Page 77 of Revenge

“No. After this set of new orders, it only reassures me that I’m doing the right thing.” I sit back.

“It’s his bairn.”

“But we know what will happen if my father or, worse, the McIntyres find Ava. I refuse to risk her life so Viktor can see her. Whether he wants to admit it, he knows I’m right.”

“Aye,” Angus agrees.

“What now?” Ray asks.

“Go into the reserves and even the numbers. We will cover the difference. Angus, you’ll have to start recruiting.”

“Aye.”

“Your father isn’t going to approve that,” Ray says.

“It’s fair to say his priorities are currently misplaced. We need to protect our brothers. Ray, let’s go over some tactical plans. I’m pretty certain war is dogging our footsteps. It’s just a matter of when.” He shakes his head. My cell rings. The screen reads Tina. I decide to answer.

“Hey, cuz,” she says.

“Hi, Tina. You’re up early,” I tease.

“It’s not that early.”

“What do you need?”

“I want to talk about Ava. Her cell is off.”

“She’s fine, and stop telling her things.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play games. Things are fragile as it is. She doesn’t need a play-by-play of what is going on. Stressing her isn’t healthy for the baby. The baby will be here soon. No need to expedite it.”

“She asked a question. What am I supposed to do? Lie?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not like you or Viktor. If she asks a question, I’m going to answer her with the truth. She deserves to know what is happening.”

“I’m not going to argue with you. Keep shit to yourself,” I warn Tina.

“How are Viktor and Aisling? Are you two still fighting?”

“You know the answer to that, and they’re both fine.”

“You shouldn’t be fighting. He needs you even if he doesn’t say it.”

“We’re fine,” I say, annoyed. Viktor and I might be at odds right now, but we will always stand by each other. “I have to go. Keep shit to yourself. I won’t tell you again.”

“Fine. Tell me if she needs anything.”

“Okay,” I tell her.

“Bye.” I end the call.

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. My father is taking a path to self-destruction. But it won’t just affect him—he’ll bring the clan down with him. This shit with Viktor isn’t making things any easier, either. I text Freddy to pull funds from the reserve. I still can’t believe it has come to this. We’re slowly creating a shadow clan. My father is forcing the clan to split.

I’m afraid we are at a point of no return. As a Manarch, I took an oath. An oath my father has chosen to forget because of Cillian. We have to call a spade a spade. We can’t pretend that what is unfolding isn’t happening. Dougal Manarch will be the end of the Manarch Clan.

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