Page 23 of Welcome to the Sins of Blackstone
Sebastian is already here, standing near a group of our men, watching as the Irish unload their part of the deal. We don’t work with the Irish, not in any real sense, but we do business. At least, we did before all this shit with Maria. So, I have a feeling this will be the last, but my biggest question will be: if they aren’t using us to get things in and out of the city, who will they use?
Nothing happens in this city without us knowing about it.
Sebastian flicks his cigarette onto the ground when he sees me approach. “Took your time.”
I smirk, stepping beside him. “Father wanted to discuss details.”
He scoffs. “What details? It’s the same damn thing every time.”
And yet, tonight feels different. There’s an energy in the air, something unspoken, dangerous.
The Irish men unloading the crates aren’t talking. No joking, no banter like they usually do. They’re stiff. Alert. They know. They fucking know Maria isn’t marrying Liam.
I glance toward my father, who’s speaking with Callahan, one of the higher-ups in the Irish family, one who also for some reason hates the O'Brien family I mean it’s not like all the Italians like each other, the Russians fight among themselves all the time, so whatever the Irish are fighting about, is not our business.
My father’s voice is calm, controlled. He never lets emotion show. But I can tell even he feels the shift in the air.
Tension. A fuse waiting to be lit.
I walk toward the closest crate, tapping the side of it twice. One of our men steps forward with a crowbar, prying it open.
Stacks of cash, neatly bundled. Another crate is opened. Weapons.
It’s all there. Business as usual.
The Irish are still watching us like wolves waiting for the right moment to strike. I step back to Sebastian, lowering my voice. “They’re tense.”
“That means we’re doing something right.”
Callahan finally speaks, addressing my father. “This deal was made in good faith.”
My father nods. “And the shipment is here. Everything accounted for.”
Callahan’s jaw tightens. “A different deal was made before this one, wasn’t it?”
There it is.
Sebastian exhales sharply, muttering under his breath, “And here we fucking go.”
I step forward before my father has to say anything. “Your problem is with Liam. Not us. Our business has always been good, they’re the ones who fucked you over, not us.” I need to be clear—we’re not friends with the O’Brien family. After the wedding, we won’t even be enemies. It will be worse than that.
Callahan’s sharp gaze lands on me. “You think we don’t know how your family moves, boy?”
He calls meboylike it’s an insult. I smile like I’ve already buried him twice in my head. “Careful how you talk to me, Callahan.”
His lips curl in a half-smile, but there’s nothing friendly about it. “All this chaos for a girl who kissed you once?” There is humor in his tone, and all I do is smile.
Tilting my head, voice dropping, I say, “No. For the girl who'll wear my ring.”
For a moment, no one moves. The Irish watch us. We watch them. A game of patience. A test of limits.
Callahan finally exhales, shaking his head like we’re nothing but reckless kids. “Enjoy her while you can, boy.”
Then he nods to his men, turning away. I watch him until he gets into his car and wait for my father to say something. Sebastian walks to the car, leaving me and my father alone.
“You’re starting to show everyone, you’re next in line.” His voice is full of pride and nothing else. “They think they can do business without us, but guns, drugs, and money come through us, and anyone who tries to do business in other places we will fix.” Dad claps my shoulder. “They’re starting to see it.”
“See what?” I ask.
