"Shit," Connor whispered while the young man walked closer and Connor and Murphy held their hands up in surrender.
"Who the fuck are you?" the young man asked. Connor and Murphy looked at each other then at the young man and something about him seemed familiar.
"Who are you?" Murphy asked.
"Antonio."
"Well, Antonio, I'm Connor an' this is my brudder, Murphy," Connor said.
"Can we put our arms down now?" Murphy asked with a frustrated look.
"No! Why are you here?! Are you fucking cops?!" Antonia demanded.
"Do we look like cops?!" Connor asked.
"We look more like them," Murphy said with a nod of his head toward the painting. Antonia barely turned his head to look at the painting and he frowned.
"No, you don't," Antonio said with a shake of his head.
"If he says it's because we're too old, I swear I'm gonna deck him" Murphy whispered and Connor smiled.
"We're not lyin'. That is us," Connor said.
"When did you go blonde?" Antonio asked.
"Did you really think we'd walk around lookin' like we usually do?!"
"Uh, no, but you two…"
"We're only forty-seven!" Murphy shouted and Connor laughed.
"Shit. Rocco was right. You're a hothead."
"Wait. You knew Rocco?!" Connor asked.
"He was my cousin."
Connor and Murphy looked at each other when something clicked in Connor's head and his eyes widened.
"You're Little Tony?!"
"Yeah."
"Shit, now I do feel old. You were just a tiny baby when all this started," Murphy said with a sigh. Antonio lowered his gun as he walked closer and the twins put their arms down.
"Are you here about what happened to the New Saints?"
"Aye, we are," Connor said.
"Follow me."
They followed him as they walked to the back and they went up the stairs. Antonio opened the door as they walked into the room and the twins scanned the room with their eyes. Murphy walked to the pool table as his mind replayed the time Connor and Doc stood on either side of the pool table and how Murphy had fallen to the floor laughing. Connor walked to stand next to him as he lightly nudged his twin and Murphy looked at him.
"You two ok?" Antonio asked.
"Aye," Connor said with a nod then they turned to look at Antonio. They watched Antonio head for the pinball machine while he picked up the ledger sitting on the pinball machine then he walked back to them. "What's this?"
"This is what the New Saints were doing before…"
They saw the sadness in his eyes as Antonio sighed and Connor opened the ledger. He looked through the pages as his eyes slightly widened and Murphy looked over his brother's shoulder.
"Fuck," Murphy whispered.
"You an' yer friend did all this?" Connor asked and Antonio nodded.
"You actually fed homeless people an' tried t'find them jobs?" Murphy asked.
"Yeah. We also helped abused women and children get the vengeance or help they needed," Antonio said.
"You also took down three drug houses," Connor said with a small grin.
"Well, it was more like we called them in and the cops did the rest."
"Where did you get th'money t'do all this?" Murphy asked.
"Murphy… Our Murphy said he found us a sponsor and the dude gave us the money and a way to help people out."
"Did he tell you who this guy was?" Connor asked.
"Nope, but Murph said he talked funny."
"Funny?" Murphy asked as he tilted his head to one side.
"Like this," Antonio said as he tried to do a British accent and the twins nodded.
"Well, we gotta go. Thank you fer yer help," Connor said as the twins headed for the door.
"Wait! Don't you want me to go with you?!"
"Uh, well, as much as we'd like you t'go with us…," Murphy said and Antonio sighed.
"I get it, Dude. I'm not Rocco."
"Ow," Connor thought as he shook his head then he walked to Antonio.
"You're right. You're not Rocco. But you are helpin' us," Connor said.
"How?!"
"This," he said as he handed Antonio the ledger and Antonio looked at the ledger. "Rocco would be so fuckin' proud of you."
"He's right," Murphy said with a nod.
"Shit," Antonio said with a nod and he held the ledger against his chest. He watched the twins leaving the room when they went downstairs, but Murphy went into the bar to take a photograph of the painting and the words. He had noticed Rocco had been included in the painting as he sadly smiled then he and Connor left the building.
Angel Wings Ranch
Louisa looked at the whiteboard as she examined the photographs and she folded her arms under her breasts. A soft vibration made her remove the cellphone from her back pocket of her jeans and she looked at the screen. She tapped the screen as she looked at the photograph Murphy had sent her and she sadly smiled from seeing Rocco's face on the screen.
"Rocco," she whispered when she went to make a copy of the photograph, but she didn't see Rocco standing at the whiteboard.
"What the fuck is this?" he whispered while he looked at the photograph then he frowned and he titled his head to one side.
Boston
The soft ping filled the air as the elevator doors opened and Murphy and Connor walked in the room. Margaret stood as she walked around the couch and Jessie walked out of the kitchen.
"Did you find anything?" Margaret asked.
"We found a lot," Connor said as he kissed her cheek then he told her about meeting Antonio and what the New Saints were up to. Murphy showed her the photographs as she looked at Rocco and Margaret frowned. "That's Rocco."
"Oh,' she said then she looked at Murphy. "Did you send these to Louisa?"
"Aye," Murphy said with a nod.
"What did you learn?" Connor asked and Margaret explained. "I get why they're not too happy with us, but who are these good men he's talkin' about?"
"I believe he is talking about Detectives Duffy and Dolly."
"Oh. Right. Them."
"What did happen t'them?" Murphy asked,
"I have no idea. I do remember having them arrested after what happened with Smecker," Margaret said.
"Did they end up in jail?" Connor asked.
"No, they would have been taken to…my uncle," Margaret said and Connor saw the anger in her eyes.
"Do you think he did something to them?" Jessie asked.
"I know he did," Margaret said when she thought about something Connor said and she frowned. "Antonio said they had a sponsor?"
"Aye, and he said the guy had a British accent," Murphy said.
"Do you think whoever this guy is might be the one killing them off?" Jessie asked.
"I don't know. I need to do some checking," Margaret said as she walked to the dining table and she opened the lid of her laptop. She went to sit down when she realized Connor was sitting on the chair and she sat on his lap. He slid his arms around her waist as she started typing on the keyboard and he placed his chin on her left shoulder. She looked at the screen while Connor gently rubbed her stomach and a cool tingle moved through her.
"I can't concentrate when you do that," she whispered and he softly chuckled.
"Sorry," he whispered then he noticed his twin rolling his eyes. Connor flipped him off as Murphy shrugged then he went to sit at the table. Jessie sat across the table from him and Margaret lightly tapped Connor's stomach with her elbow to tell him to sit back. Connor sat back as she leaned back against him and she sighed.
"It appears the New Saints weren't the only ones with a sponsor. The Reapers had a sponsor as well," Margaret said.
"What about the other groups?" Jessie asked.
"I need to check, but I have a feeling they had a sponsor as well."
"Someone had t'be payin' them so they could buy shit," Connor said.
"Aye," Murphy said with a nod.
Margaret sat up as she typed on the keyboard and she looked at the screen. Connor sat up behind her as he held her around her waist and she gently patted his hands.
"If I can't find any more information, I guess we'll have to head for Dublin and see what we can find there," Margaret said.
"By we, you mean us, too, right?" Connor asked.
"Yes," she said, rubbing the back of his hands. She noticed the email icon was flashing as well as the chat icon, but she ignored them and she looked at the information on the screen.
"Why are they flashin' like that?" he asked as he pointed at the email and chat icons.
"I guess my uncle's trying to get hold of me."
"Oh."
"You gonna see what he wants?" Murphy asked.
"When I find the time," Margaret said. Murphy glanced at Connor as his twin barely shook his head and Murphy barely nodded his head.
"Find anythin'?" Connor asked.
"Yes. It appears the Reapers were on the list of contacts my uncle used to keep abreast of what was going on in London."
"They were his snitches?"
"It appears so."
"That would piss off their sponsor."
"Yes, it would."
"Then maybe what happened t'the Reapers has nothin' t'do with th'rest of them. Their sponsor found out they were snitchin' t'yer uncle an' th'sponsor had them killed," Murphy said.
"Maybe."
"No maybes about it. T'their sponsor, they were traitors," Connor said.
"He's got a point," Murphy said.
Margaret looked at the screen when she sighed and she nudged Connor softly in the stomach to tell him to sit back. He sat back as she leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her. Murphy got up when he headed for the elevator and he pushed the call button.
"Where're you goin'?" Connor asked.
"Just need some air," Murphy said as he walked in the elevator car after the door opened and he walked into the elevator car. They watched the doors close as Margaret looked at Connor and he shrugged.
Unknown location
Morgan could barely open his eyes as he looked at the darkness and he began to wonder if he was truly blind. He listened to the sound of the heavy footsteps moving closer as he felt a slight dipping in the darkness and he felt the warm breath on his face.
"You really are enjoying this, aren't you?" a voice asked and Morgan kept trying to figure out who was speaking.
"Yeah," the other voice said and Morgan's brain clicked onto something.
"I…know…you," Morgan said, slightly breathless.
"Finally figured it out, hunh?"
"You…are…dead."
"Is that a treat or are you just telling me something I already know?"
"They…will…find…you."
"Who are you talking about?"
"The…Saints."
"Those assholes?"
"They…are…not…someone…you…should…take…lightly."
Morgan heard a snort then a sudden impact to his face as he moaned and the world went black.
Boston
The church door opened while Connor walked inside and he quietly closed the door. He walked down the aisle when he saw his twin sitting on the pew and Murphy had his eyes closed. The rosary was laced between his fingers as Murphy lightly kissed the beads and he slowly opened his eyes. Connor sat down next to him as they looked at the cross and the statue of Christ and Murphy glanced at Connor.
"How did you know where I went?" Murphy asked, softly.
"Just a guess," Connor said, softly. They sat in silence as Connor removed the rosary from under his shirt and the cross slid down his chest after he let go of the beads.
"Remember when we started all this? We just wanted t'make a difference," Murphy said then he made a deep sigh.
"We did."
"But it feels like it wasn't enough."
"Aye, it does feel like that. But we have t'remember what our lives were like before we got th'callin'."
"It wasn't that bad. We got up, one of us showered while th'other shaved an' brushed their teeth then we switched, we got dressed, we had breakfast or jus' some coffee, we went to th'train station t'get th'train, went t'work, had lunch an' a smoke break, finished work, changed outta our work clothes, took a shower t'get th'smell an' blood off, got dressed, got th'train home, had dinner or ordered out, went t'McGinty's, got drunk, somehow got home and went t'bed or we jus' stayed home an' watched a movie on tv. Th'only thing which changed was when Lou came back into our lives. Then we did things t'cheer her up an' made her bein' blind easier."
"She made us goin' into exile easier after we killed Yakavetta."
"Aye," Murphy said with a nod then he looked up at the statue. "Shit. I hate feelin' like this."
"I know," Connor said. Murphy leaned into his twin as Connor slid his right arm around him while Murphy placed his head against his twin's head and they looked at the statue. "Were you prayin' fer answers?"
"Aye, but I think th'line's busy."
Connor gave him a small smile while Murphy tried not to laugh and Connor shook his head.
"Wanna go get drunk?" Connor asked.
"If it's ok with you, I jus' wanna sit here fer a little while longer."
Nodding, Connor gently hugged his twin's right shoulder and both of them closed their eyes.
The soft ping filled the air as Connor and Murphy walked in the room and Connor smiled as Margaret walked toward them with her arms out. He frowned as she hugged Murphy instead of him and Murphy softly laughed.
"You alright?" Margaret asked, moving back.
'Aye. I jus' needed t'clear my head," Murphy said, running his fingers through his hair.
"Well, I was able to get us a flight to Dublin. It leaves in three hours. So, go get packed."
He gave her cheek a small kiss as he walked down the hallway and Connor crossed his arms over his chest. Margaret saw the hurt look in his eyes as she walked to him then she gave him a hug.
"Did you get in contact with yer uncle?" Connor asked.
"No, and the reason why is because all he will do is belittle me or demand to know what is taking so long," Margaret said and he kissed the side of her head. He moved back as he looked toward the bookcase and he pressed his lips into a tight line. "What's wrong?"
"Nothin's wrong. I was jus' wonderin' if I can take summat with me."
"Connor, we do not need rope," she teased and he lightly laughed, rolling his eyes.
"Not that."
"Then what do you want to take with us?"
"There's this revolver that I've wanted t'try out. It's th'one with th'pearl handle."
"I know which one you're talking about. But do you really think we can smuggle a gun through airport security?"
"Uh. No."
"I will tell you this. If you are a good boy, I will ask Father Christmas to bring you one," she teased then she yelped as he lifted her into his arms and he carried her down the hallway.
Dublin, Ireland
Margaret led the way as Connor pushed the luggage cart and Murphy walked behind him. Margaret came to a stop when she saw Louisa waiting for them and Margaret turned to look back at Murphy.
"Murphy, it looks like someone's here to welcome you home," Margaret said.
Murphy had been looking only at the back of Connor's head when Murphy stepped to his right then his eyes widened under his sunglasses when he saw Louisa. He ran to his wife when he lifted Louisa off the floor and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his waist. Neither of them cared about the stares and smiles people were giving them and Connor walked to his wife.
"Have I told you lately how amazin' you are?" Connor whispered and Margaret lightly shoved him. He pushed the luggage cart toward Louisa and Murphy when Connor leaned over to kiss Louisa's cheek then he walked outside. Jessie and Margaret walked by them as Louisa looked at Murphy and he lightly adjusted his hold on her.
"Are you going to put me down now?" Louisa asked as she placed her forehead against Murphy's forehead.
"Nope," Murphy said while he started walking and they went to catch up with the others.
The soft ping filled the air while the doors opened and Margaret led them into the room. Murphy held Louisa's hand as they headed for the couch and Connor slid his arm around Margaret's waist.
"So, what now?" Connor asked.
"I'm going to call the Chief Superintendent to make an appointment to speak with them," Margaret said while she moved away from him then she looked over at the bookcase. "Why don't you go check out the armory."
Connor looked at the bookcase as a smile spread over his lips then he walked to the couch, lightly smacking the back of Murphy's head. Murphy glared at him as he rubbed the back of his head and Connor pointed to the bookcase. Murphy stood as he followed his twin to the bookcase and Connor looked at the books. He moved the book with the title upside down as the bookcase moved back and they both heard music in their heads. The lights came up as they stepped in the room and they looked at the guns, knives and other weapons. Jessie and Louisa joined them as Murphy looked at the smaller crossbow then he handed crossbow to Louisa.
"Do you think you're going to need this?" Louisa asked, looking at the crossbow.
"Only if we're goin' huntin'," he said as he picked up the Bowie knife and he smiled.
"Yes!" Connor said as he turned around and he held up a revolver with a pearl handle. He twirled the revolver around his finger when he pointed the revolver at Murphy and Murphy sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Settle down, Cowboy, before you shoot yourself in the foot," Louisa teased and Connor flipped her off before placing the revolver into the back of his jeans.
"Boys and their toys," Jessie said as they laughed and the twins frowned.
"These are not toys," Connor said.
"An' we're not boys," Murphy said and Connor nodded, placing his right elbow on Murphy's left shoulder.
"If you say so," Louisa teased as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Are they havin' a laugh at us, Brudder?" Connor asked.
"I believe they are," Murphy agreed. After Connor placed the revolver back on the shelf, he and Murphy chased Louisa and Jessie out of the room and the door slowly behind them.
Unknown location
Jordan felt someone shaking her when she opened her eyes to darkness and she sighed. She sat up when the large hands rested on her shoulders and she felt warm breath on her face.
"Hello," the low voice said.
"Hello," she said and she reached out with her hands. She felt something solid against her palms as she heard a soft laugh and the long fingers stroked her hands. "Sorry. Just checking to see if you're real."
"I assure you I am very real."
"I think I know who you are."
"I see."
She felt the darkness shift as she stood up and she heard heavy footsteps moving in the darkness.
"Please. Don't leave," she said and she heard the tremble in her voice.
"I wasn't' leaving. I am just trying to figure out what I did wrong."
Jordan held her arms out as she tried to find the voice when her hands felt something solid and she moved her hands down then around whatever it was in front of her. She moved closer when she felt the rise and fall of someone breathing and she placed her forehead against it.
"You didn't do anything wrong," she whispered. She felt the long fingers moving over the back of her hands as she felt the breathing deepen then relax and she felt whoever it was in front of her turning around. She felt the long fingers lift her chin up as the soft lips touched her lips and she slid her arms around whoever it was in front of her. She deepened the kiss as she felt whoever it was giggling against her lips and she rubbed their back.
"I have done something wrong. I have not let you see me," the low voice said.
"You don't have to."
She felt the large hands touch hers as whoever it was brought her hands to the front then gently lift them upwards. She felt the soft skin against her fingertips as she moved them upward and she felt smooth skin under her left fingertips and what she thought were scars under her right fingertips.
"Am I hurting you?" she whispered.
"No," the low voice whispered.
Her fingers moved over the soft skin and the scars as she blinked the tears out of her eyes and she felt the tears being wiped away.
"Hey!" made her move back as she heard a soft growl and she slowly started walking backward toward whatever it was she had been lying on.
"What is it?!" the low voice demanded.
"We have a problem."
"What sort of problem?!"
"It's the old guy. I think he's dead."
"Damn!"
Jordan sat down hard on something as she listened to the footsteps faded then she went on her left side, pulled her legs up and she started sobbing.
