Page 71 of Vengeful Union

I ignore the voice in the back of my head, focusing on the task at hand.

“Is it a Burke shipment?” Paul asks, and I turn toward him.

He’s smirking, wearing casual clothes for once.

“Not a shipment.” My father smiles widely. “We’re going to take down The Pit.”

My eyes snap back to my father’s.

It’s almost eerie how our eyes are exactly the same shade.

“What do you mean, take it down?”

The Pit has been run by the Burkes for decades. The underground fighting ring brings a lot of criminals to the ring. It’s the only way they can make money when they have warrants out, or are on probation, or have multiple felonies. Gangsters and petty thugs alike come to fight, and there have been plenty of injuries and even a few deaths.

It’s Patrick’s pet project, and Dad has never before mentioned taking it down.

In fact, The Pit is almost a rite of passage among the Irish in this city. When Duncan and I were teens, he signed up for the ring and came out with a broken nose and five grand. Of course, I hadn’t participated despite his ribbing.

Even then, I’d wanted out.

“Isn’t that some of your men’s source of income?” I point out quietly.

His shoulders stiffen, as if he’s offended. “If it is, it’s a side income. I pay my men well.”

I swallow hard.

I can’t piss him off. My father is scary when he’s angry, and I don’t want anything upsetting the delicate balance we’ve got going.

“Of course, you do. But The Pit is basically an institution in this city. Don’t you think?—”

He frowns, his dark brows peppered with silver drawing together.

“I’ve thought this through, boyo. And you have no right to tell me how to run my business. You’ve only recently wanted to be a part of my life.”

I draw in a breath, thinking fast. “I just don’t want any of our men to get hurt.”

My father relaxes slightly, his frown softening. “My men are important to me, Rory. We’re not going in blind.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to take over The Pit instead of tearing it down?” Paul asks.

Duncan’s been silent the whole time, but now he speaks. “That’s what I was thinking.”

My father smiles now, his shoulders relaxing.

“Tearing it down is the only way to take it over. We go in at dawn, take out all of Burke’s security when they’re least expecting it. After we gut the building, we set up a new fighting ring, on our territory.”

My eyes widen.

It’s a smart move. My father is many things, but dumb isn’t one of them. He’s a master manipulator and has a cunning intelligence that’s scary.

But Burke men are going to die.

Should I tell Lara’s brothers? Warn them?

If I do that, Dad will know something’s up.

I’ll make sure her brothers won’t be anywhere around The Pit, but otherwise, I have to keep it to myself.

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