Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Fred

Rage…yeah, that was what I was feeling as I glared at the ceiling all night. I might have dozed off one or two times, but I felt the opposite of refreshed by the time the morning light crept into the bedroom.

I pulled back the covers and moved right into the en suite to shower, brush my teeth, and get ready for the day.

Fear…yeah, okay, I felt that too. Something in the corner of my mind was poking at me after my conversation with Vincenzo. Doubt…which caused fear.

" Ugh! " I buttoned my pants and took a deep breath. "You're going to concentrate on today, focus on the meeting with Albert. Stay vigilant." I pressed a hand to my stomach. "And trust your gut." I closed my eyes and saw Uncle Sean's face, his life seeping from his body, telling me to trust it.

"What the fuck is it telling me?" I whispered to myself before opening my eyes and leaving the room.

I walked into the dining room and noted it was a full house. Aiden was sitting on the left side toward one end and Vincenzo on the right on the other. They couldn't be farther apart if they were in another room. Zion and the others were spread about.

They both looked up at me as I entered, and I found I couldn't focus on either. I took a seat smack in the middle of them both. If I chose one end of the table over the other, it would have been seen as a stance and I had to give off the illusion that I was neutral. Was I, though?

A plate of food and a fruit bowl were placed in front of me. I ate quietly as others made mundane conversation. I'd just finished my food, tasting none of it, when Aiden's voice broke my trance.

"I'll drive Fred; it would be odd otherwise."

I lifted my head and saw that Aiden and Vincenzo were in a staring match.

"I'd think you'd want to be by his side."

"I will be after I get out of the car," Aiden sneered. "Besides aren't you going to be practically sitting on his lap in the car?"

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" I shouted, slamming my hand against the table and making my dishes and silverware clang. I didn't shout often; I snarked. I was sarcastic and, dare I say, bratty. But rage wasn't something I visibly showed. And judging by the shocked faces they understood how rare it was.

"I'm two seconds away from having you both stay here, and I'll go with Zion."

"My apologies, Fred. I was trying to organize the travel plans and felt it would be best if Thomas drove the vehicle you were in with Zion, myself, and Aiden in attendance."

I looked at Aiden. "And you don't want that, why?"

"I always drive you…it's literally my job."

My gaze flickered to Vincenzo. He was placid, not an emotion to be seen. I had to make a choice in a way that it didn't offend anyone.

"I would feel better if you were beside me, Aiden." My smile was shaky, but I hoped it would appease him. I didn't think who drove us there mattered.

"If there's an issue, I need to be able to get you out of there faster," he gently argued, and I appreciated what he said.

"If you're there as my driver, Aiden, then you stay at the car. You won't be permitted in the meeting." I didn't know if that was bullshit but to be honest, keeping Aiden and Vincenzo in my sights right now was vital.

Each of them thought the other was a traitor, and I was conflicted…I believed Vincenzo's intentions were good, but there was a lot of hatred between the two men.

"You can order me to come."

I shook my head. "No, I'd never leave our vehicle unattended. And if you drive, I'd expect you to make sure that didn't happen. Thomas can stay with the SUV and you with me."

I saw the upset in Aiden's eyes and hated that I wondered what exactly it was about my orders that had upset him. Was he truly worried about me, or was he planning something that staying beside me would ruin?

I glanced at Vincenzo, his expression like glass, and was curious if I was maybe playing into his hands instead . Fuck.

"Whatever you wish, sir," Aiden said.

"Good." I stood. "We'll leave in a couple of hours. I'm going to go rest; I had a sleepless night." I glared at Vincenzo before turning on my heel and leaving the room.

Thomas drove, Zion was in the passenger seat and Aiden, Axel, Vincenzo, and myself were in the last two rows. I sat in the middle row, Aiden beside me, while Vincenzo took the back with Axel. We'd gotten word it was all clear at the port from Eden, and we would arrive on time.

We parked near the port. Cars weren't allowed on the boardwalk, but Vincenzo guaranteed his people were spread out. Thomas stayed behind with the vehicle as did two other men just in case.

With Aiden on my left and Vincenzo on my right and protection all around, we made our way to the fish market on Lancaster Port.

A large Black man nodded when he saw me. "Mr. Brennan, I'm Ike. My boss is over there waiting for you."

"Thank you, Ike."

Single file, we went in and all the way into the belly of a small shack. Albert was right—water covered one whole side. Westford Bridge was in view and the city directly behind it. It was a gorgeous skyline.

"Mr. Brennan." Richie approached and held out his hand.

"Richie, good to see you. How's your grandfather?" I shook his hand and followed him to where a few chairs were arranged.

"Good, thank you."

A tall man with light-brown skin stood. He wore a causal suit and looked every part the boss.

"This is the head of the Bleeding Angels," Richie introduced, "Albert March." I was surprised he didn't go by Hammer, but perhaps his nom de plume wasn't for people like me.

"Mr. Brennan, it's good to meet you." He also held out his hand, which I took.

"Same, business usually goes through channels, and it's often we bosses never have conversations."

He nodded, and we all sat. Aiden was directly behind me; I could see Zion on my left and Vincenzo on my right. Albert's people were scattered as well.

"Let's cut to business," Albert said. "We had nothing to do with Sean and Aine Brennan's murders. I've torn my operation apart, and there's not a traitor here."

"It appeared rather sloppy in my opinion." Actually, Vincenzo had said that originally, but I agreed. "And certain things didn't add up, which means someone wanted it to seem that the Bleeding Angels were responsible."

"From what I'm hearin', you aren't supposed to be alive."

I released a dark chuckle. "You're not wrong."

"And had you died, I have a feeling the Brennan family would be shooting up all my businesses and people."

"Someone needed to take the blame."

Albert smirked. He was a handsome man, and some likely saw a gang member but not me. He was shrewd. There was no hiding his intelligence as he stared at me.

"Sounds like you being here messed up some serious plans. I'd bet there are a lot of people scrambling." He looked around at my people. "Or maybe just one."

"You think I have a traitor in my midst?"

"I think you may have more than one." He motioned to one of his guys, who handed him a folder. "I don't usually deal with paper; the world is digital but it's also not always safe."

He handed me the folder and glanced at Vincenzo, who once again was like a sphinx. Inside were black-and-white photographs.

"Cameras were disabled from the restaurant all the way down to where the SUV was stashed…weird since they worked fine the day before and the day after. I know because I'm linked into every camera in my territory."

I didn't recognize the faces in the pictures. "Who are they?"

"Right. So like you said, this was sloppy. They didn't disable the cameras on Hemingway Avenue, which is the line where my territory ends and the Fire Demons' territory begins."

The Fire Demons were an all-female motorcycle gang, and they were somewhat unhinged. Great to have on your side but the complete opposite to have against you.

"How'd you get these?"

"Gia owed me, and when I explained what was going on, she had no issue checking her feeds. Third picture shows the SUV in the distance. Five guys walking away from it, no one else nearby. Those are your hit men."