Page 4

“Fuck,”Nicky Duffey grunts as my fist pounds into his gut.

I was on the way to catch a flight when I got a call informing me I needed to make a visit before heading to Ireland, where my brothers and father are waiting for me. No one would tell me what that meeting is about, but I’ll be happy to make the trip home. However, first, I need to handle this.

Nicky has fucked up. Years of history all down the drain. There is no coming back from this.

Tired of wasting my time with this, I pull my handkerchief and wipe his blood off my hands while I stare into his eyes. Well, his one good eye. The other is swollen shut.

I lift a hand for Tadhg to come forward with the rope I need. I have no mercy for what he’s done. Neither does my family.

“Ach, no, please. I meant no disrespect. Don’t do this. I’ve worked for yer family since I was fifteen. We’re friends. Come on, Ronan. Please,” he snivels.

“Ya mean no disrespect, but I’m here. That means ya’ve shown disrespect, and ya tried to cover it up. Friends don’t sit down with me and me family’s enemies.”

“Ro, he wanted to talk. All I did was listen.”

I scoff and glare at him. You only listen when you have intentions of answering. Nicky has known me long enough to know better. I was here when he came over from Ireland and needed to get set up.

I made sure he was okay and could start a business here in New York without stepping on the wrong toes. Yet he would dare to sit down with O’Neill for anything other than the sound of his last breath.

“Aye, ya listened, meaning ya were open to selling me family out. Ya say yer a friend then ya know me well enough to know what would happen once I found out about yer wee sit-down.”

“Think about my lasses. I’m supposed to be walking Fiadh down the aisle next year,” he sobs.

“Do I look like I care? Not one bit, I don’t. She’ll have plenty of time to mourn ya before she has to walk down the aisle. Maybe she’ll come to her Uncle Ro to replace ya,” I snap.

“Ro, I’m sorry. It will never happen again. I swear,” he chokes out.

“Ya got that right,” I seethe as I begin to loop the rope around his neck.

I then tug him up to his feet and walk him to the edge of the catwalk we’re on in his warehouse. I look to Tadhg to make sure he’s secured the other end. He gives me a nod.

Taking a step back, I plant my boot into Nicky’s back and shove him right over the edge. He falls over and the rope follows until there’s none left to give.

I look over the edge lazily with little emotion or interest. He struggles against the rope, kicking his feet as his arms are restrained behind his back. It doesn’t take long for him to fall still.

“Let’s go. His guys will find him in the morning. Tell Oisín to be here to take things over first thing. We have a flight to catch,” I order then turn to leave.

My work is done here. It’s been a while since I’ve had to make an example here in New York. I might need to come back soon to make sure no one has forgotten who the McGowans are.

“This is what I get for allowing babes to step in for me,” I mutter to myself.

CHAPTER2

Brokenhearted

Dean

“You all wantto kill the last ounce of kindness and sanity I have left,” I growl into the room while I sit on the floor in the middle of my office I just destroyed. “I’d be wrong if I gave you all what you’re asking for. I’d be the bad guy then, wouldn’t I?”

As I sob brokenly, Brandy sings about being brokenhearted on repeat in the background. My chest is heaving as tears spill down my cheeks. It’s just me, so I allow myself this moment.

I never get to show weakness. At least I try not to. I’m not afforded the luxury.

Although this … all of this … is a weakness I can’t afford. I wish I could say all of this is over a man.

“Un-fucking-believable,” I breathe through the tears.

I’ve come to expect things like this from the opposite sex. Been there, done that. I still bear the scars and own the T-shirt. I would have to be able to trust in order for that to be the case now.