Page 113 of Arranged Addiction

I plunge the knife into his neck.

He gags and rears back in shock. I bury it as deep as I can, and as he flails back, I rip the knife out, sending a shower of blood spurting from the wound.

He screams, trying to plug the bleeding, but it’s too late. He stares at me in horror, falling to his knees, blood pouring from between his fingers and staining everything around him.

“She fucking hated you,” I hiss in his dying face. He slumps sideways and hits the floor. His eyes begin to fade. “And I fucking hate you too.”

Senesi lets out a wheezing rattle and goes still.

I throw the knife away and run to Declan. He’s lying on his back, breathing hard. I push his hands to the side and start unstrapping his vest.

“That… fucking… didn’t feel good.” He grins at me as I reveal his uninjured chest. “But could’ve been worse.”

I let out a relieved sob and collapse into his arms.

He holds me tight. Nearby, the body of Senesi cools, lying motionless and dead. “You’re okay,” I say through tears. “You’re really okay.”

“Nice aim with that knife. Remind me never to piss you off.”

I laugh stupidly and bury my face in his chest.

Chapter 40

Declan

There are perks to being the boss. For example, I get to keep my wife as my personal assistant and use her physically whenever I please.

But there are downsides too.

Like constant meetings.

After Senesi’s death, it’s a literal parade of Whelan family members pledging fealty. The meetings are very different from how they were right after my father’s death. I’d been trying to keep everything from falling apart and desperately scrambling to avoid a civil war.

Now I’m firmly in power, and everyone wants to kiss the ring.

But I learned something from my father. Always be strong in defeat and forgiving in victory. They say Julius Caesar won friends through clemency and defeated enemies with ruthless violence. I strive to be the same.

That’s why Donnell’s rotting in an unmarked grave, his family is hiding out in Mexico, and the rest of my organization is doing their best to get on my good side.

“Are the rumors true?” Connor Maguire leans forward in his chair across from my desk. Casey’s lingering in the back corner like she always does. She doesn’t take notes anymore, but I find her input extremely valuable. “Did he really have photographs of your wife’s mother?”

I frown at him and lean forward. “Do you always believe what you hear?”

Connor flinches and glances over his shoulder. “Sorry, Mrs. Whelan, if that’s insensitive. It’s just such a wild story.”

Casey smiles back. She’s used to all the gossip by now. It’s been a few weeks since Senesi’s death, and she’s beginning to really process what happened. “It’s true, and I don’t fault you for being curious.”

Connor’s eyes widen. “That’s crazy. I mean, we all grew up on stories about him, but wow.”

“Imagine how I felt seeing all that.”

“I can’t even begin.” He turns back to me, looking slightly chagrined. “Sorry again, Boss. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“If she doesn’t mind, then I don’t mind.” I lean forward, staring into his face. “But I wouldn’t push it.”

He shrinks slightly and nods sheepishly. “Of course, Boss. I just wanted to visit and say how much I appreciate everything you’ve done since, you know, my cousin and uncle and all.”

He’s the young thug that was waiting for me in an ambush what feels like forever ago. I thought about installing my own puppet at the head of the Macguire clan but decided he’d do well enough.