Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“Who did it?”
“Rumors have it, it was Cole,” Jonah says with a grin.
“You mean Brooklyn? Mick and Athena’s boy. Oland’s own grand?” I say incredulously.
“Aye, one and the same,” Da says.
“I knew I loved that lad.” I grin.
“Aye, I agree,” my brothers and Da say in unison.
“LaSalle is working to get Logan out of the clinker now that we know where to find him, thanks to ya. It’s time, Ronan. I need ya to step up and get involved in the Alliance.
“Once Logan is home, this becomes real. My and Ian Black’s vision come to life. This is what Ian and the rest of us were waiting for—losing him to cancer was a hard blow, but we never gave up.
“This is what Oland feared. Ian and I worked together. It didn’t matter to us that he was a Scot, and I am an Irishman. Then we made friends with Alfanzo Locatelli and he bridged a relationship with the Kastellanos. For the lot of us, the world stopped seeming like wee islands to possess.
“Many hands lighten the load. There was one thing we all understood in order to make this happen.
“Ní rugadh ár banna fola, tá sé brionnaithe. Our blood bond is not born, it is forged. We’re all from different places, but we have been brought together by more than our share of bloodshed.
“Our losses made us a family. We have moved all the pieces together for this very time.”
“Da, I’m almost forty-four years oul. Ya want me to go run things for this alliance now?”
“Aye, for now yer the one. I know yer getting up there in age, but ya maintain respect in New York and California. The States has a respect for the McGowan name due to ya.”
“Brooklyn has earned his own respect while Logan has been away. He’ll do just fine.”
“Not for what’s to come. The lads will need ya. I trust ya.”
I reach to rub my forehead. When I was a young lad, I would have taken care of this with no question. Now, with more of my life behind me than in front of me, this seems doolally.
I side-glance my father. He can’t be serious about this. I’m no longer in my prime.
“Da, are ya listening to yerself? I don’t think yer the full shilling.”
“I haven’t lost any part of my noddle, lad, but I’ll batter ya for saying so. Ye lads still haven’t outgrown me fists. I’ll clobber ya, I will.”
My brothers all try to cover up their laughter as my da threatens to kick my ass. I purse my lips to keep from making a smart remark that would ensure he clobbered me.
“We will be in full support of ya. It is only until we can get the lads ready to follow ya,” my brother says.
“Ya plan to send me nephews to New York? I don’t think they are ready for that,” I say to Raymond.
“Nothing has been set in stone,” Jonah grumbles as he narrows his eyes at Raymond.
“Aye, no decisions have been made, but I can tell ya they have been having a think, they have,” Jack says.
“Ach, they can think all they want, they can. Not one of them will step into things they don’t understand; they won’t,” Jonah says tightly.
I begin to think about all I have done to keep our interests in New York afloat. The O’Brien lads have gone a long way in helping me. However, the heavy shit has fallen on my shoulders.
It has always been clear that the McGowans are in control—if you’re Irish, you answer to me. My nephews might have a better temperament for our California business. They are tough, but New York will take a chunk out of the best. The young lads are my family.
I always protect my family. I have learned from my past mistakes. Bastards like Oland O’Brien made sure I got the hard lessons early on.
He made me into the hard man I am now. I’ve known loss and pain. So much so, I’ve never started a family of my own. My nephews are like my sons.
I’d do anything for any of them. Even stepping into what’s sure to be a war. Knowing what I know and understanding what this alliance means, I give my da a nod.
“Aye, I’ll handle it. Give the lads time to learn.”
CHAPTER 3
Welcome, Lass
Ronan
I snort as my brothers sit in the SUV taking the piss out of me. I have no idea why it takes the four of us to pick up one lass. My nephew Felix has his bird here in Ireland.
A movie is being filmed from one of the lass’s books. Her friend is flying in to help her out. Felix has been worrying himself about everything as he gets his lass settled in.
I felt bad for the lad and offered to take care of picking the friend up. I didn’t know my three brothers would take it upon themselves to follow me.