Page 56 of Desecrated Reign

“Yeah, no problem, love.” Pressing down on the accelerator of Liam’s Mustang, the engine roars to life as we climb up the mountain, but right before we hit Killybegs, I turn off down a small lane with grass decorating the centre. Exhaustion stretches Saoirse’s mouth, and although I know she’s in need of her own bed, this couldn’t wait any longer. It’s something I need to do.

Recognition of where I’m heading widens Saoirse’s eyes, and she cranes her neck towards me, burning curiosity into the side of my skull. Even over the old classic rock song streaming from Liam’s radio, I can hear her thoughts. She’s wondering why I’ve decided to make an impromptu stop at St. Michael’s Cemetery, but the truth is, I intended to come ever since we got the news of Saoirse’s pregnancy, but I wasn’t going to leave her alone in the hospital, so now seems like as good a time as ever.

Easing into the pull-in outside the wrought iron gates, I switch off the engine, and twist my torso to face Saoirse. “Would you mind if I went in alone?”

She’s quiet for a moment as her eyes dart around my face, searching for what, I don’t know. Finally, she fills her lungs through her nose, then exhales, blowing her steady breath past pursed lips. “Go.” She tips her head towards the entrance as she takes a hold of my hand. “Take your time. I’ve got a Leila James book downloaded from the Kindle app on my phone, I’m sure the Bainbridge Bastards can keep me company while I wait.”

Thanks to Beibhinn and her obsession with smutty books, she’s corrupted Saoirse. Not that I mind, some of the scenes Saoirse read me last night could make a whore blush. Let’s just say I took note of every time Saoirse bit her lip, every time her tongue swept over her bottom lip, and every time her cheeks turned my favourite colour of horny-as-fuck pink. Seriously, women are basically filling their homes with how-to manuals, and yet the men have been sleeping on them. Want to know how to please your woman, open her Kindle. Simple as.

Needing reassurance, I ask, “Are you sure you’ll be alright? I’ll be ten minutes, tops.”

“I’m positive. Now go. I have Mason to keep me company.” She averts her gaze to her phone with a sly smile.

“Who the fuck is Mason?”

“My favourite Bastard.”

“Lies. Everyone knows I am your favourite bastard.” When I reach for her phone and get a flash of the front cover, jealousy lights a fire under my arse. “You know, on second thought… Liam can wait.”

Swatting my hand away, she squares me with a look. “Stop procrastinating, King.”

“Fine.” After pressing my lips to her forehead, I ease out of the car and close the door behind me. Then, shoving my hands into my pockets, I tilt my chin towards the iron gates and fill my lungs with the strength I need to get through the next few minutes.

Allowing my feet to carry me forward, I ease through the entry and follow the path towards Liam’s plot. Within seconds, I’m staring down at the granite, eyes boring into the engraved letters.

DEVEREUX

Devin Liam

Cherished son, beloved brother, loyal friend

Born January 27th

Died 13th May, Aged 18

I remain silent for a minute, gathering my thoughts, then finally, I lower myself down next to the headstone, leaning my back against the smooth edge. There are so many things I want to say, but for some reason I can’t find the right starting point. “First off, thanks for the help with saving our girl. I’m contemplating not giving Bev back the keys to your Mustang. She holds the road like a fucking dream. But we both know your sister would kick my arse if I didn’t hand them over. Girl emulates ‘bad bitch energy.’” Thoughts of Beibhinn flash to the forefront of my mind. “She’s not doing so great, though, man. I mean, I don’t blame her, she lost the other half to her whole. But I promise you, Saoirse and I will look after her, make sure she finds her way back, even if I have to make heads roll to do it.”

Needing to ease the twitch in my leg, I reach into my pocket and take out my cigarette case. Once I have a smoke lit, I tip my head towards the sky as I poison my lungs.

Peering down at the case on my lap, I open with, “Who would have thought I’d be smoking my last pack of cigarettes with Liam Devereux?” A small humorous huff puffs from my nose. “Crazy, right?”

Focusing on the tree-line in the distance, I continue. “You’re probably wondering why I’m quitting? Well, thing is, Saoirse is pregnant, and turns out second-hand smoke is almost as bad as handing the baby a twenty box and lighter and telling her to have at it. I figured you’d probably crawl out of this grave and strangle me if I put either of our girls in danger. I mean, at least I think it’s a girl. Call it a gut feeling, but for some reason I think you had a hand in this, and what better payback for beatin’ your arse all those times than to hand me a precious princess who will no doubt cause me heart failure, putting me in the ground next to you. Well played, Devereux. Well fucking played.”

Drawing in a lung full of nicotine, I close my eyes and exhale. “I guess what I came here to say is you can rest easy, because no matter what happens or whose DNA runs through our baby’s veins, I promise I’ll be right there, making sure she has all the love she needs.”

I scrape my bottom lip through my teeth. “You know, I was thinking back to when we were kids, and when our rivalry actually started, and I realised something… Hold onto your tombstone, Dev, cause I’ll only say this once, so you’d better be listening. It was my fault. I was so busy hating you for taking Lorcan from me that I never saw that you needed him, too. Needed her. I always thought you had this perfect home life. A mam and dad who loved and worshipped the ground you walked on. Turns out, your dad is a colossal cunt, and you were just better at hiding your truth.”

I take another drag, watching the cherry ember burn the paper. “Speaking of your dad, he’s still MIA, and as much as I’d love nothing more than to take that prick down, I promised Bev I’d leave it alone. It’s something she needs to do herself, or so she keeps telling me.”

Finishing my cigarette, I flick the butt away, then push myself to my feet. I swipe my palms off my jeans then make the few steps to the foot of Liam’s plot. Once again, I stare at the engraved lettering.

Cherished son, beloved brother, loyal friend

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the king chess piece I always carry with me. My eyes drop to my hands as I examine the silver piece. Then, I drop to my hunkers, and tilt my head to the sky. “I meant what I said, Dev. Saoirse, the baby—fuck ,even Bev—you don’t need to worry about them. If I can promise you one thing, it’s that I will give our girls enough love for the both of us. It may be a little too late, but I will never let Saoirse feel as though she has to choose between our future and your past. Not when I’ve learned we can coexist in her life, together. And who knows, maybe someday soon, I can learn to share the space you reside in, somewhere along the horizon, where the sun and moon meet.”

Placing a hand on the gravel covering Liam’sgrave, I add, “We may have had our differences over the years, but you will always be a part of our family. And I know our concept of family has been warped, given the bastards who reared us, but this is different. Our family, the one she brought together, is different. Saoirse has shown me what it feels like to be loved, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let anyone take that from me, from her, from us.”

I take one last look at my favourite chess piece, then reach in and place it right in the centre of the gravel-covered plot. The sun behind reflects off it, casting a shadow on the ground, turning one king into two.

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