Page 54 of Lorcan

“He’s doing us a solid,” I told him. “I’ve had to make a call, and he’s going to make sure the news gets out.”

“Oh?”

“We’re going to string up Saverio’s corpse as a warning, just like they did to pirates in the golden age.”

Conor’s eyebrows went up in surprise, but he didn’t say anything. He sat down next to me, and breathed out a heavy sigh.

“Shit. We’re going to bring down fire from Italy.”

“No, we won’t. They’re out.”

“What do you mean…they’re out?”

“I called Mateo and explained. He apologised for what transpired and told me Ronan is on his way back to us, maybe already here. When I told him what we were going to do, he was silent for a moment and then he told me that Saverio made his choice, and now his soul is gone, we’re free to do as we wish.”

“Cold.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I think Saverio burned his bridges with his brothers a long time ago.”

“He’s still their brother.”

“Yes,” I replied. “And I believe that was the reason for the moment of pause before they agreed. Once the news article is out, we’ll return his body to them for a burial.”

Conor nodded. “Okay.”

He wasn't on board with it, and for the first time in a long time, I was looking at my baby brother and seeing the man he’s grown into. Yes, he was reckless and did whatever the fuck he wanted, but he was a fierce and loyal man, and he knew right from wrong. Fuck I was proud of him.

“When this is all over, Con, I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything.”

“I need you to marry that woman inside,” I told him with as much authority as I possibly could muster. He smirked at me and looked down at the ground. “She is an O’Farrell, and you know it.”

“Actually,” he said, pulling something from his pocket. “I’ve had this ring for a few months now but just never had the right time.”

I stood up and looked down at the velvet box, my heart swelling at what I knew sat inside.

“Today is not the time,” I said as he flicked the box open and I saw the beautiful ring inside. “You did well, brother. That is perfect.”

He looked up at me, proud as punch, and put it away before he stood up as well. “I know. But she’s so damn nosey, I don’t know where to put it.”

I chuckled at his admission. “Put it in my office, the safe behind the picture of the water.”

He nodded. Fuck, when did he become such a man? He was always little Conor, always in trouble and ridiculously childish. When did he become someone that could best me in strategy and jumping to action?

I pulled him into a tight bear hug before letting him go. He looked up at me, and I could see the surprise but also the thankfulness.

He needed that as much as I did.

No words needed to be said as he nodded and headed inside, leaving me to sit among the roses alone with my thoughts again.

The clouds were passing over, casting a shadow on the day, making me feel as if the weather was playing tricks on me. I stood up, resigned to having to go inside before the rain started, when I heard something snap from behind me. I turned just as I saw a heavily burned Keeva stride closer, a noticeable limp.

“Keeva?”

“Damn right, Keeva,” she said, angrily. Her voice croaky as if she’d been smoking a pack a day for years. “We could have had something. I know this place. I know your family. You are just too blind to see.”

“Keeva, you should be in a hospital,” I said, holding my hands up as she raised a gun from beside her. “Let me call someone for you.”

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