Chapter 17: Fate

Teagan's body shook with anger and a little fear as she struggled against her captor. The blood running from her nose had travelled into her mouth, and it was all she could taste. The boys and Rocco were in front of her, and she struggled to not make any sounds as they were pummelled and beaten by Papa Joe's men. Murphy had made her swear that she wouldn't break or crumble, she couldn't display her weakness for the boys, Murph especially, to the bad guys, otherwise they would play on it and torture her for information.

Connor and Murphy had been handcuffed to their chairs, and blood poured from their beautiful faces as the henchmen continued to punch and smack every inch of them they could reach. Rocco was being held down in his chair, as two men restrained him. Teagan had been given different treatment the moment the henchmen realised she was a woman; they'd immediately scooped her up after the Saints had walked into the trap, and kept muttering in her ear about all the plans they had for her, and it made her stomach turn. She had tried to escape by kicking the burly man who held her in the nuts, but all that had earnt her was a punch to the face, making her world spin and her nose bleed, and for the boys to become even more riled up.

"Ya get yer fuckin' hands offa her!" Murphy roared, spitting blood onto the hard ground. He received a punch to the stomach as punishment, and Teagan choked back a sob.

"I swear ta God ya better not do anyting else ta her!" Connor bellowed, his head snapping to the side as he took a punch to the jaw. Teagan struggled and sobbed quietly.

"Ssh, ssh honey" the fat man holding her stroked her cheek in what was supposed to be a soothing way, but it made bile rise in Teagan's throat. She turned her head and spat in his face, causing him to roar in anger, and throw her to the ground roughly. Another man picked her up and wrapped his hand around her throat, lifting her small frame off the ground and choking the air out of her body as the boys all yelled and thrashed around in their chairs. Papa Joe entered the room and bellowed in Italian, causing everyone to stop yelling immediately, and Teagan felt the hand around her throat loosen and she gasped for breath. Papa Joe continued to speak in soft tones as he bent down in front of Rocco, chuckling slightly. Teagan and the boys ceased making any noise, but they all still struggled against their captors. Papa Joe's eyes locked onto Teagan for a second and an evil smirk crept across his face.

"Bella" he cooed "Cuff her to the drainpipe behind them, I've got plans for you, my darling, and I don't think your boyfriends here will want to witness them" he chuckled darkly and Teagan glared at him as she was dragged to a drain pipe at the back of the room, and her arms pulled up above her head roughly as she was cuffed, the metal digging into her pale flesh. Papa Joe nodded approvingly, and turned back to Rocco.

"You have some answers for me, no?" Papa Joe asked Rocco, who stared at the man in front of him before breathing out his answer.

"Fuck you"

Papa Joe straightened up, nodding slightly to the man who was holding Rocco's right arm. The arm was raised and Papa Joe pressed his gun against the bottom of Rocco's ring and little fingers. Teagan's eyes widened in horror.

"Roc, look at me! Look at me!" bellowed Connor as Rocco panicked and struggled, and Murphy roared in anger. Teagan screamed as the gun shot echoed around the small room, and blood splattered Connor's face as the mobster blew off Rocco's fingers. Rocco yelped in pain, yelling uncontrollably, thrashing in his chair, as the mobsters left the room. "Roc, you'll be fine!" Connor yelled, managing to keep completely still.

"Fuck you!" Teagan roared angrily, struggling against the cuffs, rattling against the pipe. She thrashed her body around, trying in vain to break the chains, but to no avail. Murphy thrashed in his chair, yelling for Teagan, for Rocco and his brother. The door slammed shut and the four of them continued to yell and struggle for what felt like hours. Teagan stilled for a moment, but she noticied the door opening once more, before any of the boys did, and her heart stopped as Papa Joe walked in, his eyes set on Rocco and his gun at his side.

"No…no…no!" she whimpered, rattling her chains against the pipe. The boys heads snapped up.

"God! No!" Connor roared as Papa Joe raised his gun.

"ROCCO!" Teagan screamed as the bullet tore through her friend's chest, the force of it causing his chair to topple backwards and his body to crash to the floor. Teagan continued to scream, squeezing her eyes shut, trying to block out what had to be a nightmare. This couldn't be happening, this couldn't be happening….

Connor repeatedly yelled his friends name, staring down at him in shock, his voice breaking with tears, as Murphy roared like a wounded animal, thrashing around so violently he toppled his own chair over. He wiggled around on the floor, moving himself close to Rocco, who was gasping and bleeding profusely.

"No! No! No!" Teagan yelled over and over again, the tears pouring down her cheeks. "Roc! Hold on!" she panicked, twisting her body every which way to try and escape from the cuffs. Murphy blinked hard, trying to stop the tears falling as he laid next to his friend.

"You cant…stop…you'll get outta here….dont ever stop" Rocco gasped, trying to hold on for as long as he could. His breathing stuttered and stopped, and his head fell to the side. He was gone.

"No! Roc! You motherfuckers!" Connor yelled, unable to tear his eyes away.

"Rocco…" Teagan whimpered, as she sobbed uncontrollably. Murphy let out a broken yell and began to thrash around again. Teagan's heart broke as she watched him. She had never seen him cry before. He sobbed loudly, the anger evident in his voice.

"No! I'm gonna kill every last one of you motherfuckers!" he screamed, burying his face into Rocco's chest. Teagan could do nothing but sob and scream, letting her body go limp.

"We gotta get outta here" Connor said weakly, his voice breaking still. Murphy and Teagan nodded in agreement. Teagan watched as the boys wiggled their leg cuffs down and off the chair legs carefully. Murphy moved his chair in front of his brother, and moved his cuffs up his arms, taking his sweater into his mouth.

"Do it!" he yelled through the clothing, gesturing for his brother to kick and break his arm so he could slip out of the cuffs.

"Murphy-" Teagan began and Connor hesitated for a second.

"DO IT!" Murphy roared and Teagan squeezed her eyes shut as Connor raised his leg, delivering a siwft kick to Murph's arm. Murphy grunted and groaned as Connor kicked him once, twice more until the bones cracked. Teagan felt sick. Murphy was pale and sweaty, but he moved and uncuffed himself from the chair. "Don't worry, Teagan, we'll get you out in a minute"

"Well I'm clearly not going anywhere yet am I?" she said sarcastically, rattling the cuffs for added effect. Murphy rolled his eyes and hid behind the wall next to the door, waiting for the next henchman to stroll in. Which he did, five minutes later, a look of confusion etched on his face as he noticed Murphy was missing.

"What the fu-"

Murphy jumped out from behind the wall and viciously stabbed the man in the back, throwing him the floor and Connor jumped up, still handcuffed to the chair, and proceed to kick the man in the stomach. Once he was dead, Murphy frisked the body for the keys to the cuffs, and uncuffed his brother and fiancée.

"Are ye alrigh'?" he whispered, cupping Teagan's face in his bloody hand. Teagan nodded, rubbing her wrists gingerly. Her eyes cast over to Rocco's body.

"We should…." She whispered, and the boys nodded solemnly. Together they gently picked up their friends body and sat him back in the chair. Teagan kissed his forehead as she gently placed the pennies over his eyes. The three of them knelt down in front of Rocco's body, and bowed their heads. Teagan stayed silent and let the tears slip as the boys recited their family prayer.

Then they heard a gun click behind them. The boys immediately ceased talking, and all three of them turned around, their guns drawn at the person who had dared enter the room at this moment in time. Teagan's breath caught in her throat as she realised the elderly man who had shot at them before was stood there, leaning against the wall, his weapons put away.

"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." The man spoke in a soft Irish lilt, similar to the boys. All three of the young ones frowned in confusion, and the boys lowered their guns as the man stepped forward, placing a cigar in his mouth. "In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti" he drew a crucifix with his hands as he spoke, and then placed a hand on either boys shoulder. They looked up at the man with unreadable expressions on their faces.

Then it clicked.

The man stood in front of them was Noah Macmanus, the boys long lost father. Teagan lowered her gun, and smiled softly.

OOOO Three Months Later OOOO

Greenly tapped on the back windows of the police riot van, once Smecker had given him the all clear. Noah MacManus sprung out from the van, closely followed by his sons and Teagan. Today was the day Papa Joe stood trial. And today was the day the Saints would finish this once and for all.

Noah led the three young ones into the courthouse, throwing their guns up and over the metal detector, as they swiftly walked through the marble hallways. None of them said a word, dressed in their black coats and glasses, and none of them looked at each other. They climbed the staircase to the courtrooms quickly, and while the boys and Noah went through the main doors, Teagan made her way to the upper levels, knowing that Papa Joe's men would be sitting in the upper seats, as well as court security. Teagan burst through the door as the same time as the boys, sending the packed courtroom into a screaming frenzy. The boys and Noah yelled at everyone down below, whilst Teagan bellowed at security.

"Drop de fuckin' guns down der!" she gestured to the lower floor "Now!"

The security men exchanged scared looks and obeyed, throwing their guns down to Connor. Murphy had taken hold of Yakavetta, and threw him to his knees in front of the entire courtroom, pressing his gun to his head. Connor joined his brother as Noah took care of the judge. Teagan stood in the upper level, keeping a close watch on everyone. Whilst the boys had insisted she be a part in taking care of Yakavetta, she had declined, reasoning that the boys should carry out this final kill with their father. She was more than happy to step aside. Noah threw the judge to the back of the room, glancing around at the frightened and confused public. He quickly glanced upwards to Teagan and gave her a small nod and smile, before starting to speak.

"You people have been chosen to reveal our existence to de world! You will witness what happens here today, and you will tell of it later!" he paused, looking around "All eyes to de front." He commanded. Yakavetta glanced up at his men, being held hostage by Teagan.

"Nows a good time to fucking-" he began, but was quickly silenced by a swift kick to the back from Murphy, which sent him hurtling face down to the floor.

"Shut yer fuckin' mouth!" Connor yelled, as Murphy roughly picked up the Italian and brought him back up to his knees. Teagan watched as Noah approached a red haired girl kneeling on the floor. She visibly trembled and kept her eyes down. Noah tilted her chin up.

"Ye must watch, dear" he said softly. "It'll all be over soon"

The fire alarm rang in the distance, and the boys moved from behind Yakavetta, moving into the crowd as their father replaced them. They stood on the counters above the crowd, and aimed their guns to their sides. The crowd beagn to panick once more, ducking and screaming. Teagan mimicked the boys, keeping a watchful eye out.

"Now you will receive us!" Connor shouted

"We do not ask for ye poor, or hungry!" Murphy followed

"We do not want your tired, and sick!" Teagan exclaimed, drawing eyes to her.

"It is your corrupt we claim!" yelled Murphy, his eyes darting over the crowd and once up to Teagan.

"It is your evil that will be saught by us!" Connor copied his brother's movements.

"With every breath we shall hunt them down!" Murphy explained.

"Each day, we will spill their blood until it rains from the skies!" Connor's voice was shaking with anger and authority.

"Do not kill, do not rape, do not steal, these are principles, which every man of every faith can embrace!" Teagan warned, glancing at the shaking people around her.

"These are not polite suggestions! These are codes of behaviour and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost!" Connor threatened the crowd, the rage etched upon his face.

"There are varying degrees of evil. We urge you lesser forms of filth, not to push the bounds and cross over into true corruption, into our domain!" Murphy warned.

"But if you do you, one day you will look behind you and you will see we four, and on that day, you will reap it. And we will send you to whatever God you wish!" roared Teagan, as the boys hopped down and joined their father, their guns pointed to Papa Joe's head. "Stay down!" Teagan hissed to the men beside her, brandishing her gun at them.

Noah and his boys recitied their family prayer as Yakavetta began to yell in Italian. Teagan caught Smecker looking in through the smallest crack in the main door, his eyes locked on what was happening up front. As they finished their prayer, three shots were heard, and Yakavetta's body fell to the floor, and everyone began to scream and run towards the nearest exit. The panicked crowds allowed the four to escape unnoticed and slip away into lower Boston.

A few hours later, they were sat in Noah's small apartment, in silence. Murphy and Teagan sat on the small sofa, their hands gently holding one another's, whilst Connor stretched out on the small bed. Noah sat in his armchair, puffing away on his cigar.

"How far are we gonna take dis, Da?" Connor asked. Noah exhaled the heavy smoke and sat forward.

"The question is not how far. The question is, do you possess the constitution to go as far as is needed?"

Teagan swallowed hard and looked at her boys. Murphy squeezed her hand and Connor nodded gently.

"We do."