Page 8

“I’m sitting and the answer is yes, anything for you.”

* * *

Ronan

I entermy da’s office and can’t help feeling like something is about to change my life. I look to Jonah as he stands beside Da. He has a stern look on his face, not giving anything away.

My first thought goes to the oul man’s health. Cianán McGowan still looks fit as an ox. I wouldn’t volunteer to go ten rounds with him on a bad day. My da has knocked the piss out of me on more than one occasion in the ring.

I glance over my shoulder as Jack and Raymond step into the room, closing the door behind them. Both of my brothers have serious looks on their faces. I’m starting to become concerned.

“Oland O’Brien is dead,” Da says emotionlessly, drawing my attention back to him.

I whip my head back in his direction to see how serious he is. I’ve waited a long time for this day. I would have liked to be the one who did the deed, but I can’t say I’m sad about it at all.

“Who did it?”

“Rumors have it, it was Cole,” Jonah says with a grin.

“You mean Brooklyn? Mick and Athena’s boy. Oland’s own grand?” I say incredulously.

“Aye, one and the same,” Da says.

“I knew I loved that lad.” I grin.

“Aye, I agree,” my brothers and Da say in unison.

“LaSalle is working to get Logan out of the clinker now that we know where to find him, thanks to ya. It’s time, Ronan. I need ya to step up and get involved in the Alliance.

“Once Logan is home, this becomes real. My and Ian Black’s vision come to life. This is what Ian and the rest of us were waiting for—losing him to cancer was a hard blow, but we never gave up.

“This is what Oland feared. Ian and I worked together. It didn’t matter to us that he was a Scot, and I am an Irishman. Then we made friends with Alfanzo Locatelli and he bridged a relationship with the Kastellanos. For the lot of us, the world stopped seeming like wee islands to possess.

“Many hands lighten the load. There was one thing we all understood in order to make this happen.

“Ní rugadh ár banna fola, tá sé brionnaithe. Our blood bond is not born, it is forged. We’re all from different places, but we have been brought together by more than our share of bloodshed.

“Our losses made us a family. We have moved all the pieces together for this very time.”

“Da, I’m almost forty-four years oul. Ya want me to go run things for this alliance now?”

“Aye, for now yer the one. I know yer getting up there in age, but ya maintain respect in New York and California. The States has a respect for the McGowan name due to ya.”

“Brooklyn has earned his own respect while Logan has been away. He’ll do just fine.”

“Not for what’s to come. The lads will need ya. I trust ya.”

I reach to rub my forehead. When I was a young lad, I would have taken care of this with no question. Now, with more of my life behind me than in front of me, this seems doolally.

I side-glance my father. He can’t be serious about this. I’m no longer in my prime.

“Da, are ya listening to yerself? I don’t think yer the full shilling.”

“I haven’t lost any part of my noddle, lad, but I’ll batter ya for saying so. Ye lads still haven’t outgrown me fists. I’ll clobber ya, I will.”

My brothers all try to cover up their laughter as my da threatens to kick my ass. I purse my lips to keep from making a smart remark that would ensure he clobbered me.

“We will be in full support of ya. It is only until we can get the lads ready to follow ya,” my brother says.