“Lorcan dies but never truly dies,” Penn mumbled.
“It’s not really Lorcan’s people, though. Sounds like while the commissioner had an agreement with Anders, he had more power than maybe we realized.” It made sense. “I offered him more than Lorcan did, and he laughed at it.”
“But he’s dead.” Danny shrugged. “Are these the loyal motherfuckers you’re talking about?”
“Loyal, but not to Lorcan.” I moved to the hospital window. “Parker had sold the drugs out of his pawn shop for Lorcan. We thought after we took what was there Lorcan would make him pay but he’d continue. He didn’t.”
“Probably thought it would be a mistake or we’d go back and keep taking it.” Danny added.
“We torched pretty much every property and business Lorcan had his hands in, and he still had people. Mercs and more.”
“Okay, we know this already.” Dean sat in the vacant seat by Penn.
“Lorcan returned to Northchester, sort of under the radar. We kept wondering how he was gaining ground, moving in so fast and hard. Getting away with it all. It’s the one thing I haven’t been able to get answers to.”
“And now you know?” Penn asked.
I turned and faced everyone. “Lorcan needed money, which he got from drugs. I’ve spoken to the cartels, dealers, and no one claimed to be selling to Lorcan.”
“Where’d he get his supply?” Dean cocked his head, confusion twisting his features.
“Northchester Police department.”
There was silence for a beat before Toni chimed in, “There’s no way one little department has enough drugs to keep up with supply and demand in the way Lorcan was offloading it.”
“You’re right. He’d need all the police stations in the state.” I was met with blank stares. “The mayor and the governor. They worked with Lorcan and the commissioner. Bainer had no part of it, probably because they knew he was loyal to me.”
“He found out, and they killed him,” Penn realized.
“We killed Shaw, pinning Bainer’s death on him, and the mayor and the governor retaliated, hoping to get you and your organization gone. They likely will turn their backs on it, quit while they’re ahead,” I responded.
“What’s stopping them from placing a new chief and commissioner who will play their game?” Penn inquired.
I beamed. “Me. With the Anders name dust, I’m all there is here. And if they approach me on this, they won’t like the outcome.”
“Shit.” Danny sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
“You don’t think they’ll retaliate more?” Dean wondered.
“If they try, they’ll be wiped out like the Anders family, and every other piece of shit family who tried to take over my empire.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Pennsylvania
I was so horny.I couldn’t remember a time when I’d been this desperate for sex. I’d been at Gideon’s for two weeks, and he still wouldn’t fuck me. It’d been six fucking weeks total. Well, I wasn’t playing anymore. I was going to get that man to give me the deep dicking of my life. Tonight. After the kids were in bed and the house was quiet. He was mine.
I was in a walking cast now, which was a huge relief. I’d begun PT, which was whatever. I mean, when the instructor was all, “Breathe through the pain,” I had to remind him I didn’t feel any pain, which was strange to say so freely now. Something I’d held close to the vest all my life was exposed, and I was okay with it because I had support. They were strengthening muscles and I don’t know, I wasn’t listening. My face was almost back to normal; a few colorful bruises remained but not too bad. The stitches had all but dissolved, and I just needed this cast off.
“Bedtime, kiddos!” Rita shouted onceTangledended. Olivia groaned but Owen got right up, stopping to hug my good leg before running up the stairs. Olivia gave me a quick hug too.
Matteo was still sitting in the living room. He had a different bedtime, but he’d be going into his room to play some video games for a little while.
“Hey, Penn, how was your shower?” Dean was piling the small empty bowls the kids had popcorn in.
“Much better without a damn cast.”
“I bet.”
