“Tully,” he says. “They insist I let them in. I’ve explained to Walsh he isn’t coming in unless Keenan gives me leave.”
Tully nods. “You did the right thing, lad.” He turns to the uniformed officer. “What’s the story, Walsh? Y’alright?”
It’s hard to see him in the low light cast by the moon, but his voice is plaintive.
“The citizens of Ballyhock have news for you, Tully.”
Tully looks out at the sea of people. “Oh?”
An older woman with graying hair steps to the front. “Yes, sir,” she says. She trembles, but her voice is strong as she addresses him. “The men of the north have come to attack, sir. We know, for Patrick came into the city today, and made no pretension of hiding his plans.”
I shiver, despite Tully’s large, warm jacket. Patrick.
“Did he?” Tully’s voice is stern, his dark eyes glinting in the moonlight.
“Aye, sir. And word spread like wildfire, it did,” she says, nodding, when a little girl runs to the front. She’s a tiny wisp of a thing with long, thin blonde hair that whips around her in the wind. Her high-pitched voice rings with fervor as she balls her fist and shakes it at the sky.
“And we won’t let it happen! No, we won’t! Not to you!”
Tully bends to one knee, and his voice gentles as he speaks to her. As if I couldn’t love him anymore.
“Thank you, lass,” he says softly.
She looks at him with both fear and admiration in her eyes. “My mum has a job because of you. The bad men came into her store and were stealing from her, but you and your men made them leave. We will help you now.”
His gentle smile tells me he has no idea how a little girl like this could help them, but he’s glad of it.
My throat tightens as I look at the mass of people. They’re murmuring among themselves, and a few of their comments are loud and clear.
“Father Finn was a good soul,” one says.
“’Twas the men of the Clan that stopped the robbery from my store as well,” one man says.
“It’s because of the Clan Ballyhock’s safe and prosperous,” another says. Cheers erupt in the crowd, and Tully smiles softly to himself.
He looks the little girl in the eye. “Thank you for showing your support,” he says. Then he gets to his feet. “Listen, please. The Clan is forever in debt to the support of the citizens of Ballyhock. But danger is imminent, and we must fight to keep our family safe.”
I know they’re criminals. I know they do wicked things, that they adhere to a code of law known only among themselves. But to these people, they’re the superheroes of Ireland. My heart burns with pride that I’m one of them.
A hush falls over the crowd, and one person speaks up.
“Let us fight with you.”
Tully shakes his head. “I can’t let you do that.”
“We will!” someone shouts, and it’s then I realize that some of them have come armed. Tully looks out at the sea of people and smiles.
“I’ll tell you what,” he says. “You keep the gate protected, will you?” He turns to Walsh. “You remove any children from the crowd and bring them to safety. The rest, they can guard our gates if need be.”
“Aye,” Walsh says. “Warn the Clan, Tully, will you?”
A loud booming noise sounds behind us, and the crowd gasps. Tully turns to look. Lights flicker on in the house, and the mansion blazes with light like a beacon on the hill, as the sound of motorcycles coming near the house gets louder and louder.
“Tully,” I whisper. “They’ll attack these good people.”
He shakes his head. “They haven’t reached the house yet. Someone… one person, I’d guess, has cut the electricity to the house. Someone else has managed to use the generators. I can call the brotherhood.”
He takes out his mobile and dials Keenan. They have a rapid discussion, and seconds later, the doors of the mansion fling open, and the men of the Clan pour out. I can recognize some of them even from here—Lachlan and Tiernan, Cormac and Keenan, and nameless others I’ve never met who constitute both the inner and outer circles of the Clan.
“Get back!” Tully shouts. “Fall back!” He turns to the guard. “Open the fucking gates so we can protect them.”
The guard pushes a button and the large gates creak open, just as the bikes loom into view on the horizon. Moonlight bursts forth, illuminating their passage. They’re traveling at a distance but heading along the cliffs that overlook the Irish Sea.
Keenan joins us, shaking his head. “They’ll be here in minutes.” He curses under his breath. “Damn it to hell, there aren’t enough of us to take them.”
* * *
Chapter 20
Tully
I want to protect them, all of them, but my biggest priority is McKenna.