SWNOVELS Chapter Rouge: Act 4 – Scene 35
Kian
The lights from the slot machines behind me glimmer against the amber liquid inside my glass. My eye twitches from glaring so long at the drink that sits inches away from me. Sweat pricks the back of my neck as I fight every impulse to down it in one gulp so I can forget.
“The liquor’s not going to drink itself, son.”
I swivel in my seat to see my father brushing off rain droplets from his suit jacket. He pulls out the stool beside me and nods to the bartender.
“I’ll have what he’s having, Archie.”
As if Archie was expecting the request, he’s already pouring my dad a Midleton in a Glencairn glass like mine. When he drops it off, my father grabs it and swirls the whiskey before taking a whiff.
“Ah, it always smells so good when it’s first poured.” He tips it in my direction. “Now… are we going to do this or not, lad?”
His brown eyes take my measure like only a father’s can. The Garde seems to have forgotten that Finneas McKennon is one of its most formidable members. His glare alone has made weaker men fold at the poker table, which is good since my father is otherwise shite at the game.
“Leave me be.” I wave him off and return to my staring contest with the whiskey. But after a moment of silence I glance at him. “How did you know I was here?”
“Arch,” his bushy gray eyebrows rise as he nods toward the bartender studiously cleaning glasses on the near opposite end of the bar.
I curse before calling out, “Hey, Arch!”
Archie turns around, like he hasn’t been listening the whole time. “Yeah?”
“You call everyone in Vegas and tell them I’m on the ledge, or just this bastard?” I scowl at him, but he doesn’t seem fazed.
“Called Merek, too. He said he’s on his way.” Archie smirks.
I roll my eyes and lean back in my stool to endure my father’s lecture.
“You’ve got people who care about you, lad. Something the Garde won’t ever understand.”
“Grand. Now if only the woman I love did the same.”
“I was afraid that was what this was about. Did she not like the new tattoo?” He glances at my forearm with a laugh. His joke lands hard on my chest and I rub the burn there.
“Feck off. She never even saw it.”
“I’m just fecking with you, lad.” He chuckles at first, but after studying me for a moment, he clears his throat. “I know this is a delicate situation, son, but the two of you have done well with the lot you’ve been given.”
When I don’t respond, he sighs and tilts his head at me. “Have you figured out why your mam and I decided that you and Lacey should get married?”
“For the good of the Garde,” I repeat the phrase I’ve heard a thousand times by now in a detached tone. “Mam had the idea that our marriage could solve the Garde’s divisiveness caused by the hatred between two families. Although, I found out tonight thanks to Merek’s surveillance that many of the families weren’t too keen on the idea. I’ve got a list of gobshites who conspired with Monroe to drive us apart and send the O’Shea to jail.”
“Hmm.” My father’s face reddens with anger. “I’ll have to see that list. We might need to assign cards to a few family heads sooner rather than later.” He huffs before going on. “But in any case, that’s the reason I gave the O’Shea. Your mam and me had another objective.”
My brow furrows. “What was the real reason, then?”
“The greatest of leaders are the most reluctant. I could tell years ago that our Keeper was losing his backing among the Garde. The society has lost sight of the fact that we need people on the outside as much as we need them within. But you…” He points his whiskey at Archie’s back. “You’ve amassed a following of both all on your own. You don’t need the Garde and that scares the society more than any alliance between families. The thought of a leader in charge who actually wants what’s best for everyone, and not just the elite? Now that’s dangerous.”
“If it’s not what the Garde wants, why would you want me in charge?”
“Bah, don’t be thick, lad. It was so you could change things! The old men are tired. Our ideas are tired, too. The new world, the new Garde, should be what we actually strived to be from the beginning, one of higher ideals. You and that wee firecracker of a wife of yours are our best hope to make sure all the harm we’ve caused is righted.”
“But all that is gone now.” I shake my head. “Lacey’s chosen Monroe.”
My father frowns and his voice is rough. “What happened? I doubt it’s anything your wild card can’t take care of.”
“She’s finished with me.” I swallow and shrug. “Told me so tonight. She used me to help her father, and now she wants what Monroe can give her, status in the Garde. She said she doesn’t want a worthless drunk for a husband. I thought she cared for me, but I guess my heart made it all up.”
My father barks a laugh. “Maybe we’re doomed after all if you really believe that load of shite.”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw the two of you on the dance floor tonight. It was a mistake to behave like a dog and piss on her like that, son. But when you danced, it was bloody obvious that you’re meant for one another. Two flames…”
“Kindled all the same,” I finish. Hope lights a fire in my chest.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into your wife, but when something’s wrong with your woman, it’s your job to fix it. Love isn’t for the weak or heartless. You might have to fight for it. Do you think you have the courage for the battle?”
I straighten in my chair at the question. “If my wife comes back to me in the end, how could I be afraid?”
“Now there’s a good lad. Besides, you’ve kidnapped her once before and managed to convince her to fall in love with you in a matter of hours. What’s the harm in doing it again? It’s the McKennon way, after all.” My father chuckles and lifts his whiskey in a toast. “Make your choice, but once you do, don’t ever look back. It’ll only hurt her if you do.”
I glance at his raised glass before I study his assured expression. A confident smile, bushy brows slightly raised, and he’s waiting for an answer he seems to already know. He never judged me for my vices or my addiction. But he was more worried than anyone about how much I could’ve lost if I’d kept on down that path.
My eyes narrow. “Did you know how I would play the queen of diamonds when you gave me the job a year ago?”
A knowing smile lifts his lips before he shrugs. “Come on, now, you know I’m shite at cards.”
“Fecking hell.” I chuckle as I settle into my chair.
He grins and tips the glass again. “So what’ll it be, son?”
My dad believes in me. I have friends in my corner. I may not have my chip anymore to remind me of how hard I’ve worked. But I didn’t achieve sobriety just for Lacey, I did it for me, too. I’ll be damned if I lose us both now.
When I glance back at the untouched whiskey the draw is nowhere near what it was.
I push the drink away from me and stand from my chair before meeting my father’s eyes. Pride replaces the concern that had crinkled at the edges.
“I’m going to get Lacey and change her mind. Merek said she was alone in the Elephant Room, but maybe her mam or Monroe said something that scared her off after we danced at the rehearsal dinner…” My words slow as my father’s words finally click. “Wait, you said that you saw us dance?” When he nods, I curse. “Do you think Monroe did as well?”
My father’s lips purse as he follows my logic. “If he did, he has a better poker face than we thought. But I watched him like a wolf the entire night, and he didn’t notice, I’m sure of it. Although you, yourself, just said he has supporters. And then there was his sister—”
“Fuck.” I yank at my hair and reach for my mobile. “I’ve got to call Merek and—”
The device flashes in my hand and when I read Merek’s name at the top, I quickly accept the call.
“What’ve you got for me?”
“Key, I’ve been trying to call you, man. It’s Lacey,” he speaks quickly and his careful tone makes me sit back down.
My jacket falls from my chair but my father catches it before it hits the ground. He holds on to it and frowns at me, but all my attention focuses on Merek’s shaky voice.
“I was on my way to the Elysian, so I didn’t see right away, but I got notified by the hotel’s security that there was a disturbance reported on Monroe Baron’s floor.”
“Do you think he knows that we broke in?”
“I wondered that, too, so I checked the surveillance we put in tonight. But, Kian, after I thought Lacey was in the clear, he went back inside—”
I’m hopping off the seat and racing out of the bar, but I keep listening as I run.
“I only watched for a second before I called you. But I’ve seen that rage before. Fuck. I’ve already called 9-1-1. That’s all I could do this far away. I can’t watch while I’m on the phone, but if he hasn’t already—”
“Watched what?” My heart stalls in my chest, but I push forward on feet that are way too slow. “Merek, what happened? What’s he doing to Lacey?”
Merek’s pause feels like a lifetime until he swallows and finally answers, “He’s going to kill her, Key… if he hasn’t already.”