or turned off my security system.
Ewen doesn’t know how to do that. This can’t be good.
For another time in my life, I run as fast as I can, fear for Ewen’s well-being pushing me faster.
My place isn’t far so the run is short. I’m greeted by my open front door.
The whole place is engulfed in shadows. Panic swells in my chest. Who the fuck had the audacity to come and fuck with my home?
Before I go in, I quickly send a message to Ciar, telling him I need him.
Using my flashlight on my phone, I enter and scan the area.
I see nothing out of place until my light bounces across the kitchen.
The flower I left for Ewen is knocked over, the glass broken.
Water and shards litter the floor and counter.
As I get closer I see blood on the island next to the spot where the flower was left.
My note is also there, waterlogged and ruined.
Where the fuck is Ewen? I’m going to tear this fucking town apart brick by brick looking for him. Whoever took him or keeps him from me will die by my hands.
I quickly rush to my office where the main system for everything is and see an intruder has smashed everything. The computer that runs my security system lays in pieces.
The front door banging off the wall lets me know I’m not alone. I grab the gun I keep in my office and go see who has the nerve to come here. “D!” is yelled and I lower the gun. It’s Ciaran. I wave my phone around so the flashlight alerts him to where I am. Once the light hits him I see he’s armed.
“What the fuck happened?” he asks through gritted teeth.
“Enzo fucking Bianchi took Ewen and just signed his death warrant.” We move outside to see better. It’s dark but there’s more light out here than inside. We jump into his car. “It’s time for the war to officially start. I’ll kill them. All. Of. Them. And get him back.”
“Just fucking tell us what we want to know!” I shout as my fist connects with the guy’s already battered face. Our first stop is the Bianchi crew hangout. We snatched the door guy, who’s name isn’t one I care to know. He’s just a steppingstone to the person I need.
The guy spits more blood on the floor. “I told you fucks, I don’t know anything.” He pauses to look up, trying to glare daggers at me. “Frank is dead. Geno is missing. Someone is calling the shots but we don’t know who.”
All valid but I highly doubt these morons can function without someone giving them orders. And that someone has to be respected otherwise they wouldn’t listen.
“Enough! I’m sick of this. He’s got nothing for us.
End this,” Ciaran says from the corner where he’s been watching.
He’ll get his hands dirty, but only if needed.
I got this covered. I nod in agreement and pull my pistol from the waist of my jeans.
With a savage twist of my hand, I chamber the round and place the gun between his eyes.
“Wait!” he blubbers. Funny how strong he was when it was a fist punching into his flesh but the moment he knows a bullet is about to end his life, his whole demeanor changes. “I kn—know who killed Frank and who’s in charge.”
I smack the end of the gun against his forehead. The metal splits his skin and blood gushes from the wound. “Why the fuck didn’t you just tell me?”
“Cause he’s crazy. I’m dead no matter what. I’ll tell you and you’ll let me go?”
I step back a foot. “Of course. We just want information.”
“It’s Enzo.”
“Bullshit!” Ciaran comes up to my side. “He’s stupid but not that stupid.”
The bleeding idiot nods his head frantically.
“It is. He came back recently with a new second. I heard Frank only wanted Geno but since he turned his back, Frank was struggling. Brought Enzo back. But Enzo killed Frank, made it look like a heart attack, and told everyone he was the one to save us from the Reaper.”
I lean into his face. “I’m the Reaper.”
His eyes widened in shock. “No, Enzo said he has the Reaper.”
“I promise you I am. He took someone very important to me. Tell me where I can find him.”
Bruised and bloody, he pauses, trying to buy more time. “And you’ll let me go?”
“Of course.” I give him my evil smile. I’ll tell him whatever he wants to hear to get the information I need. Ewen is the only thing I care about right now, and I’ll burn the world down to find him.
The dumbass believes me. “His new guy, James, is living by the docks. They have a warehouse somewhere over there.”
“Continue,” Ciaran demands.
“They are there. That’s all I know,” he says yet I have a feeling he knows something else.
“I think you know more. So, if you actually want to walk out of here, you’ll tell us.”
Tears leak from his eyes. “Enzo is crazy. I’ll have to go into hiding after this.”
Time to flip him. “We’ll protect you.”
“Really?” The hope brings a spark to him.
“Of course. You helped us, we’ll help you.”
It takes longer than I want but he eventually spills the beans. “Enzo said the Reaper killed everyone, but after all the members who disagreed were killed he said he was the one doing it. He even bragged about killing his sist—”
The words are cut off by a loud bang. Ciaran holds his gun, the barrel still smoking from the shot he just fired into the man’s head.
He stands completely still. “Enzo killed his own sister. He’s fucking mine to end.”