Page 22 of Bozo

My father, still on the floor, starts to mumble something, but Jerry silences him with a swift kick to the ribs.

Lorcan leans forward, his eyes cold. "He seemed to think she'd be willing to work it off—in one of my establishments."

The implication hangs heavy in the air. I feel sick to my stomach. We all know that Lorcan’s women are not only waitresses and dealers. It goes a fuck of a lot more sinister than that. Most nights, the women are being paid to do whatever the hell Lorcan’s high-rollers want them to do, which most of the time includes being fucked. "You didn't seriously consider?—"

"Of course not," Lorcan cuts me off. "I may be a lot of things, Connor, but I don't fuck with my guys’ women. You have been one of my guys for years, one of my most loyal ones. I wouldn’t do that. Not to mention, she’s Jer’s fucking family."

I nod, relieved but still seething with anger. "So, what now?"

Lorcan leans back in his chair, studying me. "That's up to you, Connor. Your father's debt is substantial, but it's not just about the money anymore. He's crossed a line, threatened one of our own. That can't go unanswered."

I look down at my father, pathetic and cowering on the floor. I’ve already made my decision.

"I'll take care of it," I say, my voice steady. "But not here. I don't want this mess on your hands, Lorcan."

Lorcan nods, a hint of respect in his eyes. "Fair enough. Declan will help you get him out of here discreetly. What happens after that is your business."

Jerry steps forward, his face grim. "I'm coming with you, Connor. This involves Grá, and that makes it my business too."

I don't argue. Having Jerry there might actually make this easier.

Declan and another of Lorcan's men help us get my father into the back of my car. He's barely conscious now, mumbling incoherently.

We drive out of the city, toward the docks, where Jer has a portacabin.

"You sure about this, Connor? There's no going back," Jer asks.

I grip the steering wheel tighter. "He threatened Grá, Jer. He was willing to sell her to pay off his debts. There's no forgiving that."

Jerry nods, his expression hardening. "You're right. Bastard deserves what's coming to him."

We pull up to the docks, and Jer directs me toward the portacabin. Once parked up, I drag my father out of the car, forcing him to his knees at the edge of the dock.

"Connor, please," he whimpers, finally seeming to understand the gravity of his situation. "I'm your father."

I look down at him, feeling nothing but cold contempt. "You stopped being my father a long time ago. And you sealed your fate when you threatened Grá."

Jer hands me a gun. I don’t hesitate in taking it, the weight of it heavy in my hand. Jerry stands beside me, a silent witness.

"Any last words?" I ask, not really giving a fuck what he says.

My father opens his mouth, but before he can speak, I pull the trigger. The sound echoes across the docks, and his body slumps forward.

Jerry moves quickly, grabbing two cinder blocks from nearby and tying them to my father’s limbs. Once it’s done, he uses his foot and kicks my dad over the edge and into the water. Water splashes as he sinks down into the river.

"It's done," Jerry says quietly. "Let's get out of here."

As we drive back to the city, I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. My father is gone, and with him, the constant bullshit he put me through is finished. I’m relieved, so fucking relieved that he’s gone and I won’t ever have to listen to his fucking bullshit ever again.

I watchas she stumbles slightly toward me, a big, goofy grin on her face. She’s unbelievably happy and I know it’s because she’s free. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Gráinne so carefree and at ease.

She’s eighteen and looks drop dead gorgeous. She’s wearing a tight-fitted light pink dress and matching heels. I catch Grá as she stumbles into my arms, her laughter infectious. The party around us is in full swing, music pulsing through the air. Jer really went all out for her eighteenth birthday.

"Connor!" she exclaims, her eyes bright with joy and maybe a bit too much champagne. "You made it!"

I can't help but smile back at her. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Sunshine."

She beams at the endearment, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Dance with me?"

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