by Henry, Jane
I nod. “Agreed.”
“Has someone cut the power, then, Tully?”
“Seems like it,” he says, frowning. He reaches for the vest at his waist and removes a gun. Then to my shock, he hands me a knife.
“Sharp as fuck,” he warns, scowling at me. “You only use that if absolutely necessary, understand?”
I nod.
“I fucking mean it, McKenna.”
I nod soberly. “Tully, I know.”
He finally nods, still scowling.
We pause in the large entryway to the mansion. Waiting. Listening.
“I don’t hear anything,” he whispers. “Do you?”
I listen but shake my head. “Nothing.”
Of all we’ve been through, this feels like the most important. The safety of the Clan rests on our shoulders. We don’t know what dangers we face, if someone will attack or hurt us. But we face it together. The very fact he’s given me his knife to hold, to use to defend myself, means something to me.
He pushes open the door, and we peer into the darkness. A brisk, biting wind blows straight through me.
“Bloody hell,” he mutters. “It’s fucking cold.” He shrugs out of his jacket and tosses it over my shoulders. It’s warm and smells like him, and a little thrill of pleasure trills through me again. Wow, I am so over my head in love. Is this what love is like?
He loves me.
“You’ll freeze your own arse off,” I protest weakly. I don’t want to give up his coat.
He only grunts in response.
We walk down the stairs, lit only by moonlight overhead. He’s scowling at the cold and wind, as if our enemies are hiding in the shadows. And bloody hell, they probably are.
We walk across Maeve’s garden, cast into shadow with the dark, the trellis projecting a tomb-like shadow on the ground. We follow our moonlit path to the front gate. He reaches for my hand, his voice gruff when he speaks.
“I love you, McKenna.” It surprises me that now, of all times, he wants to tell me he loves me again.
“And I love you,” I tell him with feeling, squeezing his hands. “Let’s find these motherfuckers and put an end to this so we can live in peace and tranquility.”
He laughs out loud, his deep chuckle warming me through. “You’re a naughty little girl using words like that, aren’t you?”
I smile at him, though he can’t see me. “Oh, I learned from the best.”
Loud voices rise and fall by the gated entrance to the mansion. I squint into the darkness and can barely make out a uniformed officer at the gate.
“You’ll bloody regret this,” he’s saying. I peer out into the darkness and realize he isn’t alone. Not at all. Dozens and dozens of people surround him. None of them look like the ruthless men of the Clan, and certainly not our enemies.
“Who are they, Tully?”
“Don’t know,” he mutters. The wind howls, but he marches on, unhindered by the bitter cold. A guard sits at the gate, scowling at the mob of people in front of him.
“Tully,” he says. “They insist I let them in. I’ve explained to Walsh he isn’t coming in unless Keenan gives me leave.”
Tully nods. “You did the right thing, lad.” He turns to the uniformed officer. “What’s the story, Walsh? Y’alright?”
It’s hard to see him in the low light cast by the moon, but his voice is plaintive.
“The citizens of Ballyhock have news for you, Tully.”
Tully looks out at the sea of people. “Oh?”
An older woman with graying hair steps to the front. “Yes, sir,” she says. She trembles, but her voice is strong as she addresses him. “The men of the north have come to attack, sir. We know, for Patrick came into the city today, and made no pretension of hiding his plans.”
I shiver, despite Tully’s large, warm jacket. Patrick.
“Did he?” Tully’s voice is stern, his dark eyes glinting in the moonlight.
“Aye, sir. And word spread like wildfire, it did,” she says, nodding, when a little girl runs to the front. She’s a tiny wisp of a thing with long, thin blonde hair that whips around her in the wind. Her high-pitched voice rings with fervor as she balls her fist and shakes it at the sky.
“And we won’t let it happen! No, we won’t! Not to you!”
Tully bends to one knee, and his voice gentles as he speaks to her. As if I couldn’t love him anymore.
“Thank you, lass,” he says softly.
She looks at him with both fear and admiration in her eyes. “My mum has a job because of you. The bad men came into her store and were stealing from her, but you and your men made them leave. We will help you now.”
His gentle smile tells me he has no idea how a little girl like this could help them, but he’s glad of it.
My throat tightens as I look at the mass of people. They’re murmuring among themselves, and a few of their comments are loud and clear.
“Father Finn was a good soul,” one says.
“’Twas the men of the Clan that stopped the robbery from my store as well,” one man says.
“It’s because of the Clan Ballyhock’s safe and prosperous,” another says. Cheers erupt in the crowd, and Tully smiles softly to himself.
He looks the little girl in the eye. “Thank you for showing your support,” he says. Then he gets to his feet. “Listen, please. The Clan is forever in debt to the support of the citizens of Ballyhock. But danger is imminent, and we must fight to keep our family safe.”
I know they’re criminals. I know they do wicked things, that they adhere to a code of law known only among themselves. But to these people, they’re the superheroes of Ireland. My heart burns with pride that I’m one of them.
A hush falls over the crowd, and one person speaks up.
“Let us fight with you.”
Tully shakes his head. “I can’t let you do that.”
“We will!” someone shouts, and it’s then I realize that some of them have come armed. Tully looks out at the sea of people and smiles.
“I’ll tell you what,” he says. “You keep the gate protected, will you?” He turns to Walsh. “You remove any children from the crowd and bring them to safety. The rest, they can guard our gates if need be.”
“Aye,” Walsh says. “Warn the Clan, Tully, will you?”
A loud booming noise sounds behind us, and the crowd gasps. Tully turns to look. Lights flicker on in the house, and the mansion blazes with light like a beacon on the hill, as the sound of motorcycles coming near the house gets louder and louder.
“Tully,” I whisper. “They’ll attack these good people.”
He shakes his head. “They haven’t reached the house yet. Someone… one person, I’d guess, has cut the electricity to the house. Someone else has managed to use the generators. I can call the brotherhood.”
He takes out his mobile and dials Keenan. They have a rapid discussion, and seconds later, the doors of the mansion fling open, and the men of the Clan pour out. I can recognize some of them even from here—Lachlan and Tiernan, Cormac and Keenan, and nameless others I’ve never met who constitute both the inner and outer circles of the Clan.
“Get back!” Tully shouts. “Fall back!” He turns to the guard. “Open the fucking gates so we can protect them.”
The guard pushes a button and the large gates creak open, just as the bikes loom into view on the horizon. Moonlight bursts forth, illuminating their passage. They’re traveling at a distance but heading along the cliffs that overlook the Irish Sea.
Keenan joins us, shaking his head. “They’ll be here in minutes.” He curses under his breath. “Damn it to hell, there aren’t enough of us to take them.”
* * *
Chapter 20
Tully
I want to protect them, all of them, but my biggest priority is McKenna.
“Do exactly what I say.” I speak calmly, for her eyes are wide and frightened. I point to where our guard stands watch behind a little desk where he keeps paperwork and the
electronic devices for screening, as well as a bevy of weapons hidden from view.
“Duck down behind the guard, under the desk, McKenna.”
She swings her gaze to look at me, but before she can, someone in the crowd shouts, “We can cut them off at the pass!”
There’s a narrow path that leads from the cliffs to this entrance. Any cars that drive up come from the streets from Ballyhock centre, and typically the only way to get from the mansion to the cliffs overlooking the sea is by foot. Now it’s clear why they’re ambushing on their motorcycles.
“No!” I shout. It’s far too dangerous for them to take that route. But it’s too late. It’s too fucking late. Thank God Walsh has taken the children out of the line of fire, but the men of Ballyhock ignore me, working as one. They’re large, strapping blokes, the backbone of Ballyhock. In seconds, they’ve vanished, racing to the pass.
I look to Keenan. He runs a hand through his hair. “Bloody hell,” he curses, shaking his head. “They’ll fucking kill them.”
“Not if we get there first,” Lachlan says.
Tiernan’s already taken off.
“Stay here,” Keenan says. “It could be part of their plan, drawing us away from the house.”
I nod. “Aye.” Lachlan and Tiernan are lightning-fast, the fittest among us. We hear shouts as they join up with the Ballyhock citizens.
“Who’s back in the house?” I ask Keenan.
“Boner and the enforcers, Cormac and Carson. But we’ve found the person who cut our electric.”
“Did you?”
He glances at where McKenna’s hidden. “Aye. ’Twas Alice, Tully. She didn’t come here to warn us. She’s in league with them.”
McKenna’s face pales. “No,” she whispers.
Keenan shakes his head. “Afraid so, lass.”
McKenna briefly closes her eyes, then sighs before she looks back to Keenan. “That would explain a few things, to be honest.”
The next moment, we all look out at the sea, when we hear gunshots ring out. But no one screams. No one’s been hurt. I’d give fucking anything to see what’s happening, when Keenan’s mobile rings.
“Lachlan.”
He nods. A moment later, he grins and covers the mouthpiece.
“It fucking worked,” he says in wonder. “Jesus, it worked. There were half a dozen men on motorcycles, but they were able to intervene at the pass. The gun shots we heard were Lachlan and Tiernan shooting out the tires of the men coming to attack. Others got past. Be on the lookout, Tully.”
“Everyone back!” I shout. “We’re under attack!”
Thank fuck the crowd runs to take cover, just minutes before we’re attacked. I’m ready, my adrenaline pumping through my veins, my senses primed and alert. I’m so fucking ready.
As if on cue, I hear a rumble of tires screeching. The door to the mansion behind me opens, and there are shouts behind me. My brothers are coming to join me. I’m not alone.
McKenna’s down behind the desk, hidden from view, but she meets my eyes for one brief moment before all hell breaks loose.
Gunshots ring out, no warning whatsoever. I hear shouts, the clashing of glass, and utter chaos reigns.
“Drive them back!” I shout at my brothers when someone comes straight at me. I duck, and miss his blow, but he gets me on a backhand. McKenna screams at the top of her lungs, and before I know what’s happening, the man buckles and falls to the ground, holding his legs and howling. I pull the trigger, and he’s dead.
“Good girl, distracting him like that,” I praise her, just seconds before another attacks. This time he sees her, he lunges for her, but I grab him by the back of the hair.
“She’s mine, motherfucker.”
Without remorse, I knee him in the belly. He dared to go after my woman, a quick death is too merciful. I snap into action, the cold-blooded killer Malachy taught.
“He’s dead, Tully,” McKenna says. “He won’t hurt me!” I blink, coming to my senses.
“It’s over, brother.” Lachlan’s made it back. One eye’s bloodied, but he’s standing on two feet in front of me. “It’s over.” Then he lifts his voice and shouts to the crowd, “Come out! It’s over!”
Everyone comes out of where they were hiding, and minutes later we’re assembled again. I’m thankful they were far enough away they didn’t see the brutal details of what just happened. I breathe a sigh of relief. Women hug each other and their husbands, as we breathe a collective sigh of relief.
“Thank God,” I mutter to McKenna, as she rises from her hiding position. “I didn’t want any more bloodshed. Not now. Not tonight. We’re finished now.”
She grins at me and gets up on her tiptoes to wrap her arms around my neck.
“I love you, Tully,” she whispers in my ear, and I feel as if someone’s just stoked a fireplace. Warmth spreads through me, crackling and glowing, as I hold her to me. And there, right in front of the mansion, still bloodied and bruised, I need her. I want her. I have to have her.
“Be mine, McKenna. I want you to be mine forever, McKenna.”
She nods against my chest. “I have literally no other option, do I?”
She gives me that cheeky little grin. I bend and take her mouth, kissing her until she’s boneless, putty in my arms, before I respond.
“No other choice,” I say with a teasing wink. “If you run, I’ll catch you. If you hide, I’ll find you.” I kiss her cheek. “And if you’re afraid, I’ll slay your demons.”
Her eyes shine at me, though she’s smirking.
“Don’t expect a little docile housewife,” she says with haughty indignation, her lips pursed.
I tug her soft brown hair, and she squeals.
“Now, now, barefoot and pregnant’s the only way, isn’t it?” I love to tease her. Her cheeks turn pink, and she opens her mouth to tell me off, when she finally realizes I’m only teasing her. She shakes her head.
Lachlan and the others return. I hold her hand as he tells the story.
“Mickey was the fucking hero,” he says, shaking his head as he jerks his chin at a huge blond bloke wearing faded jeans and a rugged work jacket.
Mickey shrugs. “’Twas nothing at all,” he says shyly, a big bear of a man rendered helpless with the attention.
Lachlan shakes his head. “Nah, mate, that wasn’t nothing. You saw the shortcut they took. We never would’ve made it in time if we didn’t circumvent the route and pick off the first.”
Mickey grins and nods. “Aye. Sneaky little buggers, weren’t they?”
“Aye,” Lachlan says with a grin. “But we feckin’ bested them.”
He fist bumps Mickey, as Tiernan returns. He’s got a man in each arm, obviously bloody and restrained. Some of the other Ballyhock citizens bring others in tow.
“Bring them to the house,” Keenan says sternly. He nods to Walsh, who turns away. This is where he won’t see what happens next, how we continue to be working business associates. The men that attacked us tonight won’t leave here alive.
“Right, now, everyone needs to go home,” Walsh says, taking the attention away from us as he disperses the crowd.
Keenan turns to me. “Since McKenna’s with you, Tully, I’d like you two to stay here until the last person has left.”
I nod. “Yes, sir.”
McKenna reaches for my hand. It’s a cold night, and her fingers are icy. Wordlessly, I wrap both of my hands around hers.
“I don’t know how you’re so warm, when you gave me your jacket,” she says, her eyes apologetic.
Lachlan snorts as he heads up to the mansion, yelling over his shoulder. “It’s the fucking fire of Hell that burns in him, you know.”
McKenna laughs and gives me a pointed look. “That’s fair.”
We watch as the very last person leaves. Clouds move in, crossing over the moon, and I hold her tighter.
“Tully,” she says quietly, as we head back to the house. “What will happen to my mum?”
I blow out a sigh. Nor
mally someone who’s done what she has will face the highest penalty. People do not threaten the safety of the Clan with impunity.
“I don’t know, lass,” I tell her honestly.
“I’m going to hazard a guess that normally she’d be punished for what she’s done.”
“Absolutely.”
She’s quiet as we approach the garden, and suddenly she pauses. “Did you hear that?”
I stop and look at her. “Hear what?”
She shakes her head from side to side, then turns and looks back at the gate. There’s a thread of fear in her voice I don’t like, when she asks, “Did we get them all, Tully?” My gun’s in my hand before I’ve fully processed what I’m doing.
“We did,” I say loudly, in case someone is here in the dark. I want them to think I’m not prepared. “Everyone’s back at the house.”
She tips her head to the side, then blinks. She gasps, covering her mouth. “Tully!”
Piercing pain hits my neck, and I fall to the ground heavily. My knees connect with rocks as a heavy boot kicks my back. I fall to the ground.
“Let him go!” McKenna screams. “Help!”
But I didn’t train with Malachy for fucking nothing. I keep my head fucking straight, spin, and dodge another blow.
Patrick.
I yank his ankle and pull him to the ground. His weapon clatters to the ground. Now, we brawl with fists.
He doesn’t even try to attack me, though, but goes straight for McKenna. She screams as he reaches for her, dragging her down with us.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” he rails. My vision blurs with sudden fury. I propel myself forward, grab him around the mid-section, and yank him down to the ground.
“Get help, McKenna,” I order, intent on hurting him. On killing him. I won’t fucking rest until his blood stains the earth. I knee him and he grunts, trying to shove me off of him, but he’s subdued under me. I give him one vicious blow after another, until the fight goes out of him, when a deafening shot rings out.
Patrick’s head lolls to the side, a bright red bullet wound right between his eyes. I look in surprise to see McKenna holding his weapon, her eyes wide with shock and terror.