Page 53 of Explosive Union

What does the crazy woman do? Laugh.

“Congrats, Ian, you’ve only gone and made an enemy out of Rocco. How does it feel knowing you’re not going to make it out of here alive?” She’s taunting him. Fuck, why the hell am I fighting to keep my cock down at her smile?

The ass’s gaze moves between us, taking in our proximity. “You two?” he questions with a scowl on his face.

Jade beams at him. “Sorry, I think your invitation got lost in the mail.”

Elio chuckles beside me as I press my foot harder down on his wound, causing him to cry out in pain. His face is grey and pale, he’s sweating, and his breathing is labored. “Your family continues to come after her, and they’ll end up the same way as you,” I warn him.

He smirks. “We’ll not stop until she’s dead. An eye for an eye. What would you do, Gallo? If she killed your brother?”

I raise my gun and aim for his head. “Unfortunately, she seems to like my brother.” I fire my weapon and feel the satisfaction as it sinks into his skull. The life leaves his eyes and relief washes through me. One less fucker that’s after Jade.

Jade laughs. “I do, in fact, like Elio. Dario, on the other hand, he’s not safe from me.”

Elio’s chuckle pisses me off. “Better stop, convict. My brother gets jealous where you’re concerned.”

“How about we leave this chit chat ’til after?” I say as I move away from them.

“Told you,” Elio says, and the fucker’s close to getting a bullet in his head.

Glancing around the room, I see the number of men that attacked have fallen. The Masters have lost a lot of men tonight, and they'll want revenge. But this is what happens when you're unprepared and try to take down one of the biggest crime families. You lose. They fucked up majorly. Coming after Jade while the entire Gallagher Clann is in town is suicide. Hence why so many men have died.

Idiotic, to say the least.

"Everyone okay?" Liam asks, his Irish brogue thick. It's something I've learned—when the Irish get angry, their accents get deeper and become rich and thick with the brogue.

"We're grand, Da, although the same can't be said for Ian Masters," Jade tells him, and I notice she's lost her gun along the way.

"Someone want to tell me how so many managed to get through?" my father spits, his eyes narrowed on Liam and burning with rage.

"We'll find out soon enough," Hayden snaps. "But let's make one thing clear, Aldo. Your wife is alive thanks to my brother. Next time I hear disrespect like that to my da, there'll be no saving you from me." He doesn't wait around to hear my father's response. He stalks out of the room.

"Now," Liam says calmly, although his face says he's anything but. "I'm going to find out how many men we've lost tonight, so if you'll excuse me." He gives Jade a quick once over with his gaze and follows Hayden out of the room.

"Speaking of brothers," Jade says, glancing around the room. "Where's Hayes?" There's a bite to her tone. No doubt she’s ready to attack if anything has happened to him.

"I'm right here, sis," the man in question says, and I hear her sharp intake of breath. "It's a graze, Jade, nothing too serious. I'll be fine. Do you need me?"

She shakes her head "Go see your wife and get her to take care of that arm. Nothing serious, my ass. You’re dripping blood everywhere. Tomorrow, we've got business to attend. Be at my house at eight," she instructs him, her tone filled with authority, and I watch as he nods immediately. "I'll call you with an update," she says as she walks away, following where her father and brother have just gone.

"See you all soon," Hayes says with a smirk. "We must do this again sometime."

“Wanna tell me what the hell happened?” I ask once Hayes is out of earshot.

Dad sighs. “I instructed Elio to come with me and for Dario to stay with your mom. He didn’t, and then one of those Masters fuckers got a little too close for comfort and almost shot her. Thankfully, Hayes was there to stop it and he got nicked by the bullet,” he tells me, and I can see why he’s so furious.

“So, the Gallagher’s saved not only Mom’s ass, but mine,” Elio says, and with the raised brow from our father, goes on to tell him how Jade saved his life.

“I’m going to find out what the hell happened and how so many of those fuckers managed to get in,” I say, not wanting to be around Dario when my father catches up with him. I have no idea what my youngest brother was playing at, but he fucked up, and he’s got to pay the price for that.

“Call me when you find out, son,” my father says, and for the first time in a long-ass time, I see pride in his eyes. “You did good tonight. You kept your woman safe.”

Elio chuckles. “Not sure she needs the help.”

I glare at him. “Find your own damn woman,” I snap, sick to my back teeth of him flirting with her.

Walking outside, I’m met by utter carnage. Dead men litter the floor, both Masters and Gallaghers. I spot Jade talking with her father and move toward them.

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