Page 18 of Desecrated Reign

Saoirse closes her eyes, forcing back the laugh I know is coming, judging by the crinkles around her eyes. “Please. Please say what I think you’re gonna say.”

With extreme exaggeration, Aoibheann raises her tone about twelve octaves and belts out the Disney classic “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.”

Saoirse and Avie burst at the seams, laughter rippling past their lips and flooding the air. And although I love seeing them get along, I wish it wasn’t at my expense. Eyes narrowed on my sister, I cut her with a look. “FYI… I’m not above murdering you.”

Her tongue pokes past her pouty lips, followed by a flash of sweetness only she could muster. “I love you, too.”

11

SAOIRSE

After discussing the plan and ensuring everyone knows what we need from them, Keelan provides all of us with a hidden earpiece to make communication easier and allow us to signal to each other when the time comes.

Then, in two separate cars, we take off towards the location—Lorcan, Keelan, Rohan, and I in the first car, and Mam, Fiadh, Elouise, and Avie following close behind.

The drive alone takes about an hour, crossing a few county lines, and even though I hate riding in the back seat of a car on longer journeys, I’m glad I am with the boys, because lord knows the last place I want to be is in the middle of the tension between my mam and my future mother-in-law.

“Any news from Bev?” I question as I draw circles on the palm of Rohan’s hand.

Shuffling in his seat, he pulls his phone from his suit jacket pocket and clicks the side button, lighting up the screen for us both to see.

Bev

Running a few minutes behind schedule.

Be there as soon as I can.

Resting my head against his shoulder, I watch Rohan type out a reply.

Rohan

No worries. We’re about three minutes out. Head for your mam’s car. She’ll fill you in on the details.

Bev

?? (Salute emoji)

Before long, we’re pulling off the main road and into a car park surrounded by a row of small businesses. Typical of an old Irish town, some stores are thriving while others look as though they haven’t been open for years.

The building we’re looking for—an old, long-forgotten pub—sits at the end of the lot, and judging by the name above the door and its several missing letters, it’s derelict.

From my position in the back seat, I continue to peer out the side window, scanning the chipped salmon-coloured paint and the plywood replacing the window panes.

My brow furrows. “Are you sure this is the right place?”

“Aye,” Keelan confirms, checking the address he logged into the car’s built-in satnav. “This is it. The Bent Elbow.”

“It’s not unlike the syndicate to use places like this for business. Draws no attention,” Lorcan confirms as he steers the car into the next vacant space several feet from the building. “If I were a bettin’ man, I’d say there’s a back door somewhere.”

“On it.” Keelan types away on his iPad, pulling up the blueprints within seconds.

Apprehension crawls under my skin, quickening my heartbeat. For the first time in almost two months, I finally feel closer to knocking Gabriel King off my throne. He deserves everything that’s coming and more.

It’s said karma always knocks, but I wonder if Gabriel ever thought that when he opened the door, a five-foot-two, eighteen-year-old girl would be the one to greet him.

Laying my head against the back headrest, I draw a breath through my nose, fighting against the nerves threatening to drag me under. Determined not to let them win, I close my eyes and focus on every ounce of hurt Gabriel has caused me and those I love.

Around me, I hear Keelan confirm a back entrance and Lorcan’s response, but I drown them out, repeating my new mantra over and over until all I feel is a hunger for revenge. I am Saoirse Ryan. Killybegs belongs to me. I was born to be a queen, and I’m ready to desecrate the Leinster Syndicate with my reign.

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