Page 99 of Arranged Addiction

He shakes his head and slams his glass back down on the coffee table. “I’m coming out straight here. Donnell said you’d try this, and here you are. He said we’ve got to stand firm together.”

“Who’s ‘we’ exactly?”

“Me and some other families like ours. You’ll hear from them soon enough. But listen to me now, Declan. If you want to be boss, you’ve got to learn how to make everyone get along. Your father was good at it, but Donnell’s not so sure you have what it takes. I’m just being as straight as I can be out of respect.”

I nod slowly and put my glass down. It makes a soft click sound. The son flinches slightly and stares down at the floor like he’s afraid. I wonder what he thinks of all this, and an idea comes to me. It’s not my usual style of leadership, but maybe I’m not in normal times anymore, and the usual style won’t be enough.

“I appreciate your honesty, Lorcan.” I get to my feet. “I want you to reconsider your alliance with Donnell. Your father was a loyal Whelan man. You can be too.”

“Old Crag’s dead and gone. The Maguire clan’s mine to lead. Sorry, Declan, I really am, but we’re with Donnell Lynch for now. You and he need to work this out.”

I nod and look away. The things we do for our family. This stupid bastard thinks he’s making a good play, but that’s not how I see it.

I reach into my jacket, grip my pistol, and draw.

Lorcan’s got enough time to open his mouth in surprise before I shoot him in the skull.

Blood and brains splatter the wall behind him. His son screams in terror, his face drenched in gore. Lorcan’s corpse slumps sideways, steaming and mangled.

“Tell whoever’s waiting to stay out.” I train the gun on Rory. The young man seems frozen. “Do it right the fuck now.”

“Connor! Don’t come in!” Rory’s voice is shaking as he looks wildly over my shoulder toward the door. “Stay out for right now.”

“Tell them we’re talking it out.”

“We’re talking!” Rory’s eyes flip to his father’s body and back to me again. “We got this! Just don’t you come in!”

I wait, gun still aimed at the young man. Nobody moves. There’s dead quiet in the house. If there really is a Connor waiting, he’s got some good restraint.

"That’s good.” I move so I can see the door and Rory at the same time. I don’t lower the gun. “Your father’s dead. That makes you the leader of the Maguire clan now.”

“Sure. I’m the leader.” His face is pale, and he swallows hard like he’s trying to get himself under control. He looks at me, pointedly turning his back to his father’s corpse. “I didn’t agree with him.”

“That’s easy to say with a dead body at your elbow.”

“I mean it. I told him to cut it out. This shit with Donnell. It’s no good.”

I think back to earlier. The way the young man looked uncomfortable. How he was practically squirming this whole time and could barely meet my gaze.

“I believe you.”

He seems relieved. “You’re not going to kill me too?”

“That’d be a waste. You don’t seem as stupid as your father.”

“I loved my dad, but he wouldn’t see reason. I told him this was going to happen. I warned him.” His voice chokes and tears fill his eyes. I lower the gun slightly. If he hadn’t reacted like this, I doubt I would trust him. But he’s emotional, and he should be.

“What was he doing with Donnell?”

“Plotting mostly. I don’t know the details. I wasn’t a part of them.”

“How many other families are involved?”

“A few. The Mahoneys and the Flannerys for sure. I think Ronan Walsh and his little crew.”

That’s worse than I thought. I keep my face calm and impassive. “What are they planning on doing?”

“I don’t know. I swear it, boss, I’d tell you, but I don’t know.” He sits forward suddenly. I fight the urge to raise my gun again. “There’s one thing. I told my father it was wrong. He even agreed Donnell might’ve gone too far.”