Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83994 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Donnell Lynch is a traitor.” I gesture at him like I’m pointing toward a pile of mud. “He turned his back on the family when it needed him the most. Many of you like him. Many of you respect him. But now you will see what it means to be Whelan.”
I step out from behind the podium. Donnell looks up at me, his expression dazed. I approach slowly, staring at the broken man—
And offer him a hand.
He hesitates. He’s clearly confused. But after a moment, he lets me drag him to his feet. I brush him off and slap his back, making him face the crowd.
“Donnell deserves death,” I shout out, making sure everyone can hear me. “But my father would have shown mercy, and so I’ll follow in his footsteps. From here on out, Donnell and his entire family are banished from New York. If they ever set foot in the northeast again, their lives will be forfeit.”
“Thank you,” Donnell says, tears streaming down his face. “Oh, thank you, Declan, thank you, thank you.”
I push him away gently. Seamus and Finn return to drag him off once again. I let the crowd process what they just witnessed. One of the most powerful men in the city brought low, humiliated, and cast out of his own home state, only to thank me for it.
I can almost feel the mood shifting.
“Strength creates more strength,” I tell them, making a fist in the air. “Together we will run this city. Together we will be unbeatable.”
I leave the stage. There’s shouting and cheering behind me. I know my brothers are already in the crowd shaking hands and reassuring everyone that life as they knew it will continue. The money will keep on flowing.
All my theatrics are important, but it’s always cash in the end.
I find Donnell in the back room. He’s sitting on the couch, quietly sobbing to himself. I’ve never been more disgusted by a man in my entire life. To think that he once held so much power in my organization, only to turn his back because he wanted even more.
“Where is Senesi staying?”
He looks up and wipes his face. “I don’t know for sure.”
“There’s a house on Long Island.”
A flicker of recognition passes over him. “He might’ve mentioned a place like that once or twice.”
“You really were working with him.” I shake my head at the sheer insanity of it.
“The man’s good at what he does. I wanted to win.”
“But look at you now.”
He nods miserably. “He’s on Long Island. I’m sure about that.”
“Thank you.” I help Donnell to his feet and steer him to the back exit. “My car’s waiting for you.”
“My wife… she knows already? My daughters will be okay? You’re merciful, Declan, just like your father. I don’t deserve it.”
“No, you don’t.” We step into the back alley. As the door bangs shut behind us, I shove Donnell hard against the wall and draw my gun.
“What are you doing?” He blinks at me rapidly as blood rolls down from a cut in his forehead.
“Did you really think I’d ever let you fucking walk? You worked with the man trying to kill my fucking wife. You were a useful prop, and now your use is over.”
“Please, Declan. My wife… my daughters…”
“They’ll be fine. I’m sure your wife will find a new husband.”
I press the gun against his head and pull the trigger.
Blood and brain matter explode against the wall behind him. His corpse crumbles to the ground in a heap. I step back and sigh. Gore coats my shoes. I kick some away.
“I told you we should’ve just strangled him.” Cormac comes up behind me, shaking his head. “Instead, you had to make a mess.”
“It felt good.” I slip my gun back into its holster. “Did anyone inside hear?”
“Most likely. They’ll wonder what happened. There will be rumors.”
“Good. I want them to worry.”
“Did you get what you needed?”
“Long Island, just like we thought.”
Cormac nods grimly. “I was skeptical, but that dossier was right.”
“The past just keeps coming back to haunt us.”
“Sooner or later, there won’t be anyone from back in the day left alive to cause us any problems.”
“I can only hope.” I nod to my brother and step past him. “Let’s find some guys and take care of this.”
“Whatever you say, Boss Whelan.”
Chapter 39
Casey
The house looks just like my mother described it in the dossier.
It’s a basic rancher in a middle-class neighborhood. Most of the homes around it have been updated over the years. More than a few have a second floor dropped on top. Decent, newer-model cars are parked in the driveways. It’s the sort of area with a good mix of working-class folks. The sort of place my parents would’ve loved.
“It’s hard to imagine he’s in there.” I stare at the simple house. The lawn’s been well-maintained, but it feels empty. There’s no evidence anyone lives in it, while all the houses nearby have basketball nets, soccer rebounders, kid bikes, and other signs that life keeps moving forward.