Chapter 13
HAYES
The white box sits on the desk, the red satin bow a blooming rose against the dead of winter.
It mocks us.
The sick present inside is from Bruno. He didn’t take too well to Maeve’s hold off on proposal talks and retaliated.
Problem is, when he attacks the O’Brien clan, he’s now attacking the De Luca family by way of the alliance they created earlier this year.
Alessio De Luca sits in the office chair beside me, a posh, controlled Italian man in a tailored Armani suit.
His dark hair is expertly mussed and the glinting watch on his right gloved hand ticks the seconds away in the silence of the room.
He screams power, but it’s nothing compared to Maeve’s wrath.
I can barely stand to look at the box. Inside is a pair of fucking severed hands. From a child.
My gut sours, but I don’t dare move. Everything in me wants to go to the Bruno compound and blow a hole through my brother’s tiny head but I can’t.
He knows me going to his territory is grounds for war. And we walk a fine line between being push overs and leveling the entire city.
Although, looking at Maeve’s fury, it’ll take an act of God to keep her from destroying Roman. Not that I care. But it’s dangerous for the clan—for Collins.
I understand her anger though. Roman didn’t kill any kid—he went after the last one she employed as a runner. Her father was known to use kids for his dirty work, but when she took over, she forbade anymore profiting off of kids. Ollie, though, was the last one.
She gave her protection to him. And Roman spat in her face. He didn’t just attack the clan, he disrespected Maeve’s leadership—her power.
“He’s scum,” Alessio says next to me, pulling his gloves higher. “Hurting a child? He’s asking for death.”
“Death’s too easy,” Maeve replies. Her eyes don’t leave the box.
“He certainly wanted your attention.” I try to catch her gaze. “Ollie was a weakness he knew to exploit.”
He was more than a simple weakness. But Roman never cared about kids.
Alessio curses in Italian and Maeve finally sits back, looking at Capo with narrowed eyes.
“You shouldn’t have brought Sloane.”
“She is my wife.” Alessio rolls his eyes. “That is my partner in the kitchen and she’s a lot stronger than you might think. She deserves to know what’s going on.” He adjusts his suit, always the picture of style. “What do you want to do about this?”
It’s a sore subject. Maeve married Sloane off to get her out of this family—away from the enemies who surround our life and this house. What Alessio thinks is disdain, is her worry for her sister’s safety and fear of bringing her back to this place.
That worry is nothing for the pit of terror and rage of Bruno coming for Collins. I have half a mind to hide her in a safe house in the Berkshires until either Maeve kills Roman or I do.
“We need a response,” I say, watching her leg bounce. She’s on edge and that usually means someone gets stabbed.
“I know,” she growls. “He thinks he can bully me into merging.”
I smirk though it doesn’t reach my eyes. “No one said he was the smartest Bruno.”
Her lips quirk but that is the only reaction I get.
“Merging?” Alessio tilts his head.
“Oh, you didn’t know?” I sit back, pulling on my jacket. “He wants to marry Collins for an alliance. Took it badly when Maeve told him to fuck off.”
Alessio taps his chin. “Ah, Sloane did mention that. She also said you were going to do it.”
Maeve stares at him, and he chuckles. “You’re not, are you?”
“And if I do?” She challenges, and the Capo pinches his brow.
“No. You can’t get involved with him.” His dark eyes pin Maeve in her seat.
“When he came to my office months ago, he tried to gain an alliance with my family—not because he wants me—but because he wants you, Ace. If you sign that proposal, say goodbye to everything. Your clan, your house, your life.”
I don’t blame the man. His family hangs in the balance of Maeve’s decision.
The contract Maeve signed for Sloane to marry Alessio had a lot of clauses. They’re aligned in all business ventures, protecting the clan while tying the De Luca family to it and he can rarely work against her. If he does, Sloane reverts back to O'Brien.
Alessio is too attached to his wife to let that happen.
“I’m not aligning with him, Lex.” She sighs, tiredly, gesturing to the box. “But this puts a wrench in my plans.”
“What plans?”
Tsking, I flick my fingers toward my friend. “Ace is hosting the Games. She needs a second.”
Alessio’s face pales. He knows what the Games mean for the city.
“Is that really the best choice?”
“Don’t question me.” She glares at him, green eyes bleeding black.
Lex might have her trust for his devotion to Sloane, but she will not be challenged on her territory.
I’m kind of interested to see who’d win that fight.
“I have to appease the clan. They’re restless.
A second brings order.” Rubbing her forehead, she nods to herself. “I’ll move up the timetable.”
Something that was going to take months is now going to take weeks. Fan-fucking-tastic.
Alessio cuts me a look. “I assume you’re in the running.”
“Like I could rob the clan of my prowess.” I ignore my friend’s death glare. Still mad. “My name is one of many contenders. Voting starts at The Wharf tonight and we’ll have the top three.”
“Think you have a chance?”
Knowing I had Collins on my arm and the confidence of the clan members certainly added to my arrogance. “Worried about me, Capo?”
He rolls his eyes, lips twitching. “You and Ace have been partners since I’ve been in this country. It would stand to reason to have you at her side.”
“I appreciate the confidence, but I’m currently taken.” I wink and Alessio scoffs. I don’t miss Maeve’s glower.
So we’re not ready to joke about it. Got it.
“And what do we do about this?” His glove hand waves elegantly over the white box. A spot of red is starting to leak from the corner.
“Send a message back, obviously,” Killian answers, closing the door behind me.
Throwing the Capo an exasperated glare, he returns it. For a brief moment we’re bonded in our annoyance with the reaper.
I haven’t forgiven him for this mess—if anything, I’m plotting his death.
But I can’t deny that it didn’t work in my favor. Rubbing my mouth, I can still feel Collin’s wild kiss, her untamed power rippling through our shared moment. She was a force of nature, a storm on the horizon and I gladly withstood her fury, asking her to drown me whole.
And I’m sure as shit not going to feel guilty for finally having her—even if it has put me on the outs with Maeve.
“Linwood,” Alessio greets, running a hand down his front. “I thought after the charity auction, you’d have found another employer.”
“I like being here.”
“I’m sure you know what kind of message,” I drawl. “Handmade card? Maybe filled with butterfly kisses?”
Killian’s pulse throbs in his neck. “Maybe I’ll offer you in return?”
I wink. “I’m not his type.”
Maeve sighs. “What’s your suggestion, Linwood?”
He winces minimally at her frosty tone. “An eye for an eye.”
Leaning against the back of her chair, I rub my forehead. Fuck. He’s right.
Ferguson taught us years ago—if a family attacked, you repaid the favor. Always. Maeve has worked hard to distance herself from her father’s teachings, but this is simple math.
You don’t let the families think you’re weak.
She exhales. “Find me someone.”
The reaper practically glows with amusement.
But it’s the depravity that lingers like a ghost, surrounding us at the prospect of causing mayhem and death.
We all feed on it, all of us anticipating the hunt, adrenaline spiking with hunger.
It’s a frenzy that lives within us, but I know when to put mine away and let it rest.
Maeve and Killian don’t. They’re consumed by it.
Alessio blows out a breath as Killian passes. “Should I worry?”
“Not at all,” Maeve drawls. “Just keep my sister and nephews safe. And keep your men off the street at night if you don’t want any unnecessary losses.”
He shakes his head, standing to button his suit. “You’re a cold one, Ace.”
She smiles as if it’s a compliment.