Page 41 of Aidan

“Thanks. The boys are at the table. Holler at them when you need some help.” I turn and head to Da’s inner sanctum.

I stop in the doorway. “Nora said you wanted to see me.”

My brother’s already taken a chair. Da jerks his chin. “Close the door.”

I do as he says and sit next to Cian. “What’s going on?”

“Word on the street is that Ayman Naji is back in business,” my brother announces.

“The Moroccan?”

“One and the same. With Campbell blocking all the imports from our suppliers, Nathan says that Naji has been making deals with the Germans. He’s increasing his weapon stores and there’s talk of retaliation for our attack a few months ago,” Da adds.

“An attack that was provoked when that piece of shite McElroy tried to kill Roarke. An action that wasn’t even sanctioned by Naji,” I argue.

“He’s still threatening revenge since we took out so many of his men. Naji didn’t escape completely unscathed. From my understanding, he took a bullet that required more than a month of recuperation,” Cian says. “Now that he’s back to his full health, he’s ready to declare war.”

Fuck. “I suppose Campbell is letting his shipments through.”

Da’s fists clench on his desk. “From the sounds of it. Liam has said he has no quarrel with the Moroccans so he has no reason to deny cargo deliveries for them.”

“That bastard. Does Campbell really think Naji isn’t going to try and use those same weapons against him if it comes down to it? He can’t be that naive?” I scoff.

“I don’t think it’s naivety. Liam thinks he’s untouchable. He’s cocky. One of these days, his superiority complex is going to be his downfall. I have no intention of letting Imogen fall with him,” Da growls. “Eventually the Moroccans are going to want more than they have and Campbell will be the one standing in their way.”

“What’s the plan then?” I ask. “Do we have any other way of smuggling weapons into the city?”

Cian shakes his head. “Not Dublin. Our only option is to somehow get them into Belfast. Which isn’t so much a problem, although Nathan is running into a couple snags with finding some contacts up there. The challenge is transporting them from Belfast to here. There are too many opportunities for something to go wrong. We don’t have enough people in our pockets at the moment.”

I run my hand down my face. “Son of a bitch. Completely disregarding the weapons shipments for the moment, what are we going to do about Naji?”

“I’m calling a meeting with the clan leaders tomorrow,” Da says. “We’ll strategize then and see how we want to proceed. In the meantime, you boys need to keep your eyes open when you’re in town and make sure you’re armed.”

“Always. Fuck,” I curse and move to stand up. “Caitlín and Nessa took Sorcha to the city for lunch.”

Da lifts a hand and I settle back down. “Roarke is keeping an eye on them. They’ll be fine. He’ll call if there’s any trouble.”

Not that I don’t trust our enforcer, but I won’t relax until Sorcha walks through the front door.

“Speaking of…” Cian draws out. “I take it this new engagement is the ‘it’s complicated’ thing you were telling me about? And you said it didn’t involve a woman.”

Leave it to him to bring that up. I give him the finger.

Da clears his throat and stands. “I’ll leave you boys to your discussion. Don’t argue too long. Nora won’t appreciate having her meal grow cold.”

He leaves his office and I punch Cian in the arm. He groans. “The fuck? That hurt.”

“Don’t be a pussy. That’s not even near where Sheehan’s guy’s bullet hit you.”

“You’re a dick. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you were getting married,” Cian whines.

“I hadn’t planned on getting married until that bastard Liam called my bluff.”

“And you’ve been friends with this woman for five years and not once did she know you were a Donnelly? You ashamed of us?”

I glare at him. “No, I’m not ashamed. Sometimes, it’s just easier if people don’t know who I am. It lets me go places that I might not otherwise be welcome.”

“Since when has being unwelcome stopped you—any of us—from going where ever the fuck you want?” Cian gapes. “Money and power opens pretty much any door.”

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