Chapter 14: Il Duce
"We have ta go now, Katie," Connor said.
"I know," I responded. "I'm supposed to meet Duffy and Greenly at McGinty's soon. Do you have time to walk me there?"
"Aye, we don't want ya walking there alone," Murphy said. He helped me on with my coat and pulled my hair out of the collar.
"Let's go," Connor laced his fingers in mine and we took the familiar walk to McGinty's.
We were greeted with cheers walking into the bar. I smiled seeing the familiar faces. Duffy and Greenly sat at the bar. I smiled and sat down between them.
"Ya gonna be ok, Katie?" Murphy asked.
"Two hot Irish cops not a bad trade," I smiled.
"We'll be back for her later," Connor said to them. "Don't want ta see any new marks on her there Green been."
"Ha ha, very funny," Greenly responded.
"G'bye, Katie," they said in unison then kissed me on the cheek. Rocco, Connor and Murphy walked out of the bar.
"What are ya drinking?" Duffy asked.
A wide smile crossed my face, "Doc give me a pint of Murphy."
"How did you meet them?" Greenly asked me. He had the strongest Boston accent I had ever heard. And I'd lived in Boston my entire life.
"I've know them since right before high school. They had just moved back from Ireland," I answered.
"You fucking 'em both?" Greenly asked.
"A little tact there, Greenly," Duffy stated. "Forgive my partner."
"It's ok," I responded, "And yes." I gave Greenly a wink.
"And you're sure you don't want to throw in a cop just for a little variety?" Greenly asked.
"Only if Duffy here is offering," I responded. Duffy's ears turned red.
I finished my second beer when Smecker marched in. The look on his face changed the mood. Something was seriously wrong.
"How long ago did they leave?" he asked me.
"About an hour ago," I said, "What's wrong?"
"Every fucking gun in the city will be there," he said.
"Oh fuck!" I exclaimed. I made my way with Smecker out the door.
"Wait," Greenly called, "They told us to keep an eye on ya." I pulled the gun out of the back of my belt and shoved him against the bar.
"I can handle it," I responded. He held his hands up in surrender and I continued out the door.
"Wow, Papa Joe lives here?" I asked Smecker as we got out of the car. It was the biggest house I had ever seen.
"Almost makes me want to reconsider my line of work," Smecker replied, "Open a few more buttons on your top." He straightened his wig and adjusted his padded boobs.
"Can you see my gun?" I asked. I had it attached to my thigh under my skirt. Smecker shook his head. I hadn't shown this much skin outside the privacy of my home before. I would do what ever I had to for them.
"Just follow my lead," Smecker softly tapped on the door. A large Italian man opened the door and gawked at us.
"Joey Bevo sent us over," Smecker said in a feminine voice, "As entertainment."
"Sorry, ladies," he said as his eyes lingered on my exposed cleavage, "The shit is really hitting the fan in there. Ya know what I mean?" Smecker inches close to him and I follow suit. "Fuckin' Bevo's great he's always sending us primo box." Smecker wrapped slowly slides his hands around the Italian's neck and gives him a passionate kiss. "Alright let's go."
We follow the Italian inside. The house was just as impressive inside as it was out.
"What the fuck are you doing?" another Italian said.
"I haven't been laid in a week," the first one said, "It'll take like five minutes." He lead Smecker into the bathroom. I stayed behind.
"Maybe you could keep me company?" I said as seductively as I could muster to the second man.
"Ok baby come with me," he said and I followed him down the hall. I peered down the steps. He shoved me against the wall and started pawing at me.
"Wait," I said as he slid his hand up my thigh. I pulled the gun out and fired. The man was on the ground.
I walked around the corner. I saw Il Duce hit Smecker in the back of the head. Gun in hand I raise it toward the old man. Quietly he turned and looked at me.
He spoke with a soft Irish accent, "This is no place for a young lass like yourself." His voice had a calming effect. Much like the boys, I was here to protect.
"I won't let you hurt them," I said.
"I've got a job to do, lass," he replied.
"The men you work for, they're evil," I felt my eyes start to water, "They kill innocent people. And the boys…my boys they kill those sons of bitches."
"Ya sound as though ya love these men," he noted.
"I do," I responded. "Please don't, don't hurt them."
"Wha' if I let ya pick just one?" he asked.
"I'd die than let either of them be hurt," I answered.
"Aye lass," he said, "Come let's find them."
"You're not gonna hurt them?" I asked.
"Against my better judgment, I could never say no to a beautiful woman," he answered, "Especially one with a gun."
I follow quietly behind him down the steps to the basement. My heart stops when I hear their familiar voices. Il Duce walks in a head of me. I see Connor and Murphy kneeling in front of Rocco. I closed my eyes and listened to their prayer. I've heard them say it a thousand times. It's their family prayer. Connor told me that it was the only thing of their father's they had.
"And Sheppard's we shall be, for Thee, my Lord, for The. Power hath descended forth from thy hand…" they stop turn and draw their guns on Il Duce.
"That our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command. We will flow a river forth unto Thee and teaming with souls shall it ever be," Il Duce finishes. "In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti." He walked over to the body of our dead friend and blessed him.
Connor and Murphy looked up at him. They knew that this was the father that was lost to them years ago. Noah McManus.
"Let's go," I said.
"Why are ya here, Katie?" Connor asked as we walked up the basement stairs.
"I came to rescue you," I responded, "Shit, Smecker." I saw him rubbing his head on the floor, wig in hand. Murphy helped him off the floor and we head off.
"We told ya to stay," Murphy said.
"Son, ya should never expect a red haired Irish woman to obey orders," Noah responded. He draped his coat over my shoulders. I nodded in thanks.
"Are you hurt?" I asked them seeing all the blood.
"It's not ours," Murphy sadly said.
"It's Rocco's," Connor finished.
"He wanted to go," I told them, "The proudest thing he did was join you."
"That's what he told us," Connor helped me out of the car in front of my apartment. I took my shoes off and walked up the stairs. The boys and their father walked up quietly behind me.
"I'll leave you to catch up, I'm tired," I kissed them both on the cheek then headed to my room. I dressed in my favorite Celtics t and a pair of the boys boxers and plopped down on my bed. I held my pillow close and let the tears flow.
I wiped my eyes when I heard a tap on the door. "Are ya ok in there, Katie?" Murphy said from the other side.
"I'm fine," I responded.
"She said she's fine," I heard Murphy say through the door.
"She's clearly not fine, if she's laying awake in there, you idiot," I heard Connor shout back.
"If she says she fine how am I'm supposed to know," Murphy yelled.
"Fine," Noah said, "Is never a good thing from a woman." I smiled for a moment.
"Get out of the way," Connor said and slowly opened my door. "Katie?"
"I'm fine, Connor," I said. He closed the door behind him.
"Most people don't cry when they're fine," he sat down on the bed beside me. "We all loved him."
"It's not just Rocco," I sobbed. He lifted me into his arms and I buried my face into his chest.
"Wha' is it, Katie?" he said softly.
"I saw how close it was to being you," I let the tears fall again. "You have to stop this."
"Aye, we will," Connor said. "We just have to do one more job."
"Papa Joe?"
"We have to kill that motherfucker."
