Page 85 of Into Temptation

A lady to the left of the stage dry retches, holding back her vomit behind her hand.

“You can’t do this,” a middle-aged man says, stepping forward, phone in hand. “I’m calling the Garda.”

With a chuckle, I call his bluff. “Go on then. I’m sure they’ll be interested to know yer all as guilty, in one way or another, as Brody.”

His bravado soon dies as he didn’t think I was privy to his dirty little secrets.

Babydoll mentioned that the people here are as vile and corrupt as the Doyles, so I know none of them would risk their freedom to save Brody. They will be forced to watch an affluent man take his last breath and know that I, Puck Kelly, am responsible for this war I’m about to start.

I don’t know where Liam is, but he won’t stop hunting me until I’m dead. So, I need to beat him to it.Iwill be the last man standing because I’ve done my time.

When I tighten my grip on Brody’s hair, he begins to flail, knowing his time on this earth is running out. “Take it all,” he pleads. “I don’t want Belfast. Y’ll never see me again.”

“We’re past negotiatin’,” I snarl, yanking his head back. “This is a long time comin’.”

“You think ye can beat Sean on yer own?” he shouts, eyes wide as he peers up at me. “You need me!”

“Naw, I don’t,” I counter with a smirk. “I have all the help I need.”

On cue, Babydoll stands beside me. “Hi, Daddy.” She smugly waves.

Her betrayal infuriates him. “Ya fucking whore! Yer just like yer mother! Ye’ll never be my daughter. I should have let him have his way with ya.”

She hisses, taking a small step back. “You knew?”

“Aye, I knew yer brother, Hugh, wanted to fuck ya. I knew he was straddlin’ the line. But I didn’t think ye’d have an issue with it, seeing as ya had no problems spreadin’ yer legs for Puck.”

Her eyes fill with tears because, although I know about Hugh being infatuated with her, I didn’t realize the full extent of it. To find out Brody was aware of the sick things he did to her has me pressing my blade to his throat.

“Y’ll never speak to her like that again.”

The crowd gasps—some in horror, others in excitement.

Brody raises his trembling hands in surrender, but that’s not an option. It never was. “My death will be avenged!” he exclaims. “Yer startin’ a war, Puck Kelly.”

Yanking his head back farther and exposing his throat, I grin. “Oh, I’m countin’ on it.”

“Please, naw,” he begs, interlacing his hands. “I’ve got money. Don’t kill me.”

“Yer pathetic,” I spit. “Pleadin’ for yer life like a little pussy when ya had no mercy for my ma, for the hundreds of people y’ve killed. Or for yer daughter who ya used like a pawn.”

Babydoll moves closer to me. I want her to know this isourvengeance. This is a war wewillwin because of her.

“Ya can have it all.” Brody implores me to see reason. But this is the only reason I see.

“I don’t want anythin’ from ya…” I pause, before adding, “Except for yer head.”

Brody closes his eyes and begins to pray.

“I wish I had days, weeks to torture ya, but honestly, forever wouldn’t be long enough time to do unto ye for what ya deserve.” His death will never be long, bloody, or violent enough, but it’ll send a message to Sean. So, it’ll do…for now.

He continues praying. Maybe he thinks his God will offer him salvation.

“Forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation.”

But here, now, his God doesn’t exist. The only person who does is me—the devil he created.

His neck is arched back at a painful angle, and when he opens his eyes, I smirk. Vengeance is finally mine.

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