The Untouchables(66)

“All we need is a tumbleweed blowing in the wind,” Coraline joked, from within Declan’s embrace.

Something was off about those two.

“Somebody play for us before I forget it’s Sunday!” I bellowed, forcing what looked like Dylan, Monte, and Jinx to the stage.

Taking my wife’s hand in mine, I pulled her towards the music.

“Who did you kill?” she asked as we danced.

“You said you didn’t want to know about this.”

Her lips tightened into a straight line. I wondered for how much longer she could handle being in the dark. Sighing deeply, she glanced around at the new men—the men who had conveniently jumped sides, the men without loyalty—and it was like I could read her thoughts.

“We don’t kill on Sundays,” I reminded her.

“We don’t,” she replied, “but others at our disposal never made such a commitment.”

Grabbing the top hat from her head, I placed it on my own. “Poor Old Man Doyle.”

“Not just him, all of them. We don’t need new people and I sure as hell don’t trust men who would so easily betray their own.”

Precisely.

“What shall we do?” I asked, twirling her around quickly.

“It’s Sunday, Liam. We follow examples from the Bible on Sundays. And I distinctly remember a passage about slaying men in their sleep. All that alcohol should be kicking in soon. Irish or not, you people need sleep.” She grinned, wrapping her hands around my neck.

“So it is written, so it shall be done,” I said as the music ended. Breaking apart, we stood and applauded in the empty streets of Killeshin.

“Declan,” she whispered, leaning over to him. “Gather the men—our men—and kill them all, I don’t care how. We leave at sunrise; I believe Liam has gotten all he needs.”

They would learn, all of them. Here in Ireland, back in the States, and all across the globe.

This wasn’t a game. This was our fucking family, and nothing trumped family.





TWENTY

“What is a king to a God? What is God to a king?”

—J.J McAvoy





DECLAN

Shoving my knife into my boot, I pulled open our trunk and sifted through Coraline’s clothes in order to find my new guns.

“I thought we didn’t kill on Sundays?” she asked me, gathering up our things around the room.

“Melody and Liam don’t. I’m not sure why. It is as though they really believe God appreciates it,” I muttered as I loaded bullets.

Laughing, she came over and wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. “You speak for God now?”

Rolling my eyes at her, I grabbed my silencers. “No, but a murder at 11:59 p.m. and one at midnight is still murder.”

“It never bothers you?” she whispered into my ear.

I didn’t answer; I just loaded.

“Declan.”

“No, Coraline, it has never bothered me. It never will bother me. I want us to be safe,” I replied, looking into her eyes. “I enjoy knowing that our family is safe, I enjoy being a reason why our family is feared.”

She simply nodded. “Can I come?”

“You know the answer to that.”

“Declan, I said I may be pregnant. I can fire a gun. I’m good. You know it.” She groaned, releasing her hold on me. I missed her touch.

Rising to my feet, I kissed her, as I grabbed her thighs to lift her up and press her against the wall.

“We can have this fight after we get you to a doctor, G.I Jane.” Dropping her, she scowled but it disappeared when my lips met hers.

“Go cut off someone’s finger.”

“I’ll make you a necklace.” I laughed as her face bunched up in horror. Gathering my jacket, I walked out the door to find Monte already waiting for me at the top of the stairs.

“Do they know?” I asked as we descended. It had been no less than four hours since Liam gave the order. We were out numbered, obviously, but that didn’t matter if they were too hung-over to fight. Heading out the backdoor, I met Dylan and Fedel, along with Gavin and Kieran; six to thirteen wasn’t that bad. Both of them had been with us for years, but worked mostly in the streets, keeping an ear out for any dealers who might be skimming us—or worse, talking—then they came to me. I didn’t trust them enough to allow them to spend too much time with either Mel or Liam.

“All they know is that we’re hurting some people,” Monte replied.

Nodding, I looked them over quickly before pulling out my gun. “The men who pulled out guns on the Bosses, they don’t get to see the light of morning. Kill them quietly. If anyone gets in your way, dispose of them as well. Any questions?”