Thy Kingdom Come

Liam is late, and I know that’s no coincidence. I also know they’ve found Aidan’s body.

I was expecting this call, seeing as I was technically the last person to see him alive. They’ve called bullshit on his story, which means they’re looking for answers. And they’re thinking those answers sit with me.

He’s testing me, as this pub is full of Doyle spies. If I look nervous, then he’ll assume I know more than I’m letting on, which is why I calmly sip my pint, pretending to be engrossed by a game on my mobile phone.

How my life has changed. I’m living a double life, but then again, it seems everyone is—Co

I can still taste her, and it’s been three days. But I’ll never be able to rid myself of the taste.

She scares me more than the Doyles, and that’s ’cause she can hurt me. Even though I know she’s a liar and a thief, I can’t stay away. Her being an American is merely the tip of the iceberg, and when I uncover who she really is and why she’s here, I know I’ll have to deal with it.

But hurting her, I don’t think I can.

What we shared wasn’t just sex; it was something else entirely. I’m in way over my head, and I’m fearful for what’s to come. This is why I haven’t thought about it. My life is complicated enough.

When Liam finally makes an appearance, I quit thinking on this nonsense and become the character he thinks I am.

“Bout ye?” he asks, taking a seat at the table. It’s hard to believe this bastard could be my half-brother.

His tone is far from friendly, but I look up from my phone and smile. “Hey. What’s up?”

“We’ve got a fierce situation, Mike. My uncle Aidan is dead.”

No foreplay, it seems.

I knew this was coming, so I slip on my surprised face. “What? You’re fucking with me?”

“No, I wish that I was. But we found his mutilated corpse not too far from his house. Whoever did this wanted us to find his body.”

“Fucking hell, man. I’m sorry.”

Liam nods, watching for any signs of deceit. He won’t see any. “I need ya to tell me everythin’ that happened that night.”

Peering around, pretending to scope out our surroundings, I lean in close and say, “I took care of your problem until he was barely breathing, and then left. Aidan said he’d handle the rest.”

“He did not say what he was doin’ with our problem?”

We’re speaking so flippantly about a human life because that problem is Ronan. It sickens me. But I shake my head.

“No. He said once he was done, he was seeing a lady friend. That’s all.”

Liam mulls over my admission. “Ye see, the fu

“You don’t think…”

I leave the question open, but what I’m hinting at is that Ronan was the one responsible for Aidan’s death. Ronan is long gone by now, so the Doyles won’t find him. He’s the scapegoat. That’s what he gets for being a fucking traitor.

“I don’t know,” he confesses, leaning back in his seat with a sigh. “The usual place Uncle Aidan would dispose of our problems is undisturbed. That leaves you and that pile o’ shite the last people to see my uncle alive.

“He called me afterward and said I could trust ya. Says him to me that he was with some floozy. But when I called his mots, they said they haven’t seen him.”

Nodding, I remain calm because Liam has nothing on me. He’s searching for any signs of betrayal in my ma

“I don’t know what to tell you. Anything you need help with, I’ve got your back.”

Liam isn’t convinced, but he doubts I have the bollocks to go up against his uncle and win, which gives me the advantage. He’s underestimated me, and that’s what’ll allow me to take the Doyles down.

His phone rings, and when he sees who it is, something comes over him. I listen to the conversation discreetly, and when I find out who he’s speaking to, I understand his strange response. “It’s under control, Dad.”

But it seems Brody Doyle doesn’t trust his son.

Liam offers me his phone. “My da wants to talk with ya.”

And just like that, my chance to speak to the devil has come.

I remain calm because Mike has no idea he’s about to talk to the kingpin of Dublin. But Punky does, and he doesn’t know how he’s going to refrain from telling him his days are numbered.

I don’t know what to expect. Aye, I’ve googled him, but the Doyles, just like the Kellys, are very private people, so I couldn’t find anything of use. We’re put in the public eye when we want to be, which means it benefits us somehow.

Anything else is just ammo for the enemy. And we can’t be having that. We rarely have our pictures taken as this allows our foes to know what we look like.

I knew killing Aidan and leaving his body where we did was bait the Doyles couldn’t ignore. It worked a charm. This is it, the moment I’ve been waiting for.

“Hey, what’s up?” I coolly greet him.

“I thought ya could tell me that.” Brody’s voice is deep and firm. No one would doubt the power he holds. “Liam’s told ye what’s happened?”

“Yes, Liam told me. I’m really sorry about Aidan. I told Liam when I left him, he was alive and well. He said he was going to take care of everything.”

Brody processes what I’ve just shared. “Aye, lad, I believe ya. Mi daughter, Erin, seems to think yer trustworthy. So did mi brother,” he says, which pleases me. Having Erin in my corner has worked in my favor. “That arsehole is to blame. Or at least, the family he works for.”

He means us. He’s assuming Co

“That’s what I get for trustin’ a Protestant. My brother will be avenged. And we need yer help.”

And that’s the real reason Brody wanted to speak to me.

“I don’t expect ye to understand this, but my family is at war with another. They’re from Northern Ireland. I want what is theirs and I’m close to gettin’ that. Ronan worked for them, but he came to us when he realized the Kellys’ days are numbered.”

In and out, I remind myself to breathe.

“There is a shipment of yokes and sneachta that I want. The lorry is due for arrival in Belfast next Tuesday. We plan to be there when it does.”

I know exactly what he’s talking about as this is Uncle Sean’s deal. He has organized a shipment of cocaine to come in from Central America. The street value of this haul is £200,000. The yokes are ecstasy tablets coming in from the Netherlands.

This is a huge deal for us, and if it doesn’t go to plan, it’ll be a brutal loss.

“You’re going to intercept the lorry?” I ask casually.

Brody laughs. “No, we’re goin’ into Belfast. It’s time we make ourselves known. As I see it, Co

The blood drains from my face, but I keep it together.

“Which is where ya come in. We need a face they won’t recognize. Ye see, our fellow Catholics won’t take too kindly to us dealin’ with them Protestants. We need to be discreet, but there is no way Co

“My brother was painted up like some muppet. Ach, this was personal.”

Yes, it was, and I wanted the Doyles to know I was coming for them, but not like this. Uncle Sean’s life is now at risk.

“I took his wife. Nothing more personal than that,” he boasts like I’m supposed to be impressed.