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“What about Michael Hunt’s extension?” Axle asks.
Declan flips through some pages in front of him, his readers perched on the end of his nose. “We gave him an extra week. Either he pays, or the church will have to find a new priest.”
That gets my attention. “Michael Hunt. You mean Reverend Hunt?”
“Yes,” he replies, matter-of-fact.
“Why the fuck are we collecting fees from the church?”
My right-hand man removes his glasses and sits back. “James set the new rule into motion before he died.”
“But it’s a church!” I exclaim, shocked that this has been going on for months without my knowledge.
“Even the church needs more than God’s protection sometimes. Hugo’s men were harassing them, taking much more thanweasked for,” he tells me, referring to one of the few gangs we allow on our streets.
“The solution was to order Hugo to desist, not charge the church. Fuck me, we’re all going to Hell.” I wipe my palm down my face in frustration.
“You didn’t seem bothered by it before,” Declan remarks.
“I didn’t know before.”
“It was discussed last week. We were sitting right here, you were there, just like now.”
Frowning, I try to recall the last time they dragged me into one of these meetings. It was the day before Lou was set to marry Peter and my mind was on other things.
Declan pins me with a disappointed stare. “Perhaps if you didn’t have so many distractions, you’d be aware of what is happening right under your nose.”
I don’t glance away, giving him a harsh glare of my own. “What distractions are you talking about, exactly?”
“You know who I’m talking about,exactly.” He sneers the last word, giving it extra emphasis. “She was bad for you then, and she’s worse for you now. Ever since you brought her back into your life, you’ve been absent. She’s dangerous, distracting you from the things that really matter. The family comes first.”
“Sheismy family.”
“No.” He tosses the documents onto the desk and buttons his coat as he stands. “That woman is your enemy.Ourenemy. And your reluctance to accept that is going to cost you.”
“That sounds like a fucking threat.”
He looks away, his square jaw working overtime. “I swore my loyalty to the McKenzies. I’ve stood by your side since the day James died. You were next in line, and I bowed my head to you. I’d never make a threat against one of our men. You know that. All I want is to ensure our success.”
Axle, who’s been quietly watching, shuts his laptop and collects his things. “We’ve gone ovah everything.”
Raising my hand, I stop him. “Michael Hunt will not pay. And tell Hugo that if I so much as hear a rumor that’s he’s been near that church, even if it’s to pray for fucking forgiveness, I’ll kill him.”
His eyes flick to Declan momentarily before he nods and hurries out with his things.
Declan turns to me. “Go back to her. Get your fucking fill. When you’re done and ready to pay attention, I’ll be here.”
The door slams shut in his wake, leaving me fuming for several minutes. Declan has always been a hard man. Doesn’t mince words. Stays in his lane and keeps you in yours. But today was the first time I’ve felt there was something more to read between the lines. A warning that leaves me feeling unsettled.
I start toward the door he just exited through, intent on following him. But by the time I enter the foyer, he’s gone.
“Has Mrs. Kane come down?” I ask the man standing guard.
“No, boss.”
Glancing up the stairs, I say, “Let me know when Declan has returned.”
“Yes, sir.”
