Page 109 of Dirty Legacy

I say nothing. He can’t hear me anyway. I lower the drone to get a better view.

Deck looks like shit. His shirt’s dirty and untucked. He looks like he hasn’t showered in a day or more. His eyes are rimmed with red and shadowed in black. There are a few other soldiers with him, but only a few, and none look happy.

“Glad you came, Deck,” Dad says loudly, standing beside his door. He doesn’t approach. “You look like shit.”

“You look bad yourself, Uncle.” Deck nods at him. “Sorry about the face.”

“I get it. You did what you had to do.”

Deck’s expression darkens. “That’s what I keep telling myself.”

“What was the end game, Deck? What did you think would happen after you took Connor’s wife?”

“The family should be his priority. Not some random pregnant girl. Connor’s going to throw away everything we built.” Deck’s hand turns to a fist and his jaw works. “Everything I bled for.”

“You know that’s not true. He loves the girl.”

“He threw us against the Gallaghers. You know that was bad.”

“Why are we here, Deck?” Dad sounds calm. It’s impressive. Dad’s always been solid in a crisis. I know he blames himself for what happened during the attack, but it’s clear he shouldn’t. There’s no way Cathal Maguire didn’t try his damnedest to take care of everyone around him.

“I know I can’t come back.” Deck’s tone wavers for a moment. I zoom the drone in. His face is twisted in agony, and I realize this is painful for him. All his life, he’s been a part of the Maguire clan.

Now he’s on the outside.

“That’s right,” Dad says gently. “You took Gallagher money.”

“I know.”

“You betrayed us, Deck.”

“I did it for you though. I know you won’t ever see it, but I did.”

“You sure, son?”

Deck’s jaw tightens. He stares at my dad with true malice now. “Listen to me, Cathal. We’re not kin anymore. I want you to go back to your son and tell him I’m leaving the city. Tell him I’m making my way out west.”

“That’s all you want to say?”

“The Gallaghers are going to destroy you. Lorcan’s not going to let it go. Padraig sure as hell won’t either.”

He doesn’t know then. Deck has no idea that Padraig’s not running the Gallaghers anymore. I’d bet the old man hasn’t for a while now, longer than Sinead’s letting on.

I adjust the drone, scanning the fence line, and catch shadows moving. That’s Marcus getting into position.

“So that’s it? You’re running and leaving us to fend for ourselves?”

“I’m telling you because I still care about everyone. If you want to come, bring your wife, your daughter, anyone else who wants, there’s a place with me. Always will be.”

“Deck.” Dad sounds genuinely sad. “After all this, you believe that?”

“Go to hell, Cathal.” His snarl is low and guttural. “You don’t know a damn thing.”

I leave the van and let the drone stay on autopilot, hovering in the air. I stride into the evening, straight to the fence, and slip through the gap in the gate. I draw my gun, picking up my pace toward the meeting, staying in the shadows as much as I can.

Dad’s backing off. The other car doors open and Deck’s soldiers come out. My heart starts racing as I raise my weapon—but too far—too fucking far⁠—

I start sprinting into the night.