Page 50 of Stolen Mafia Vows
But I understand the word for all the connotations that it holds, all the consequences that will follow, all the lives that will be destroyed. This might be the life I was born into, but it doesn’t mean that I welcome anything other than peace.
“War with whom?” The ice in his eyes has already answered the question.
“The Murrays. They killed Ruairi, and now they’ll pay for it.”
I’m trying to process the information and formulate a response that won’t incur my father’s wrath, but my brain cells are taking too long to catch up.
“What about the alliance between the Murrays and the Byrnes? You said?—”
“Forget whatever the fuck I said!” His voice ricochets around the study like gunfire. “There is no fucking alliance. There never will be.”
I stand up and pace the room, my eyes drifting towards the brandy decanter. When I can hold back no longer, I lift the lid and gesture to the crystal tumblers, waiting for Pa’s approval before I pour. I down the first slug in one mouthful and refill the glass before handing over my father’s drink.
Resuming my seat, I face him across the desk.
“What happened?”
“Caleb Murray murdered your brother.” He eyes up his brandy before tipping it into his mouth and releasing a brittle sigh.
“How? I want to know how it happened. I want to knowwhyit happened.”
Ruairi was the one who advocated this alliance. He was ambitious. He was never going to be content within the confines of running Ireland and north-east England. He saw my relationship with Emily as a steppingstone to achieving great things, so I need to understand how he slipped over the edge and paid for it with his life.
Because until I understand what happened, how can I even begin to figure out where it leaves me and Emily?
“Ruairi set up a meeting. On neutral territory. We’d already made our intentions known, been transparent, had an informal catch-up, a few drinks with Cassius Murray in his casino. But it was obvious that the guy was a liability, and thatif we were going to make this happen, we had to deal with Caleb.”
I try to keep my expression neutral. I can already picture Ruairi’s impatience getting the better of him. My brother was used to getting results. He’d never enjoyed being kept waiting, especially when it concerned business.
“But the fucker wasn’t making it easy. So, Ruairi bypassed the Boss and went straight to the gatekeeper. He delivered our proposal to Moira Murray-Keegan, stressed the fact that the alliance was an extension to the truce and not an attempt to take them down. Then we sat back and waited.”
It was a strategic move. By declaring our family’s intentions, my brother left the ball in the Murrays’ court. If they ignored the proposal, it could be read as a refusal to cooperate and potentially lead to an end to the peace agreement. If, however, they were interested in the proposal, then Caleb’s hand was forced to arrange a meeting.
But I can imagine their outrage at my brother’s arrogance. Caleb Murray would’ve approached the meeting like a horned lizard with its spines out ready to attack. I wonder why my father agreed to this move, unless he wasn’t made aware of it until after the event. Ruairi had an abundance of confidence and would’ve had no qualms about jumping in feet first, with or without our father’s approval.
“The instructions were clear,” Pa continues. “Caleb Murray wanted to meet with Ruairi alone.”
“Why? You’re the Boss.”
“Ruairi forced his hand. It was down to them to reach an agreement.”
My father downs his brandy and chases it with the remains of his cup of tea. Neither of us has touched the fruit loaf.
I try to recreate the meeting in my head. Two of the oldest and strongest Irish mobs in history coming together. My brother might’ve been many things, but he wasn’t careless.
“Where was Ruairi’s backup?”
“Wiped out by the Murrays.” Pa’s eyes flicker. “He didn’t stand a fucking chance.”
This doesn’t sit right with me. The Murrays and the Byrnes go back way too far for Caleb to pull a stunt like that. I drag up the mental image of Emily’s family arriving at the airport; there was another baby, a girl. Emily has avoided conversations about them, but she mentioned Caleb’s wife and daughter, and another child. A niece.
“Why would Caleb Murray want to start a war now, after all this time?”
“Because he felt threatened.”
“He has a young family.” Dragging Emily and our child into a bloody war would be the furthest thing from my mind if the roles were reversed. Unless… “This was about me and Emily, wasn’t it?”
Emily said they gave us their blessing, but they’ve spent her entire life keeping her in the dark about their lifestyle. Why would they want it to change now?
