Shay just shook his head slowly.“Of that I have no doubt.I’ve seen some stubborn people in my work but there’s not a more stubborn people than the Irish.”
Seamus nodded as he snorted.“I know and that applies to you as well, Shay.Don’t you forget your heritage, boyo.”
Shay chuckled.“Maybe that’s why I never stop.I have tracked criminals for twenty-five years and I’m still doing it.”He now swung his head back to look at Arthur.He noticed the call between him and Ciara had just ended.
Arthur sat there alone and he looked distracted as if he were thinking about something.Finally, he raised his head and found himself staring at Shay.“If you’re going to Miami, I’m going with you.”
“Why?”Shay asked.
Arthur got a steely look in his eyes and replied, “Cuz I got some friends down there and I’m gonna see if they’ll help us.”
“And why would they help us Irishmen?”Liam asked.
Arthur looked determined as he told him, “Because I’ll ask them to.They have no affinity for the kind of woman Shanon White is and they have no affiliation with her men either.In fact, they have all been mistreated by her gang over the years.I know they will step up and step in to help take them down.”
“And just how can you be so sure?”Finn asked.
Arthur looked at them.“Because these guys are from my old unit.They keep their eyes open and their mouths shut.They’ve been watching her for years, seeing where she’s going, what she’s doing and they know better than anyone else down there what happens behind the scenes.”
“Are they street people like you?”Liam asked.
Arthur nodded and explained, “Some of them but they can’t forget what Uncle Sam taught them to do any more than I can.They watch, keep out of the way and they listen.They don’t draw attention to themselves but they have a pulse on the streets like we do here.When my family was butchered, my old army mentality taught me to endure life.Yeah, I lived on the streets, I ate out of garbage cans, I did a hell of a lot of things I’m not proud of over the years, but I never forgot.I never forgot the lives I saved.I will never forget the people I helped here and in other places.It was partly my fault that Ciara had to endure the life she did but it wasn’t all my fault.Her mama made her choice and Ciara suffered for that choice, not me.But I’ll tell you right now I would have stood up for her all those years ago had I known she was out there suffering.And I’ll stand up for her now.”
The men all stared at him.
Shay looked proud.
Arthur got up slowly from the chair and stood tall in front of them.“And I’ll stand up with you if you’ll allow it.I know I’m not one of you, but you helped Ciara when she needed it, so you have my trust.Let me earn yours.”
Finn glanced over at Liam and Seamus.Then he looked back at Arthur and nodded.“Aye, you can come along with us but keep your ass and your head down and out of our way.I’d just hate to tell the daughter you haven’t met yet that you went and got yourself killed over something you went and done wrong.”He paused then added, “And if your men want to join in that would be alright too.I have a feeling we’re gonna need all the help we can get.”
Arthur nodded and reached for his phone then he walked away.
The two brothers got on their phones as well and started their own calling tree.
Chapter Two
