Declan: The Callaghan Mafia #1 Read online

  Then, I’d make her greedy for my toys.

  “I love you,” I murmured.

  I kissed the shell of her ear before slipping out of bed. I picked up my cell phone before making my way into the bathroom to clean myself up. I composed a group message to Brody and Gael. Mom, too. In case she was in a position to actually pick up her phone.

  Me: Breakfast together at nine. There’s much to discuss.

  Then, after sending that message, I composed one to Ciara.

  Me: Good morning, my queen. Breakfast is at the family brownstone this morning. Be there by ten. Wear something that makes you smile. I love you.

  * * *

  “Will Ciara be joining us for breakfast?” Gael asked.

  “I supposed I should be asking if Mother’s going to join us,” I said.

  “She wasn’t here at all last night. I doubt she’ll be here for a family breakfast,” Brody said.

  “And that doesn’t strike anyone as odd?” I asked.

  Gael cleared his throat. “So, Ciara?”

  I nodded. “She’ll be here in due time. I want her to take her time getting ready.”

  “Getting ready,” Brody said.

  “Yes. Do you have an issue with that?” I asked.

  “No issue. Just…”

  I blinked. “Just what?”

  Gael snickered. “You’re giving your property more leeway with the coming days. That’s what he means.”

  I shrugged. “Ciara is a bit more than mere property. Especially after showing where her loyalties lie.”

  Brody furrowed his brow. “What does that mean?”

  I licked my lips. “Let’s just say she has no issues taking the side of the Callaghan Family. Which brings me great pleasure.”

  “I take it there’s a story behind all this,” Gael said.

  “There is. But I was hoping Mother would’ve been here to listen to it,” I said.

  “Why are you calling her that?” Brody asked.

  “Because right now, I’m not sure where her loyalties lie,” I said.

  “What in the world are you talking about? That’s idiocy,” Gael said.

  “Not when she works with James Daly himself to get Ciara money so she can run from the deal I struck with the man,” I said.

  “Excuse me, what?” Brody asked.

  “Like I said, I’d enjoy talking about this once Mother shows up. In the meantime, however, does anyone have an update on Flynn and how things are back in Ireland?” I asked.

  “I actually spoke with him last night. I called him after the formal announcement was made. He sends his congratulations, but with a tear in his eye,” Gael said.

  “Is he holding things down well back there?” I asked.

  Brody nodded. “He’s actually doing a great job of juggling everything. Though, it sounded like he was in the middle of an interrogation last night when Gael called.”

  I paused. “Interrogation? Everything all right?”

  Gael chuckled. “No need to worry. From the sounds of it, Flynn had everything under control.”

  I snickered. “I suppose that’s good, then.”

  Brody nodded. “So, how are you feeling?”

  I cocked my head. “What do you mean?”

  Gael rolled his eyes. “About last night. The position you’ve officially taken. How do you feel about it?”

  I took my time to think on the question.

  “My heart aches for our father. But I also know he’d be proud. I’m trying to hold onto that feeling,” I said.

  Brody nodded. “That’s a good place to be.”

  Gael shifted in his chair. “Should someone call Mom? I’m concerned something’s happened to her. Especially after not being around last night.”

  I shrugged. “I’m sure she’s fine. Wouldn't shock me one bit if she was with Uncle Martin. Or Daly himself.”

  Brody narrowed his eyes. “You get a lot of leeway right now but talking about our family matriarch like that will get you in some serious trouble.”

  I sighed. “Well, I suppose that since I’m the current patriarch now, I hold a higher post than her. Don’t you think?”

  Gael licked his lips. “You need to calm down with those accusations. They could get you in a great deal of trouble.”

  I snickered. “Or what? I know what Mother’s done on several occasions. She paid to try and have Ciara run from this family. She worked straight with James Daly herself, which is treason, even if I’m not the one running this family. She came into my home, tried to wiggle her way between me and my fian—”

  Ciara giggled. “Really, Declan, you could have waited until I sat down.”

  Her voice pulled my gaze to hers as she walked into the kitchen. And holy hell, she looked marvelous. I quickly stood and smiled as she walked toward me, that engagement ring shimmering on her finger.

  “Good morning,” she whispered.

  I captured her lips softly before cupping her cheek.

  “Morning, beautiful,” I murmured.

  “I’m sorry, would you like to finish that word before this lovely woman cut you off?” Brody asked.

  Ciara smiled up at me before her left hand fell to my chest. She stood there, strong. At my side. As my brothers studied the beautiful sapphire ring against her finger.

  “Brothers, Ciara and I are engaged to be married,” I said.

  Gael held up his coffee. “Congratulations. May your union be bright and full of happiness.”

  Brody smiled. “I’m sorry Mom isn’t here for this monumental moment. The eldest, announcing his engagement. I’m proud of you, Declan. And Ciara? You look beautiful this morning.”

  She giggled. “I appreciate that, Brody. Thank you. But what is this about your mother not being here?”

  She looked up at me and I sighed.

  “I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell her with my brothers. But she’s apparently not around still. That doesn’t change a thing, though. Our wedding is happening in front of the entire family. Just like it should be,” I said.

  “I suppose we can talk about that at a later date.”

  Mom’s voice pierced the moment and my head whipped back over to the doorway of the kitchen. I slipped my arm around Ciara, pulling her close to me as she walked up to Brody. She dipped down and kissed the top of his head, keeping her eyes on me. And after Gael stood to hug her, I narrowed my eyes.

  “Morning,” I said.

  Mom nodded. “Morning, Declan.”

  “Do I not get a ‘good morning,’ too?” Uncle Martin asked.

  I snickered. “Hello, Martin.”

  “Uncle,” Brody said.

  “Where in the world have you two been? The family breakfast started over an hour ago,” Gael said.

  Mom gestured to Ciara. “She can be late, but I can’t?”

  I felt myself grow cold. “She was summoned at a different time. You weren’t.”

  “My brother is dead.”

  The entire room stilled as all eyes fell onto Uncle Martin. His face was stoic, but the tears that glistened in his eyes made my heart stop. Ciara clung to me; her hand pressed into the small of my back. I watched Gael’s face drop in my peripheral, and I swore I felt Brody’s silent cursing all the way across the damn kitchen table.

  “Mom, are you all right?” Gael asked.

  My gaze slowly panned over to hers and I watched her lower lip quiver.

  “I suppose this is what is to be expected in our lifestyle,” she said plainly.

  Brody swallowed hard. “Where was he found? I take it if you’re proclaiming something, you have a—”

  “Body? Yes. It washed up on the lakeshore last night,” Martin said.

  “So, my sincerest apologies for not making the meeting last night,” Mom said.

  I licked my lips as the tears she tried blinking back spilled over her cheeks.

  “Mom,” I said softly.

  “Don’t try to step up and be a loving son now after everything that’s happened,” Mom said.


  “Some of which you did to yourself. But that’s neither here nor there,” I said.

  “I didn’t do it for myself. I did it for her.”

  And when her eyes fell against Ciara, my fiancée stood strong.

  “While the gesture is appreciated because of where it came from, it wasn’t necessary. Thank you,” she said.

  Mom slid her stare up and down Ciara before her eyes stopped on the ring. The engagement ring. The massive sapphire ring that glistened against my woman’s creamy skin. Her eyes lingered on it for a long time, and something unidentifiable washed across my mother’s face. She nodded slowly before holding her head high. I peeked down at Ciara, watching as she breathed evenly. Rolled her shoulders back. Stood by my side during this trying and tense time in my family.

  No, our family.

  “If anyone needs me for information or a good shunning, I’ll be in my room,” Mom said.

  “Don’t be like that. Right now, we need to stick—”

  Mom glared at me. “Right now, my son, you need to leave me alone.”

  Then, with her head held high, she walked out of the room. Leaving us and my fiancée with Uncle Martin and his pursed lips.

  “Good to see you can comfort your mother in her time of need,” Martin spat.

  “I take it you’re the one who identified father’s body?” I asked.

  Martin winced. “Your mother was the one to do it, actually. His face was so—”

  Ciara pressed against me and I wanted to dismiss her. But I knew her. Not well, but better. And I knew she wouldn't leave if she didn’t want to.

  And that she would if she felt the need to.

  “Your mother and I were at the morgue for the better part of last night. Then, she came to stay with me. She was incoherent with crying. Couldn’t stand. Couldn’t speak. My brother’s body wasn’t pretty. His face was bare recognizable. Fiona had to identify him by birthmarks on his legs and the I.D. in his wallet in order to be convinced it was him. But that’s not even the worst part.”

  I blinked. “There’s a worse part?”

  Martin nodded. “I paid the morgue worker well to give me a time of death. Reason for death. Anything that man could tell me in the span of the few hours we were there.”

  Brody sighed. “He’s been dead longer than a few days.”

  Martin’s gaze found mine. “Yeah. Much longer.”

  Gael snickered. “How much longer, Uncle Martin?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “How did he die?”

  Martin cleared his throat. “The morgue worker bets his life on the fact that Richard’s been dead for almost a month. But the body’s been so mangled that the cause of death hasn’t been determined yet. There were no bullet holes, though. So, whatever killed him, it wasn’t swift. Or easy.”

  “What time did you actually find his body last night?” I asked.

  “Around eight in the evening, give or take fifteen minutes,” Martin said.

  “So, where were the two of you for the truce meeting, I called last night?” I asked.

  “Declan,” Brody whispered.

  Martin snickered. “I’m telling you that your adoptive father is dead, and you’re concerned about a meeting?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I am. Because right now, there are a great deal of things that don’t add up. And for one, I’d like to see Richard’s body myself.”

  “You think I’m lying to you?”

  “I don’t know if you are. But I know someone is. And I intend to find out who. Because I have a feeling it’ll lead me to whoever killed my father.”

  Martin growled. “That man wasn’t your father.”

  I took a step toward him. “And if that’s the case, then you're not really our uncle. Which means I don’t have to include you in day to day operations of the family empire.”

  “You don’t have a family empire if we aren’t family.”

  I licked my lips. “Richard’s last will and testament I found in his office says differently.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “He’s actually right,” Gael said.

  “We’ve all seen it,” Brody said.

  “Well, I want to see it,” Martin glowered.

  “Of course. I’ll make sure it’s brought out with you. And since our father is apparently dead, that means—by law—this empire passes to me. So, do you still want to be family or not?” I asked.

  I stood toe to toe with my uncle as everything washed over my mind. Someone was lying to us. And after that truce meeting last night, that meant someone was smiling right to our fucking faces unless Mom and Uncle Martin had something to do with this. I cast the thought aside. My mother loved Richard. We all did. Him and his brother were close, too, until the very end. That much we knew.

  No way in hell they’d kill Richard.

  Then, why did Mom tell us he had only been dead a few days?

  “I want the name and the number of the morgue worker you saw last night,” I said.

  “Why? So, you can check on our alibis?” Martin asked.

  “Do you need one?” I asked.

  “All right, you two. That’s enough,” Brody said.

  He slipped in between us and backed me up toward Ciara. He gave me a knowing look, but that didn’t stop him from interjecting himself somewhere he didn’t belong. I glared at him. Hard. And when his hands fell away from my chest, he shook his head.

  Then, he turned back to Martin.

  “I think you should go until we can get this all sorted. Thank you for coming and informing us. I’m sure Declan’s going to want to launch an investigation into what’s happened. So, let’s give him some space to work. It’s going to be hard on him, with his first major task being figuring out who killed our father. He needs all the space we can give him.”

  Martin shook his head. “I’m staying with your mother. She needs some sort of a support system right now.”

  “She’s got us,” I said.

  “Yeah. A son back in Ireland and three here who have been barely paying attention to her since they got into town,” Martin said.

  “Because we came here to do a job. Find Richard for her,” Declan said.

  “And how’s that working out for you now?” Martin asked.

  “You can stop now,” Ciara said.

  My eyes fell to her as I stomached my shock. But my brothers didn’t. Their eyes widened as Ciara stepped away from me, walking straight toward our father’s brother. Her movements were graceful. Her shoulders were squared off and strong. Her head tilted back to keep his eyes in view, but not once did she cower. Not once did she let that man make her feel lesser than.

  Pride rushed through my veins.

  “I know you’re upset,” Ciara began, “and I know you have every right to be. But getting upset at your current position does nothing to change it. Does nothing to right the wrong you think there is.”

  Martin snickered. “Declan, put your girl on a—”

  “I’d be careful with your next words,” I said, grinning.

  Ciara smiled. “Don’t worry. Worse has been said to me. Because that’s what happened. I’ve been where you are, Martin.”

  “That’s Mr.—”

  “Martin,” she said clearly.

  I chuckled as the shock on my brother’s faces turned into amusement.

  “I couldn't get my father to love me. No matter what I did and no matter how much I obeyed, I occupied a certain role in his life and I’d never move away from it. I had to accept that. And even when I was sold off for a debt into the Callaghan Family, I had a position to keep. Until Declan taught me the value of having a choice.”

  She turned to look at me and I knew, then and there, I’d love no other woman but her.

  “He showed me what it meant to not only make the best of my circumstance but understand that I always had a choice. So, I made my choice. And now, Martin, you have to make yours.”

  She turned back to look up at him and I saw my uncle floundering.

  “You can
accept the fact that my fiancé is the current head of this family as per the words of your brother. Or you can find another way to try and obtain what you want. That’s your prerogative. But I can tell you that if you attempt to take the position away from Declan, that he has certain rights and ways within his power as head of the family to act. Just like my father did whenever someone challenged him.”

  Martin narrowed his eyes. “Are you threatening me?”

  She shook her head. “Oh, no. I’d never threaten. I’m a woman. I have class. I’m merely giving you the information you need to make an informed decision.”

  Brody chuckled and Gael shook his head in awe. And when Ciara turned her back to Martin, her eyes found mine. Oh, how my heart exploded with joy. Oh, how I loved seeing that beautiful young woman exert her power. She’d make a wonderful confidante for someone like myself. A great queen to the empire I now had to take over.

  But the elephant in the room still had to be addressed.

  Someone in this room was lying. In this house. And between the families. None of this looked good on Mother, either. I had to figure out what the hell was going on, and I had to do it quickly. Otherwise, blame would quickly fall on our mother’s head for not reporting Richard’s disappearance soon enough.

  “So, who’s going to call Abby?”

  Brody’s voice pulled my gaze over to him.

  “Has no one updated that girl yet?” Gael asked.

  Martin scoffed. “Of course, you haven’t. I’ll be the one to call my niece. She should hear it from family that actually cares.”

  “Actually, Brody can place the phone call,” I said.

  “You won’t prevent me from speaking to my fucking niece,” he growled.

  “I’m not preventing you from doing anything. But if you’re going to be taking care of Mother the way you say you are; you obviously won’t have time. Correct?” I asked.

  Ciara came back to my side. “I’m sure Brody will place a fine phone call and work out whatever arrangements are necessary to get her here for the funeral.”

  I slipped her arm around mine. “Exactly.”

  “And in the meantime, I’ll be working on figuring out how we’re going to get revenge for Richard’s death,” Gael said.