I spent the next day with Aislinn, first in her apartment, then later at Madra Dubh. It was a nice change of pace to be away from the boys for a while, even though I knew exactly what they were up to.
After a few strong drinks, I worked up the courage to bring up the topic we had both been avoiding all day.
"You have to come with us."
"Ye know I can't do that. Like I told Connor, I 'ave stuff I 'ave ta take care of 'ere."
"I thought the same thing at first, but here I am, in a foreign country for Christ's sake!"
"Lord's name." She laughed. "Some of us aren't so lucky."
"Bullshit. If you really wanted to leave, you could." She started to walk back behind the bar. "There's something your not telling us, isn't there?" She stopped on her heels and slowly spun back around.
"I didn't want ta say anythin'. Promise ye wont tell Connor or Murph?"
"I promise."
"Okay, well…"
From the backroom of the restaurant, they waited. O'Sullivan and his lackeys had had the funeral earlier today and agreed to meet Aislinn at this restaurant to discuss what happened at the fight.
The restaurant, like most places in Kenmare, was under protection of the Deartháireacha Dorcha. They had used that status to have the restaurant closed for a quiet meeting. Only the chef, a waiter, and a few kitchen aids were here. Romeo and the Saints had showed up early to clear the kitchen.
"Fuckin' 'ell, Conn! Ye think we could o' found an easier way ta do this?" Murphy tried to keep his irritation in check by keeping his voice low. They were forced to bind all of the employees in rope and duct tape and piled the workers in the far corner of the pantry.
"Shut yer 'ole! We're all anxious, Murph'. I promise, we'll get outta 'ere and git outta 'ere safe wid Rebecca."
"What about Aislinn?"
"She knows what we 'ave ta do. She understands we can't stay after this."
"She didn't want ta come with us?"
"You know 'er." He shrugged. Murphy did. He also knew his twin. Connor didn't want to give up on Aislinn that easily, but he also couldn't leave his twin. "Spewed some shit about not bein' able ta leave the bar. I think it 'as somethin' ta do wid 'er brother, too."
"She'll come 'round." Murphy tried to comfort his twin, knowing from experience how it felt to leave the girl he loved. "I hope Rom's okay out there." Murphy muttered his concern for their new companion. He was hold up behind the maitre d' booth, waiting for their company to arrive in order for the men to be completely surrounded.
Connor brought his finger up to his lips, signaling his brother to hush for the moment. He heard muttering by the door.
Just then, the front door to the restaurant opened and some familiar faces sauntered in.
Connor peaked through the porthole window in the swinging door to the kitchen. "Show time." Connor winked. They quietly shuffled and dropped behind the service counter where the cooks placed orders ready to be served. Romeo stayed hidden behind the maitre d' desk.
"So you are saying we have no leads?" They recognized the voice of Sean
O'Sullivan before they saw his face. The men were speaking in Irish about the death of Liam O'Sullivan.
"No, boss. We talked to everyone there. No one saw anything."
"That's bullshit. I know those twins are to blame. I just feel it. They come to town and the very next day my brother is killed? It's no fucking coincidence if you ask me. They want me to come down, I'm not gonna do it without a fight."
"Where is everyone?" An unfamiliar voice asked.
In that moment Connor and Murphy popped up from behind the counter, guns blazing. Romeo came up behind Sean and drug him to his knees at gunpoint while Murphy and Connor pointed and shot, taking the nine men out in no time, them being taken completely off guard, most of them didn't even have time to unsheathe their own weapons in retaliation.
O'Sullivan was screaming a flurry of things as his life flashed before his eyes. "I kin't believe ye fucks! Yer the one's what killed me brudder!? I'll fuckin' kill the lot o' ye! Let me up!"
"If I were you, I wouldn't be so sad. Yer gonna join yer brother." Romeo said, moving aside as Murphy and Connor dropped iron to the back of O'Sullivan's head and began to pray. "And Shepherds we shall be. For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand. Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Et Spiritus Sancti." There were two quick shots.
Then the restaurant went silent.
After her shift was over, Aislinn and I walked the few blocks back to her apartment. It was dark out, disturbingly quiet, also.
Back in her apartment, we decided to have a grown-up slumber party, complete with wine and movies. We didn't think we would be able to sleep until the boys came back, but at some point we passed out.
Just before sunrise we were awakened to a rapping at Aislinn's front door. She leapt up from the pile of blankets and pillows we had covering the floor and was greeted by Connor, Murphy, and Romeo at the door. The trio looked no worse for wear, just tired. Aislinn leapt into Connor's arms and he held her hair. "It's done, lass. Ye'll be safe now."
"I'm comin' with ye." She mumbled into his neck. "I've changed m'mind. I can't stay 'ere alone knowin' ye still care about me." Connor, obviously overwhelmed with joy and sleep deprivation, pinned Aislinn between his hips and the wall, covering her with fervent kisses.
Murphy found his way over to me, still half-asleep on the floor and kissed my forehead. In my sleepy daze I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him down into the fortress of pillows around me and his lips fell to mine.
"Oh, this is just great. Fifth-fucking-wheel again. Where the hell am I supposed to find a girl?" Romeo muttered, walking to the kitchen and finding himself a beer.