“That’s it. You can have Belfast. All I want is Sean’s head.”
Brody lets me go, his anger palpable. But he believes me because he thinks I want revenge on Sean for lying to me about being my father and killing my ma. And I do. But I want my legacy back as well.
In saying that, however, I know he won’t trust me, but he’ll work with me because he needs me. And I need him. He knows I’m the only one who can take Sean down because I’m a Kelly. I think like a Kelly. And I’m Sean’s son.
This partnership is similar to the one he entered into with Sean. If he had done the job right the first time around, he wouldn’t be in this predicament. But I’m glad that he didn’t, because now, I get to kill both him and Sean for the error of their ways.
“It’s a lot to take in. Ye know where I am when ya make the right choice. But trust me, Sean is huntin’ ya, and he will not stop until he gets what he wants. Look what he did to my ma. She double-crossed him, and in return, he fuckin’ killed her.”
Brody’s eyebrows shoot up into his hairline. “Ach, so ye know the truth then?”
“Aye. I know he killed her because she had a secret that would destroy him. I know that he killed Connor because he wanted what is now yours. Don’t ever mistake yerself as safe, ’cause yer not. None of us are.”
Whether he knows I’ve uncovered that he’s the third man who killed my ma, I do not know. But he will.
“This is all an interestin’ story, but yer an…ex-Kelly, and I don’t do business with Kellys.” I am a Kelly, but he doesn’t want Babydoll to know that. “I learned that the hard way. So, there is no deal. Enjoy yer freedom, and remember, if ya try to outsmart me, I’ll kill ya.”
A hoarse laugh leaves me. “You and what army? Yer men are traitors, and sooner or later, y’ll see that ya need me. I know this because Sean did this to my da. His own flesh and blood. Can ya imagine what he’d do to you?”
Brody has heard enough, and that’s because he knows I’m right. “Congratulations again, Camilla. I’ve left yer gift downstairs. Annette sends her wishes.”
Annette? I’m assuming this is Brody’s wife?
Before she can respond, Brody opens the door and exits, leaving me the winner. He’ll be back. I’ve given him food for thought, and he’ll soon see he needs me.
But now, I need to deal with the wrath of Babydoll.
“What the fuck are you thinking?” she questions, her horror over what she just witnessed clear.
I’m going to be as honest as I can. “I wish I could do this without him. But we’re stronger together. And I won’t let him slip past me again.
“Better I have one arsehole huntin’ me than two, which is what will happen if I don’t have Brody on my side. I will be fightin’ him and Sean, and I know that I will lose.”
“You think because he’s your father, he’s just going to trust you?”
I conceal my feelings because Babydoll has no idea how fucked up this entire thing is.
“You’re wrong, Punky. He’s going to kill you. You’ve just told him what he needs to know about Sean, and he’ll deal with it accordingly. And what the fuck? Sean is alive? He…killed your mom? How do you know all this?”
She begins to pace, and I realize I haven’t looked at her since Brody entered the bathroom. Turning slowly, I’m hit with her beauty, just how I am every time I lay eyes on her.
I give her time and space as I know it’s a lot to take in. This is why I wanted to talk to Brody in private. But knowing Babydoll, there was no way she would let that happen.
“Ethan tried to kill me. I went to visit my ma’s and Connor’s graves, and he was there. Dressed in a balaclava, too fucking gutless to face me. Sean sent him, and it was a test Ethan failed.”
Babydoll covers her mouth with a trembling hand.
“I let him go because I will not give up on him. Sean will not destroy his life as he did to mine. I let Ethan and Hannah down, but I’ll make it up to them,” I reveal, still feeling the guilt eat away at me. “And if that means sidin’ with Brody Doyle, then so be it.”
“I don’t understand why Sean has waited this long. I mean, he could have taken Brody down by now. How do you even know he’s still here? What’s he waiting for?”
“I know he’s close because predators stay where they’re comfortable. Belfast is his home. He’s waitin’ for the right time, Babydoll. He almost had that, but he never saw us comin’. We ruined his plans, and he won’t have that happenin’ again.”
“Why can’t you just kill them both?”
“I wish I could. But the truth is, Brody’s men know where Sean is hidin’. They will surely tell me where. If not, I’ll carve out their tongues. If I kill Brody, what happens then? I need him alive so I can steal his allies and the few men who are still loyal to him.
“I know this plan is far from perfect, but it’s easier if I work with Brody than against him. We both want Sean dead. He will see that I won’t stop until I get what I want.”
“What’s going to happen?” Babydoll asks, her eyes filling with tears.
“I suspect Brody is going to confront his men and make an example of a few. But it’s too late for that, just how it was for us. Sean managed to steal everythin’ from Connor, and his plan would have worked if it wasn’t for us.
“We were the force he didn’t see comin’. If I hadn’t asked questions and Brody hadn’t used ye to infiltrate us, Sean would have won.”
“That doesn’t excuse what I did,” she cries, unable to look at me. “You lost ten years of your life because of my lies.”
Stepping forward, I gently lift her chin with my pointer. “Naw, that was my choice. Don’tcha be blamin’ yerself for that.”
Her lower lip quivers. “What do you mean?”
Sighing, I shake my head. “Now is not the time. Rory will be lookin’ for ya.”
Something I can’t quite place overcomes her, and she subtly removes herself from my touch. She’s angry I won’t tell her the truth. “This makes no sense. Why can’t you go to the police?”
“How did that turn out the last time the peelers were involved?” I pose. “I understand this is reckless and fucking dangerous, but I have no one. I need to start from scratch.”
“You have me,” she professes in a whisper.
“I won’t be havin’ that. There’s no way I’ll allow ya to risk yer life—again.”
She pulls back her shoulders. “That’s not for you to decide. I’m involved, whether you like it or not.”
“Or not,” I counter, forgetting just how stubborn she is. “This isn’t yer fight. Rory will agree with me on that.”
She narrows her eyes as she knows I’m right. “Fuck you both. I’m my own person. Neither of you has the right to tell me what I can or can’t do.”
“Aye, yer right. But I don’t need ye.” And what I say next has the impact I suspected it would. “I don’t want ya.”
She blinks once, her surprise clear. She’s taken it how I knew she would—personally. But this is the only way I can keep her safe.