“We can call this whole thing off, if you want? We are more than prepared to continue this war if you are.”
“This war ends here. You might not like it, Tiernan, but should you prevent this from happening, then all of us will make sure your last breath will be witnessed by every man here,” Rossi warns. “And you, Volkov, should we hear that the girl is treated in any way less than with the respect she is entitled to as the mother of your future heirs, then the same fate will be bestowed upon you. Think long and hard, gentlemen, because this is what this treaty really means. We are now all linked. One misstep and you no longer have one or two families to war with, but all of us.”
“We understand,” Athair says somberly. “Volkov, we are honored to have you welcome our Iris into your home and family. You will not have any issues from us. I give you my solemn vow.”
My father’s words burn a hole through my chest.
“And you, Tiernan?” Rossi questions.
Through gritted teeth, I nod, unable to consent to my sister’s macabre fate with words.
“Good. This… gentlemen,” Rossi begins, planting his palms on the table as he makes eye contact with every man here, “is the beginning of a new dawn. Where we flourish and thrive in business, knowing that old vendettas are put to the side for the greater good. You have ten years to settle into this new way of life and put your demands into place. We will all honor it. This is our future now. Our survival. And if there is a man here that will put this agreement in any kind of jeopardy, then death will not only knock on his doorstep, but also greet every family member they have ever cared for.”
In other words, submit or die.
My family could survive a war with two families, maybe even three. But with all five? We would all be dead within a week. And the same can be said for every family here if they also oppose it. I just hope the threat of death is enough to keep them all honorable. If not, then the previous Mafia Wars will pale in comparison to the retribution of the future.
Whatever our destiny, no one wins here today.
But to truly lose would mean our extinction.
Ten years.
That’s all Iris and I have now.
Only time will tell if we’ll have many more after that.
And as the outside wind continues to blow, the storm taking up new heights, I make my own vow to Saint Brendan himself, asking him to give me the strength and fortitude to strike down every man here if the fate that awaits us is filled with Kelly blood.
If my life and that of my sister is to pay the price for peace, then I pity the fool who ever tries to disrupt it.
His death will be a thing of nightmares.
I’ll make sure of it.
Chapter 1
Tiernan
Present Day
I lean against the doorframe, my arms crossed against my chest as I stare at my baby sister packing up her luggage, filling to the very brim the carry-on and two large suitcases that are sprawled on top of her bed. Silently, I watch her store away not only her clothes, but also her most prized possessions. An ill feeling inside me whispers that those little knick-knacks won’t be enough to bring Iris any type of joy, much less soothe the ache of being ripped away from everything she’s ever known and into the belly of the beast.
Iris continues to sway her hips left to right to the beat of the song playing through her earphones, completely oblivious to my presence and my troubled thoughts. The whole scenario looks so horribly mundane to me. As if she’s just packing her stuff to go on one of her far away exotic vacations, with the promise she will return home once she’s had her fill of sangria and sandy beaches.
But nothing could be further from that delusion.
You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, but today will be the beginning of a life my sister never asked for. A life where she will have to venture out all on her own without the safety net of our family name, since by the end of the week, she will no longer be a Kelly—but a Volkov.
There is a pang in my chest at that realization. I have no other choice but to bury my reluctance at that ungodly thought deep down into the confines of my soul, so I don’t do the unfathomable and kidnap my sister, right here and now, and take her somewhere safe where Bratva hands can’t touch her. Not that I haven’t thought about doing such a thing innumerous times before. In fact, for the past ten years, I have thought of little else. Just the thought that Iris will have to fend off the three Volkov brothers every night from here on out brings bile to my throat.
“Are you going to just stand there all day, dheartháir? Or are you going to help a girl out and shut this bag for me?” Iris exclaims, not lifting her gaze off the stubborn bag that refuses to be zipped up.
“I didn’t think you saw me standing here since you were too busy dancing up a storm.” I smile tauntingly, walking over to her to lend a helping hand.
“I see everything, deartháir mór,” she retorts smugly. “Besides, you make it too easy for me. I could feel your scowl from across any room.”
“You make me sound like an old worried fart.”
“If the shoe fits,” she goads, playfully nudging her shoulder with mine.
“That’s funny. You’re funny,” I reply sarcastically, pulling on one of her wild, red curls.
“Well, you better get your fill now, big brother. In a few hours, you won’t have to suffer me making fun of you anymore.”
Fuck.
Why did she have to say that?
I turn to my side and place my hands on her shoulders, halting her from continuing on with her task just so I can take her in one last time. Iris’ emerald green eyes sparkle with mischief and so much life. It cripples my heart, wondering how long that gleam will last in the Volkov’s household.
“Tiernan, I’ve got a plane to catch. I don’t have time to stand here for you just to gawk at me,” she jokes.
“Let’s be serious for a moment. Conas atá tú? Really? The truth now, Iris. How are you feeling with all of this?”