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Tiernan took what he wanted. Mercilessly. And without ramifications for six long years.
But everything comes to an end.
All bleeding stops eventually.
I’d never resented my father for the consequences of his actions; instead, I’d decided that Kayleigh Brennan had been his soul mate. Star-crossed lovers. I prayed that Da made her feel loved, cherished, and safe ... at least while they were together, no matter how wrong it may have been. Because God knew that her husband hadn’t had the capacity to do such a thing.
A painful realization dawned. Were Lucifer and I charting the same path? Were we a fated tragedy in the making? One could argue the eerie similarities.
I clapped a hand over my mouth, trapping the sobs rattling in my chest, and then buried my face in Lucifer’s shoulder. He held me through my emotional wreckage, oblivious to the details of my thoughts and fears.
When I finally sat back, he removed his gloves and brushed away my tears using the pads of his thumbs.
“There are so many things I haven’t told you, Lucifer.”
“I know.” His answer was instant and devoid of judgment.
I bowed my head; I didn’t deserve his grace. “So many things I’m not ready to say.”
Lucifer lifted my chin, forcing my gaze to meet his. “There’s only one thing you need to tell me right now.”
I held my breath and willed my heart to steady its beat.
“Do you still want to marry Raphael?”
It was a question I could answer honestly. A sigh of relief swept through me. “I will not marry Raphael.”
It was the truth. I’d never planned to. I was always going to kill him before I walked down the aisle.
Lucifer
I stepped out of the lift and into Finn’s penthouse with Keegan on my heels. The vibration in my pocket told me I’d received the update from Liam that I’d been counting on. Keegan and I pulled out our phones and glanced at the screens.
Just arrived at the governor’s mansion. You’ve got about three hours. Make shit happen fuckers.
I would have preferred Liam’s presence at today’s sit-down, but it was critical that someone I trusted stay close to Raphael, and Liam was the obvious choice.
It had been roughly forty-eight hours since Raphael, the acting boss of the Flynn Syndicate, had ordered the execution of the Albanian kryetar—a gross abuse of his position. His actions had reached the ears of the elders within the syndicate before my brother had returned from Providence yesterday.
And the rumblings on the street had already begun. Had the Flynns gone mad? Were they determined to start World War III on the streets of Boston? Would the Russians and Albanians align? If so, could they end those crazy fucking micks once and for all?
At least Dublin had remained mum.
The financial meeting between Raphael, Finn, and me had been routine. After it was over, Raphael tried to dismiss Finn and me in the same breath. I stood my ground, much to my brother’s chagrin. He refused to engage with me regarding the blowback, instead telling me that he would handle it, as though he alone had that capability.
Organizations within the Boston crime world weren’t a list of basic ingredients you could toss together in one pot, set to simmer, and leave unattended. They were complex. Unstable during times of peace and deadly when otherwise. It would only take one splash of grease to set the whole thing aflame.
It didn’t matter if it was denial or madness. Raphael was no longer fit to lead.
Last night, before I’d gone to Willa, Liam had informed me that Raphael intended to follow through on a dinner invite that he’d accepted from the governor two weeks ago.
I’d taken the opportunity to put a plan into motion. Today’s sit-down was step one.
“Lucifer.” The hard clap on my shoulder drew my eyes up. “Good seein’ ye, son.” My uncle, Niall, offered a kind smile that reminded me of my mother. Then his gray brows furrowed. “Sorry to hear there’s no change in yer da’s condition.”
I gave him a quick nod as I led the way into the dining area, where I knew the rest of the men would be gathered.
My uncle had taken on an advisory role when he chose to step down from his position as my father’s underboss seven years ago. This meant our visits were more infrequent. His amicable decision gave him more time to spend with the numerous grandchildren that Finn’s four older sisters had provided. It had also made way for Raphael’s ascension to underboss.
