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Shuffling under the covers, I turn my back to him and allow the tears to fall in time with his receding footsteps.
Ican’t focus on anything because this rage inside me threatens to eat me whole. All I can think about is Aoife holding Babydoll prisoner while I was feet away.
I failed her.
I promised to protect her, and I’ve failed in every sense of the word.
I can’t imagine how she felt finding out about Shay the way that she did. I was just outside her door while she was handcuffed to a fucking bed. It kills me to know she was within reach, and I couldn’t do a thing about it.
But I can now.
Those who hurt her will pay, and pay in ways unimaginable—Aoife included.
I’m pacing back and forth in my living room when the door opens. Cian, Ron, Ronan, Ollie, Logan, and Ethan enter. I called them because they are the only men I trust.
Some sit. Some stand. But I get down to business the moment I have their attention.
“Cami is back,” I start, which comes as news to some of the men. “She escaped on her own. She’s fucking braver than any of us.”
“Aye,” they say in unison.
“This means Sean and Liam no longer have the upper hand. I was doin’ Sean’s dirty work because of her, but now that she’s free, it’s time those fuckers pay. I called ya here because I can’t trust anyone involved with Liam or Sean.
“That was one of the many mistakes I made last time. I won’t make it again. Those men aren’t loyal, and if anyone found out about Cami, they’d have collateral over me, and I refuse to allow that to happen again.
“Yer the only ones I trust because no one can know about this. I need ye to help me pull this off.”
Cian sits taller in his seat. “Pull what off exactly?”
I haven’t slept since leaving Fiona’s because there is much to plan.
“I need to know if Liam or Sean are aware that Cami is no longer a prisoner,” I say, hating that she ever was. “If they are, we lose the element of surprise. And we can’t be havin’ that.
“The woman who was holdin’ Cami…was a nurse I met in prison. Her son may be mine.” I don’t need to go into further detail. “As much as I want to punish her for what she’s done, I cannot. Not yet. Sean has wormed his way into her world, knowin’ she would be useful to him.
“If she tells him that Cami is gone…we’re all dead. Cami was the only reason I was doin’ his biddin’. If he finds out she’s gone, he knows I’ll be huntin’ him. And he will do everythin’ in his power to get to me first.
“He won’t bother with games this time, which is why the stakes are so much higher.”
The men nod, understanding my reasoning.
“I need him to believe he’s still in control because that will make him complacent. That’s what will make him weak…and that’s when I will strike. If I could, I would go over to his gaff and kill him right now. But I cannot.”
“Why not?” Ollie asks, his dark brows knitted together.
“’Cause this will never end. This feud will live on for generations. I don’t want that for my son. For any of our sons. We need to be smart about this. I need to end it—once and for all. I need Liam and Sean to be slain at the same time, so there is no chance for escape or for retaliation.”
“And then what?” Ron questions.
“And then, I give it all away.”
The room falls silent as they were clearly not expecting that.
“Punky,” Cian says, shaking his head.
His feelings have clearly changed from when we spoke the other night. He now sees how serious I am about giving it all away and doesn’t agree.
“Belfast is rightfully yours. It belongs to a Kelly. It’s been that way for generations. What of Connor? Of my da? Of all the fallen men who fought wars they believed in?
