“It’s the way of the world, baby.” If regret laced my words, then that was also the way of it. “There’s no point in thinking like that.”
“Violence begets more violence,” she whispered, worriedly, and I saw more shadows develop in her eyes as her worry took form.
“Sometimes it’s the only way to stop it in its tracks. Guys like that? They only respond to a show of strength.” I got to my feet. “Now, let’s get you settled. You need to sleep.”
She released a sigh, and I could see she wanted to argue but knew I was right. “You won’t be here when I wake up, will you?”
“No, angel. I’ll be here tonight though.” I had promised her I’d be here every night this week. It was a promise I wouldn’t be able to maintain for longer than a week, though. I had some moves to pull, some strategies to work out, and I’d need to be on location for that.
Helping her settle down, I bent over and kissed her gently. “Sleep well, baby.”
She hummed. “Take care, Finn. For me?”
“Always.”
I retreated to the bathroom, moving quietly around in there as I readied myself for the day.
I’d intended to see Aidan Jr. later, but after what had just happened, I wanted to see him first then get to the office so I could work straight through before heading back here.
Within twenty minutes, I was dressed and ready for a report from Liam. But there wasn’t much to report.
“Think they were just trying to scope the place out,” he commented.
“They must have been expendable then.”
“You know what those gangs are like. They always are.”
He wasn’t wrong. Our foot soldiers mattered to us. To the Russians, the Latinos… it wasn’t the same. Family didn’t count as much with them as it did with us. I liked to think it made us a better breed of mobster—if such a thing existed, I thought dryly.
“Did they get over the wall?” I asked.
Liam glowered at me. “What kind of security do you think I’m running here? You think three eejits can climb on my wall like it’s a jungle gym and I won’t know about it?”
I rubbed my chin to hide my smile. “I was only asking if you needed more back up, Liam. Calm down.”
He huffed. “I’d ask Aidan if we did.”
“Well, don’t be scared to ask him. We can get private security in if needs be.”
Surprise flashed in his eyes. “You’d outsource?”
Not to one of the regular security companies, probably a group of mercs that Eoghan knew, but it was something I’d be more than willing to do if it meant keeping Aoife and the rest of the women out of danger.
I nodded, saying nothing more. I couldn’t act without Aidan Sr.’s approval, but if I was ever going to be a rebel, it would be because he refused. Not that he ever cut costs when it came down to our women’s security.
Even on our wedding day, we’d had a few men on the church grounds. It hadn’t been enough to stop the bastards, but drive-bys were perfect opportunities to create havoc and cause terror.
Samuel was outside in the car waiting for me when I left Liam. With his wife in lockdown too, I knew he’d be staying here when I did, so I had even less time to wait than usual.
“Where to, boss? The office?”
“No. To Aidan Jr.’s clinic.”
He nodded and as he drove, and I caught up with the barrage of emails and calls that had flooded my phone while I’d been getting ready.
News had hit about the attempted infiltration, and I knew Aidan was wicked pissed. I spoke with him, and arranged for a meeting later on today even though I couldn’t tell him anymore than what Liam had told me.
By the time I made it to the hospital, I was relieved to take a break. I’d dealt with more shit on the forty-minute drive than I’d intended to deal with this morning.