I’ve heard from others that Fiona grew up in Stone City, one of the most depressed, crime-ridden cities in Ireland. Her mother was a drug addict, and she was rescued from poverty and destitution by her older sister.
“Same for me,” Faidha says. She grew up in Stone City as well, and I’m told she had quite a sordid history. She married Tiernan, and has been loyal to and loved by the Clan ever since. “No one wants to go to war, girls, and you know Keenan well enough to know he’d never make that call unless it was absolutely warranted.”
“But it isn’t like Father Finn was killed in cold blood,” Aileen says. She makes the sign of the cross, whispering under her breath, “God rest his soul.”
“Yes,” Megan argues, “but it’s because of the attack on us that he was killed.”
“’Tis true,” Maeve says with a sober nod. “Honestly, they had every intention of killing both of us. If Tully and McKenna hadn’t come, I’m certain we’d both have been killed.”
Caitlin sighs. “The very fact they abducted you is an act of war, and they should know that.”
The rain and storm from earlier have subsided, and outside the window, moonlight reflects on the main gates. I stand and walk to the window, peering into the darkness. It’s hard to see, but someone’s at the gate.
“Does anyone else see the person at the gate, there?” I squint, but between the reflection on my glasses and the distance, I can’t see a bloody thing.
“Oh my God,” Megan says. “It’s Walsh, isn’t it? All the men are downstairs in a meeting, but someone needs to get out there immediately.”
“Walsh?” I ask. He’s the Chief of police here in Ballyhock, and I’ve been told that he’s on the payroll of the Clan. He reports to them, and sees to it that none of Ballyhock’s law enforcement interferes with Clan workings.
“How odd,” Caitlin says as if to herself. “He usually calls Keenan. Why would he come here, this late at night?” She rises. “I’ll go to Keenan.”
She’s perhaps the only one among us, save Maeve, who’d be allowed to enter the private sanctuary of their meeting room. She pushes open the two doors that lead to the sitting room, when suddenly the overhead lights flicker. It’s odd, since the storm’s passed.
She looks to Maeve. “All the children are secured?”
Maeve nods. There are a variety of nannies that live here in this house, and the children have long since gone to bed. Most live right here within the walls of the mansion.
As I head to the hallway with Caitlin, there’s a crash. Someone screams when the lights go fully out, and we’re submerged into darkness.
“Christ,” I mutter under my breath. I pull out my phone and swipe the flashlight on. “I’ll go with you, Cait.”
The staff is immediately prepared. Flashlights are handed out, lamps are lit, and someone lights a fire in a second fireplace. I walk with Caitlin, through the foyer toward the door that leads to the men's meeting room.
"Do you think this is just the storm?"
Caitlin shakes her head. “No, McKenna. My instincts are usually strong with this…” she bites her lip as she thinks things over. She’s been in this position for over a decade, and she’s a smart woman. I trust her.
She shakes her head. “No… I don’t believe it’s just the storm.” She keeps her voice low, so as not to be overheard. “It’s why we need to get to them.”
We descend the stairs, following the beam of light. She trips, and I stifle a gasp, but she quickly rights herself by holding the rail. She’s unfazed, moving swiftly and with purpose.
We walk past the library, past the workout room, and head to the one room only the men of the Clan are allowed to enter. Caitlin knocks on it loudly, and the sound of hushed voices inside stop.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Caitlin, Keenan! Open the door.” Ah, a fierceness from Caitlin that’s rare, but again, this woman is married to the Clan chief.
She’s likely the only person he’d open to.
A moment later, there’s a sound of clicks and metal on metal, and the door glides open.
“Is everything alright?” Keenan looks out at us in concern.
“Of course not,” Caitlin says severely. “Keenan, we’ve lost power here, and it looked as if Walsh was at the gate.”
“Walsh? Are you serious?”
“How could you not know we lost power in the house?”
He frowns. “We’re on a different grid in here. This room’s kept apart from the others intentionally.”
Caitlin frowns. “So you didn’t lose power.”
“No, lass.”
Something’s seriously amiss.
Keenan turns around to address his men. “Caitlin’s come to warn us,” he explains. “And it seems Walsh is at our gate. Which of you will go to meet him?”
“I will,” Tully says, stepping to the front. My heart does a little somersault. He looks so fierce, so dangerous, in the dim overhead light. “McKenna, you’ll come with me.”