Boner starts bouncing on his feet, eager to find out what’s happened and to knock heads or take lives, as it were. Tully draws himself up to his full height of very, very tall, his arms crossed on his chest as if he’s prepared for a beat down. Lachlan hangs up the phone and turns to us.
“Can’t get ahold of Keenan, Nolan, or Cormac,” he says, shaking his head. “I’ve sent those at home into lock down.” A muscle ticks in his jaw bone he tells us what happened. “Maeve and Breena have been taken.”Chapter 17CarsonThough I’m in Stone City, my heart’s back in Ballyhock. I can’t forget the way Megan’s eyes filled with tears, the way she shook as if I betrayed her. I know now that I love her, and when I told her I did, I said it with every bit of conviction I could muster.
I love her.
For a time, I struggled, wondering if loving Megan somehow betrayed Eve. But I know better now. Loving Megan no more betrays Eve than a parent loving a second child. I’ll never get over losing Eve. But my life wasn’t the one that ended that day.
I focus myself on what I have to do next.
I have to draw the O’Gregors out and end the lives of those responsible for Eve’s death. This knowledge fills me with conviction. My path is clear.
I sent the O’Gregors a message as their anonymous contact, the one they’ve come to trust and depend on.
Early shipment arrived at the pier. Will bring Class A to the warehouse at noon, if your men can assemble. Bring as many as you can, the shipment is larger. Everything you ordered.
It’s nothing they fucking ordered. He thinks it’s cases upon cases of warehouse-priced opiates. O’Gregor will shite his fucking pants thinking his day has arrived.
And then I’ll end them.
One.
By.
One.
I park my car and wear the clothes that’s become my uniform when I come here. Black hooded shirt and black jeans, even my shoes are black as pitch. The only way to get to the warehouse is by foot, though there’s a single loading dock in the back. It’s the best way for the O’Gregors to manage every in and out in this small location. Tonight, they won’t see me. I’ve already mapped out a place for a sniper’s shot. I’ve brought everything I need.
The warehouse is situated beside the old, abandoned church that serves as their headquarters. I’m assuming the majority of them are assembled there, as there are motorbikes and cars parked all along the edge.
I see where I need to go, the passage marked clearly for me. I’ve spent my time preparing for just this moment, though I didn’t know it would come so early. I’ve noted everything I could as I spied on the O’Gregors. Every access point, every code they use, and the dumb fucking bastards never suspected a thing.
I head up the hill to my hideout when I hear a plaintive voice loud and clear. For a moment, I actually think I might be hallucinating. Because it can’t be.
There is no way.
“Hush, wee girl. We’ll be alright. Hold onto granny’s hand, Breena.”
No.
No.
A chill shudders through me, and for a full minute, I forget to breathe.
They’ve taken Maeve and Breena? Putting hands on the women and children of the Clan breaks iron-clad code. I’m so furious with what they’ve done, my entire body quakes with fury.
I’ll kill every last motherfucking one of them.
Where are the voices coming from? I kneel and pause, one knee on the ground, listening. Maeve’s voice, low as a hum, wafts over to me. She’s singing to Breena to keep her quiet. The sound comes from the old church.
I creep as quietly as I can, abandoning my initial plan. I need to see where they’ve hidden them. I need to see if they’re okay.
My phone rings, with calls and texts, but I shut it off and shove it in my pocket. They’ve likely found I left and will eventually come to pursue me. But I can’t let anyone know I’m here. Not even Keenan.
I get to the window of the old church but see nothing inside. From where I’m standing, the old benches sit on the left, and to the right, the old altar. Where the altar once stood sits the chair of Guy O’Gregor.
I shudder. My father.
At first, I don’t see them, but as I move to go past the window, I see the tiniest peak of wee Breena’s little shoe, poking out from under the curtain of the confessional. They’ve either been hidden there, then, or Maeve took her there for cover.
I hear voices suddenly coming my way, and I roll under a bush beside the window. I lie still and hear the approaching sound of boots on gravel.
“You got them secured?” One of the manky sons of bitches stands right over me to my left. All he’d have to do is part the leaves and he’d see me.