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I nod at the warehouse. “Does he know we’re not amateurs? And we’re not to be messed with?”

“Cal…”

“We agreed to protect this asshole if he pays protection taxes as well as handles some of our shipments. He does know there’s a deal in there, yeah? Our shipments mean his fucking crap comes in easier, cleaner. But wouldn’t you know it? ‘Irish’ must mean redneck to him.”

“Cal—”

“Because I find late payments unacceptable.”

I ignore my brother and clap the magazine in place.

“Callahan.”

“Who’s next in line in his organization and can they be trusted?”

“Fuck, Cal. Listen, I don’t know what’s up with you, and I really don’t want to know. I swear to the fucking Holy Ghost, I don’t. But you on a rampage will mean an epic bloodbath.”

“Maybe I like bloodbaths.” Seamus is right. I’m in one hell of a mood. But I’m also not going to lose it. “I might take extra joy in breaking bones and shooting any idiot who speaks out of turn. I don’t know.”

I do know. Last night, Lucie… fuck me, Lucie, my new virginal bride, gave me probably the most incredible, dirty, filthy blow job ever. And extra points for her not having done it before.

That’s how I’m choosing to believe it. That she never put another fucking cock in her mouth. I get it, she’s fucking twenty-one. But with legs like that, a face like hers, and a penchant for running around in places she’s not supposed to be, going to fucking dance club parties tells me as sheltered as she is, the boyfriend she once had probably got his little pencil dick into her mouth.

But just so I don’t tear fucking New York City apart and possibly start a war I don’t need, I’m choosing to believe that mouth was pristine until I got through with it.

Or was it she got through with me?

Now, her giving me head shocked the hell outta me. I wanted to teach her a lesson about touching what she shouldn’t, about pushing me when she most definitely shouldn’t because my control was hanging by one very frayed thread. My plan was to scare her a little and then let her go to bed pristine until I decided otherwise. Instead, she surprised me.

And I left because I couldn’t stay. I’m not ready to sleep with her yet.

“If yer sure.” Seamus checks his phone. “This warehouse is an important shipment center. Out of the way, small, and it’s not checked by the authorities.” He slants me a glance. “Of course that’s what they pay us for, to keep it that way. But?—”

“I get it,gobshite. Don’t kill everyone.” I would, though, if Ihad to, and he knows it. “Martinez in there? He’s a liability. He’s testing the waters, trying to see how much stretch the rope has. People like him will keep on doing it. They’ll fuck over their own people and skim from the top. He understands he’s an important cog and an asshole. Who knows what else he’ll do? Any lesson other than the one with the gun is going to be seen as a victory. Or worse.”

“Oh, there’s worse?” Seamus shakes his head.

I turn and put my hand on his chest, slamming him into the car door. I pin him there.

He’s about to protest but looks at my face and stays silent.

“This ends. Now.” I release my brother.

“Christ, Callahan, just fuck her already.”

“Do not go there.”

“You paid for her?—”

“Any word on Paddy showing his face in town?” I ask, changing the subject.

Because he’s uncomfortably close to the truth.

I could take her… do more than I have. I did pay for her. Paid for an alliance and got a bride who’ll act as hostage and leverage if needed, and who her father will view as confirmation of me taking our business ties seriously.

“Not yet, we’re looking.”

“Keeping low?”