Page 23 of Explosive Union

That she has, and I’m not sure if I want them untied or not.

Fuck.

I’m losing my damn mind, and I haven’t even married her yet.

These next three weeks are going to be hell.

CHAPTER7

JADE

"Busy tonight?" I ask Hayes. The party is still in full swing and almost everybody is still here. I noticed a few of my family members escaping with their wives already. But I’m surprised that so many people have stayed. Especially the Gallos.

I've had Rocco stare at me all night, a dark gleam in his eyes. There is something about that man that makes me want to either scream or run away. That isn't like me. I never back down. Not once. But that damn man is pushing me to my limits. He's so infuriating. Always with the damn grin.

"Why? What do you need?" he questions me with a raised brow. The man always has a distrustful side to him. Always wary about what Hayden and I are up to.

"Where's Annemarie?" The last thing I need is that weirdo getting in my way.

His eyes narrow. "With the kids. It's time for their beds.” He steps closer to me. "What is going on?"

I release a sigh. "I'm going to get something I’ve waited five years for. I was just wondering if you wanted to come along?"

His nostrils flare and rage swims in his eyes. “Like you have to even ask. When are we leaving?" he growls, his voice low and hard.

"As soon as I tell Hayden that he's coming along.”

His eyes widen a fraction. “You told me first?" There’s a hint of shock in his voice.

"I knew he'd say yes. I wasn't sure what you'd be doing."

"Like you ever have to ask. You are my sister, Jade. I'd do anything for you. You should know that by now. You need me, I’m there."

I smile at him. "I do know that. When Granda told me that he was promoting me to underboss, you were the only person I wanted at my side."

His eyes go glassy. "Jade," he croaks, his voice hoarse.

I raise my hand, needing him to stop. "Don't," I warn him. I can't deal with his emotions right now. I need to focus on what's coming up.

"Okay, sis, go get Hayden and tell him to hurry the hell up.” He rubs his hands together with glee.

I shake my head. Men, they never grow up. Whenever there's blood and gore, they get excited. "I need to get changed out of this godforsaken dress. You can get Hayden. Please do it quickly before he starts a fight. The very last thing I need is for my brother and fiancé to have black eyes."

He chuckles. "Hayden will be fine. There's no way in hell anyone can land a punch on him."

"Go and get him. Do not let on to anyone else about what's going on. I don’t want Da, Finn, Denis, and Danny to get wind of this. They’ll just want to tag along."

His gaze goes behind me. "Then you'd better hurry. Killian's on his way over here and he looks like he wants to talk." He tilts his head. “Or lecture you.”

“Thirty minutes," I tell him and make a beeline for the staircase.

I glance behind me and see Killian isn’t following me, and sigh with relief. I can’t listen to a lecture, not today. I love my uncle, but the damn man is too nosey for his own good. Killian is the best uncle a girl could have—I lucked out with my family. Both my uncles were the shit. Uncle Seamus always treated me the same way he treated Makenna, his daughter. The day he died, it was one of the worst days of my life. It's what I refer to as a black day. Seamus died, and Finn was badly shot. It was touch and go for a while, and he ended up in a coma. He missed his da's funeral. That day was the reason I ended up pleading guilty and doing five years inside. I was also shot, nothing major, but hospitals have to report gunshot wounds. I was arrested and flown back to Chicago, where I ended up serving five years for manslaughter. A crime I didn't even commit.

I quickly change into black jeans and a black sweater. Nothing inconspicuous, but also nothing that will make me stand out. We're going to an upmarket residential housing complex. We'll be in and out without being noticed. There's not a chance in hell anyone is going to stop me. I'm getting my revenge. Tonight has been a long time coming. I've been thinking about what I'll do to these bastards every day, and finally, it's coming to fruition.

I've asked my brothers to come along with me because I know how deeply they've felt about what happened to me. Not only that, they've said what they had to. They got their anger out, and now they're treating me just as they always have. Like I'm Jade, their little sister. Whereas Mam and Da are treating me like I'm fragile. Like if they say the wrong thing, I'll shatter to pieces. I hate that. I never wanted anyone to treat me as a victim. As though I'm anyone other than Jade Gallagher.

I make my way down the stairs, and I instantly feel Rocco's heated gaze on me. I ignore it. I don't want him seeing me like this. I'm in the zone. Murder is coursing through my body and vengeance pumps through my veins. I'm switched off and ready for what the night brings me.

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