Page 110 of Deliver Us From Evil

“Widow,” Annette corrects angrily. “I was also a mum, but you took that away from me when you killed my three kids.”

And just like that, this comes full circle.

Liam was prepared to lay his life on the line for his mum because she was his ace up his sleeve—no one saw her coming. He knew she could blindside me and get revenge for the death of their family when he could not. I didn’t even factor her into the equation, which is the most dangerous kind of enemy. None of us anticipated this, but she’s a Doyle, someone her supplier trusts.

And just like that, the war between the Kellys and the Doyles is once more.

“The place is surrounded,” I inform her, needing to bide my time. “Y’ll not get away. Y’ll end up like yer family. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her green eyes narrow, and I recognize what’s reflected in them—revenge. She wants revenge on the man who destroyed her family, just like I do.

A cane echoing on the wooden planks offers me relief. We can’t lose. We have Alek on our side.

Or, so I thought.

“Hello, Annette,” Alek happily says as he rounds the corner.

Cian and Sean follow close behind, held at gunpoint by Austin.

Cami whimpers because she sees this for what it is. We have been played—not by Sean but by Alek. He’s been in on this the entire time.

“Yer the supplier?” I ask him even though I know the answer.

“You got me,” he replies with a smirk. “To be fair, I did tell you I had dealings with the Doyles.”

“You fuck,” I curse, shaking my head. “We had a deal.”

This is my fault for trusting him.

“Yes, this is true, but I also had a deal with Annette. This is business. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

Tonguing my cheek, I take a moment to compose myself. “I’ll appreciate yer mutilated corpse when I rip the head from yer shoulders.”

Alek laughs loudly. “I’d like to see you try. You think I got to the position I’m in by siding with the weak? I need leaders. Strong men who aren’t afraid.”

“Afraid?” I scoff, training my gun on him. “I’m not afraid. Right now, I’m fucking pissed off I didn’t kill you when I had the chance.”

“Missed opportunities. That’s all you seem to have.”

Alek is right. I should have done this alone. I had enough manpower to win. But Iwasafraid. Not afraid of losing, but rather…I was afraid of winning. I was afraid of not living up to Connor. I would have rather given it away because that was the easy way out.

But look where that’s got me.

“I’m here to watch who wants this”—he spreads his arms out wide—“more. That’s the person I want to work with. Not someone ready to give it all away.”

When Sean steps to the side, I expect Alek to reprimand him, but when he doesn’t, I realize Annette’s contract came with a clause. Cami and I watch as he hobbles over to Annette, and when he places a kiss on her cheek, I scoff, sickened.

She reaches into her handbag, giving him a gun.

“This is fucking incestuous. Can’t you date outside yer social circle?” This isn’t the time to be making jokes, but what the fuck?

“He’s as much to blame as I am,” I state, in case Annette has been blinded by “love.”

Annette shoves Shay away, which is the opportunity I need. Cami knows it too. We just need to play it cool.

“He wasn’t the one who used my husband’s head as a football!” she screams, pointing her finger at me. “He wasn’t the one who set Hugh on fire!”

The memory is a fond one, and I can’t help but grin, which angers Annette further.

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