“No more,” Deklan says. “No more secrets. We tell each other everything. Everything!”
I nod, and Deklan’s brow furrows as he speaks.
“Your father is dead,” he tells me. “I killed him myself while you were working earlier today. I’m going to take care of your mother though. She didn’t know anything about your kidnapping. She’ll retain ownership of two of the legitimate businesses, and that should be enough to keep her going. You don’t have to worry about her.”
I take in this information and try to run it through my head, waiting for myself to react, but I only feel numb. I should feel something. I want to feel something, but I don’t.
“What did you do with him?”
“Do you really want that level of detail? I’ll tell you if you really want to know.”
I shake my head as various options run through my head. He’s right—I don’t want to know the specifics. Knowing he is dead is enough for me.
“I’m glad my mom will be okay,” I finally say.
“Grange is still alive. Once we figure out what happens next, we’ll decide what to do with him.”
I nod, and we walk together back into the warehouse to sit back down with the group. Teagan and Brian both watch Deklan carefully as he settles himself down, takes a few breaths, and then starts talking.
“Sean has to go.”
Teagan closes her eyes and nods.
“He killed Fergus,” Deklan says. “He betrayed Neil, set him up, and then killed him for it. He broke into my apartment and took video of my wife sleeping. The Foley family has been everything to me, and it still is, but that doesn’t change the facts. Sean is unstable, and he’s now a threat to the business and all of us.”
“You know I’m behind ya, Dek,” Brian says. “Whatever needs to be done, I’m with ya.”
“What are you saying, boss?” Mac asks. “I mean, what are you really saying here?”
“This has to end,” Teagan says as she looks at Mac. “We are out of options. Sean dies. The only remaining question is how to do it.”
“Hold on a sec,” Lucas says as he closes his briefcase and stands. “I can’t hear any more of this. I still need some aspect of plausible deniability.”
“Bullshit,” Deklan says as he glares at the attorney. “Attorney-client privilege, and as of right now, you work for Teagan. You aren’t going anywhere.”
Lucas licks his lips as he glances between Deklan and Teagan. Mac comes up behind him, and Lucas sits back down slowly.
“He killed my father,” Teagan says quietly. “Would any of you have me forgive him for that? In my mind, he’s already dead. The rest is a formality.”
“Are we in agreement then?” Dek asks the group.
No one makes eye contact, but everyone nods.
“Who’s gonna do it?” Brian asks.
All eyes turn to Deklan.
“It can’t be you, Deklan,” Teagan says. “Some of the older families still hold on to that code. If you kill your boss, they’ll never let you take over.”
“Who says I’m taking over?”
“Do you think I’m going to do it?” Teagan raises an eyebrow. “I’m just a bookkeeper. I don’t want to run shit. Never have. Besides, this is about the most chauvinistic profession around. I would never be taken seriously. It has to be you.”
“You’re the only Foley left, Teagan. It’s your family.” Deklan shakes his head.
“And you will always follow a Foley,” Teagan replies. “I don’t care what Sean said—you’re family. You’ve been around since I was a kid, and you were more of a brother to me than he ever was. If you want, we can go get your name changed.”
Deklan stares at her for a long moment.