Page 11 of Rectify

“Stop what?”

“Stop feeling so damn guilty. We were kids. Yeah, the three of you had no business trying to scare off some lowlife drug pushers, but you didn’t know that Lucas would get shot. No one could have foreseen that he’d die.”

But Aedan had known. His gut had been screaming at him that going out that night was a terrible idea. Yet, he’d still gone with Lucas and Dylan without protest because he’d wanted to be a part of the group. He’d always felt like the odd one out. Younger, smaller, less physically adept.

His silence had cost Lucas his life, and in a way, it had cost Rogan his too.

“It’s the past,” Rogan stated. “And we should leave it at that. My grandfather formed this gang. It’s in my blood. I never had a chance to be free. What happened to Lucas just made things easier for my father.”

Aedan still couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“It was great to see Dylan. But we have nothing in common now.” Rogan’s face grew pensive. “Dylan has a normal life. He’ll marry Tilly, have children, and live happily ever after. I don’t have a part to play in that.”

“You’re not the fucking Devil, Rogan.”

“I’m a criminal. I’ve done some terrible things.”

Aedan leaned forward. “Only when you had no other choice. You protected your men and their families. You brought them respectability. They’re making more money, and they’re safer than they ever were before. Because of you.”

Rogan smiled faintly. “Not everyone thinks that becoming more legit is a good idea.”

“Brandt was an idiot.” If Brandt was still alive, Aedan would happily kill him. Well, he’d hire someone else to do it. Aedan was a firm believer in playing to your strengths.

Murder wasn’t one of his.

Brandt had been Rogan’s trusted second for years. There was no way anyone could have seen his betrayal coming. But he’d been unhappy with the direction Rogan was taking the gang, and so he’d plotted Rogan’s downfall with the intention of taking over.

“How is Miller?” Aedan asked.

Rogan stared into his drink. “She’s fragile. Brittle. Scared.”

“Her recovery is going to be a tough one.”

“I went to the rehab center last night to talk to her. She believes the Vipers had something to do with her mother’s murder. Apparently, right before she was murdered, Miller’s mother was dating Iker.”

The former leader of the Vipers? That was the reason Miller had tried to join the gang?

Aedan winced. “So Miller thought she’d simply gain the gang’s trust and then snoop around for clues about her mother’s death?”

“Something like that.”

“Little fool. She’s damn lucky to be alive. If they’d found out that’s what she was up to, they’d have slit her throat and dumped her in the river.”

“Which is why they can’t ever know. Iker might be dead, but it doesn’t mean Miller is safe. I need to do some negotiation with Isaac.”

“He’s taking over the Vipers now that Iker is dead?”

Rogan nodded. “And he owes me. Unless they want me as an enemy, they must pay reparations for defaulting on our agreement.”

Rogan had an agreement with the largest players in the city, including the Vipers. They didn’t encroach on each other’s territory or try to steal business. Iker had betrayed that agreement by working with Brandt to overthrow Rogan.

Aedan lived on the fringes of this world. He wasn’t part of the gang, but he spent more time at Rogan’s house than his own. He didn’t like being alone. He was grateful he didn’t have to walk a minefield like Rogan did every day.

“Yeah?” Rogan called out as there was a knock on the door.

Colm, one of Rogan’s bodyguards, stepped into the room. “Boss, there’s a woman at the gate. Says she wants to see you.”

Rogan looked over at Aedan.

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