Page 95 of Dublin Devil
Brendan and Sean chuckle, and I go back to listening to Mr. Simpson. He’s droning on, listing the assets and holdings of Da’s companies and corporations.
And as the lawyer’s deep baritone waffles on, my mother plays the part of the heartbroken widow and weeps into a wad of tissues.
All the times I’ve heard her screaming at my father and threatening to leave him, maim him, or even kill him, makes it hard for me to believe she’s so broken up over his death.
“There is an exhaustive list of McGuire holdings in your packages, but if I read them all, we’ll be ordering in dinner before I finish.” Mr. Simpson adjusts his glasses and carries on. “Now to the allocations of assets. The house on Pleasant Street, five-hundred thousand dollars, and a monthly stipend of ten thousand dollars go to his beloved wife, Samantha McGuire.”
My mother looks up as if she’s confused.
“All facets of the McGuire family business will pass jointly into the hands of Niall Matthew McGuire and William Connor Gravely.”
What? Da left half ownership of the McGuire business to Billy Gravely?
“Niall and Billy will assume joint ownership of all properties listed other than the family home and will run the business with equal rights. Mathew McGuire’s living sons will assist in the running of the business to be eligible for their monthly stipend of twenty thousand a month.”
A flicker of dizziness passes through my brain as I hear Mister Simpson roping Brody and Rory into the business.
So, if they don’t join the business, they get nothing?
At that moment, I hate my father more than ever.
Mister Simpson keeps on talking and his words jumble in my head like popcorn in a popper. “There are also a list of bank accounts, trust funds, mortgages, stocks, bonds, vehicles, and real estate holdings that will be divvied up between the boys.”
He turns to the screen and offers me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, dear. There is no mention of you receiving anything from the estate.”
“That’s more than fine, Mr. Simpson. I wouldn’t want it even if it were offered.”
Mister Simpson turns his attention to Niall. “You and Mr. Gravely will be given a detailed copy of everything when you leave. I’d like the two of you to make an appointment with Connie, to come in one day this week to go over all of it. There is too much involved in the estate to read it over once and presume you have a grasp on it.”
Niall presses his palm on the folder in front of him and forces a tight smile. “I understand, Mister Simpson. We’ll set an appointment before we leave.”
Did Niall know Da’s plan about partnering up with Billy Gravely? Given the anger in his eyes, I don’t think so.
“And with that, the reading of the will is complete,” Mr. Simpson says.
My mother gets to her feet and presses her hands against the table. “This is bullshit, Lloyd. Niall and Billy get the business and are supposed to run it together? Billy isn’t part of this family. If anyone should be added as a co-owner with my sons, it should be me.”
Mr. Simpson takes off his glasses and sets them on the folder before him. “It’s not up to me, Samantha. Your husband gave strict instructions when we drafted the will. We went over the problem of Mister Gravely not being a McGuire, and Mattie assured me Billy was entitled.”
My mother shifts her anger to Billy, smiling smugly on the opposite side of the table. “You did this, you snake.”
Billy chuckles. “I can’t help that he liked me more than you, Sam. Maybe you should’ve put out a little more.”
There’s a rush of bodies and the scramble knocks the camera free from wherever it was positioned. Over the next few minutes, I’m looking at shoes shuffling on the carpeted floor of Mr. Simpson’s office and voices shouting as all hell breaks loose.
What a fucking mess.
But honestly, I’m glad I signed on, because seeing my mother lose her shit was too funny.
Payback is a bitch—bitch.
Sean
Gathered in the living room, the shock of what we just learned is still ringing in my ears. Mattie McGuire dropped a grenade in our laps—Niall and Billy Gravely will now steer the ship for South Dublin’s operations.
I glance around at Tag, Piper, Laine, and my brothers, seeing a mix of skepticism and concern etched on their faces.
Piper looks particularly disturbed. “Niall holds no affection for Billy or the way he handles things. This will make things difficult for him and my brothers.”