″Boys,” Da says sternly as we climb off the plane and onto the tarmac.
We’re immediately met with helping hands holding umbrellas to shield us from the rain.
Da’s cousin, Darragh, is inside the limo when we climb in. He and Da exchange pleasantries as Sean piles in, closing the door. Then he addresses me.
″I’ve had eyes on the chief for hours. He’s at his house now. Tell me what he’s done to piss you off?”
I unbutton the top of my suit jacket as I get comfortable in my seat, glancing out the window. Seattle’s weather is shit. Not that our snow is better. When I retire, I’m settling my ass somewhere sunny and warm.
″He fucked with my woman,” I say.
Darragh shrugs, turning to Da. “Reason enough, I presume. If she is to be his wife?”
″No,” I say at the same time Da says yes.
″Oh son, I’ve seen the way you look at her.” Da’s chuckle irritates me, mostly because I know he’s right, even if I don’t want to admit it.
″The way I look at her?” I ask. “What does that mean?”
Sean says, “Like she’s your new toy and the other dogs are trying to steal her from you.”
″That’s not true.” I huff as I smooth an eyebrow with my finger.
Da laughs, shaking his head. “We go to the hotel first, then to the Parkin residence.”
″No. We go now,” I say. He doesn’t challenge my order, just nods his head.
The ride feels like an eternity until we reach a neighborhood outside of Seattle. It’s a cookie-cutter-style complex with smaller one-story homes. The car comes to a stop in front of one, freshly trimmed grass with a kept garden bed, and a bike lying in the driveway.
″Who’s bike?” I ask.
″He has a twelve-year-old boy. And a daughter who is eighteen,” Darragh says. “His wife is home. But she’s knocked out. Seems to be a junkie.”
″We need to lure him out. Too risky here,” Sean says.
″He’s a bit old for the lost dog bit, don’t you think?” Darragh says drily.
″Kids home?” I ask as I pinch my bottom lip between my fingers.
″The girl is away at college and the boy is gone for the weekend.”
″Perfect. Let’s go.” I grab the door handle, opening the car.
″It’s daytime, lad.”
My jaw ticks as I slam the door shut. I tilt my head toward Da’s cousin. “Call me a lad again and I’ll cut your tongue out of your mouth.”
Darragh glances at Da. “Are you going to let your son speak to me like that?”
″You called him a lad first,” Da shrugs.
I pin Darragh with a warning look. “Let’s get something straight, Darragh. You may be in charge of the west coast, but that’s because Da allows you to be. And soon enough it’ll be me who’s giving you your little slice of Heaven.”
″Are you forgetting I’m doing you a favor here, Callum?”
″No, Da called in a debt. Are you forgetting the forty grand he let you borrow four years ago? Or that he hasn’t charged you territory fees? Don’t fucking question my authority, Darragh.”
I push open the door before he can respond.