Chapter Fourteen
Lorcan and his brothers were drinking in the corner booth. The clubhouse was a party, because they knew the next couple of days was going to be insane. Teeghan had already organised for us to stay in an airbnb down south, in a small town where no one knew us. It was safer, as she explained, and they could focus on the task at hand.
I was all for leaving the fighting to the boys. I knew Teeghan liked it, and she was good too, but I didn’t like what it did to me. I was more than happy to hang at a seaside cottage until this all blew over and I could spend the rest of my days tangled up in everything Lorcan.
Now, that was worth the wait.
Teeghan slunk over to the bar and sat down next to me. “You’re not drinking?”
“I don’t want to get drunk,” I said. “I want to keep my wits about me.”
“That’s probably smart,” she said, downing the rest of her drink. “But I like to be a little dizzy at all times. Helps with the fucked up situation we find ourselves in.”
I understood the feeling but I also had no idea what we were celebrating. I was going to have to leave Lorcan and hang out and just wait for news to see if he survives or not.
“They’re enjoying themselves,” Teeghan said. “You should too.”
I smiled at her until she slid off her chair and moved back over to Sloane and a few of the women of the clubhouse. I couldn’t seem to get in the mood to play. I stepped outside to get some fresh air, and almost collided with Ace.
“Hey there, darlin’,” he held his hand out to catch me if I fell. Luckily, I am pretty steady footed. “You good?”
“Yeah, just needed some air.”
“It can be a little loud in there,” he chuckled. “Do you want me to get them to bring you something to eat and drink out here?”
“No, I’m good. I just need a couple minutes.”
He nodded, and headed inside. The air was crisp, so I wrapped my arms around myself as I paced the front porch of the clubhouse. It was so peaceful here, deep in the forest. No one would find you unless they knew you were here.
It was kind of awesome. It didn’t hold a candle to the estate though. That place was amazing, and so rich in culture. It also had a killer view of the ocean from Lorcan’s room.
“You all good?”
Lorcan’s deep voice broke me from my reverie. I turned to see him coming out the door.
“You don’t seem to be in pain.”
“I am,” he said. “But it’s bearable. The liquor helps.”
I rolled my eyes at him as I moved up to him and hugged him. His giant arms wrapped around me and instantly warmed me from the inside.
“Want to get out of here?” he asked me, his voice but a whisper in my hair.
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
“Come on,” he said, taking my hand. He led me to one of the cars and I realised he probably shouldn’t be driving but hell, I trusted him.
I’d go just about anywhere with this man.
Vlad moved next to me, taking the place Saverio had vacated with his deception. He’d been deep in vodka for most of his trip, but he’d been a good ally to have. His bratva was huge, and it spread all over the United Kingdom, USA and Europe. Ace stood on the other side of me as we waited for the invaders.
Killian had learned of those coming for us. The Scots, the English, the Moriarty’s and funnily enough the French. We’d rid ourselves of the biggest threats, and the rest of the Reyes hadn’t come to aid their brother.
They could wait until we took back our power of Ireland, and then we could focus on them, but for now. I needed to create a place that was safe for us.
So I could enjoy my woman in peace.
Conor and Killian were behind me, keeping our men in line. Conor was still broken about Jye, but he’d promised he was good. He’d take it out on our enemies, and I was more than okay with that.
“Don’t trust anyone,” Vlad said to me, pulling his intricately carved blade from his pants and holding it by his side. I could smell the fucking vodka on his breath. How the hell did he perform when he was constantly drunk?
“Don’t hesitate,” I reminded everyone. The town centre was empty, because they all knew something was going down today. Slowly, at the end of the main road, I saw movement. An army of men were coming for us.
“Get ready,” I said to my men. “This is gonna fuckin’ hurt.”
I braced myself as I saw them getting closer and closer. Baseball bats, guns and knives in their hands. Adrian Moriarty was in front of them all, followed by one of his sons and multiple others that I knew from being rivals in the UK. I pulled my guns out and aimed at Adrian, wanting to pull the trigger with no chance for him to open his vile mouth. It was him who shot first. I dodged the blow and it triggered my men to start running at his men. Adrian ducked from my shot and I took off after him. His son Rhys came for me, hitting me in the back with a rock.
A fucking rock.
“Are you kidding me?” I growled as I headed back to him. He tried to run, but he tripped over his own feet. He tried to crawl away but he was blocked by men falling behind him.
“You’re a fucking idiot,” I said through gritted teeth. I aimed my gun at his face and took a shot. He fell back onto the pile of men already falling. I looked around for Adrian but he was gone from view.
Shit.
I looked around but I couldn’t find my brothers in the fray. I moved in to help Vlad and Ace, battling with those they were struggling with. An errant punch to my jaw had me backing up, the pain in my jaw blinding me for a moment.
I turned back to see Killian stabbing the guy in the back, the end of his blade poking out of his chest before Killian yanked it back. He fell at our feet.
“Not a moment too soon,” Ace said. “Their pack are falling or running away.”
“I think I know what I need to do,” I said, coming to the realisation that this wasn’t going to be the end of it. “We need to take care of this first, then I need to get to Amsterdam.”
“Amsterdam?” Vlad queried. “You need to speak with them?”
I nodded.
“I don’t even want to know what the fuck you’re talking about,” Ace said. “But whatever works, man. Let’s fucking focus on what needs to be done now, though, yeah?”
He was right. We were in the middle of a fucking battle to the death, and I had no intention of dying today.
Conor was battling with a guy who looked like a pompous little prick. I headed toward him, and yanked the guy off him.
“Don’t fucking hit my little brother.”
I punched him in the nose, his teeth marking my knuckles as he collapsed to his knees in pain, clutching at his face. I helped Conor to his feet just as two men came running at us. I pulled my gun up and shot the one coming for me. Conor did the same. The men were dwindling, and I could see casualties everywhere.
But this wasn’t going to do anything but prove to them that it would be a fight if anyone were to take us.
Ireland was ours.
They needed to know that.
The real problem was with the Onyx society. Their rules stated that if you failed to lead your empire, and had threats at your door, you could have it taken from you. You could be killed for it.
That was bullshit on all sides of the scale.
Adrian ran at me with a crowbar, which I dodged by moving out of the way. He and Rhys came for me, and I realised I was looking into the eyes of the men who tortured my woman.
They sold her, their own flesh and blood, for money and power.
Rage overtook me and I felt my arms come up, both hands holding a gun each as I took them both out with two clean shots to the head.
“You having fun yet?” Killian asked, smiling as he ran to find someone else to beat up. He truly was a sick fuck, but I couldn’t say I hated what we were doing. I’d never felt so alive, not since before our father died.
This was what he meant when he’d told me you had to fight for what was rightfully yours.
I grabbed my gun and ran into the fight after Killian, Conor hot on my trail as we got them back for what they’d taken from us, and proved they wouldn’t take another fucking soul from us.