Page 120 of Into Temptation

“They were both using each other. Kingdoms can’t have two kings, which is why I’m challenging anyone who thinks they can take me on.”

“Fucking Catholics,” Rogan spits, shaking his head in disgust.

“There is more to this than religion. That’s a thing of the past. Now, this is about honor. This is about revenge. Youse know me. Ya know I will fight for what I believe in. I will fight for our home!”

The men erupt into applause, clapping wildly at my words.

“I want ya to pledge yer loyalty here, now, and I promise youse, I’ll make Belfast what it once was. But if yer in two minds, this is yer chance to leave. No hard feelin’s. But I’m givin’ ya one chance and one chance only.

“The reason Northern Ireland is such a mess is ’cause there is no authority. Paramilitary groups fight against one another because there is no one leader. Everyone is fighting for power. When Connor ruled, the Kelly name was respected.

“Everyone knew their place. Everyonehada place. I want that back. It’s going to take an army to do that, but I can, and I will. My uncle wants me dead, and that’s because he isn’t my uncle, after all.”

The room falls silent.

“Connor will always be my father, but biologically, I am Sean’s son. And he knew that when he sent me to prison. Greed is the only thing he cares about, and I think most of ye know that. That’s why yer here and not fightin’ with him.

“Brody was one of the men who killed my ma. As was his brother, Aidan. In return, I killed them both. One man is left standing, and that man is Sean. He was the one who killed my mum. Slit her throat when he knew I watched him, hidden away.

“He isn’t a leader. He’s a fucking coward. He’s remained hidden for ten years, tryin’ to persuade people to come join him. But youse see right through his shite. Youse know he isn’t fit to fill Connor’s shoes. I am sick of this fucking cunt…and I want him dead.”

One of the men, whose name I don’t know, nervously looks over his shoulder toward the door. Cian notices it too.

It seems publicly shaming my father is the antidote we need.

“I am huntin’ him, and mark my words, father or not, I’m going to cut off his balls and feed them to him. And as for Liam Doyle, I plan on doing to him what I did to his brother, father, and uncle. I am going to end the Doyle bloodline for what they did to my ma.”

The man subtly reaches for his gun, and Cian and I let him.

“We’re with ya, Puck. All of us are. Y’ve our word,” says Rogan, bowing in servitude.

All the other men follow suit, except the fucker who clearly doesn’t share the same sentiment. This is why I wanted ex-Kelly men. I knew they’d see reason—eventually. If they survive this, I will give them a lifeline as long as they pledge loyalty to the Kelly name.

“Grand, ’cause yer first test is now. Are youse armed?”

The men look around confused, but nod.

“Good, ’cause we’ve company.”

Before they can question me, a large boom explodes around us. The sound is from the stray bullet which missed my head by miles and lodged into the wall behind me.

Everyone draws their guns, armed and ready to fight.

The arsehole who aimed and missed runs for cover, but he collapses onto his stomach when I shoot out his kneecap. Howling in pain, he rolls over and fires, missing again. For his error, I shoot his hand. His gun slides across the ground.

I don’t have time to question whose side he plays on because gunfire erupts outside. It’s started…

“Liam and Sean are outside, as I knew they would be. Bein’ here like this is like leaving a trail of blood for hungry sharks.”

“Ya could have warned us!” screams Matthew, ex-Kelly and newfound Doyle devotee, as he ducks low.

“Would ye have come if I did?”

He mulls over my question as it’s a fair one to ask. I could have told them, but now, those left standing will never switch sides. This is a fight to the death. A fight for warriors—warriors I want on my side. There will be casualties, but that’s always the risk in war.

Most of these men are traitors in one way or another. This is their chance for redemption, and if they survive, they will cherish every sunrise from this day forward.

Men come flooding in from the door and holes in the wall, which were made over time. It’s an ambush, and that’s okay because Sean won’t kill me. But that doesn’t mean I won’t kill him and all the men who fight with him.

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