“Manners,” he growled out. That was the first time I’d seen a reaction out of him. Interesting.
I hummed in appreciation as I shoved the gag back into Pender’s mouth. “Congratulations. We’re leaving you for last. The cousins can have you.” I smiled again, this time as big as I could. “So yeah, I’m not going to be the one to torture you, but guess what? Being a boss means having people willing to get blood on their hands for you. It’s called delegation. This power move of yours will be the biggest regret of your short, miserable life. It’s also the cause of your death.” I glanced at the man on Pender’s right. “You, on the other hand.” I held out my hand toward Tiernan, who passed me a handgun he’d pulled from his waistband holster.
Giving him a curt nod, I turned to Pender’s man and raised the gun. The trigger barely had any resistance under my finger. The man’s head snapped backward. His body went limp on the chair, and his head rolled forward, blood oozing from the hole in his forehead.
Pender and Smithe reacted immediately, struggling against their bonds as the reality hit them. They were next. It didn’t matter what they did, what bullshit they spouted, this was their fate. Betrayal meant death.
Nausea began to swirl in my stomach as I passed the gun to Tiernan and smirked, ignoring the sensation as much as I could. “Hurt Pender a little first. Leave Smithe for Fionn.”
Tiernan inclined his head, excitement flashing in his eyes. He was definitely a Killough. “Of course, sir.”
I patted Kyran and Senan on the cheek as I walked past and up the stairs of the basement. My neck ached, the stiffness spreading down my spine making it a little harder to get up the stairs than usual, but I bullied myself to keep going. I found Fionn outside the door, his back bowed as he leaned toward the wall with his phone pressed against his ear. He whispered furiously to the person on the other end, and I couldn’t hear a word he said.
“You okay?” I frowned.
He popped his head up and offered me a smile. “Fine. Just some small business issues. Nothing to concern yourself about.”
I didn’t fully believe him. I trusted Fionn to take care of the Company. After all, I was only here to help, but there was something too...lively about his answer. It didn’t fit him, but I didn’t question it because he was a big boy. If he wanted to talk to me, he could.
“I’m going out to the greenhouse if you need me,” I murmured, low enough not to interrupt his call, and he gave me a thumbs-up. I didn’t miss the stress lines creasing his forehead. There was no chance I was going to get him to open up, even if I asked.
Fionn was as stubborn as me and Sloan combined. Not to mention, sincewhendid Fionn give anyone a thumbs-up? It was weird. I made a mental note to talk to him later, and if he didn’t spill, I’d do what he did to me—I’d tell Sloan. Two could play that game.
Of course, it was a bit of a double standard. I was having fucking hallucinations of my dead father and hadn’t told anyone.
Not Sloan.
Not Fionn.
Not Rory.
Obviously, my stress had manifested into a mental nightmare. I wasn’t handling Sloan going to jail very well, but Fionn didn’t need an unstable partner right now. We had to stand strong. United. It wasn’t worth calling in any doctors, even Rory. Not until Sloan was out again.
Shoving the thoughts aside, I grabbed a light jacket because it was still a little cool outside and slipped it on. I nodded at the guards I passed, aware of the shadow at my back. Ronan. When he was on duty, he followed close behind me. His personal mission was keeping me safe. He took his job seriously, and I was glad I had him. I trusted him with my life.
I eyed the backyard, a part of me expecting to see my father again, his vile words tearing a hole into my soul. Everything he said was poison and that wasn’t anything new. He’d always been a cruel man. His hatred for me was never hidden.
As I neared the greenhouse, O’Nunan stepped out from the glass door. He inclined his chin forward, his sandy blond hair fluttering in the breeze that rushed past us.
He sent me a lopsided smile, his right cheek dimpling with the action. “Sir. Right on time. I cleared the greenhouse.”
I laughed. “Thank you, O’Nunan. Glad to know I’m safe and that the plants won’t kill me.”
O’Nunan grinned wider. “No foxglove in sight.”
I whistled, impressed. “You know your flora.”
He chuckled. “Irish mobster, sir. I kind of know how to kill someone.”
Ronan cleared his throat, sending O’Nunan a glare over my shoulder when I glanced toward him.
O’Nunan raised his palms and his dimples came out in full force when he sent Ronan a large smile. “Don’t worry, John Cena, no threats here. Pointing out the obvious.”
I chuckled and shook my head as another guard came out of the greenhouse, stepping to O’Nunan’s side. They usuallychecked the premises in twos to make betrayal less likely. If they wanted to get someone dangerous in, first they’d need to bring the other man in on the plot.
Gilmore, the guard who’d joined us, was taller than O’Nunan by at least a head, and while he wasn’t as muscular as some of our other men, he wasn’t small. He’d played college football for a few years and had the size to match the sport. While he wasn’t as good looking as O’Nunan, he wasn’t bad, either. He was all dark hair and charismatic grins.
“Who’s trying to kill who?” Gilmore asked, flashing us a beaming smile. “And how do I get in on the action?”
