Page 29 of Deliver Us From Evil

Sean smirks as he peers around at the castle. “This place is a fucking mess.”

“It’s yer fucking mess now,” I reply, seeing as I signed everything over to him.

“Aye, I suppose yer right. Connor would be ragin’ if he were here.”

Clenching my jaw and ignoring the pain shooting down my face, I snarl, “Well, he’s not. Neither is my ma—thanks to you.”

I’ve not forgotten that he’s the final piece to this never-ending puzzle. He is the reason I started my quest for revenge. I just never anticipated it would end this way.

“Cara loved this castle. Even if she hated Connor, this place was always her home. She often wished it wasourhome—all three of us.”

I exhale slowly, attempting to calm myself down because each time he mentions my mum, it feels like him spitting on her grave.

“I remember she spilled red wine on Connor’s favorite chair.” He laughs as if recalling the memory. “She was so clumsy. We searched all the shops to find a replacement, but it didn’t matter. Connor knew and punished her for it.”

I hate that he’s the only one who can offer me insight into something I so desperately want to know about.

“She was full of life—”

“Before ya stole it from her,” I interrupt, angered.

“I told ya why I had to do it. It was either her or me. I took no pleasure in it.”

“Bullshit,” I snarl, stepping forward. “I was there, remember? I saw what ya did.”

“How much do ye really remember, Puck?” he questions firmly. “Ye were five. How much is actual memory, and how much is it yer mind filling in the gaps?”

I know what he’s doing. He’s trying to manipulate me.

“Aye, I killed Cara, but I didn’t want to do it. She made her choice, and I made mine. Just how you did with Rory—ya eliminated someone who betrayed ya. We’re not so different.”

“We are worlds apart,” I correct sternly.

“Whatever makes ya sleep easier at night,” he counters, returning his attention to the castle. “But deep down, ya know you are yer father’s son.”

His words cut deep because I wonder if my son will turn out like me.

“At the end of this month, there is a shipment comin’ into Dublin from the Netherlands.”

I have no idea why he wants to announce this, as this is just another day in the office. He reveals why a moment later.

“It’s worth—close to a million.”

This haul is the biggest we’ve ever dealt with. The fact that it’s coming into Dublin means it’s not ours—it’s Liam’s. And Sean wants to steal it.

“How do ya know about it?”

“Constable Shane Moore,” he replies smugly.

I shouldn’t be surprised.

“This is one of Brody’s contracts, and the word is, he doesn’t know he’s dead. But we’re goin’ to send a message, and we’re goin’ to do that by publicly executing Liam and stealin’ his haul.”

“When you say we, you mean me,” I correct, folding my arms across my chest.

“Aye, I thought ye’d be happy? Takin’ out Liam after everythin’ he’s done.”

“Don’t disguise this as anythin’ but for your gain.”

---