Page 97 of Dirty Legacy

“Don’t, damn you.” Cathal struggles to get up. Blood’s pouring from his broken nose. “What the hell is going on, Deck? Don’t you move, Angelina!”

I rise to my feet. “It’s fine. He won’t hurt you all if I go with him.”

“That’s right,” Deck says, nodding. “They’re my family too, you know. My real family. Unlike you.”

“Deck, you fucking shit, what did you do?!”

“It’s okay.” I take a step forward. “Watch out for my mom, okay? And tell Connor I said I’m sorry.”

“No, Angie! Stop it!”

I move to Deck’s side. He pokes the gun against my ribs. “Smart girl.”

It’s the only way to keep them safe. Deck probably doesn’t want to kill them but I can’t take the chance. Rowan watches in horror and Danielle holds her tighter and Cathal’s fighting to his feet, and I can’t let them do something stupid for me. Like always, it’s on me to help them, not the other way around.

“It’ll be okay,” I say and hit the button to shut the door.

It locks with a dull thud.

“I thought you were a stupid, selfish bitch when we first met,” Deck says, gripping my wrist and dragging me back through the house. The smoke is worse as we get toward the main stairs. “Now I think you’re only stupid.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“Somewhere else. Don’t worry, I don’t need to kill you, not yet anyway. You’re worth more alive. I need to make everyone see how Connor’s lost his damn mind, how he’s putting our people in danger for a worthless bitch like you, and then I’ll make it all right. Hell, maybe you and him can go live somewhere else far from here. Who knows how it’ll shake out?”

I’m sobbing as he leads me downstairs. Crying because there’s no far from here, no somewhere else. Connor would never let it happen. When he finds out what Deck’s doing, he’s going to lose his mind, and probably his life, and I don’t know what I’ll do when he’s gone.

Break, I think. I’ll break.

Men circle around us. I think they’re enemies, but none of them move to stop us. Deck drags me on, toward the back of the house, toward the sliding doors looking out at the yard⁠—

And comes to a stuttering halt.

Smoke billows all around. The fire must be near here in one of the back rooms. Probably the kitchen. I feel sick for Lisa. I hope she got out alive.

“Son of a bitch,” Deck says quietly, yanking me closer against him.

Standing straight ahead, outlined in the light streaming in from outside, is my husband, drenched in blood and gore, looking like a demon straight from hell, the most beautiful monster I’ve ever seen, a horror from the pit, a nightmare, a savior, and death walking.

Connor

Deck holds Angie tight against him, and for a few seconds, I think she’s safe.

I almost call out. Send her over here, Deck, and help me clear the place. I could laugh with relief.

Until I see the gun he’s got aimed at her ribs.

Pieces fall together. Tumblers click into place.

Deck calls out, “Don’t move, Connor.”

“Why?” I step into the wreckage of the great room. The couch is a bloodied pulp. Corpses are strewn all over. I recognize most of them: men I’ve worked with for years, men I’ve laughed with, drank with, ate with. Gallaghers are scattered around too. All this pain. All this ruin.

“You made this happen, Connor.” Deck shoves the gun against Angie harder. She winces, eyes pleading with me. Don’t, please don’t. I keep my gaze locked on my cousin. “Don’t you see it? You threw it all away for this meaningless girl. You burned an alliance. You got our people killed and more were going to die if I didn’t stop you. She’s not worth it. She never was.”

“Angie is my wife.” I take another step toward him, gun aimed at his head. Can I make the shot? Can I kill Deck? What’ll happen if I do? Gallagher men are in the hall behind him, but his body’s between us. “Let her go now. You don’t need to make it worse.”

“The Gallagher family is royalty but this bitch is only a goddamn accountant. You ruined us, Connor! You ripped us apart!”