Page 45 of Into Temptation

When we’re in the alley, he lights his smoke.

Clearing my throat, I hope to God this works. “I know you respected Connor Kelly. You called him a friend,” I commence, watching for any signs. But he continues smoking.

“When we came to speak with you—Cian, Rory, and I—Puck was in prison,” I say because I know he’s wondering where I’m going with this. “But he’s just been released. And I—”

Before I can go on, he shakes his head, eyes wide. “Hush, love,” he whispers, peering up and down the alleyway. “Don’tcha speak his name.”

“Why not?”

“’Cause y’ll get us killed,” he warns, and he isn’t being melodramatic. He means every word.

“Killed?” I question. “I don’t understand.”

Ron tosses his cigarette onto the ground and turns to leave. But I latch onto his forearm, begging him to explain.

Ron and a dozen other men and women loyal to the Kellys were beside themselves when they found out what had happened to Punky and Connor. They didn’t believe Punky was guilty of the charges he was accused of and wanted to help any way they could.

But over time, Brody and Liam forced them to see that if they weren’t willing to work with the Doyles, then they would suffer the consequences. So, with a family to feed and fearing for their lives, they submitted. Their loyalty was with a new family—mine.

But that loyalty isn’t genuine, as my family doesn’t care whether Ron and others like him live or die. They are merely dollar signs. Each person represents money Brody can extort from them.

It wasn’t that way with Connor. He actually gave a shit about them, and that’s because most of them were his friends. I came to learn a lot about Connor Kelly when trying to free Punky. Although he didn’t take any shit and wouldn’t think twice about killing someone for double-crossing him, he actually made people like Ron feel safe.

He never exploited them and often helped them. If their kids were buying drugs from him, he would usually give them a lecture about how their decision would affect their parents. He never refused to sell to them, as that would be bad business, but he always made clear that the drugs he sold would fuck up their lives.

It was their decision in the end, but to know he cared enough to speak up reveals what sort of a man he was.

He was an asshole, but he wasn’t a fucking asshole.

Cian and Rory told me they too operated this way. They never knew Connor did, though. There was a lot of things they didn’t know Connor did.

I know he was hard on Punky, but I think he was trying his best to parent a man just as stubborn as he was.

“Punky is back,” I continue softly. I’m going to help him, even if he doesn’t want me to. “And he’s going to right the wrongs which have occurred over the last ten years.”

I know Punky believes he needs to work with Brody, but I won’t stand back and watch him demean himself and work with the man who killed his mom. Punky has forgotten, I’m a Doyle too. People know who I am. And they fear me because of my surname.

He needs allies. And I plan on getting them for him.

“It’s only a matter of time. Brody’s days are numbered. He is no match for Punky. Belfast belongs to him, to a Kelly. Not a Doyle.”

I don’t care that technically Punky is a Doyle. He is known as Puck Kelly, because that’s who he is.

Ron sighs, running a hand over his bald head. He’s torn. I know Punky is worried Sean has been recruiting behind the scenes, but I came to Ron because he expressed his dislike for Sean. He would never do business with him.

This is why I can trust him.

“Does he know that Sea—”

But I nod, cutting him off as I refuse to give that vile human the satisfaction of saying his name aloud. “Yes. He knows that that asshole is back. But he never left, did he?”

Ron nods slowly. “I will not go into business with him. It’s gettin’ into bed with the devil. It’ll be like leavin’ one gobshite for another. But if what ya say ’bout Puck is true, then aye, I want to help. As will others who were friends with Connor.

“We owe him that.”

I smile, happiness and relief overcoming me. “Do you think you could spread the word? Put the feelers out to see who’s onboard?”

“I’ll get it sorted,” he says, the first sign of life reflecting in his green eyes. “I’ll be discreet, don’tcha worry.”

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