Chapter 21

Tag

It takes Sean and me a couple of hours after Laine leaves with Finn, but by the time lunch rolls around, we're ready to invite the others into the war room to get to work. "Grab a seat, lads. We're going to go over this quickly and then move fast."

Bryan and Brendan grab a sandwich off the tray Cora brought in and take their seats. "Finally," Bryan says. "It's about time we flex our muscles and show the McGuires not to poke the bear."

I appreciate his enthusiasm, but this won't be the retaliation he's been hoping for. "Only, for now, the primary muscles we're flexing are in our brains, brother. Sean and I have come up with a three-part plan that will make our point for us."

Brendan frowns. "How do you make ‘gut the fuckers' into a three-part plan?"

"We don't. That's not the tack we'll be taking."

Aiden frowns. "Anything less will be seen as weakness, boss. They came at you at Jimmy's as a direct assault."

"I'm aware of that, but to jump straight into a bloody retaliation makes us no better than them. My plan will show that not only are we powerful, but we're also savvy businessmen who can think beyond knee-jerk reactions."

There's a lack of confidence around the table I don't appreciate, and I lean into my balled fists. "In this room, I'm not your brother and I'm not your friend. I'm the head of the family and you'll shut your mouths and listen to what I've decided to do."

That seems to get them onto the page quickly enough. When they stop their bellyaching, I begin again. "Bryan and Brenden, if any McGuire men are found on our side of the river, you, of course, have permission to pull them off the streets and gut the fuckers at will."

That seems to take the sting out of my earlier words, and they smile.

"But other than a direct breach of territory lines, we're going to be handling things a little differently."

"How so?" Bryan asks.

"We're going to destabilize their business." I point to a map of Dublin and the surrounding areas spread out between us. "We know they send two shipments of girls per month out through the ports at Galway. I've spoken with the Stewarts and have agreed to double the port fee the McGuire's pay to allow Sean and the MC to intercept the shipments."

"Double the fee?" Aiden frowns. "That sounds costly."

"It's a temporary measure," I assure him. "Once Mattie misses a few delivery dates, his buyers will put the pressure on."

"And what will we do with shipments of strung-out women?" Aiden asks.

"I've contacted the people at the NGO that handles human trafficking. We'll get them to where they need to be and will make a sizable donation toward their care and reintegration."

"And the men making the shipment?" Bryan asks.

"We're culling as we go. When we're out of range from public scrutiny or endangerment, we're treating the McGuire army as our enemy."

"That's what I'm talking about," Bryan says.

Brendan follows the green highlights from Dublin to Galway. "Aye, fine, so this is the sex trade shipments. What are these blue lines and the red ones?"

I grin. "I told you this is a three-part plan. This is where it gets interesting."

I spend the next half-hour going over my plan overview and then check that everyone knows the parts they play.

Sean's expression is serious, but I see the spark in his eyes. He lives for this stuff, the thrill of the ride, the challenge. "We'll shut down the delivery of the women, no problem. The Devils will be glad to stir up a little chaos."

Aiden leans forward, his brow furrowed as he studies the map. "And while they're busy dealing with the loss of the girls, we'll backtrack to their warehouse and expose the entire trafficking operation."

"Are you sure the authorities won't be bought off?" Bryan asks.

"There are no guarantees, but I've asked the NGO to go beyond the local operations to avoid corruption. The woman in charge assures me she has a contact in the International Organization of Migration through the UN. They won't be swayed by Mattie McGuire's money or his threats."

"Looks good on him," Brendan says.

"Aye. It's a despicable model to make part of a family business."

Everyone nods in agreement.

I pause, making sure I have their full attention. "And the clincher is—we use the chaos to improve our relations with the other families. Each of them must have something we can help them with, so, in return for us knocking the McGuires down a few pegs, we gain support across the island."

Aiden whistles, low and appreciative. "It's ballsy."

Aye, it is, and I love it. It follows Da's principles but also allows me to show the other families how my mind works.

Aiden's usual reserve seems a bit more relaxed with the plan laid out. "We'll need to stay tight, though. The McGuires won't take this lying down. We should expect violent pushback."

I waggle my brows. "Let them come. We'll be ready. Won't we, lads?"

Brendan and Bryan nod. "Aye. We know what to do. We'll be ready."

The energy in the room is electric with anticipation, each of us aware of the risks but invigorated by the potential rewards.

We're sending our message.

No one messes with the Quinns and gets away with it.

As we wrap up the meeting, I meet the gazes of my inner circle. "Let's get to work, lads. It's time the McGuires learn who really runs this city."

"Hells yeah, it is," Brendan says.

"Sean's running point on this for the next few hours. I've got a lot of calls to make and hands to shake with the other families."

Brendan scoffs. "I don't envy you that, brother."

Me either, but it has to be done.

Stepping out of the war room, there's a fire in my veins that hasn't been there since Da passed. The weight of responsibility is heavy, but the plan is solid and allows for the fewest casualties.

When I arrive in my office, I glance out the window at the grounds outside. It's a nice day. As much as I want to text Finn and check in on Laine and the progress of her day with her family, I've got my plate full with Quinn business right now.

No need to get distracted.

Although, it was speaking to Laine that inspired me to tackle this course of action to begin with.

Still…it's time to assert myself and start gaining confidence with the other families. I pull out my phone and dial the first number, waiting for the click that tells me I've been connected.

"Ronan, it's Tag Quinn." I keep my tone even but firm. "I'm calling because Mattie McGuire crossed a line the other day and I want to ensure you know what happened."

There's a pause on the line, heavy and considering. "I heard about it. You taking action?"

"Plans are in motion. Despite the truce Da put into place, Mattie hit us on neutral ground and sent innocents to hospital. I won't let that stand."

"And why are you calling me?"

"Because I know the McGuires have men from the north on loan for an attack on me, and I want to give you a chance to get on the right side of this."

"What makes you think the men he has are mine?"

"I don't—not for certain—but even though I prefer no blood be shed in Dublin, if I find opposing forces in my streets, the Devils have been given the order to deal with any outside forces swiftly and without warning. I'm simply saying, if you loaned Mattie men and didn't realize it was to incite a war, now would be the time to pull them back."

"I'll take that under advisement, Quinn."

"Thanks for hearing me out. And say hello to your lovely mam from me. What a fine woman."

"Aye, I'll do that."

When the line goes dead, I call up the next number for the north to repeat my warning. I'm not sure who supplied the McGuires with men, but I'm going to clarify that it's a bad idea.