I’d heard him, but my thoughts were movin’ in a different direction.
My past was dead and I was still thrivin’ in it, but that storm of life she brought into my world was still shakin’ me awake.
I was fuckin’ torn.
Maeve wasn’t going to leave her father. I didn’t want to leave her. But everythin’ I’d done to get to this point was on the line. My position in Boston was precarious, at best. The rumors Craig had spread about my Da had tarnished the O'Callaghan name in the eyes of the dark underworld and had made things almost impossible for me.
He didn’t want anyone on my side of this feud.
He knew how dangerous I was alone.
With an army?
Unstoppable.
I had the army, a group of men who had been wronged by Craig, but without weapons—we had nothin’.
I’d left Boston on a whim when Maeve had stormed into my life. It was the only selfish thing I’d ever done. I had no control over it. I wanted her away from the city, any connections, and with me. Ireland was the perfect place to bring her. It severed all her ties while strengthenin’ ours.
She was the most secure thing in my life. But with Pauric taken sick…it put me in a tough situation. I’d been away from Boston for too long already. The only reminder of my presence was the army that was left behind. They were doin’ petty shite to get back at Craig. But Keenan was right. It wasn’t enough. And without us there, they might disband, thinkin’ we were not serious about takin’ the city.
“I don’t trust, Murphy.” I touched my stomach. “My gut is gripin’ at me about it.”
Keenan crossed his arms. “It’s a chance. I agree. But what other options do we have?”
Other options.I knew what he was getting at.
My cousin, Cash Kelly, the Marauder of Hell’s Kitchen in New York. I knew there was bad blood between Cash and Oran. It had existed ever since Cash’s Da had run Hell’s Kitchen. But unless it was a deal that balanced on both of us dependin’ on the other, I didn’t want it. Owin’ him was not somethin’ I cherished the idea of.
The last time we’d met was still fresh in my memory. He never showed up for the second meetin’ we had planned. That says a lot about a fella, even at ten years or so.
“It comes down to this, lad. We either go or we stay. Either way, a decision must be made.”
Maeve’s eyes flashed to mine. Tears slowly streaked down her cheeks. Her hand was turnin’ white from holdin’ Pauric’s. He was her only family, beside me now, and I saw the fear in her eyes. I also felt how much she needed me.
Maybe this would break the battle plans into hundreds of pieces, never able to recover them.
It also might break the bond my wife and I’d forged. A bond that had become my anchor in this life.
Two words—a fork in the road—and only one path could be taken:
We stay
Or
We go.
The answer came as easily to me as the choice not to meet with Tom Murphy.
My eyes locked on my wife’s. “We stay.”
Chapter22
Maeve
The mood around the castle was tense.
My father was fine—out of surgery and home with a good prognosis for the future—but something was going on between my husband and Keenan. They never argued, but I could tell Keenan’s patience had been worn thin, and Cian was more reflective than usual.
