Page 43 of Vengeful Union

A low rumble sounds, and my gaze goes to Dante. "You mean to tell me that for nine months you've kept this hidden from us? Someone wants your sister gone and you think it's okay to ignore it and not tell us?"

I glare at the bastard, pissed that he thinks I'm keeping this shit from her.

"Up until three weeks ago, we had no proof there was anything other than those murmurs." My voice is like a whip, my anger coming out quick and fast. "We couldn't come to you without proof. If we had, you'd have gone off the deep end and we need to get to the bottom of it. Find out who's leading the rebellion."

His eyes narrow but he doesn't say anything as Makenna gets to her feet. "What happened three weeks ago?"

"Bannon happened," I tell her. Anger flashes in her eyes. She’s still pissed about that bastard shooting a child.

"God, he's a fuck up," Dante mutters angrily. "Thank fuck Hammersmith hasn't reneged on the deal."

I nod. "We found Bannon holed up in a fucking shithole. He started spouting shit about a reckoning."

Makenna's eyes go hard. "Who's leading it?"

"We don't have proof, just what we've heard," Denis begins cautiously.

"Who?" she asks again, getting to her feet.

"Patrick," I say, and instantly the room's atmosphere goes static. Our grandfather has been keeping his ear close to the ground. He heard about the rebellion a while back and who was leading it. Denis and I have been trying to find proof, but so far, we’ve come up empty handed.

"What?" she whispers, rocking back on her heels. "Pat?"

"Yeah. We don't have solid proof, but it seems as though he's leading the rebellion against you." I shake my head, fucking disgusted that our brother would do this. "Against us."

Makenna pulls in a breath, nods, and takes a seat. "We need to do this right. If he's mounting an attack on us, we need to have all our bases covered."

"What do you need?" Danny asks, his fists clenched.

Danny and I are the closest to Makenna. She's my baby sister. I'll always have her back, no matter what. Danny and her are closer in age, and they have a bond due to her staying in Dublin with them when the two of them were growing up.

"Right now, we need to gather every bit of intel we can. Who do you trust that can get close to Pat?" Dante asks as he goes to stand beside his wife. As soon as he's beside her, he presses his hand to her shoulder, and she reaches for it, clasping it tightly.

"We could send Boz and Reilly. After all, they were shot. They could hold a grudge against Makenna for that," I say, knowing my men will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of the betrayal.

"I agree. They have the perfect cover story. They would slide seamlessly in with Pat and his bastard friends. It could be the best way to get intel," Denis says. "They've had over a year to plan since Da died. God knows what they've already come up with."

I shake my head. "No, he'd need to collect as many of our men as he could. He knows going up against us is a death sentence if they're found out. It must be done right. The more men he collects, the easier it will be to take us down. All of us."

"Then talk to the men, see if they're up to the job. If they are, then I want them to proceed. In our world, someone overhearing them bitch about us will get back to Pat. When it does, there's no doubt he'll approach them. Make this happen, Finn," Makenna instructs me. "I want that fucker's head on a platter."

He's been disrespecting her since he found out she was Boss and he was overlooked. He hated it—despised the fact his younger sister was more powerful than he could ever dream of being. The moment he found out, he spouted shit about how Kenna always got what she wanted. Little did he know that my sister has lived a life filled with pain and agony. Something that shaped her into the woman she is today.

"I'm on it. I'll call them as soon as I leave."

She gives me a grateful smile. "I know I don't have to tell any of you that this is to stay between us. No one outside of this room is to know what Patrick is doing. If any of our men find out, they'll seek revenge before we can."

Everyone nods in agreement.

"If that's all, I'm off." I want to get the ball rolling with Boz and Reilly and then see Destiny. Not having her in my house is killing me. I hate not knowing whether she's okay.

I say my goodbyes to my brother and nephews, and just as I reach the front door, Makenna's there, waiting for me.

"You're different," she comments. "The darkness is still there. It always will be, lurking in our eyes. Hiding beneath the surface, begging to be let loose. But you're no longer twisted inside."

I run a hand through my hair. "She's got me fucking tied up in knots, Kenna. She wants to kill me most of the time."

For some reason, that makes her smile. "Perhaps you've met your match." She steps closer to me and does something she hasn't done in years. She pulls me in for a hug. "I like that she's bringing you back to us. Be careful, Finn. Carter's not going to take you beating him to a pulp lightly. Now he's telling everyone you kidnapped his daughter." She shakes her head. "Keep her safe, and make sure you are too."

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