Gabe

“Wait. Blade said that my last name is what saved me. Then he said that it’s because my last name is the same as his. Is he our brother?”

Max shakes his head sadly. “No, although that’s not the entire truth. My brother Donaghal had four sons. The oldest, Padraig, became the man you know as Blade. For me, marrying in Ireland was out of the question. Any children I had there would be squarely under the family’s control. So I remained unmarried for years and helped raise my nephews as if they were my own. In many ways, I am responsible for him.”

Anger flares. “Then why the hell is he trying to kill me?”

Guilt swims in Max’s eyes. “The family considers everything that we own to be for the family’s use. While I was traveling abroad, I began to dream of making money legally. They trusted me so I knew if I took some money, they wouldn't notice. At least not right away. I started building my business interests then and putting money aside that they couldn’t touch.  Then while I was in the States on business, I met Claire.”

His eyes soften. Tank shifts and I can feel the tension coming from him. Finn has been staring down at his hands this whole time and he doesn’t look up.

“You married her and stayed here for years. I don’t get it. Why did you go back?” Tank sounds like he’s trying to keep his anger under control.

Max glances over at me again. “Because I came home one day to find Donaghal sitting at the kitchen table. He had found out about my little secret and come to see for himself. Claire had no idea how much danger she was in. She was so trusting.”

"She didn't know who he was?" Tank asks.

"I'd told her that I had a brother. She was thrilled to meet some of my family." Max looks so far away, his eyes dim with memories and regret. "I still marvel to this day that he left her alive. I think perhaps my brother might have still had a conscience at that point."

“So you ran away?” I’m suddenly seeing the incident with Sasha in a whole new light. His family had him backed into a corner and he’d responded with fear the same way I did. I imagine what it would have been like if I'd come to Sasha's house and found Blade there talking to her. My fingers clench into a fist.

“So I left,” Max confirms.  “The family didn’t care that I was leaving children behind. As long as I came back and fulfilled my duty, they wouldn’t concern themselves with some fatherless children halfway around the world. And I saw my opportunity to leave something of myself in the world that wouldn’t be tainted.”

He stops then, tears shining in his eyes. It’s hard to watch. Years of regret and pain are etched in the lines of his face. Finally he collects himself and clears his throat.

“It was selfish but I wanted to spread my seed. I only chose strong women. I knew they could handle things on their own and would give my children all the love I couldn’t. I told myself that I wouldn’t come back. I broke that promise a few times but for the most part I stayed away. It was the best thing I could do for you. I’d already helped raise four killers. I had to do something to balance that out. I needed to bring some good in the world. And I did.”

“So that’s why you never came back.” Finn finally speaks up.

Max nods. “I wanted you to hate me. I still do. Because as long as you hate me then you’ll never end up like me. Each and every one of you is so extraordinary. You’re everything I couldn’t be.”

“So why come back now? Is it because of Blade? Did he threaten you?” Luke demands.

“No, I came back because I wanted to see you before it was too late. I’m old. Control of Le Fírinne' long ago passed to the next generation but they still expected financial support, especially since they consider every dollar I've earned ‘their’ money. When they found out that I was starting to distribute my estate… Well, I knew there would be fallout. I just needed to see you first. Once the money is gone, it's out of their reach forever. I can't undo my past but I can give you all the chance to do something better." 

Silence descends. I glance around at my brothers. None of us seems to have any idea what to do with this new information. Then as usual, Luke sums it all up.

“So, basically you stole from the Irish Mafia?” Luke whistles.

"Fantastic." Tank drops his head back against the wall.

Max stands shakily. “My time is almost up and it’s time to pay the piper. But before I’m gone I can set a few things right.”

He goes pale and Carole rushes forward to help him back into his wheelchair. He pats her cheek affectionately. “Lads, it's time for me to be off.”

He allows her to arrange a blanket over his lap and the two men who always travel with them appear in the doorway. They must have been in the kitchen this entire time.

Tank follows them out. When he returns he crosses his arms and looks at each one of us in turn.

"Okay, what the hell are we going to do?"

Chapter sixteen

SASHA

I will forever be grateful that Eli was with me when my entire world fell apart. Gabe walked away without looking back once and it took me more than a minute to process that he wasn't going to turn around and come back.

When he disappears from sight, an anguished sound, one I didn't even know my vocal cords could produce, emerges from my throat. It’s a mournful sound like a wounded animal. Eli holds me up and lets me cry on his shoulder until I’m drained and weak.