“I’m doing this for the family,” I said. “Roy came at me, tried to stab me in the back. He used our enemies to do it. I’m going to take him down and make the family understand why.”
“You’ll have to get the story straight,” Bea said. “Any ambiguity could be bad.”
“Messaging,” Hector said, nodding a little. This was more comfortable ground for him. “I can see to messaging.”
“Come up with something,” I said. “Make sure it’s something the soldier’s will understand. The truth might be good enough.”
“Roy’s a snake bitch,” Hector said with a sharp, terrified laugh. “Yes, that might be enough.”
“As for the man himself, I’ve got guys near him right now,” Gian said. “Nobody’s close, but we can move in when you want.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t want violence. No soldiers killing other soldiers. I want Roy dead, and I want to do it myself. Nobody else gets hurt.”
“Big Bruno?” Gian asked.
I glanced at Bea. “What do you think?”
“He went to the Healy family,” she said with a slight shrug. “That makes him a traitor.”
“Big Bruno too then,” I said. “Anyone else that we’re aware of?”
“No,” Gian said.
I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling. Hector continued pacing, but slower now that he had a problem to work with. He’d spread the message through the ranks and make sure everyone understood exactly what happened and why, and hopefully I wouldn’t have too much dissent after the fact.
But I couldn’t let Roy live past this day. If I didn’t finish it now, then he’d be able to gather his strength and challenge me. He’d know that I was coming for his life, and he’d hit back with as much firepower as he could muster.
Fucking bastards. I was so angry at them all, at Roy, at Mags’s father, at myself.
I should’ve seen it from the start. Mags was the one to figure it out in the end. I was too busy thinking about how to seduce her, how to get her in my bed, how to taste her lips and pussy, how to fuck her, how to make her mine. Too busy lusting after her to do my damn job.
Not today though.
“Hector, go get prepped,” I said. “But hold off until we send word.”
“Understood,” he said, and left the room.
Bea stood up and stretched. “I’ll make coffee,” she said. “You look like you need it.”
“Thank you,” I said.
She left the room and quietly shut the door. I looked at Gian and he slowly shook his head.
“What a fucked-up situation,” he said.
“Is Ash okay?” I asked. “She’s safe?”
“I sent her out of town,” he said. “She’ll be all right. She’s got the nanny to help with the boy.”
“Good.” I nodded slightly. “Make sure they’re safe. I don’t want any blowback.”
“If shit goes right, it won’t matter.” Gian stood and stretched. “Fuck, Dean. I knew you taking over the family would be a pain in my ass, but I didn’t think it’d start this soon.”
I waved a hand at him dismissively. “Get the fuck out of here, you lazy asshole. Get your guys ready, but don’t make any moves yet. I need a few hours.”
“You got it,” he said, drifted to the door, and stopped. “When this is over, what are you going to do about Mags?”
I drummed my fingers on the desk. I’d been thinking that same thing ever since I realized what was going on, and I just kept coming back to the same conclusion.
I didn’t want to let her go.
“I’m a good Catholic,” I said. “Marriage is for life.”
Gian snorted. “Pretty sure they’ve got annulments for that.”
“I think that only applies when you haven’t consummated the relationship.”
He rolled his eyes. “Good for you, I guess. But just be careful, is all I’m saying.”
“I like the girl,” I said softly. “I plan on keeping her.”
“Good.” Gian nodded then left.
I found Mags sitting out back with her feet in the pool. She looked about as exhausted as I felt. An inflatable gorilla floated past and she nudged at it with her foot.
I crouched down next to her and touched her shoulder gently. “You doing okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine.” Her feet swished up and down in the water. “Just wondering how it got to this, you know?”
“I know,” I said softly. I sat down and took my shoes and socks off, rolled up my slacks, and sat with my legs touching hers. She leaned her shoulder against me, and we sat there for a little while as the sun rose. The water was cold on my skin and goosebumps rolled up my arms, and I wanted to stay in this moment for as long as I could, before the violence, before whatever would come next.
Right now, we were safe, and it felt good.
“What’s going to happen to my dad?” she asked.