Page 48 of Steel Rain

What a strange superstition we had. I already knew that the guys would take it as a sign that this was something important. Holy, or haunted, I wasn’t sure.

Eoghan took his free hand and clasped me around the shoulders, bringing me in for a hug.

I felt his hot breath on my ear as he whispered, “I hope you know what you’re doing, Shiny. Because I think you’ve doomed us all.”

Chapter 23

Ajax

Iwatchedtheentireinsane procession from the tree line. I had been invited as a witness, but because I wasn’t one of them, I had to steer clear of their formation. Eoghan still hoped that I’d join their insanity. That I’d put on their uniform and walk them into the battles to come.

Eoghan wanted me there to learn.

To learn what? I wasn’t completely sure. There was a chance that I was learning all the wrong lessons.

All I knew was that my woman stood before them all and cut her hand. It was unsanitary, and insane.

Then Eoghan held her hand as they mumbled something.

So why was I bearing witness to it? I suspected it was because Eoghan would want me to take the same oath.

The man was obsessed with a coming war. A war with the Italians that he was training his army for. He trained them the way the US Military trained to fight a war against Russia and China. He drilled them on the bosses, underbosses, capos and soldiers. He made them fight to counter their techniques, their ways …

Had he joined the Army like Dairo, he would have been a fucking general.

An absolutely insane general. More along the lines of Genghis Khan than a General Patton. But still. He missed a legitimate career path there.

With the procession before me, I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t turn my eyes from the soldiers, and the formations, and the strange ritual in the middle of it all. The sick, twisted, insane and barbaric world I was now living in.

But it still made sense. It stillfeltright. Because at the end of the day, among the barren trees, with the dirt at our feet and ancient, wooden structures in this little frightening compound, this blood oath made sense. It felt heavy. Meaningful.

Even the wind seemed to agree with it, howling as she and Eoghan lifted their joined hands. The men applauded, looking around as the leaves kicked up and danced.

Just as Dairo said, it was given meaning because we gave it one. So, what did it mean when I was starting tofeelit myself?

Eoghan pulled her to his side with his hand, and like he was a referee declaring a champion in the octagon, he lifted her hand in the air.

“Now you all know that Sinead Flanagan is one of us!” He bellowed into the crowd. “She is one of us, and you defend her and hers, the way you would defend me. We are one blood. One family! United!”

The men applauded and cheered, andfinallyEoghan let go of her hand. He stepped away, and the first man to come forward was that blasted Kieran O’Malley.

People lined up to congratulate her, each one shaking the wounded palm as they slapped her shoulder. Someone brought out a cooler, and drinks were handed out.

Keith and his men were the last to see her. The prick took up the rear so that he stood in front of her, alone, when it came time for him to congratulate her. Something about that felt … off. Him having her alone, even in a crowd, felt dirty.

She needed backup. She needed someone who wasn’t chugging drinks to have eyes on the fucker. She needed me.

I stepped out of the trees and stood beside them as Keith licked his lips and shook her hand.

“Good to see you back in the life, little Princess.” His leering looks up and down her body made me want to punch the side of his head. But I stood perfectly still. As still as any of the trees that barely swayed in the cold wind. “It’s time to settle up your family’s debts. It seems I’m still owed a bride—”

I saw it in slow motion. The flex of her jaw, the tautness of her shoulder, the way her forearm clenched, and her fingers tightened. She was ready to strike. To fight. She was ready to punch him.

“I won’t marry you, you basta—” she said through gritted teeth.

“That’s enough of that,” I said, stepping in, lightly pushing Keith to the side. “I need a chance to congratulate her as well.”

Keith did not appreciate the interruption. That much was fucking clear. He looked at me like I was shitting on his parade. In a way, I was.

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