by Jane Henry
I curse under my breath, but I don’t dare defy the Chief. “Church confessional,” I tell Megan. “Inside.” I jerk my head at the church.
One of the O’Gregor men squirms. Fucking bastard was probably the one who took them. O’Gregor glares at his men.
“Who was it?” he asks. The prick was the one who gave the order, and he has the nerve to throw one of his men under the bus like that?
“Me,” a tall, muscled O’Gregor says. “You told me to—”
O’Gregor pulls out his gun and without preamble, shoots the man. His target doesn’t even have a chance to retaliate or duck. Seconds after he was accused, he’s got three bullet wounds in his head, he’s slumped on the ground, and his eyes are vacant.
None of us move a muscle. I hear the sound of footsteps approaching and look toward the church. Megan’s got wee Breena in her arms, tucked up against her, and Maeve is leading the way, eyes flaming.
“You kill your own that easily, do you, O’Gregor?” she fumes. Keenan takes a step toward her to warn her to stop, but she continues.
“Mam,” Cormac begins, heading her way, but she’s fuming.
“You were the one that gave the order to take us. Saw it with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears.” She wags a finger in his direction. “And you’ve got the nerve now to end the life of one of your men for following orders? No wonder they don’t respect you. No wonder you’ve got mutiny on your hands.”
O’Gregor growls and points his gun at her, but he’s got three grown McCarthy men on him. Nolan knocks Maeve to the ground, but I’ve already pulled the trigger. I’ve shot him straight between the eyes. Guy O’Gregor falls to the ground, dead.
I expect chaos to erupt. I expect his men to retaliate, for war to begin, because you do not kill a Chief without hell to pay, but it doesn’t. The few remaining O’Gregors shift on their feet, and one mutters, “Good fucking riddance.”
Keenan looks at me in surprise, but I’m already kneeling beside Breena, gathering her in my arms. Nolan’s got Maeve, and Megan crouches beside them both. I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze.
“Now that he’s gone, we can speak freely,” one of the men says. He’s a tall, ruddy man with a shock of strawberry blond hair.
Keenan eyes him warily.
“We followed the orders of O’Gregor under duress,” he says. He kicks the body on the ground. “Fucking sociopath.”
We all stand attention, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Aye,” one of them says. “He was under the impression one of you was related to him, thought he’d get one up on you. Didn’t have a son, hoped he could get his son back.”
I feel heat prickle along the back of my neck. None of my brothers speak up, but to my surprise, Maeve does.
“He was an idiot,” she says with a scowl. “He spoke of Carson,” she says, jerking her chin my way. “But I have proof Carson wasn’t the son of Guy O’Gregor.”
What?
Everyone stills. What the bloody hell is this? I feel sick, when Megan takes my hand and gives me a little squeeze. I draw in breath as the clouds part and hope blooms within me.
Could it be?
I realize right then that I’m surrounded by the people I love. Breena and Maeve, Megan and Lachlan, and the rest of my clan brothers. I’m not alone in this. It was a mistake to think I ever was.
“We believe you,” one of the rivals says. “And we ask your forgiveness, McCarthy. It’s time we called truce before the rest of our clans lie dead.” He scowls at the body of his former chief on the ground beneath him. “My men and I have been planning to leave this city and go to Boston. I’ve got family there, and strong connections to the Boston mob.”
Keenan nods. “They’re well known in their parts.”
But my mind is on what Maeve has said. If I’m not the son of Guy O’Gregor… who am I?
“We’ve had many run-ins with the lot of you,” Keenan says to them. “And I agree, if you leave Stone City and relocate, we’ll call a truce. We’ll forgive all, but we want every last one of you out of here at the weekend. We’ll be checking.”
“Aye,” the man says. “You’ve our word.”
If they stay, they face war with us. We outnumber them by double, and our Clan is more powerful. If they leave, they can stay intact and solidify their brotherhood.
I want them fucking out of this country.
They shake hands, and the O’Gregors promise.
Keenan rounds up his men. “Home, boys. Now.”
We obey, heading to the cars they arrived in. We head back to the mansion in silence.
Much happened tonight. Much still needs to be discussed.
But as we drive back, Megan sits beside me. She rests her hand on my knee and her head on my shoulder.
No matter what transpires next, she isn’t leaving my side. I’ll see to it.
Chapter 18
Megan
The drive back to the mansion is nearly silent, save the beating of my heart. Wee Breena cried a bit when she reunited with her daddy, whispering things like, “bad men,” and “scared.” And at the look in Carson’s eyes, I half expect him to go back to Stone City and beat the living daylights out of any remaining O’Gregor.
But he doesn’t. He sits in the car and pats her back. She rests her head on his shoulder, and my heart swells. He’s a good daddy, and they love each other so.
“I’m so sorry that happened, Breena,” he whispers. “I won’t let that happen again.”
She nods, placing her little palm on his shoulder. He squeezes my knee and simply whispers, “Thank you.”
I don’t ask him for what. I’m not sure he’d know the answer. We drive the rest of the way in amicable silence until we arrive home, just as the sun sets. The drivers let us out, and we all quietly assemble, heading up to the main house.
The fragrant scent of herbs and grilled meat wafts through the air, and my stomach growls. “My God, we go to near war, but the kitchen doesn’t stop, does it?”
Carson smiles grimly. “Suppose not.”
“Thank God,” I mutter. “I’m starving. The… events of the day have worked up quite a hunger.” He squeezes my knee, and my body hums with need, like he’s switched me on. “A few types of hunger, one might say.”
His low, deep chuckle makes my skin prickle with awareness.
“The night isn’t over yet,” he says. “We’ve much to discuss.”
I sigh. “We all do, aye.”
“But will be better with a pint and some food in our bellies.”
“It usually is.”
“Dining room,” Keenan says. “Carson, would be best if you had one of the staff take Breena to—”
“No.” Breena says. She tightens her grip around Carson’s neck. “I not go. I stay.”
Keenan’s lips twitch. Maeve rubs her back and kisses her head. “Aye, lass,” she says, turning to Keenan. “We can watch what we say, but we’re not taking her away from daddy tonight.”
Breena nestles in and Carson closes his eyes, rocking with her back and forth. “Aye, Keenan,” he says, his voice respectful but determined. “Don’t ask me to let her go tonight.”
Keenan shakes his head, his voice husky. “’Course not,” he mutters. “Not sure what I was thinking.”
“But I’ll have you boys keep civil tongues in your heads, or you answer to me,” Carson says sternly. “None of your filthy curses.”
I love this man.
He can swear with the lot of them, but they all nod soberly.
“Clean as a whistle,” Lachlan says. “I’m fetching the girls from the bunker, will meet you all in the dining room.”
Keenan nods as we go up the stairs. Lachlan signals to Nolan, and they have a hushed conversation. My heart sinks. I hope he’s forgotten about Fiona, and I feel a bit guilty about that. I maybe shouldn’t have asked for her help.
I quickly confess to Carson. I fill him in briefly, and his brows rise.
“Is that rig
ht?” he asks, and the stern look he gives me from behind his glasses makes him look once more the stern professor. “If she gets in trouble, you’ll have to answer to me, now, won’t you?” his voice trails off, but his eyes grow heated.
“Will I?” I whisper. My pulse quickens underneath his stern gaze. “We’ve much to talk about, don’t we?”
He nods, leans over, and kisses my cheek. “Aye, lass,” he says. “We do.”
“Tonight?”
He squeezes my hand. “Tonight.”
My heart is at rest, knowing that he and I aren’t over, like I thought. I hated thinking everything I’ve felt toward him was for naught. Hated thinking that the two of us were over.
We all find our seats in the dining room. Breena lets go of Carson’s neck long enough to slide onto my lap, but she takes one of Carson’s large hands in hers and holds it to her. Sweet lass.
It feels so good to be back here, even though we only assembled hours ago. To have Carson by my side, Breena on my lap, and my cousins surrounding us. What we saw today was something that would’ve devastated me even six months ago, but I’ve lived to see how they conduct business. How they maintain peace and order in Ballyhock. And though they aren’t good men, they flaunt the law with ruthless, savage justice… they’re mine.
“I’d like to speak soon,” Aunt Maeve says, passing a basket of bread around the table. Carson takes two thick slices, then passes it to his right. He butters one slice and passes it to me.
“Thank you.” I smile at him as the others take appetizers, bread, and drinks, and Aunt Maeve gets to her feet with a nod from Keenan. Even though she’s his mother, we all defer to him, and he’s led us well.
“I recently found a letter written to me by my late husband Seamus,” she says. Though her hand trembles on the table in front of her, her voice is clear. “And it changes… well, everything.”
She sighs. I look at Carson, but his eyes are fixed on her.
“He confessed to having an affair when we were newly married,” she says. “And I must admit, it didn’t come as a surprise to me. Our marriage was… rocky, in the beginning, to say the least,” she says. “And it took us some time before we found peace with each other.”
Their marriage was arranged, and early on Aunt Maeve suffered miscarriages. This much I know from my trips to the graveyard and what she’s shared freely with me and the other girls. She advises us on how to keep your relationships strong, and we know she’s wise in this area. She’s been there, has walked in their shoes.
“What did come as a surprise to me was that his son… born of another woman…” she pauses to draw in another breath. “Is one of our own.”
Keenan’s eyes widen, but no one speaks. She turns to Carson. “Carson. All these years we called you McCarthy clan because you were welcomed as one of us. But it wasn’t until last night, I knew you were McCarthy clan by blood.”
I freeze. “Bloody hell,” I whisper to Carson. I’m suddenly sick to my stomach. Does that mean—
“Now Megan, you look like you’ve seen a ghost, lass,” she says with a laugh. “Remember, you’re related on my side of the family. You two are not blood relatives.”
“Thank God,” I mutter, and my cousins break into laughter. Carson grins at me, and his eyes are shining. I look around me and roll my eyes. “Guess the cat’s out of the bag on that one.”
Keenan snorts. “You think we were born yesterday, lass?”
Nolan grins. “Or that we haven’t walked in those shoes?”
Cormac raises his glass. “A toast,” he says. “To Carson and Megan.”
Murmurs rise in the room, and all lift their glasses. “To Carson and Megan,” they say, clinking glasses.
We toast. We eat heartily and talk of the night’s events. The staff brings course after course, as if they know that we need this, a night of feasting and rejoicing. Carson recounts all that he’s done over the past few months and admits that he’s hacked into all the O’Gregor’s accounts.
“Remind me to move my money to a Swiss bank account,” Lachlan mutters.
“Ah, lad, have at it, but don’t be fooled. I know you already opened one,” Carson says. When Lachlan glares at him, Carson laughs out loud.
“Takin’ the mickey out of you, Lach, relax.”
Lachlan shakes his head and the men laugh. I haven’t seen Carson this relaxed in… well, ever. And God, does it look good on him. His soft, gentle eyes that bely the stern cut of his jaw, his wide shoulders relaxed, Breena nestled on his lap after she slid back over to him.
“I’ll want you men to see to the clearing out of Stone City,” Keenan says. “Lachlan, you’ll be head. Take Tiernan from St. Albert’s over the weekend, as he’ll know where to look.”
Lachlan nods. “Yes, sir.”
“Carson,” Keenan says. “You’ll remove all possible connections from the O’Gregors. No more hacking into their accounts. Clear your record and strike it from anything traceable.
“Done,” he says.
“We’ll need a breather after tonight’s events,” Keenan says. “I’ll keep skeleton guard on for protection, and Lachlan and Tiernan will finish the sweep of Stone City at the weekend. But the rest of you, starting Monday, we’ll take a holiday. No work. I’ll monitor transactions in the morning, but we need some time off.”
Cheers erupt in the small room, and Keenan smiles. He’s got more gray hair around his temples and in his beard than I remember seeing. The weight of responsibility weighs heavily on him, but the others bear a good deal as well.
“Sounds amazing,” Carson says, having another drink. He sips the amber liquid until ice hits his lips and places the cup back on the table. He sighs deeply. “I feel like I could sleep for days.”
“Me, too,” I mutter.
He gives me a sly grin. “I’m fine with that, as long as it’s in my bed,” he whispers. “Aye?”
I swallow hard and respond the way I’m craving. With a nod, I whisper back, “Yes, sir.”
His eyes heat, and he beckons me closer to him. He takes my hand in his and gives me a squeeze. My heart races, and a shiver of awareness skates through me. Tonight, we’ll be alone, without any of what’s hindered us before between us. No fear of being discovered by the cousins. No holding ourselves back from one another.
After dessert and drinks, wee Breena’s eyes droop heavily with sleep.
“I could keep her here tonight?” Aunt Maeve suggests, and I wonder if she’s having a hard time letting Breena go after today’s activities. “Give you two some time together.”
“Thanks, Maeve, but I can’t,” Carson says. “I need my girl with me tonight.” He holds her tighter, and my heart swells. It’s adorable how much he loves her; how much she means to him.
“I understand, son,” she says, and this time, the word son seems to take on another meaning. He looks at her and smiles.
“Wasn’t easy reading what Seamus wrote me,” she says. “It’s one thing suspecting infidelity and another learning confirmation of it.” She sighs. “But the best possible outcome, Carson, is that you’re now one of us.
“Aye,” he says with a grin. “Thank you. I’m sorry things had to transpire this way, but I can’t say I’m sorry for the outcome.”
She leans over and kisses his cheek. And I know then, something I’ve known since I was just a Clan child, that life is a series of gains and losses, and the gains may be that much more powerful with the intensity of Clan life. But it balances it out. It all balances out.
I’m with Carson now. He’s no longer alone. And neither am I.
We head to his place, and this time I’ve packed a big bag. Instead of my travel-size toiletries, I’ve packed the full-size ones. He grins when he notices me unpacking them.
“In case I stay a little while longer,” I say with a sheepish shrug.
“You’d better stay longer,” he says, as he helps Breena into her jammies.
“Megan stay?” Breena asks, tipping her head to the side like a cu
rious puppy.
I grin at her and rustle her wild hair. “Aye, love,” I tell her. “Megan stay.”
She squeals and claps her hands. I gather her in my arms and hug her to me. “Now let’s get you to bed.” We brush her teeth and read her a story, tucked in between us, and when her head hits her pillow, her eyes droop with exhaustion. She yawns widely. I watch Carson tuck her duvet around her little body and kiss her wee head, and for a moment, I imagine I’m looking at my future. This fierce, loyal, brutal man has a tender side to him. I live for it.
He shuts her door firmly behind him and turns to me. I watch as his gaze goes from placid to heated, and he starts to stalk my way.
“Well, now, you aren’t exactly wasting time, now, are you?” I ask.
He shakes his head and narrows his eyes. “Hell no.”
“Have you ever heard of foreplay, Carson?” I ask, but I’m not really trying to hold him off. I want this as badly as he does. I just like to tease him.
“Fore-fucking-play’s for fucking pussies,” he growls. “Pussies.”
“Ah, well then,” I say with a nervous laugh. “You like to just jump right into the fire, then, don’t you? Eeee!” I squeal when he hoists me straight up in the air over his shoulder. I’m no thin little waif, so it scares the living hell out of me.
“Are you mad? My God, Carson, put me down,” I hiss, afraid of waking Breena. “I’m—”
He slaps my arse, hard, in warning. “Don’t you dare.”
I grumble. Of course he suspected I’d make a comment about my weight because obviously that matters. I’m sturdy and I can’t imagine he’s just tossed me up here.
He spanks my arse again for the grumble, and now he’s turning me on, so I wriggle a little. He kicks open the door to his bedroom and tosses me onto the bed.
“Clothes off,” he says. “All of them. And none of this crap about the lights off or whatever the fuck. Understood?”
“Aye,” I say, scrambling to take my clothes off. I wondered if we would talk, or cuddle, or something along those lines. I should’ve known better.
I gather up my clothes and yank them over my head, toss them to the floor, my eyes never leaving his. He watches every move, his eyes roving over my body, before coming to meet my gaze.
