Aidan flicks the lighter again. "Fecking hell, this better be serious."
"It is," Sean states.
The atmosphere shifts.
Brody's gaze snaps to Sean. "Start talking." He drops into the leather chair closest to the desk like he owns the place. Aidan leans against the wall, still playing with his lighter. Devin and Tynan stand shoulder to shoulder near the table, arms crossed.
Sean looks at me.
Brody fixes us with a stare. "Right. Let's hear it. What mess did ya soft-handed Chicago boys fall into now?"
Sean's jaw clenches. "You want the short version or the full one?"
"The one that gets my blood goin' fastest," Brody says with a grin.
I take a step forward before Sean answers. "We need your help blowing something up."
Brody's grin widens. "Now you're speaking my language."
Aidan flicks the lighter open again. The flame dances under his eyes. "What needs turning into ash?"
Devin's gaze narrows. "Who are we killing?"
Kirill steps forward and commands their attention instantly. "The leaders of the Underworld."
The four brothers straighten. Even Aidan stops clicking the lighter.
Brody's expression darkens. He pins his gaze on Sean and lowers his voice. "This better not be what I think it is."
Kirill interjects. "Sean's father built a system to create peace between rival families. A place where they could negotiate and avoid bloodshed. But everything he intended has been corrupted. The Omni and the Royal Council turned it into a breeding ground for torture, manipulation, and power grabs."
Brody snorts. "No shit. It's not possible to have a world like that. You can't build a throne without everyone wanting the crown. You build a temple, someone turns it into a slaughterhouse. Sean knew this, too."
Tynan points between Sean and me. "You two should've known better than to get involved in anything that isn't clan business."
Sean's stare hardens. "We didn't have a choice."
"Everything is a choice," Tynan asserts.
Sean's expression hardens.
I shift on my feet.
Kirill lifts his chin, reclaiming the room. "They're planning to kill us and our wives. They already drafted the orders. If we don't stop them, they'll harvest Valentina's eggs for a breeding program. They'll control future generations and eliminate anyone not loyal to their wishes."
The O'Connors freeze.
Brody wrinkles his forehead. "What did you just say?"
I bark, "They want to steal my wife's eggs on a monthly basis until she's 40, then kill her off. Her strongest will go to who they choose, and the weakest they'll sell on the black market."
"Bloody hell," Devin mutters.
Aidan's lighter clicks open again, flame flaring brighter. "They're takin' lassies' bodies now? Jesus Christ."
Tynan's stare sharpens. "And you want us to end them?"
I step forward again. "We need you to help us blow the entire thing up."
