Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Fred

The remainder of that day and the next was filled with strategizing for the funeral. I knew Haven Hart would have a big presence there, and it would be a good chance to speak with some of them without raising suspicion or risking people overhearing.

Aiden had offered very little, opting to glare at Vincenzo as if he were trying to blow him up with his mind. Unfortunately, I couldn't deal with his feelings right now with everything so uncertain.

The night before the funeral, after a lot of silent treatment, Aiden had approached me while I'd been sitting out in the garden alone.

"Sir."

"Now I'm back to being sir?" I chuckled and motioned to the seat in front of me.

"I've been an ass, I know."

He took a seat and his shoulders sagged. I waited for him to speak, knowing it was he who had to make the first comment.

"I've been thinking, wracking my brain really. And yeah, Finn, Oscar, and Rowan have been skimming from the top. I saw Zion's proof."

My nostrils flared as I listened to him. God, was I just a huge joke to my entire family?

"But why would they do that if they were just intending to take over in the first place, Fred? Yeah…" He held up his hands halting me when I opened my mouth to speak. "They need to be punished for that, and I'm sure you'll dole it out. But, as much as you think it's an internal thing, I don't think it is."

"You think it's Lex Talionis?" I swallowed my rage. It wasn't Aiden's fault that my lieutenants had sticky fingers.

"I think it's possible. But while we were all talking about strategy and how you'd get to talk to Manos and all them at the funeral, another thought struck."

I gestured for him to go on. I didn't have time for these suspenseful pauses.

"Haven Hart wanted your father dead. Rightly so—he did them wrong. Had it not been for you, they'd have been given a shit-ton of territory to split between them all."

A laugh burst from somewhere deep in my gut. Aiden stared wide-eyed at me as I held my belly and full-on cackled, listening to his assumption.

"Fred…"

I held up a hand, I couldn't listen to this. "Stop, it hurts."

Aiden huffed and sat back in his chair, a look of pure annoyance on his face.

"It's not funny, Fred. I'm serious."

"Oh, I know." I wiped my eyes, my chest feeling lighter than it had in days. "But that's the most ridiculous conclusion I've heard to date."

"Why? It's absolutely feasible."

I let my body fully relax in my seat and met Aiden's gaze head on. "Because that's not who they are. They don't want any more wars. If they wanted my territory, they'd have taken it when I was barely breathing and being held in their bomb shelter. They'd have killed me at that moment, annihilated every Brennan, and called it a day."

"Fred, but ? —"

"No, Aiden," I snapped. "I know this was internal. You know it was too. Why are you trying to divert?"

He ran his fingers through his hair not once, not twice, but three times. "I dunno."

"It's hard for you. You're close with Finn, and maybe you're pissed. He's making a move, and you knew nothing about it. Hell, Aiden, if I hadn't ordered you to stay with Zion, you'd likely have been shot too."

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Let's get through the funeral. Afterward, we'll see where we all stand." I stood, took a step and placed my hand on his shoulder. "You're the only family I have left, Aiden. We have to stick together."

He covered my hand with his and shot me a soft smile. "I got you, Fred."

"I know you do."

The plan was for Vincenzo and Lex Talionis to act as security at the funeral. Aiden had made sure to let my lieutenants know that due to the possibility of the Bleeding Angels or another street gang being sent out to take me down, the more security I had, the better—and these guys weren't familiar to anyone here.

That appeased Finn and the others, and they even praised me for my smart thinking. Fools. I was smarter than them, but they just didn't know it.

Aiden had planted the perfect amount of false security, making the family believe I thought them all innocent and their hands clean. This was vital in finding out who was responsible.

My black Armani suit fit perfectly. Coupled with a crisp white shirt and black tie, I was good to go. I descended the stairs to find everyone waiting for me in the foyer. Vincenzo looked impeccable in Valentino. His hair was smoothed back and tucked behind his ears. His perfect five-o'clock shadow finished off the whole aesthetic, and if I hadn't known he was an elite killer, I'd have sworn he was a model.

"Everybody ready?" I asked as I smoothed my hands over my suit jacket.

"As we'll ever be." Aiden offered me a small smile.

"We follow your lead, Fred, remember that. Treat us how you would any security for yourself." Vincenzo repeated what I already knew.

"I will. Let's go. As much as I've dreaded this, I also couldn't miss it for anything."

This act we had to all play would start the second that front door opened and end after we were all tucked away at nightfall.

I had to address returning to my house but until I knew more, I recognized that Vincenzo was right and it wasn't safe.

Uncle Sean had been a fairly religious man, but he'd so often said that he didn't support organized religion. I was able to pay a priest to do me a favor—shocking to no one—and perform a service in the large garden near the Brennan plot. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day. The downside was that we were out in the open, making it a little more difficult to keep me safe.

Our procession consisted of four SUVs and while a bit overkill, it was on purpose. They all needed to know that I was alive, I was strong, and I wasn't going anywhere. They may have taken out the only two people who meant anything in the world to me, but they wouldn't see me crack. No, all they'd managed to do was unleash a beast that had lain dormant in my soul all these years.

Every single one of them would pay. And when I found the head of the snake, I'd cut it right off.