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“We just forget them, is that so?”
“No, Cian, I’m doin’ this because of them. There is no victory. Only surrender.”
Yes, we will win the war against Liam and Sean, but for that to happen, I must surrender my beloved Belfast. It’s time she’s ruled by another.
“I spoke to yer friend, Ron, Austin Bailey. Although things have changed, the deal is still on. If he and Alek help me defeat Liam and Sean, then they can have it all.”
“Let’s go over there and just kill that son of a bitch!” Cian spits, anger leading him. “We’ll deal with the consequences. Y’ve got Cami back now. What’s stoppin’ us?”
“Losin’ ten years of my life is what,” I counter with reason. “We are in this mess because we continue to underestimate Sean’s power. How do we know he doesn’t have a backup plan where Amber, yer families”—I look at each man—“are the next best things for collateral?
“No one is off-limits. And both Liam’s and Sean’s men will retaliate if we don’t assert our dominance. If we simply kill them and don’t make an example out of them, then someone will take their places in a heartbeat, and we’re just back to the beginnin’.
“No, we need them to see we cannot be fucked with. That there is new blood in town.”
Ron sighs, and I know he understands why I’ve chosen this path. “Yer right, Puck. For Alek to assert his place in Northern Ireland and Ireland, he needs to earn the men’s respect. Otherwise, they will simply see him as some Russian who doesn’t belong here.
“They will challenge him, and that’s hardly a deal Alek will want to agree to.”
“Exactly,” I agree, thankful he understands. “If Sean gets wind of this, he will run, but not before he kills everyone we love, ensurin’ we suffer and forcin’ us to chase ghosts our entire lives.
“I’ve lived that life, and I am done with it.”
There are too many factors in this equation. Too many men who may rise up and challenge a place for the throne. We need to simplify it. There can only be one king. And I will offer that to Alek in place for my freedom. And for the freedom of those I love.
Cian stands, curling his lip in disgust. “If this is what surrender looks like, then count me out. I won’t sit back and watch ye spit on my father’s grave. This makes no sense. We could go over there, right now, and end it for both Sean and Liam.
“Yet yer choosin’ to hide. Yer choosin’ to give everythin’ away! We could do this together, but yer choosin’ the coward’s way out!” The door slams shut as he storms outside.
It upsets me to see Cian this way, but this isn’t negotiable. This is happening my way. “If anyone else feels the same way, then now is the time to leave,” I calmly say. “I know it seems simpler to just kill them both.
“But that will mean we are constantly lookin’ over our shoulders for the rest of our lives. I don’t want that. Not anymore. I don’t want to fear walkin’ into a pub in case I get shot in retaliation by some cunt who thinks they are doin’ it in the name of their fallen leader.
“We do this, we demonstrate our influence and the ties we have, then no one will fuck with us ever again. If ye choose to deal with Austin and Alek, that is yer choice. But me, I want out. But before I do that, Sean must pay, and pay in ways unimaginable for what he did to my ma. What he did to me.”
I wait for them to process what I just shared because the easier option would be what Cian suggested. But that’s not the smartest plan of attack. A smart predator waits for the perfect time to strike because a missed opportunity can mean the difference between life and death.
I look at Ethan and no longer see a boy. He is a man who has the right to choose what path he decides to take because rightfully, Belfast is his too. It washisfather who ruled, not mine. I can’t make that choice for him.
I wanted to protect him, but I can’t do that anymore. This is as much his fight as it is mine. Sean took Connor away from Ethan, used Ethan for his own gain, then disposed of him when he was done. So I understand Ethan wants his revenge too.
“Let’s make that fucker pay for everythin’ he’s done. In the name of our father.” Ethan’s acknowledgment that Connor wasourfather has my heart swelling. “I know I’m in no position to fill Connor’s shoes, but I think I would like to learn.”
Nodding, I grant him the choice because it’s his life and he has the right to choose which path he wants to take. I can’t protect them all, but I can teach them how to protect themselves. “Then I will teach ye. Connor would be proud of the man y’ve become. And so am I.”
Ethan’s eyes, eyes so much like Connor’s, fill with tears, but he quickly brushes them away. “When ye organize the meetin’ with Alek and Austin, I want to be there. I want them to know who I am and that I want in.”
“If that’s what ye want, then of course.”
Truth be told, it warms me knowing that Belfast will still be in the hands of a Kelly. Hannah won’t be pleased with Ethan’s choice, but they’re both grown. I can’t shelter them forever.
“Whatever ye need, I pledge my loyalty to ye, Puck,” Ron says, bowing his head.
“Me too,” Ollie agrees, as do the rest of the men.
And just like that, a plan, a solid plan is hatched, and I think we will win.
“Grand,” I state firmly. “It’s business as usual, yeah? We can’t let anyone know what we’ve got planned. For this to work, Sean, Liam, and their men need to think they’re still in control. Sean wants me to intercept a shipment of drugs and kill Liam very publicly like I did with his father.
