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Rory’s knowledge of this sort of stuff is priceless. No matter our differences, he has come through in the end.
“Take care of her,” I say, pushing aside the awkwardness.
“I will,” he replies. “I’m doin’ thisforher.”
He wants to make clear he isn’t here for me, and that’s all right.
Cian appears with a bag slung over his shoulder. “Should we head?”
I nod, taking one last look at the house filled with the people who are relying on me not to fail.
We say our goodbyes, and I’m thankful Rory didn’t make it a soppy farewell. Regardless of what we face, he still wants me to know he won’t forgive me.
We get into Cian’s truck and drive toward the unknown.
A rock song is playing over the radio, but Cian turns it off, much preferring the silence, it seems. He’s nervous.
“I want ya to know that yer my best mate. Thank you for always havin’ my back.” I want him to know I appreciate everything he’s doing for me. Everything he has done.
“Gettin’ soft in yer old age, are ye?” he replies with a smirk, breaking the ice.
“Don’tcha be tellin’ anyone.”
He laughs loudly.
We arrive at the factory, both taking a look at our surroundings. Cars are parked, which hint the men are already inside. The question is, what men?
Calling the peelers would be the sensible thing to do, but what side of the law do they sit? Constable Shane Moore would no doubt love to see me back behind bars. I have to treat him like the enemy.
Once Cian parks his truck, we put on our bulletproof vests. It’ll probably be in vain, but anything we can do to protect ourselves will help us get the upper hand in one way or another. Cian reaches for the bag of goodies, and we make our way toward the factory.
Just like the castle, this place is crumbling. But it’s deserted, and the peelers won’t be sniffing around because trespassing would just be another day in the office for them. Ron Brady and his men,Connor’smen, surround the perimeter, just as we discussed.
Some are on display, while others are hidden in and around the surrounding abandoned buildings.
It’s expected I would have men guarding the outer limits. To not have anyone would raise red flags. I want this to appear as “normal” as possible.
I nod to Ron, who holds a rifle. He knows what to do.
When we enter the factory, I whistle because this place looks worse on the inside than it does on the outside. There are about forty men inside, a mixture of Brody’s men who were probably sent by Liam to ambush me—but mostly, the men here are ones who once worked for us. They’re milling around in groups, and when they see me, their chatter silences.
Their familiar faces transport me back in time.
I greet them, hoping they’re here in peace. But we will see where their loyalties are when push comes to shove. This is the only way this will work—I need to start from scratch to know whose side they’re on. Who they’re willing to die for.
“Is that everyone?” I ask Rogan Shea, one of Connor’s closest friends. Ron told me he opened his own strawberry farm after I was sent to prison.
It seems that the farming life wasn’t for him, though. He’s on our side, one of Ron’s men, and he’s here to relay information to Ron if things take a turn.
“Aye, Puck.Mostof us left the life once ye were gone.” I don’t fail to note the sarcasm in his voice as he sees the men, even though here now, who worked for Brody as traitors.
I agree with him, but I also understand that they had a family to feed. They gravitated toward the stability and a paycheck. Connor’s death destroyed so many as a true king fell from his throne. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that they made the wrong choice.
“Grand, I won’t waste yer time then,” I commence as Cian stands beside me. “Yer here ’cause, as ya know, I killed Brody, and I plan on doin’ the same to my uncle. He betrayed all of us. He was the one responsible for Connor’s death.
“I know youse don’t respect him ’cause if ya did, y’d be with him right now. But alliances are torn. And I won’t work that way. I need yer loyalty. If ya give it to me, then I promise I’ll look after youse. Just how Connor did.
“I am his son, and Northern Ireland belongs not only to me but to us! The fact that a Doyle was allowed to take control was because of Sean. He sided with Brody but was merely using him for his own selfish gain.
