He sighs. “Frank Bianchi is dead. Enzo said the Reaper did it and he will be the successor.”
So much is said in those few words. “Frank is dead, Enzo took over. Where’s Geno? Why would he take out all the members and blame me?” So many questions fill my head.
“I have no idea what is going on with them. I just came to tell you what I’ve learned.”
“Have you told Ciaran?”
He shakes his head. “I’m afraid to share that news with him just yet. He didn’t handle Teresa’s death very well. I’m afraid he might do something stupid to avenge her.”
I feel the exact same way. Ciar is very smart and level-headed, but he was a different person when she passed. He lost someone he loved. Love makes you vulnerable and leads you to do stupid shit.
“Let’s find out more information and confirm it before we tell him.” He stands to leave. “You work your street knowledge powers and find out what is true.”
“Yes, on it.” I walk him to the door and open it for him.
He slaps my shoulder. “My boy in his full wonder.” I roll my eyes. Shamus has always loved me as his own. “Your folks would be proud of the man you are.”
Ispend my day trying to find any information I could, but I know the best place to get the real news from the streets is the bar. Drunks have the loosest lips.
Murphy’s is busy when I get there. It’s early evening and everyone is washing away their day with a beer.
Fiona sees me and squeals with delight, throwing herself at me. I catch her in a hug. “Bro, you haven’t been here in weeks.”
I set her down. Her fiery hair is chaotic, and she reminds me of that Disney princess with the wild red hair. “You saw me a couple days ago.”
“I know. It’s just been a minute since you were here.” She squeezes me again and then runs back behind the bar to serve drinks. A few regulars wave and by the time I reach the bar Fi already has a whiskey on the rocks waiting for me. I go to pay and she scolds me. “Your money isn’t accepted here.”
“I better be the only one.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “Only family and significant others don’t pay.”
“Significant others, you say?” I ask, trying to mess with her a bit. Gotta keep my big brother role going.
“Yeah, we sort of made things official.” She shyly tucks her hair behind one of her ears.
“I’m fine with you being with Caleb.”
Shock is evident on her face. I’ve never been okay with her dating. She’s my baby sister—nobody was ever good enough for her. Caleb, as much as I think he’s a dork, is a good man. He helped Ewen save me and he’s done nothing but make Fiona smile. From everything Ewen has said about the guy he really is a decent man. I think it’s time to stop managing her life.
She smiles and goes to help a customer. I take the time to look around and observe who’s here. There’re the usuals, a few members of the crew, and a few faces I’ve never seen before. They don’t look suspicious so I pay them no mind. Probably just people out enjoying a drink.
One of the regulars is Terry. He’s the man with all the knowledge. He’s what we call the unofficial buffer. Accepted by all and never taking a side. Just a relayer of knowledge.
I ask Fiona to pour a double of Terry’s favorite gin and head over to his table. Handing it to him, I ask, “Mind if I join you?” He takes the offered glass and gestures to the chair opposite him.
“Declan, my good man, where have you been lately?” He takes a sip from his glass and makes a loud “ah” sound afterwards. “Thanks for the good stuff. What news do you want to know?”
He’s a smart one, seeing right through my bribe. “Oh, just getting right down to the dirty. I like it.” We both take a drink and set our glasses on the table.
“There’s been too much chaos between the O’Sullivans and the Bianchis as of late. Seeing as you’re part of O’Sullivan, I can only assume you need news about the other. You keep the good stuff coming, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
I signal Fiona who was already on standby with the gin. She drops the bottle off and leaves. I pour more into the glass in front of him. “This whole bottle is yours if the news is good enough.”
He winks before taking a hearty swig. “The Bianchis are trying to expand to take over your territory. The Reaper is taking out their higher members. Frank is indeed dead, but it was a heart attack that took him out. Geno is nowhere to be found so Enzo took over.” He pauses to refill his mouth with more booze. “He promised the remaining crew members he would personally take out the Reaper. He also brought in new members—sleazystreet men with no morals. It’s causing the older members of the Bianchi crew to question him.”
Terry stops talking and is lifting the bottle to refill his glass when the door to the bar flies open. “Our Lady of Sorrows is on fire!” someone shouts.
My blood freezes in my body.Ewen!That’s his church, and I know he’s there right now. I jump up and rush out, running as fast as I can to the church. When I get there the church Ewen loves so much is engulfed in angry flames. Consuming the old building like it’s made of tissue paper.
