Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Glad you came, Deck,” Dad says loudly, standing beside his door. He doesn’t approach. “You look like shit.”
“You look bad yourself, Uncle.” Deck nods at him. “Sorry about the face.”
“I get it. You did what you had to do.”
Deck’s expression darkens. “That’s what I keep telling myself.”
“What was the end game, Deck? What did you think would happen after you took Connor’s wife?”
“The family should be his priority. Not some random pregnant girl. Connor’s going to throw away everything we built.” Deck’s hand turns to a fist and his jaw works. “Everything I bled for.”
“You know that’s not true. He loves the girl.”
“He threw us against the Gallaghers. You know that was bad.”
“Why are we here, Deck?” Dad sounds calm. It’s impressive. Dad’s always been solid in a crisis. I know he blames himself for what happened during the attack, but it’s clear he shouldn’t. There’s no way Cathal Maguire didn’t try his damnedest to take care of everyone around him.
“I know I can’t come back.” Deck’s tone wavers for a moment. I zoom the drone in. His face is twisted in agony, and I realize this is painful for him. All his life, he’s been a part of the Maguire clan.
Now he’s on the outside.
“That’s right,” Dad says gently. “You took Gallagher money.”
“I know.”
“You betrayed us, Deck.”
“I did it for you though. I know you won’t ever see it, but I did.”
“You sure, son?”
Deck’s jaw tightens. He stares at my dad with true malice now. “Listen to me, Cathal. We’re not kin anymore. I want you to go back to your son and tell him I’m leaving the city. Tell him I’m making my way out west.”
“That’s all you want to say?”
“The Gallaghers are going to destroy you. Lorcan’s not going to let it go. Padraig sure as hell won’t either.”
He doesn’t know then. Deck has no idea that Padraig’s not running the Gallaghers anymore. I’d bet the old man hasn’t for a while now, longer than Sinead’s letting on.
I adjust the drone, scanning the fence line, and catch shadows moving. That’s Marcus getting into position.
“So that’s it? You’re running and leaving us to fend for ourselves?”
“I’m telling you because I still care about everyone. If you want to come, bring your wife, your daughter, anyone else who wants, there’s a place with me. Always will be.”
“Deck.” Dad sounds genuinely sad. “After all this, you believe that?”
“Go to hell, Cathal.” His snarl is low and guttural. “You don’t know a damn thing.”
I leave the van and let the drone stay on autopilot, hovering in the air. I stride into the evening, straight to the fence, and slip through the gap in the gate. I draw my gun, picking up my pace toward the meeting, staying in the shadows as much as I can.
Dad’s backing off. The other car doors open and Deck’s soldiers come out. My heart starts racing as I raise my weapon—but too far—too fucking far—
I start sprinting into the night.
“Dad!” I scream, voice echoing off the warehouse. “Deck, damn you! Dad! Don’t do it!”
Marcus and his team are streaming toward us from the fence line. Marcus’s voice is calm in my ear, telling me they’re ten seconds away, but it’s too much. I start shooting as Deck’s soldiers raise their weapons and open fire.
“DAD!”
My voice is rough from screaming as I race toward them. Dad’s down on the ground as the gunfire keeps going. None of them hear me as I approach. Deck’s the only one without a weapon, gazing down at my father with a grim sadness, like he didn’t want it to be this way.
I kill two soldiers. The third I shoot in the knee and kick his gun away. Marcus hits from the other side, taking down the men near Deck. I have a moment where I lock eyes with Deck and he stares at me in horror, only belatedly realizing what’s happening, the damn fool.
I charge him. Fury rips into me, rage and hell burning in my core. I slam into Deck and he tries to fight me, but I take him to the ground, a knife sliding from the sheath at my hips. I drive it once into Deck’s chest, again into his belly, screaming as I do it.
“You didn’t have to!” I roar in his face. “You motherfucker! You didn’t have to! You didn’t have to!” I stab him, over and over, blood splattering my face and hands. Deck gags, gasping, hands scrambling at my face, until I drive the tip into his throat and put all my weight behind it. “You bastard. You fucking bastard. You deserve worse.”
Deck bleeds out and his eyes go dim.
I kneel on my cousin. His corpse warm still. I want to keep pummeling him, but exhaustion overtakes me. I release the knife and slump backwards, breathing hard, gasping. Marcus crouches beside my father, checking him for wounds as our soldiers make sure Deck’s men are down for good.