Page 48 of Fragile Union

Granda’s nose crinkles, “Not that I don’t love you and all, but I’d rather face a hail of bullets than go shopping.”

“That can be arranged,” Jade quips, her lips twitching.

He shakes his head. “You’re worse than your brother. That boy has no respect.”

Jade grins wide. “Uncle Seamus, you love us really. You used to tell Hayden how much you wished he was your son, because the younger two were gobshites.”

Well ain't that the bloody truth. Finn is Seamus’ second eldest and he’s the nicest of the brother’s. My Da’s the oldest and then there’s Patrick and Cian, both of whom are arseholes.

Granda’s eyes narrow on her. “Girl, what did we agree on?”

She bites her lips, her eyes dancing with laughter. “We do not repeat each other's secrets.”

“Exactly. Now, you wouldn’t want your father to know about you and Jacob.”

She gasps. God, I love this family, even when there’s something looming over us, we’re as close as ever.

“Uncle Seams,” she shouts in outrage. “You bastard!”

Granda chuckles. “Now you’re lucky Finn didn’t hear, he’d be demanding to know what happened.”

She glares at him. “Arsehole.”

The passenger’s side door opens and there’s Finn, Malachy, Reilly, and Boz waiting for us.

“Holly and Jade behind me, Boz and Reilly either side of them, with Da and Malachy following up the rear,” Finn barks, he’s all focused, making sure nothing will happen to us.

Malachy helps me out of the car, while Boz and Reilly have their backs to the door, their gazes sweeping the area, watching, waiting, ready to attack and protect if need be.

As soon as my feet touch the ground, the feeling I’ve had all day, the one that has been humming through the air like electricity for days, intensifies, I’m not the only one to feel it. The men’s backs straighten, all of them have their guns out, fingers ready to pull the trigger.

Something’s coming.

I clutch Jade’s hand tightly as she comes to stand beside me. Her nails biting into my skin with the grip she has on me.

“No one backs off,” Finn says, “you stay tight to the girls, anything happens, Hol, Jade, you’re to run into the house and into the safe room. If we don’t make it, you do that, do you understand.”

My heart is pounding, blood rushes through my veins at what he’s saying. But I nod.

“Let’s go.” He takes the lead, his gun trained ahead of him.

The air is static, my fear palpable. I’m so fucking scared and yet I have no idea what it is that I’m frightened of.

A gunshot rings out and a groan sounds from behind me. I don’t have time to turn to see, Granda’s hand pushes against my back. “Move now,” he roars, his anger at full force. “Girls, get to the fucking safe room, now.”

Jade pulls on my hand, tugging me along with her as more shots sound. A scream is lodged in my throat as Boz hits the ground, blood soaks through his back, but I’m unable to stop and help, make sure he’s okay, Jade’s still tugging me along with her, trying to pull me to safety.

The gunshots are relentless, tears fall freely down my face as Finn pushes me and Jade behind him, it’s in that moment that I see Granda’s down, he’s not moving, I can’t see his face and I don’t want to. My legs buckle beneath me as I see the bullet wound in the back of his head.

My hand claws at my throat as I realise why he’s unmoving. God. No. please no.

“Jade, take Holly and go to the safe room,” Finn clips out, he’s still all business.

“What about you?” Jade asks, and I’m grateful, I’m not able to speak right now. It’s utter carnage around us, the men are sprawled on the floor, each one of them having been shot and I’m praying none of them are fatal.

“Go,” he yells as yet more bullets start to spray.

“Finn,” I scream as he goes down. “No,” I can’t help it, I sink to the ground and put my hand over his gut wound. Needing to stop the bleeding, wanting to help.

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