Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Sean

P iper and I arrive late to the dining room, but everyone is still milling around the table drinking coffee or, in Bryan's case, eating what is likely a third plate of protein.

Seriously, the guy's a beast.

There's an unspoken tension in the air, heavy and foreboding, but thankfully Tag, Laine, and my brothers give us a chance to make our plates and sit before getting into the drama of the day.

I know it's coming. There's no way, after me killing the head of the opposing crime family last night, that Tag can relax. He'll be stressed out for months.

I'll have to apologize to Laine. Tag can be broody AF when stress levels are high.

Not that I'm much better. My attention will be largely focused on the MC and security until the McGuires make their play of retaliation.

Piper and I sit with our plates and when she points to the apple juice, I pour.

The usual morning chatter has a somber tone today and once I have swallowed a few bites, I give Tag a nod. "All right, let's hear it."

Tag's expression is grave as he stirs his coffee, his eyes meeting mine across the table. "I understand the necessity of what happened, but am concerned about the repercussions. Mattie's loss could destabilize not just the McGuires, but all of Dublin."

Brendan nods. "If they take it out on us, innocents could well get caught in the crossfire."

Bryan wipes his mouth with his napkin. "If they had any insights into how to hurt us, they'd bypass us all together and go straight at our citizens."

"But they don't have any insight," Tag says. "They've never understood our commitment to the people and likely never will."

"At least not yet." Piper catches herself and throws my brothers an apologetic look. "Sorry. Am I allowed to speak up?"

Tag's expression softens. "Are you here as Sean's girlfriend and not as a McGuire?"

"I am. Sean is my family, not them."

"Then, if you've truly cut ties and are part of this family, your insight could be invaluable. Feel free to speak."

Piper looks between us, her face calm, but I see her confidence waning. "I was going to say that while my father and my oldest brothers are or were mindless brutes, my mother and Darcy are a great deal more strategic. With Da gone, depending on who has a say in what comes next, things might take a different direction."

Tag smiles. "Something to keep in mind, for sure. Do you have any idea what your father's succession plan was?"

"He never said—because honestly I think he was arrogant enough to think himself invincible—but Niall and Declan were always favored to handle things if he wasn't around. With Declan gone, maybe my mother?"

Tag sits with his coffee mug in both hands. "Aye, Samantha being in charge going forward would stir things up. With your father, it was always about brute force, power, and money. Your mother would be a wild card."

"Do you think you could find out more about how things might play out?" Brendan asks.

The idea of Piper going anywhere near the McGuires again makes my blood run cold, but before I protest, she speaks up. "I could go to my father's funeral, but…"

She hesitates, her gaze meeting mine.

The last McGuire funeral was where they ambushed her. I reach under the table to touch her leg, a hot rush of protectiveness blooming in my chest. "It's too dangerous. They might use you as leverage against us or take out the loss of Mattie on you. No. I don't like it."

"Agreed. I won't pretend to mourn that man. He deserves everything he got." She sits quietly for a moment and then sighs. "I could get information another way."

"How's that?" Tag asks.

"If I had a phone, I could call Rory. He's not deeply involved in the business, but he's the closest to me. He'll be worried and will tell me what he knows."

Tag considers this and then leans back in his chair at the end of the table. "We'll get you a new phone, Piper. Anything you can find out from Rory could help us prepare for whatever comes next."

Piper's expression is composed, but her eyes reflect a storm of emotions. Whatever she's afraid of, I'll protect her. It's my honor to be the one who loves her, and I will never let her down.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" I ask, searching her face for any sign of hesitation.

Piper reaches up, her thumb tracing my scar from my lip up my cheek. "I'm sure. I may not be a McGuire anymore, but I'm not willing to give up Rory. Not if there's any chance we can still be family."

That's fair. I don't want her to give up everything for me. I want to be her sanctuary, not her jailor.

"Then I should meet with him and talk to him, too."

Her gaze narrows on me. "And say what?"

Her protective instincts flair and I smile, imagining Piper protecting her brother from me. She would, too.

My girl's got fire in her blood.

Not that she'd ever have to. I will never betray her trust if Rory remains good to her.

"I would say you are safe and free to start a new life on the north side that could include him. I'd assure him I won't let anything happen to him as long as he doesn't come at us directly and put us in that position."

The tension in her body eases, and she leans over to kiss me. "Thank you."

"We're in this together now, kitten. We're a team."

Her eyes become glassy, and I press my palm against the damage on her cheek. All she ever wanted was to be considered equal and useful to others.

The McGuires were too stupid to see her value.

I will never make that mistake.

The bell above the door to Eddie Rocket's Diner jingles and Piper looks up from where she's dipping one of her fries. It's not Rory entering the restaurant, and the excitement in her gaze dims.

I pop an onion ring into my mouth and send her a smile. "He'll be here, P. He's only a few minutes late. We told him to be careful. He's likely just making sure he's not being followed."

I glance over a line of red vinyl booths at the new arrivals walking over the black-and-white tiled floors. It's mid-afternoon, so the place isn't busy, but it isn't empty either.

Rory had been hesitant about meeting north of the river, so I picked this place because it's right at the corner of the O'Connell Bridge. Technically, it's Quinn territory, but I guaranteed his safety and assured him that coming to us is the only way he gets to see his sister.

It'll take time for him to trust that the Quinns aren't the villains their father painted us to be.

It'll take time to trust him, too. Even though I assured him it would just be the three of us, I've got a couple Devils discreetly patrolling the area.

Not that I'm expecting trouble, but after everything that's happened, I won't take chances with Piper's safety.

Not ever again.

The bell chimes again, and Rory steps inside. He scans the diner until his gaze lands on Piper. Relief washes over his features as he quickly crosses the room and envelops his sister in a tight hug.

"Are you okay? Like really okay?"

"I am now. Thanks for coming." Piper clings to him, burying her face in his shoulder. It's clear she needed this, needed the assurance that not all her family ties are poisoned.

"Niall will skin me if he finds out, but I had to see for myself." Rory pulls back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he notices the bruise on Piper's face. "Who did this?"

His gaze turns on me and I'm pleased to see the flare of protective violence igniting in his eyes.

"Da did it." Piper's voice is steady despite the stormy emotions swirling in her eyes. "He was about to do a lot more, too. He and Billy were going to kill me, Rory. I have no doubt about that. Thankfully, Sean got there in time."

Rory's gaze is still locked on me, and I let him look. I'm the man who rescued his sister, but I'm also the man who killed his father. There's a lot to unpack there.

I remain relaxed as he scrutinizes me, a mixture of anger, resentment, gratitude, and then reassessment passing over his face. "Thank you," he says, extending his hand. "For saving my sister…again. I wish I had done a better job of it myself."

I accept his thanks and appreciate him admitting his failing. "Your sister is an extraordinary woman. She deserves to be happy. I know you know that."

"Aye, I do."

"So, when I tell you I love her and will never allow her to be hurt like that again, believe me."

Rory is only twenty-one, embarking on his journey to becoming his own man. It's important for him to see the world for what it is and not what he's been told it is.

The Quinns are not his enemy—not unless he draws a line that puts us on opposite sides.

"Piper is under my protection, and by her request, so are you. As long as you don't come at us directly, the Quinns will consider you part of our extended family."

Rory seems to consider that. He smiles at Piper and then looks back at me. "Would you mind if we talked privately?"

I expected as much and am prepared to give them space. "Of course. Take your time."

I grab my tray and move to a seat by the window. From here, I can keep an eye on them, but am out of earshot, so their visit is private.

Seeing them together, the bond they share is obvious. Thank fuck she had at least one person who loves her.

Powerful families can have different dynamics. Thankfully, our family was always rooted in love and respect of one another.

Piper's life has been indifference, control, upheaval, and betrayal. That's over. Her new life is just beginning.

As I sip my milkshake, watching them, I decide that if Rory continues to be good to Piper, I'll make it my business to ensure the kid doesn't get consumed by McGuire violence.

He's young, and with the right influences, maybe he can escape the life that's already claimed too many.

Piper deserves that much.

It'll take time to prove to him that we're not the monsters he's been bred to believe, but if he's willing, maybe there could be a different life for him, too.