Seven Graves, page 26
“If you’re so pissed about your Daddy’s dirty deals with mine, why are you blowing a gasket over Kendall?”
Jonas smiled wide. “Ah, that’s the question, isn’t it?” He wagged a finger and leaned in closer to the bars, lowering his voice. “Kendall wasn’t traded off like a dairy cow. My hands were tied with Braughton. Your thick-headed brother took out an unmerited hit. His head’s worth a lot, but it won’t hold a candle to what I’ll be gettin’ outta you, Bridget Byrne.”
“You have no idea what you’re up against. Fucking fool.”
I listened to every word in stunned silence. I’ve grown up very different from other kids, but I can’t imagine, for the life of me, what it must have been like to grow up in murder and mob life. They’re talking to each other like this is some run-of-the-mill conversation over a pint. It’s more unnerving than knowing I’ve been fucking kidnapped and held against my will. And she’s handling it like she’s not the least bit worried about her own head.
Bridget is a fucking badass.
“I’ll admit. For a lass as young as you, you’ve got an impressive track record. I could almost say I’m proud of your body count—even if you never actually got your hands dirty. If you weren’t a half-breed whore, I might have kept you for myself.”
“My hands are just as clean as yours, Jonas. And I might be a whore, I’ll own that. It’s somethin’ I’ll take pride in. At least I would have known good dick before getting stuck with you.”
Ouch.
Jonas grinned, nodding and stepping back, returning his hands to his pockets. “Well. Makes two of us, sweetness. I wouldn’t have touched you with a yard stick. I was gonna feed you both, but I think I’ve changed my mind. You can have my wedding gift, instead.”
Dammit, Bridget. God, I’d kill for a Big Mac right now.
“Swell. Can’t wait.” She gave him a petty, sarcastic smile and crossed her arms. There’s the bratty bitch I know and love. A second set of footsteps sounded behind Jonas as he pulled out a key and started unlocking the door…that smile left her face faster than I could blink. “You…traitorous son of a bitch. You’re the rat?!”
“Did he really think Conor was capable of pullin’ off a feat like that? The poor, entitled bastard. I dunno why you’re surprised, Bridge. We’ve done this dance too long, lassie. Be a good girl and come upstairs. Got a wedding to get to.”
I stepped forward and Jonas cocked a gun, tapping the door open with the barrel and pointing it straight at my face. I choked.
“Ah, ah, ah, little dove. One move, and I’ll happily show you both how dirty I can get. Bridget…go with him, or I’ll blow her fucking head off.” Whoever this guy is, didn’t give her much choice. He grabbed her arm, urging her forward and she shot her face towards me, true terror in her eyes now.
“Don’t fucking touch her!” I screamed. The end of Jonas’s gun pressed into my forehead, but I kept my eyes on her.
“Sev,” she whispered. “It’s alright. I’ve got this.”
“Bridget, don’t!”
“Stop. Just stay with my brother. He’s already lost too fucking much for me. I’m not gonna let him lose you. I’ve got this.”
I’m hyperventilating. My throat burns and I taste vomit. The mystery man led her out the door and she jerked her arm free, sneering at him in disgust while she shoved past him and started down the hall. I couldn’t do anything but watch in horror. Jonas smiled, lowering the gun and slamming the door closed. The lock screeched and he tapped the gun against the bars.
“That’s a good lass.”
They left me there…alone. Defeated. Ashamed. I backed myself up until my bare feet touched the mattress Bridget had slept on. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I hit my knees and dry-heaved until whatever I had left in me splattered on the floor. My dinner. My hope. My sanity.
We’re all fucked.
CHAPTER 24
The Executioner
Viper is a busy little bee.
Pardon me for being slightly jealous, and maybe way too excited that I’m about to hang out with all but two of the people she’s cleaned for in the past year. It didn’t take much convincing, especially with her ‘repeat clients’ when they found out that their go-to ass saver and loyal secret-keeper was in a pinch. Took even less convincing when we bonded over bloodshed and one particularly talkative Latino gentleman liked my taste in blades. I’ve been hidden away in the cut now for over an hour, with Declan and two other Byrne comrades, waiting on the entourage to show up to the party. I can see a few of the unfriendlies lurking about the property at Nolan’s compound, armed and looking about as on edge as they should be. I imagine Jonas upped the security. He was always the smartest bloke. Not smart enough, mind you, considering he just stamped “come and get me” on his fucking forehead.
What I haven’t seen…is Pop’s Jag. Or the SUV that shuttles him around when he’s feeling fancy and not driving himself.
“You’re sure they’re here?” I asked, watching Declan check all his gadgets.
“Location still puts ‘em in there, yeah. According to this, boss should be in one part of the house, and Finn on the whole other side. Why are they not together? I wouldn’t trust Nolan with hard candy, let alone—”
“If you’re worried about his sorry ass life, you can leave. Bridget wouldn’t be in that shithole if not for him selling her like a prize pig.” Declan’s jaw feathered and he nodded his head, lowering it.
“You’re right. Just strange. ‘Lotta shady shit goin’ on, mate. None of it’s addin’ up.”
Three cars pulled up past the wood line, parking slowly and staring at each other with an awkward tension I didn’t even prepare for. All like-minded…absolutely no clue what to do around each other. We stood, and I spotted Simon first. I kinda wonder if he’s sitting on a couple phone books to even drive the damn car. Do they even still make phone books? I waved and he stared at me, tilting his head to the side as I made my way down. I completely forgot he never saw anything but my fucking eyes the last time we met.
“Simon! Thanks for comin’, mate.” He spotted the tattoo under my eye and the corner of his mouth tilted upwards.
“Can see it. Lively. Body tells all.” Declan looked utterly confused and rubbed the back of his neck. I just smiled. I fuckin’ love this guy. I reached a hand out and Simon shook it, nodding once. About six other men piled out of the other cars and stood waiting at their hoods. One slim, pale guy with a long black ponytail stepped forward with one hand in his pocket. He kinda gives me Forks, Washington vibes.
“I’m Vincent. We spoke. You’re Shamrock?”
“Yep. Thanks for coming.” I offered my hand to him too, and he hesitated, but shook mine like a woman. I shouldn’t judge, but…I find it hard to believe that hands that soft with black nail polish are the hands of some murderer.
“These two are with me. You don’t need to know their names. They’ll get the job done.”
Alrighty then?
The last guy with two more men flanking him is pure muscle. He looks mean. I’m diggin’ it. He’s got olive skin and tattoos up both arms. There’s even a few on his head where it’s shaved up to his short mohawk. “I’m Diesel.” Fitting. He poked a thumb over his shoulder. “That’s Johnny, and this is Grim.”
“Pleasure. We’re waiting on a couple more and then we can fill everybody in on how we’re gettin’ in and outta this dump. Savvy?”
Everybody nodded, looking at each other. I decided to cut the tension and introduced Dec and the other two. Three more cars pulled up about twenty minutes later. More introduction, more handshaking. More time wasted while my girls are stuck in that house. I’m getting anxious to fuck people up.
By the time everybody showed, we still ended up about twenty deep. And with people I didn’t even need to worry about which side they’re on. They’re set on killing anything that isn’t one of us, or has a vagina, and that’s fine by me. Makes things so much easier and less stressful. I gave them all free reign over whatever they wanna take outta this house as soon as we’re done maiming every soul in it. Then we’re torching the shit. Nothing for Viper to clean. Nothing for anybody to find. One hell of a barbecue for my good pal Simon.
Gag…
Some brought machetes, some brought guns. I brought everything I could find, and we all spread our hardware out between us, suiting up for a show. Declan gave us all the layout of the house, and without knowing exactly where all the hazards would be, we judged all the possible security protocols based on how House Byrne operates. If it’s not dead-on, it’ll be something close to it. I went over the marks we could already see, making sure this lot knows we gotta quietly take these out first, and then we move directly in, spreading out from the middle and splitting both sides of the compound. We kill until we find the girls. Declan flashed two photos to finish up. One of Nolan and his sons…and one of Pop. They’re to be saved for last. I finally stood in the middle, addressing everybody as I made sure all my shit was easily handy.
“Alright. When this is over, everybody takes care of their own dead. Are we ready?” I looked around at my very mixed bag of misfit toys and was met with simple nods. All except my new Latin buddy, who grinned like he just struck gold.
“Let’s paint it rojo…yes?”
“I like it, Miguel. Let’s move.”
It’s finally getting dark, and the misfits are moving in. I’ve always admired my parents’ taste when it came to our place, but the difference between my family and the O’Dell’s…is that while my parents have style, they also have good sense. That can’t be said for Nolan. He likes fancy shit, and he might have escalated the bodies watching the house…but there’s absolutely nothing reinforcing the place. Dec jammed the lines for all the tech, and I was honestly shocked to find out there wasn’t a single camera out here. The walkies aren’t gonna work either, but my goal is to make sure this first round of grunts is disposed of before they have a chance to realize any of that. First fun part of the evening. I feel like a plump little bugger in a sweet shoppe.
Knives. Excited face.
We started picking ‘em off, one by one, dragging them into nearby bushes and taking any weapons they had. I spotted one that seemed like he might have heard movement, or at best, he’s wary. Not wary enough. I hid behind a blacked-out SUV, maneuvering around it while the guy pulled his gun and paced the other side, looking around. My heart started racing with that high I tend to get when I’m killing, and I fed off of it, slipping around the hood and creeping on silent feet behind him. My arm wrapped around his throat, choking off his air supply and I tasted a bit of fear. It’s almost as sweet as Viper’s cum—almost. I rammed my short blade between his ribs, twisting it before I jerked it free, and then I lost count after the fifth stab.
It never gets old.
I dragged him under the SUV and waved Simon and a couple others over once I made sure we were good. My hands are bloody. I cleaned my palms off on the nice paint job and we kept it moving. I rounded another truck and spotted Miguel, balancing the tip of his bloody machete on his finger, leaning against the wall near the front entrance and waiting on my ‘okay’ to storm the place. Vincent’s face was spotted with blood; his dainty hands as painted in it as mine and smiled like a demon while he crept out of the shadows with his other nameless vampires. They started pulling Kendall’s guns from around their backs. Everybody else started closing in, and that gave me enough reassurance that we were all clear before Decclan confirmed it, finally joining us.
“We’re good, Mal. On your signal.”
“Good.”
I jerked my head up, waving them all over to the front door and we gathered, splitting up to either side while Decclan backed me from the middle. He handed me a loaded AR, and I got ready, just about to open the front door when—
“Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet Emooooooootiiiooooooonnnnn…”
My brows hit my hairline. All of our heads turned to Simon, who looked undoubtedly guilty. He patted around for the phone he obviously forgot to leave behind or silence, and I couldn’t help myself…I smirked. I knew I liked this guy. Simon shrugged.
“Music good. Let play?”
“Absolutely. Fuck it.”
My boot hit the door, all my adrenaline channeling through it, and it busted open. I wish somebody was filming this. I feel like a fucking god of the underworld. We filed in, guns blazing, and I led the flock like geese until we split off. Marble and glass flew everywhere. Blood and brain matter repainted the white walls. It felt like it was happening in slow motion, and Simon’s excellent taste in music blared through my head while I emptied Kendall’s little treasure on his own men. There were bodies laying everywhere within the span of five minutes. My head darted around, looking for Declan and he burst out of a door he’d obviously cleared out.
“Up the main staircase and hard left, Mal! Boss is there.”
I nodded, stopping to reload and as soon as I lowered my head, I felt my hair catch the wind of a bullet that would have absolutely split my skull. It grazed the tip of my ear, and I grabbed it, growling in pain while a flurry of more bullets sounded around me. My eyes raised just in time to see a couple more bodies fall over the rail of the balcony above me, and I stepped outta the way while they splattered the floor.
“Go.” I glanced down at Simon, who was covering me, and he followed behind me up the single staircase that led up to the upper floor. I tried to keep my footing while I blindly reloaded and by the time we made it to the top of the stairs, we turned opposite ways and started dropping more bodies. I started forward, spotting a door that slammed shut, but a scream stopped me in my tracks, and I pivoted towards the opposite hall where Simon was aiming his gun.
Bridget…
There were several shadows on the wall before another door slammed, and my body moved toward it…wholly on its own. Sound hollowed out. Everything around me blurred. It’s like walking underwater. The haze of this rage is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, and if I die tonight…I’ll die knowing this is what helped me end what they thought was gonna be a legacy anybody remembered. I blew the doorknob off to see Jonas pointing a gun right at my face, until Bridget—gagged, and being held by—
“Finn?” I choked.
Her tiny foot flew out, kicking the pistol out of Jonas’s hands and it flew across the floor by my boot. Finley’s arms wrapped around her, and she screamed through the gag, shaking her head furiously.
“You took longer than I expected, mate,” Jonas seethed, pulling his phone from his pocket. “Shoot me, and your bonny lass dies…along with her strange fucking family. Oh, she’s braugh, friend. Looks just like sweet Shavonn. You’ve got yourself a type.” His thumb hovered over the screen, and the fucker smiled at me. “You never learn, do you? You think killin’ more of us gets your girl back? How’d it work out for you last time, Malek?”
“Fuck you.”
“Suit ‘yerself.” He activated the screen, pressing a button and when the call wouldn’t connect, he started to panic. I taste fear again. Dangerous fucking thing. My turn to smile.
“Make your peace with whatever God you believe in, bitch.” I slowly moved towards him, lowering my gun and reaching for my knives. Jonas went stiff and…maybe it’s the wrong time, but my dick is a little hard.
“Mal…this isn’t your kill, brother.” I glanced at Finn while Bridget struggled in his hold. It wasn’t until then, I realized she didn’t even look excited to see Jonas about to bite it in front of her eyes. The eyes that looked just like my Ma’s and bled every emotion without having to speak. It’s always been one of the only things I could ever trust.
“Why haven’t you pulled that shit outta her mouth yet, Finley?”
“Because he put it there,” Jonas clipped, pointing a finger at the only brother I’ve ever known. “On my order. Word has it you offed Conor because you thought the little traitor was still workin’ for us. You marked the wrong one, as usual.”
Bridget went still, breathing hard and fuck if her expression didn’t confirm all my worst thoughts. “That’s horse shite, Malek. You know I’d never do anything to hurt this lass. I’ve loved her since—”
“Maybe it’s harder for you to tell what the greater evil is in a Byrne, Finn. You’re not one. Not by blood. Maybe that’s why Bridget would never choose you. We can smell a rat. Tell me her senses aren’t better than mine.”
“I’m not a rat, Mal.”
But Bridget’s eyes say different.
Before anybody could get another word in, Finley’s face exploded with a clip full of bullets and Bridget dove towards me. I turned as my brother’s body hit the floor—Simon lowered his gun as the door slowly creaked back open.
“Rat. Poison.”
My little sister has never held a knife that wasn’t cutting her steak. Never could stomach what I do, but lived to see the aftermath. When she pulled that gag down and swiped the blades from my hands, Jonas backed himself against the wall.
“Did you think I’d be like her, Jonas?” Bridget asked, fitting both her palms around the handles of my best knives. I took a step forward, staring the prick down and daring him to make a move. “Did you think you’d get my name on a piece of paper and use me up until I broke the way she did?”
Every word cut me like the edge of one of those blades, but I never understood it all more than when she started seeing red. Bridge isn’t like Shavonn. Neither is Sev, and this full-circle moment just taught me what real strength is. Who woulda thought I’d learn it from my baby sister?
“Gonna make your first kill, Bridget Byrne?” Jonas had balls enough to smile at her. I’m just looking forward to seeing something put a stain on that shirt that Tide can’t pull out. “Before you do, you should probly know…I meant every word. I’d never touch you. I’d never fuck you. And Finley paid a pretty price for whatever it was he wanted from you. With permission from your own Daddy.”
