CHAPTER SIX
Twenty-eight years old ...
Brandy Daley turning out to be Keela’s uncle was the biggest kick in the teeth I had received in a long time. The man was cold-blooded, vindictive, and not someone you fucked around with. Ryder had worked with him many times when he ran deals on this side of the world, and each time, my brother prayed it would be the last. Brandy knew we were Marco’s puppets, and he knew exactly what each of us did for him ... he knew what I did. That was why I wasn’t surprised when he wanted to speak to me on my own without Keela present. He was going to warn me to stay away from her. He was going to do something so severe that it would keep me away from the woman I had falling in love with.
I knew he would.
If there was God, he hated me. I had been through so much darkness that broke me down in my life, and I never even considered having someone who I could feel so deeply for. It was some cruel twist of fate. The unthinkable happened. I fell in love with someone so beautiful, so pure of heart, and now she was going to be taken away from me because someone else said so.
“Ye’ know what I’m gonna say, don’t ye?”
I lifted my chin. “I have a decent idea, yeah.”
“This is nothin’ personal towards ye’, kid,” Brandy said, leaning back in his chair. “Ye’ understand how important family is, which is why me niece isn’t remainin’ involved with the likes of you and your brothers.”
The likes of me and my brothers? We did a warlord’s bidding because we were trapped by him. Brandy did the things he did out of his own freewill. He was exactly like Marco, maybe even worse, and he thought we were someone Keela shouldn’t have in her life? The fucking hypocrite.
“She loves me,” I said, my chest warming. “And I love her, too.”
“I thought maybe she did.” Brandy sighed. “I’ve been watchin’ ‘er, and how she looks at ye’.”
“Can we not just come to some sort of arrangement—”
“I’ve already decided what’s goin’ to happen, Alec.”
My hearted dropped to my stomach.
“You simply leavin’ ‘er won’t cut it. I know two of your brothers are in relationships with the Murphy sisters who live in Old Isle Green. The eldest sister is pals with Aideen Collins, who just happens to be me niece’s best friend. If ye’ cut and run now, your paths will cross again, and I’m not riskin’ an reconciliation.”
Dread flowed through my veins.
“So what do you want me to do?”
“I want you to devastate her.”
Fear shot up my spine. “What?”
“Me soon-to-be son-in-law has an odd relationship with me daughter, but she loves the little prick, so I’ve stepped back and let them lives their lives. However, I do know that Jason was involved with Keela for a time and played ‘er. While he was punished for that and won’t hurt ‘er again, I know she hasn’t recovered from that hurt he instilled within ‘er.”
I felt like I was going to be sick.
“Keela trusts you even though she knows with your background that ye’ could hurt her worse than Jason ever could, and that is what you will be doin’.”
My lips parted, but no words left my mouth.
“She knows ye’ serviced Everly when ye’ were an escort, and she knows ye’ fucked Dante when the thought tickled your fancy. Both of them have already been informed of the playdate the three of ye’ will have.”
I jumped to my feet. “No!”
“Sit back down,” Brandy said, his tone turning dangerous. “Now.”
I wanted to rush to his side and slam my fist into his jaw, but I didn’t. I was rigid as I lowered myself back to my seat. I looked at the two men who had been leaning against the wall on the far side of the room, and when I saw they had guns in their hands, my pulse quickened.
“I can’t do what you’re asking, Brandy.” I said, focusing on him. “I can’t.”
“Sure ye’ can.” He tilted his head to the side.
I gritted my teeth. “And if I just don’t do this?”
“How much d’ye love your brothers, Alec?”
I froze. “My brothers?”
“Your brothers.” Brandy nodded. “How much d’ye love them?”
“More than my life.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” he said with a sinister grin. “I’d hate for somethin’ to ... happen to them if ye’ weren’t to follow a direct order from me.”
The threat was plain as day, and it caused my insides to crumble. If I didn’t hurt Keela, the woman I loved, in a horrid way, then my brothers would pay for it with their lives. I wanted to scream until my throat went raw. This wasn’t a choice; this was as death sentence for me. No matter what decision I made, I would be heartbroken with the result, and Brandy knew that. I thought of Keela and how much she had come to trust me, and hope flared within me.