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Taking the pen from her, I’m about to sign without delay, because I’ll happily give Sean my possessions if it brings me one step closer to finding Babydoll, but Darcy slams her hand over the page.
“Puck, don’t do this,” she pleads, surprising me. “There’s got to be another way. I don’t know what he’s done, but please don’t sign this.”
“Are ye speaking as my lawyer or as my friend?”
“I’m yer friend first and foremost,” she says. “Let me help ya. My father can—”
But I shake my head. “Enough people have stuck their necks out for me, Darcy. I won’t allow it. This is what I want.”
“I doubt that,” she argues stubbornly. “Yer always lookin’ after others. What about you? It’s one of the many things I like about ye, Puck Kelly. Yer noble, even if ya don’t believe it.”
I appreciate her words, but nobility has fucked me royally. I won’t make the same mistake again.
Removing her hand, she watches with tears in her eyes as I sign my life away. “Thank you, Darcy. I’ll talk to ye soon.”
It’s a not-so-subtle hint that I’m not interested in speaking about this further.
She sighs, realizing I’m a lost cause.
After gathering all the paperwork, she files it into her briefcase. I walk to the door and open it. With nothing left to say, she leaves and doesn’t turn back.
Closing the door, I lean my forehead against it, utter fatigue rocking me. I don’t know what to do anymore. I have no direction.
My mobile rings, a loud shrill which alerts me that I’m being summoned. I answer without looking who the caller is.
“Mornin’, son. I need ye to come down to the factory. I’m callin’ a meeting.”
Gritting my teeth at his continuous use of the word son, I reply, “Why?”
“’Cause it’s time everyone knew of our plans.”
“And what plans are those?”
“I want the men to see we’re unified. That we’re a team now.”
With a scoff, I say, “I don’t think they’re expectin’ a public family reunion.” But I know this isn’t optional.
For this to work, Sean needs everyone on our side. The split between the Doyles and the Kellys took a toll on the men. They don’t know who to trust. Sean wants them to believe he and I are in an equal partnership to ensure another uprising doesn’t occur.
This means the men who remain loyal to the Doyles are a threat. Now I understand why killing Liam is so important to Sean. He wants all competition eliminated and done with haste.
“All right then. I’ll be there.”
“Grand. I need ye to do something for me first.”
Of course, he does.
“I will text ya the address.” And he hangs up.
When a text comes through a second later with an address in a shady neighborhood, I know I’ll be expected to spill blood. Gathering my supplies, I peer at the face paints on my coffee table. I remember how brutal Babydoll looked, wearing a face that matched mine.
I’ve always found solace in the painted mask I wear. It’s been a part of me since I was five years old. I always felt split right down the middle, like it was just as much a part of me as my natural face. But I don’t see it that way any longer.
That mask and the horror it reflects is who I now am. I’ve never felt more connected to it than I do now, and I know that’s because sooner or later, that face will replace my own—I will be the monster that mask represents.
Once I have everything I need, I lock my door and get into my truck. This once belonged to Cian. He offered it to me without thought because that’s what best friends do. And I thanked him by killing our best friend.
Starting the engine, I reach into the console for a cigarette. I wasn’t much for smoking, but now, it’s the only thing that calms me down. I don’t need the GPS and commence my drive to the derelict neighborhood Sean wants me to visit.
