Page 40 of Explosive Union
“Boss?” I hear the gravelly tone of Caolán Foy. I turn and see the twenty-two-year-old standing in the doorway, his long blonde hair tied up at his nape and his tattoos peeking out from under his sleeves and collar of his shirt.
Caolán is the son of Ciarán Foy, one of my father’s trusted soldiers. Caolán had a choice of who he wanted to work with, and he chose me. Something about the Gallagher women being even more ruthless than the men. Something that my da and brothers grumbled about, while Makenna and I laughed. Caolán isn’t wrong. There’s a reason Makenna and I are more ruthless than our male family members. It’s because to be taken seriously as a boss, we have to prove our worth, unlike what the men have to do. The men are instantly accepted, whereas we have to work hard to get that acceptance. Double standards are rife in this business, but I, for one, relish the challenge.
“Yes?” I question with a raised brow.
He steps forward, his voice low when he speaks. “The men have been talking, and we would like to help.”
“Help with what, exactly?” I ask, wondering what the hell he’s talking about.
His face flushes, but he keeps his head held high as he continues to speak. “We know what happened while you were in prison, and we want to help you. You’re our boss. What happens to you is a personal attack on us.”
My stomach clenches at his words. “What happened to me?” I don’t know how I manage it, but I keep my voice even.
His hands that hang at the sides of his body, tighten into fists. “Those assholes raped and beat you. We—us—the men—we want to ensure that we spread the message that no one touches our boss and gets away with it.”
I’m stunned into silence. How the fuck do they know about my time in prison? Who the hell has been talking?
“Caolán.” My voice is hard and unforgiving. “Where the fuck did you hear that?”
He swallows hard but manages to keep his gaze firmly on me. “We’ve known for a while. Boss, you have to understand that we have always known that one day you’d become boss. That was always in the plan. You fight better than anyone we’ve met, other than your brother. You are cunning, conniving, and a great businesswoman. There was never a doubt in the men’s minds that you would be leading us. So, when we found out that you had been—” He swallows hard once again, and this time his gaze shifts slightly. “Violated, we knew it had to be bad. So, we want to be there. We want revenge for you too.”
“Mo chailín milis,” my da’s voice says, and I groan. I need to get a new lock on my front door. Everyone seems to use it anytime they wish. “The boy is right.”
Caolán bristles at my da calling him boy.
“That may be so, Da, but no one was supposed to know.” I’m unable to keep the anger out of my voice. I never wanted anyone to know what happened to me at the weakest moment of my life.
“Boss, you are not weak in our eyes,” Caolán tells me, and my throat swells with emotion. “We don’t even care if we don’t get to kill them. We just want to see justice being served. We heard about the first one.” He shakes his head, a smile curling at the ends of his lips. “The men are taking bets on what’s going to happen next. Disembowelment was inspired.”
I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles out of me. “Fine,” I say resignedly. “We’re leaving as soon as Leon gets here. I’m not taking all of you. You’re going to have to decide who’s coming first. I want no more than four men with me.”
Da nods. “You can switch out for the next one.”
I shake my head. Such a fucking conversation to be having. It’s like me killing the bastards has become a sport for my men to watch. Caolán smiles, turns on his heel, and walks out of the apartment. No doubt to try and swindle his way into watching first.
“What about you, Da—are you coming?”
He rolls his eyes, reminding me of my childhood. It was something he did frequently. I exasperated him more than my brothers, and I think it’s because I always questioned him. Mam always said I had to have all the facts before I’d make a decision. That’s changed the older I got. But I still like to annoy the ever-loving shit out of my da. It’s my God given right as his only daughter.
“Of course I am, mo chailín milis. Hayden won’t be coming along. He is meeting with Adelina Gallo.”
I scowl at my da, still pissed about the entire situation. My brother and I both have to marry into the Gallo family. It’s not something I understand. Why both of us? Surely me marrying Rocco would have been enough?
“The sooner Granda gets off his high horse, the bloody better,” I snap. “He arranged Uncle Seamus’ wedding, Da, that was it for his kids. What gives him the Goddamn right to interfere in his grandchildren’s lives?”
“Your granda always has higher plans, mo chailín milis. You’ll soon realize that. Your brother has come to terms with his union. Unfortunately, like yours, there’s nothing that can be done about it. You’re going to have to drop it.” His tone brooks no arguments, and I know he’s had enough of this conversation.
“Fine, but I can still annoy the Gallos about it.”
His lips twitch. “I think you’ve done that already, sweet girl. Dropping hints about your brother's kink sure pissed them off.”
I smile sweetly at him. Now he’s given me the perfect way to get under their skin.
A knock sounds on the door, and my stomach flips as excitement washes over me. “Enter,” I yell.
Leon walks in with Caolán, Lochlann, Sullivan, and Ros at his side, each of the men grinning like loons. I guess these four won the toss of who can come with me.
“Boss, Barker and Jones are currently down at the marina, losing way too much money and getting drunk,” Leon says with a grin. “They’re annoying the fuck out of everyone around them.”