Page 100 of Arranged Addiction

“Talk now. We don’t have much time before my brother comes in.”

“They hired someone. This hitman. An Italian name. I’ve never heard of him before, but I said we can’t be bringing in outside muscle. That just ain’t right. Not for something like this.”

Feeling drains from my limbs. I stare at Rory and try to parse what he’s saying.

Donnell wouldn’t have gone that far. There’s just no way he’s that stupid, right? He’s a power-hungry bastard, but now suicidal.

“That killer… is his name Senesi?” My tongue feels thick as I say it.

Rory brightens and nods. “That’s the one. You know the guy? He seems like a real piece of work, in my opinion.”

Motherfucker. I shove the gun back into my holster. Rory relaxes back with a deep sigh.

“I’m leaving now,” I say loudly for anyone listening. “If there really is a Connor out there, keep your gun down. We have a new understanding, don’t we?”

Rory nods wearily. “I’m a Whelan man. Like my father’s father was and my father before he made some bad choices.”

I walk out of that sitting room. In the hall, I find three young men, all scowling at me. The head of them must be Connor. He nods at me, hands up in the air.

I look over my shoulder, and there’s Seamus standing in the doorway with a shotgun and a smirk. “Wasn’t gonna let my big brother wander off into a trap.”

Connor spits. “Wasn’t a trap like that.”

“Come on.” I walk past Seamus, ignoring the young thugs. “They’re just doing their job. We’re all on that same side now.”

Seamus follows me, whistling a tune. He’s always in a good mood when there’s violence in the air. “I take it Lorcan wasn’t helpful.”

“Not even slightly, but his son was.” I stop on the sidewalk and grab Seamus by the arm. “Donnell fucked up. That stupid, greedy bastard might’ve gotten everyone killed.”

“What did he do?”

“Stuck his fucking dick in razor blades and prayed he wouldn’t get cut.” I shove Seamus lightly and storm to the car. “We’ve got work to do.”

Chapter 35

Declan

I’ve always known it’s the head of the family’s responsibility to handle any and all problems. Dad was good at that. He’d shoulder anything that came his way and made it clear that he was always to blame for anything that went wrong and rarely ever took direct credit when his plans went right. He was humble and direct, and we all respected him for it.

But now I can see how hard that must’ve been. I remember days like this. Sitting in this exact room, arrayed around the kitchen table with my mother and my brothers as he gave us the straight deal on whatever shit was going down. He delivered bad news like he was reading a script. No fussing around it. No trying to dress it up.

Which is how I try to be now. Cormac’s sitting next to Seamus. Finn pours everyone a drink while my mother tries her best to smile like she’s not thinking about Dad standing where I’m standing. It breaks my heart, but I don’t have the luxury of letting that get to me.

“The best way to handle bad news is straight up. No avoiding it or acting like it’s not happening. So here’s the truth.” I meet mymother’s gaze. “Donnell Lynch is working with Senesi against us.”

“That motherfucker,” Cormac snarls, his expression going dark. “That sick fuck. He knows how bad this is.”

“He was around the last time,” Mom echoes, shaking her head. “It’s madness to work with that sick bastard. What’s he thinking?”

“He’s thinking with his fucking wallet,” Finn says, his face aghast.

I hold up a hand for calm. “Senesi is one man. Donnell is one man too. We will handle them both.”

“But Donnell’s got half the families in his corner,” Seamus points out.

“Except for the Maguires. I turned them back, and I’ll do the same for the rest.”

Cormac pushes himself to his feet. “Tell me where to go. I’ll handle the rest.”