Page 61 of Vengeful Union

He folds his arms over his chest and glares at me. “You really shouldn't have given Finn the envelope.”

I hold back the shock. How the hell does he know I gave Finn that? It hits me then—there's a mole in the organization. Someone more than just Patrick. Right now, the Gallagher's are around a traitor, one who is feeding Patrick information.

“How did you manage to get so many men on your side?” I ask, needing to know because it was a brilliant plan he had, and I'm not in the least bit sorry I thwarted it.

The cocky grin on his face makes me want to punch him. “My family…” He shakes his head in disgust. “God, they’re a joke. So many fucking lies.”

Does he think I’ll feel sorry for him?

“I had a brother I didn’t even know about, my ma was a cunt, and my sister became a mob Boss. No one had a fucking clue. But as soon as it all came out, we were supposed to stand in line and get on board. Pfft.”

“She’s your fucking sister,” I tell him. Family comes before everything.

“From a young age I always knew I’d be an underboss. It’s what I’ve lived for. But now I’m passed over because she’s the fucking Boss? No, that's not how it's meant to be. Women have no place in this world. None. Yet she’s in the big house, married to the Head of the Italian Mafia, and we’re all supposed to accept it? No, I will never get behind it. The Clann was great, one of the strongest criminal organizations of this time. We were powerful, respected, feared. Now that we have a woman at the helm, no one is going to respect us.”

I can’t hold back. Unable to bite my tongue at his ignorance, I let loose. “That’s where you’re wrong. Makenna Gallagher-Bianchi has been running shit for years. You’re pissed because they left you out of the loop. Makenna has made the Clann stronger, and she did that before she married Dante. Everyone knew but you. That’s what you’re fucking bitching about. That’s why you’ve done all of this, isn’t it? Because you were the last to know.”

His face reddens, before he leans forward and bellows, “I was meant to be an underboss. It was my birthright. But because of her, I'm nothing but a grunt.”

Oh, someone is seriously disillusioned. “Really?” I drawl, wondering how the fuck this asshole standing in front of me bears the Gallagher name. “From what I heard, you were the runt of the pack, Patrick. Always were. Your father didn’t trust you; you weren’t good enough to fill his boots. Your sister, on the other hand...” I smile brightly. “Well, she’s got more balls than you, and that’s what really fucking kills you, isn’t it—that she has more respect than you could have ever wished for.”

He takes a threatening step forward, but I don’t react. I’ll never show any fear. “You think you know so much about my family.” He tusks. “Then what about Finn, huh? You are so sure he’s not working with me?”

I raise a brow. Is he trying to bait me, or is he trying to make me doubt Finn? Either way, he’s not going to do either. “You fucked up, Patty.” I smile when he bristles at the nickname, something I know Irish people despise. Patty is a female name, while Paddy is the male equivalent of Patrick. It’s why the Irish are so pissed when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around and us Americans go all out and celebrate ‘St. Patty’s Day.’ It’s not that they don’t want us to celebrate; they just want us to get his name right.

I narrow my eyes at him when the fucker just glares at me. “You targeted the one person who Finn loves most in this world. He’d never work with you.”

His smirk is cocky and filled with distaste. “You mean you?” He shakes his head. “Finn is a lot of things, but he’s not stupid. He wouldn’t fall for Carter’s fucking daughter, not after your old man killed ours.”

It stings to hear him say that, but I won’t let him shake my faith in Finn. I know we started off rocky—fuck, it was completely messed up—but Finn and I are different. I really like him, so much so that I’m in love with him.

“I didn’t mean me,” I tell him, and watch as he raises a cynical eyebrow. “I’m talking about Makenna.” He jerks back in surprise. “Finn told me himself that the most important person in his life is his sister. He would never work against her. In fact, he would only work in taking down everyone who posed a threat to her.”

He waves it off, like what I’m saying has no relevance. “He’ll see the truth once it’s over.”

He’s seriously deluded.

“Really? You honestly believe that?” I ask, condescension in my tone.

His lips thin as he glares at me.

I shake my head and explain it to him. “The man saw his sister lying in a pool of her own blood. He thought she was dead. That does shit to a person. Hell, that would do shit to anyone who witnessed it. His hands were drenched in her blood as he tried to stop her from bleeding out.”

I remember the anguish in Finn’s voice as he told me about what happened to Makenna at the hands of his mom. He’s always been so steady, his darkness swirling around him like a coat of armor. Finn has always seemed inviolable, but when he spoke about saving his sister, I saw yet another side to my Psycho Boy. A side that made me fall deeper for him.

I’ll be damned if I let this asshole try to hurt the man I love.

His face pales. As much as he’s angry at the way things have gone down, he cares about Makenna, or maybe it’s Finn. Either way, I’m hoping he’s rethinking this stupid movement he’s started. All it’s going to do is cause heartache.

“When this is over, it will be different. Finn will become Boss, just as it was always meant to be.”

God, he is delusional. Completely whacked. Utterly stupid.

“Say this does happen—that your plan comes to fruition. What do you think will come of it? That you'll live happily ever after?” I can't keep the disbelief out of my voice. I didn't think I'd ever meet someone as delusional as my father, but Patrick sure is giving him a run for his money. “I'll be honest with you, Pat. You try to take your sister down, and there will be nowhere you can hide from Finn.”

His eyes narrow as his jaw clenches. “When he becomes Boss, he will realize this was the right thing to do.”

“You're not hearing me. I'm not sure if you're too far gone in this delusional scenario you've created, or if you simply don't want to hear the truth,” I begin, my tone ice cold. “If you hurt Makenna in any way, shape or form, Finn will kill you.”

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