Thy Kingdom Come

Someone is in my room.

Without thought, I spring up and reach for the gun in the top drawer of my bedside table. But when I hear who it is, I halt.

“Ack, ya won’t be needin’ that, cub.”

Uncle Sean sits in the chair by my bedside, reading the morning paper. He is untroubled by the fact that I was seconds away from shooting first and asking questions second.

Ru

“Are ya still angry with me?” he asks, lowering the paper and looking at me over the rims of his glasses.

“No.” My short response is hardly convincing.

“When yer older, y’ll—”

But I don’t want to hear his excuses.

“Spare me the fucking lecture.” Kicking off the blankets, I stand, hinting I’m not interested in continuing this conversation. But Uncle Sean won’t let this go.

“Please, Punky, I’m sorry. It’s done, so it is. No matter what, y’ll always be my blood.”

And we’ll find that out for certain once I get a paternity test sorted.

A blood test is out of the question, but that doesn’t deter me. It means I just need to be creative as there are other ways to get someone’s blood, like breaking their nose. I need anything that has Co

“Oh, happy fucking days.” I sarcastically smirk.

Uncle Sean sighs, and even though it upsets me to see him this way, I’ve got other things to deal with.

We flipped a coin—heads, we do Ronan in. Tails, he lives.

It was tails.

But he left Dublin barely alive as it was a warning of things to come if we ever saw him again. He said he acted alone, but we don’t believe him, which is why we’re suspicious of everyone. Until we can confirm everyone is with us, they’re all the enemy.

Uncle Sean ca

I can do that myself.

“If yer done havin’ a face like a Lurgan spade, don’t forget the party. It’s in a few hours.”

Oh, fuck.

I completely forgot about Co

It’s going to be a proper affair because Chief Constable Moore—among other people of “importance”—will be attending. This is Co

Co

“Quit yer yackin’, I’ll be there,” I reply with half a smile.

Uncle Sean smirks, but it’s strained. He knows we’ve got a long way to go before we’re sound again. “Have ya not heard about Ronan?”

“I can’t say that I have,” I reply calmly.

“We think he’s been stealin’,” he explains, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose. He’s knackered. “But no bother.”

“Ack, it sickens ye. He’s probably long gone by now, though.” I need to send him off course. No one can know that he’s gone for good.

Uncle Sean nods. “Aye, yer right. Yer some pup. Smarter than me when I was yer age.”

Laughing, I open my wardrobe and see my suit hanging up, freshly pressed. I’ll thank Amber when I see her later. “That was some time ago, aul’ lad.”

“All right, ya smart-arse. I’ll see ya later.” He playfully slaps the back of my head, before leaving to no doubt help with the fur coat, no knickers festivities inside.

Once he’s gone, I exhale, that was close. No one can know about Ronan. Rory, Cian, and I will deal with this our own way because our fathers have dropped the ball. For the men to think they can go behind our back is a sure sign they’re not afraid of the repercussions.

I want to rule with respect, not cruelty, but it seems we might not have a choice. I can’t shake this feeling that we have a mole in our midst. What Aidan said has been playing on my mind since he said it.

“Ya have no idea who yer fightin’. This is bigger than ya can ever guess.”

What does that mean? My guess is that it’s the Doyles were fighting, seeing as they’re the enemy. So why would he phrase it like that? Like I’m supposed to guess who’s behind the secret door. I need to speak to the boys about it because it doesn’t make sense.

I shower and get ready for tonight’s façade. I wonder what Co

Looking at my phone, I’m tempted to send Babydoll a message. I don’t know what I’d say. Sorry for being such a bastard would be a good place to start. But I can’t do that. My life is a fucking mess right now.

It’s best I leave her be because I have absolutely nothing to offer her. But that doesn’t mean I won’t do everything in my power to find out who hurt her. They’re going to pay. Her wounds, they were inflicted by someone whipping her.

Such a barbaric act. I don’t understand why or who would do such a thing. But I don’t know anything about Babydoll, and that is troubling, especially now. I need to treat everyone like the enemy.

Looking at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, it’s amazing what a mask can hide. I look like everyone else, but I’m not. I smile, laugh when prompted, but it’s all just an illusion to make people feel safe because when they do, they lower their guards and then I can see their true faces.

I must be ruthless because that’s the only way I will succeed.

Once I’m dressed, I decide to head to the main house and see the twins. I doubt they’ll be allowed out of their rooms as Co

Amber and the twins are in the backyard, flying a kite. She places her hand over her eyes to shield the sun and when she sees me, she waves.

My mum’s gardens once thrived here. Her roses grew tall, but they’re no more. Fiona made sure of it when she dug up the gardens and left nothing in their place. She just wanted to destroy something that was my ma’s.

I walk over, smiling when I see the twins fighting over whose turn it is.

“Y’ve already had yer turn,” whines Ha

“Ya will not,” I say with a smile when I’m within earshot. “What did I tell ya about dobbin’ on yer brother?”

When Ha

“And what did I tell ya about usin’ bad language?”

She wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. “I’ve heard ya say worse.”

I look at Amber who shrugs with a grin as we both know she’s right.

Pulling Ha

“I hate it,” she argues, pursing her lips together. “I want to wear trousers, but Amber said Ma wanted me to wear this.”

Of course, Fiona did. They have to look like the perfect family. I’m surprised she allowed me to attend, seeing as I ruin her charade. But Dad wants me there to be a lickarse with the chief constable. He’s away in the head if he thinks that’s happening.