Into Temptation (Deliver Us from Evil Trilogy Book Two) Page 26
We arrive at the factory, both taking a look at our surroundings. Cars are parked, which hint the men are already inside. The question is, what men?
Calling the peelers would be the sensible thing to do, but what side of the law do they sit? Constable Shane Moore would no doubt love to see me back behind bars. I have to treat him like the enemy.
Once Cian parks his truck, we put on our bulletproof vests. It’ll probably be in vain, but anything we can do to protect ourselves will help us get the upper hand in one way or another. Cian reaches for the bag of goodies, and we make our way toward the factory.
Just like the castle, this place is crumbling. But it’s deserted, and the peelers won’t be sniffing around because trespassing would just be another day in the office for them. Ron Brady and his men, Connor’s men, surround the perimeter, just as we discussed.
Some are on display, while others are hidden in and around the surrounding abandoned buildings.
It’s expected I would have men guarding the outer limits. To not have anyone would raise red flags. I want this to appear as “normal” as possible.
I nod to Ron, who holds a rifle. He knows what to do.
When we enter the factory, I whistle because this place looks worse on the inside than it does on the outside. There are about forty men inside, a mixture of Brody’s men who were probably sent by Liam to ambush me—but mostly, the men here are ones who once worked for us. They’re milling around in groups, and when they see me, their chatter silences.
Their familiar faces transport me back in time.
I greet them, hoping they’re here in peace. But we will see where their loyalties are when push comes to shove. This is the only way this will work—I need to start from scratch to know whose side they’re on. Who they’re willing to die for.
“Is that everyone?” I ask Rogan Shea, one of Connor’s closest friends. Ron told me he opened his own strawberry farm after I was sent to prison.
It seems that the farming life wasn’t for him, though. He’s on our side, one of Ron’s men, and he’s here to relay information to Ron if things take a turn.
“Aye, Puck. Most of us left the life once ye were gone.” I don’t fail to note the sarcasm in his voice as he sees the men, even though here now, who worked for Brody as traitors.
I agree with him, but I also understand that they had a family to feed. They gravitated toward the stability and a paycheck. Connor’s death destroyed so many as a true king fell from his throne. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that they made the wrong choice.
“Grand, I won’t waste yer time then,” I commence as Cian stands beside me. “Yer here ’cause, as ya know, I killed Brody, and I plan on doin’ the same to my uncle. He betrayed all of us. He was the one responsible for Connor’s death.
“I know youse don’t respect him ’cause if ya did, y’d be with him right now. But alliances are torn. And I won’t work that way. I need yer loyalty. If ya give it to me, then I promise I’ll look after youse. Just how Connor did.
“I am his son, and Northern Ireland belongs not only to me but to us! The fact that a Doyle was allowed to take control was because of Sean. He sided with Brody but was merely using him for his own selfish gain.
“They were both using each other. Kingdoms can’t have two kings, which is why I’m challenging anyone who thinks they can take me on.”
“Fucking Catholics,” Rogan spits, shaking his head in disgust.
“There is more to this than religion. That’s a thing of the past. Now, this is about honor. This is about revenge. Youse know me. Ya know I will fight for what I believe in. I will fight for our home!”
The men erupt into applause, clapping wildly at my words.
“I want ya to pledge yer loyalty here, now, and I promise youse, I’ll make Belfast what it once was. But if yer in two minds, this is yer chance to leave. No hard feelin’s. But I’m givin’ ya one chance and one chance only.
“The reason Northern Ireland is such a mess is ’cause there is no authority. Paramilitary groups fight against one another because there is no one leader. Everyone is fighting for power. When Connor ruled, the Kelly name was respected.
“Everyone knew their place. Everyone had a place. I want that back. It’s going to take an army to do that, but I can, and I will. My uncle wants me dead, and that’s because he isn’t my uncle, after all.”
The room falls silent.
“Connor will always be my father, but biologically, I am Sean’s son. And he knew that when he sent me to prison. Greed is the only thing he cares about, and I think most of ye know that. That’s why yer here and not fightin’ with him.
“Brody was one of the men who killed my ma. As was his brother, Aidan. In return, I killed them both. One man is left standing, and that man is Sean. He was the one who killed my mum. Slit her throat when he knew I watched him, hidden away.
“He isn’t a leader. He’s a fucking coward. He’s remained hidden for ten years, tryin’ to persuade people to come join him. But youse see right through his shite. Youse know he isn’t fit to fill Connor’s shoes. I am sick of this fucking cunt…and I want him dead.”
One of the men, whose name I don’t know, nervously looks over his shoulder toward the door. Cian notices it too.
It seems publicly shaming my father is the antidote we need.
“I am huntin’ him, and mark my words, father or not, I’m going to cut off his balls and feed them to him. And as for Liam Doyle, I plan on doing to him what I did to his brother, father, and uncle. I am going to end the Doyle bloodline for what they did to my ma.”
The man subtly reaches for his gun, and Cian and I let him.
“We’re with ya, Puck. All of us are. Y’ve our word,” says Rogan, bowing in servitude.
All the other men follow suit, except the fucker who clearly doesn’t share the same sentiment. This is why I wanted ex-Kelly men. I knew they’d see reason—eventually. If they survive this, I will give them a lifeline as long as they pledge loyalty to the Kelly name.
“Grand, ’cause yer first test is now. Are youse armed?”
The men look around confused, but nod.
“Good, ’cause we’ve company.”
Before they can question me, a large boom explodes around us. The sound is from the stray bullet which missed my head by miles and lodged into the wall behind me.
Everyone draws their guns, armed and ready to fight.
The arsehole who aimed and missed runs for cover, but he collapses onto his stomach when I shoot out his kneecap. Howling in pain, he rolls over and fires, missing again. For his error, I shoot his hand. His gun slides across the ground.
I don’t have time to question whose side he plays on because gunfire erupts outside. It’s started…
“Liam and Sean are outside, as I knew they would be. Bein’ here like this is like leaving a trail of blood for hungry sharks.”
“Ya could have warned us!” screams Matthew, ex-Kelly and newfound Doyle devotee, as he ducks low.
“Would ye have come if I did?”
He mulls over my question as it’s a fair one to ask. I could have told them, but now, those left standing will never switch sides. This is a fight to the death. A fight for warriors—warriors I want on my side. There will be casualties, but that’s always the risk in war.
Most of these men are traitors in one way or another. This is their chance for redemption, and if they survive, they will cherish every sunrise from this day forward.
Men come flooding in from the door and holes in the wall, which were made over time. It’s an ambush, and that’s okay because Sean won’t kill me. But that doesn’t mean I won’t kill him and all the men who fight with him.
Cian and I spring into action, operating as a tag team as we work back-to-back to take the enemy down. Our men protect us, shooting anything that moves. But we’re outnumbered, which can only mean one thing.
“Liam is workin’ with Sean!” I shout so Cian can hear me over the gunfire.
But if they overthrow me, which they won’t, no doubt Liam will do to Sean what Brody did to him.
And vice versa.
They need the other to defeat me.
I laugh happily at the fact because they won’t win.
“Ya think they’re both here?” Cian asks as we continue covering the other.
“Aye, no doubt. Liam is here for revenge. And Sean is here ’cause he wants everyone to do the dirty work for him.”
I don’t want to jinx it, but this might mean Babydoll will be okay. Most of the men will be here, protecting their leader. I didn’t know what we faced going into this, but now, I can see clearly. This is a good old-fashioned gunfight where only the strong will remain standing.
The factory explodes in both sight and sound. The smoke from the gunfire makes it almost impossible to see, but together, Cian and I are unstoppable. And so are the men who fight for their lives.
We jump over fallen bodies, shooting anyone who is the enemy. It’s bedlam, and I thrive in the anarchy because I feel fucking alive. Each man I kill brings me closer to getting back Ethan and Eva. And killing the two men who dare think they can fight me and win.
“It’s Liam!” Cian shouts, gesturing to him running through the door.
I still can’t believe how stupid he is, thinking an ambush would work. I suppose he underestimated the power the Kelly name holds. Sean is nowhere to be seen as he’s a smart predator. He’s waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
With a roar, Liam comes charging for us, but the bulk under his shirt reveals he’s wearing a bulletproof vest as well. That won’t be a problem, however.
Targeting his thigh, I aim and shoot, and watch in joy as he hollers and drops to the ground. That doesn’t deter him, however, and he continues crawling toward us, shooting.
Cian snickers and shoots him in the shoulder. He never misses.
Liam’s men realize their leader has fallen and stop when I shout, “Drop yer guns. Otherwise, y’ll be obeying a corpse.”
“Do what he says!” screams Liam, finally coming to a stop.
The men look at one another, looking for cues from their associates. What a bunch of disloyal pussies as they do as he says with reluctance.
My men cease gunfire—for now.
Cian and I walk toward a squirming Liam, never dropping our guard. But they all know, one wrong move, and they’ll join the pile of bloody bodies.
Peering down at Liam, I’m almost disappointed at how easy this was. “Where is he?”
“Fuck you,” he spits, rolling away from me.
Tsking him, I stomp on his knee to explain this is going only one way—my way. “Spare me the theatrics ’cause I know ya didn’t pull this off alone. Why would ye protect him after what he did to yer sister?”
Liam’s eyes are filled with pure hate as he snarls, “I’d rather that than see you succeed. My da was a fucking idiot for trustin’ ya. I told him not to but he didn’t listen, and look where he is now. Fucking dead, killed like a nobody.
“I’m so fucking angry with him. He has destroyed everythin’, and his stubbornness has led to the death of my family! Deaths you delivered. So I will work with anyone, even the devil himself, if it results in yer death.”
He waits for a reaction, and he gets one in the shape of a bored yawn. “Yer all a bunch of pussies,” I spit, disgusted. “Grow a pair and dry yer eyes. What did ya think would happen? We’re not friends, we’re enemies, and that’s because yer dad was a greedy cunt who trusted the wrong man.
“It’s not my fault he was a weak fuck. If he were any leader, his men wouldn’t stray. He’d have their loyalty and respect. But he didn’t.”
Liam clenches his jaw, clearly not appreciating me having no respect for the dead.
“Connor wasn’t perfect. His men weren’t loyal either,” he snarls, squirming as I press harder down on his knee.
“Yer right, but his kingdom never fell until he was murdered. Yer dad was barely holdin’ on. It takes a real leader to rule…and to win. Yer da and mine…they’re both failures because this is all mine.”
The horror on Liam’s face reveals he wasn’t privy to the fact that Sean is indeed my dad. He had no idea this was very personal to Sean and me.
“So I ask ya again, where is he?”
Before he can answer, a car’s screeching tires and then a loud bang hint someone has been hit. Cian quickly runs for the door while I stay with Liam.
“Ya don’t actually think he’d spare yer life, do ya? Yer nothin’ to him. A pawn to get what he wants.”
Liam smirks, and the sight sends a chill right through me. I don’t know why he’s smiling when he knows he’s minutes away from joining his family.
With my gun still trained on him, I quickly dig into my pocket for my phone and send a text to Rory.
Everything okay?
While I wait for his reply, I check his location how he showed me and sigh in relief when it indicates he’s still at my gaff.
All good here.
I pass it off as me just being paranoid, and when Cian and Ron enter through the door with a hostage, that paranoia settles because the enemy is here—finally.
I can barely believe my eyes, but I savor this moment as I know it’s one I will revisit for the rest of my life. Monsters are real…and they come in the shape of my father, who stands before me.
My brain can’t process that he is really here, and my heart softens for a fraction of a second, remembering the good times. But those memories are soon destroyed when everything he’s done for his own greed comes careering to me like a freight train.
This man who gave me life, took it from me in the same breath.
Cian and Ron are on either side of him, holding on tightly so he can’t escape. But he wouldn’t. He’s too bleedin’ proud for that. And that’s confirmed when he has the audacity to smile as we lock eyes.
“How y’ve grown, son. Look at ya. A big man now.”
He’s baiting me, and it’s worked.
“Let him go,” I order Cian and Ron, who hesitate for a moment before doing as I’ve asked. They step aside, knowing this is going to get ugly.
I take my time examining the man who has taken everything from me. Now that I’m older, I see the similarities between us. Same eye color, same facial features, and the same sarcastic grin when we know we’re going to win.
That’s soon to change when I punch him square in the face. A pained oof leaves him as his head snaps back with a crack.
The bloodlust rouses the demons, demanding more, but they’ll have to wait because we have a lot to catch up on.
“Don’t call me son.”
He nods, wiping his bloodied lip with a smile. “Still got that temper, so you have. I’m to blame for that.”
Inhaling sharply, I count to three to calm myself down. “Where are Ethan and Eva? I know ya came here ’cause ye want somethin’ from me. So let’s stop with the bullshit.”
But Sean has other ideas. “Ye look just like yer ma. I always wanted to tell ya that but could not. Keepin’ the truth from ye almost killed me.”
“I’ll happily put ye out of yer misery then.”
He laughs in response, and why wouldn’t he? He’s in control. Until Ethan and Eva are safe, he knows he has the upper hand.
“I loved her, and she loved me,” he continues, while I clench my fists, barely holding on.
“Is that why ye killed her? ’Cause ya loved her so much? That why ya slit her throat, knowin’ I was watchin’? ’Cause of yer love for her?”
He isn’t moved by my recollection of that night. “What would ya have me do?” he questions calmly. “She was going to ruin everythin’ for me. For us.”
“There is no us, thanks to you. Ye made sure of it
when ya killed my entire family.”
“I am yer family, Puck,” he corrects with a smug smile. “Don’tcha be forgettin’ that. We’re the same, you and I. We want the same thing…even though you can’t see that.”
Smacking my lips together, I reply, “What I want is for ye to be dead, but I know that can’t happen until ya get what ya want. So stop wasting my time.”
Sean nods, appearing to respect me for my honesty. “Aye, yer right. I’m not going to insult ya by apologizin’ for what I did. I can’t change the past, but I can the future…join me, son. I want ya by my side.
“I can’t do this on my own. I’ve tried. But these men still cling to Connor’s ruling and see you as their true leader. We could rule all of Ireland and Northern Ireland together. Father and son…just how it was supposed to be.”
I take a moment to process what he just said because, what in the ever-living fuck? Does he really expect me to fall for this shite?
“Ya said ye didn’t want to insult me,” I state, folding my arms across my chest. “And then ya go and say such nonsense. We will never rule side by side, and ya know that.”
A jubilant chuckle spills from Sean. “It was worth a shot. That’s why I was forced to do what I did.”
“No one forced ya to get yer nephew hooked on whatever shite he’s takin’. That’s all on you. The people surrounding ye are not there by choice. They’re either junkies or yer blackmailing them somehow.”
“Yer ma made the choice, though, cub. She came to me. And that’s the God’s honest truth.”
As I clench my jaw, Sean’s journal entry comes crashing into me.
She betrayed me after she told me she loved me. After she promised she’d never leave me. That I was the one she wanted, not him.
She was going to leave him. She told me so.
“I don’t know what she was thinkin’, but what I do know is that I don’t blame her for fallin’ for yer bullshit. I did. I believed ya actually gave a fuck about me.”
“I did. I do,” he counters, and I hate that I can’t sense a lie in him. “I protected ye, did I not? When Connor was beating ye black and blue, I stepped in to help ya. Ye saw me more as a father than Connor. Ya can’t deny that.”