I pulled the heavy panels closed and went for the door. Our butler was about to open it.
"Let me," I said. The remaining six of my father's men were on the other side.
"Erin, thank God you're alive," Ryan said. Play it cool, I told myself.
"Why would I not be?" I asked.
"Someone shot up the tea shop. Everybody's dead, including your dad," he said. The pain was still real.
"What? When?" I asked.
"Maybe half an hour ago. We went in there looking for your dad and found the bloodbath," Aidan added. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Who's dead?"
"Seven with your dad. Nick, Kieran, Sean, Daniel, Kevin, and Ricket," Ryan said. Now was the time to send them after Taylor. Revenge was sweet.
"Not Taylor?" I asked. "He's not with you." They looked around. Sure enough, he was nowhere in sight.
"He was here before," said Tim.
"Maybe he said something to the wrong people. You know how he has a big mouth when he's drunk," I said.
"He wouldn't do that, would he?" Aidan asked. They muttered among themselves as I stood there.
"At this point, I'd believe anything," I said. "Doesn't hurt to find him and ask."
"I bet he said something. I never did like him," Ryan said.
"Go," I told them. "I'll be fine here."
"Are you sure?" he asked, squeezing my shoulder. I gave him a half smile.
"I'll be okay. It had to happen one day, didn't it?" I said.
"You're a strong girl, Angel. You'll go far," he said.
"Thanks, Ryan. You lead them. That's my gift to you," I said. He smiled.
"Thank you,"
"My dad would have wanted it this way," I said. They quickly drove off to find Taylor. I only wished I could have seen it when they caught up with him. I walked back to the living room and opened the door.
"You can come out now, they're gone," I said. Connor crawled out from behind the desk. Murphy squeezed out behind the bookcase and Patri popped up behind the couch.
"I sent them after Taylor. They'll probably catch up with him pretty quickly," I said.
"Why not let us find him?" Connor asked.
"This is a matter of honor, not good and evil. Taylor gave up his when he told you where we were. This will give them closure," I told him.
"So what about you? Gonna stay in this big house all by yourself?" Murphy questioned.
"I have to stick around to inherit the money. Once it's mine, I have to start running," I said.
"Why? Who would be chasing you?" asked Connor.
"Taylor. He wants my dad's money. He knows the only way to get to it now is through me. He was probably betting that you'd kill me in the fight, but word will get out I'm alive. That means he just lost millions of dollars. I figure I might as well get a head start," I said.
"Then run with us. He'll never guess you're with us," Murphy suggested. I looked into his eyes. It was still kind of disturbing what I saw in there. For someone who just killed seven people, there was kindness. I had never really thought about it before then. Maybe it was just the way he looked at me. I shook my head in an effort to refocus.
"Someday he will," I said.
"Possibly," said Murphy. I wasn't sure I could walk away. Leave behind the house I'd grown up in and the men who were like my uncles and brothers. Leave everything that ever meant something to me. Then I realized it was all gone. I had nothing to leave. I looked back into Murphy's brown eyes. My future was there.
"Let me bury him and then I'll come with you," I said. "Until then, I really don't want to see any of you."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Connor asked.
"I don't really care. I need to say goodbye and I can't do it with his killers standing over my shoulder," I said.
"If that is your wish, we'll abide by it," Patri said. I was waiting for one of the boys to protest, but he had a hand on each of their arms.
"We'll show ourselves out," he said. I gave a slow nod. Connor didn't look at me as they walked out, but Murphy kept looking over his shoulder. I smiled to myself. What a mess I'd gotten myself into in the past hour.
Two days later, I stood at the cemetery with Ryan's arm around my shoulder. The other five men stood around as they lowered the coffin in. I'd cried nonstop for the past 48 hours. My face was practically raw. I'd cried myself out by the time I reached this point. Ryan gave me a reassuring squeeze. I was glad to have him here. I hated to leave him behind. As we walked back to the car, I broke the news to him.
"I'm going away for a while," I said.
"Where?" he asked.
"I'm not sure. I just need to get away from here. The thing is, I don't know if I'll ever be back," I told him. He gave me a surprised look.
"Erin, I don't think that's a good idea. What about the business?" he asked.
"You're the boss now. Dad left very explicit instructions and money to keep it going. If you want to, that is. If not, that's okay," I said.
"What if we need you?" he asked.
"If you need me, I trust that you can find me. I have faith in you," I said.
"I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?" he said. I shook my head.
"Not this time," I said. I hugged him. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too," he said. "Angel,"
"I wish I'd gotten to tell Sean I didn't really hate that name," I said, feeling myself tear up again.
"He knows," Ryan said. "Just because they're dead doesn't mean they're gone. They know how you feel and what you're thinking. Life wouldn't be worth living if people just disappeared."
"I hope you're right," I said. As we walked up the hill, I saw Murphy leaning against our car. He was wearing an old black tee shirt and worn jeans. He smiled when he saw me. I looked at Ryan.
"Wait here," I said. He nodded. I walked over to Murphy.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Thought I'd see if you wanted a ride home," he said.
"You're leaning against it," I said.
"Then would you like some company?" he asked. I smiled.
"I have some, thank you," I replied. He looked over my shoulder at Ryan.
"Your bodyguard?" he teased. I shook my head.
"An old friend," He gave a knowing nod.
"Is that a hint I should get lost?" he said.
"If he knew who you were, you'd be dead already," I told him. "I think it would be better if you and the other two showed up later tonight."
"If you say so," said Murphy, putting his hands in his pockets. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but he just smiled and walked away. Ryan came up behind me.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"He owes us a favor," I replied. Ryan opened the car door for me.
"I see," he said.