Private Dublin

Chapter 78

They located my new phone and smashed it against the paving before hauling me away from the house, slapping and punching me if they felt I was stepping out of line. They marched me along the broad path that led to the old stables. No one said anything, the two bodyguards just pulled me along, inflicting small cruelties as we followed Finch, Andi and Chalmont. Sam followed me a few paces back and Jackson stalked behind us all, eyeing me closely. The uniformed guard went back to his patrol duties.

They took me to the yard outside Sam Farrell’s quarters and I knew it would be pointless trying to call for help. This was the domain of Finch’s private army and the men and women in the homes around the yard would be more likely to lend a hand in my murder than to try and save me.

“Let’s end this now,” Chalmont said, producing a pistol from inside his jacket and leveling it at me as he approached.

“No,” Finch responded angrily, grabbing him by the shoulder. He yanked the other man back and forced Chalmont to face him. “How dare you? Not here in my home. Not on my land.”

“What does it matter?” Chalmont countered.

Andi and Sam Farrell shrank back, clearly uncomfortable with the conflict between their leaders.

“It matters because I say it matters,” Lawrence Finch replied. “It matters because this is my home. It matters because you have risked everything for a personal vendetta. I would never have sanctioned what you all tried in Los Angeles. And for you to use one of my men as the instrument of your vengeance...” He trailed off and glared at Sam. “I say no.”

“And I say yes,” Chalmont challenged him angrily.

Finch struck him across the face. The slap startled Andi and Sam, but I’d seen the fury building in Finch’s eyes.

“Your anger and incompetence have led Private here,” he said. “You have brought his people into our world and now they represent more of a threat to us than if you’d left Morgan alone. Kill him here and there may come a time when we have to answer for his death to someone we can’t buy, kill or control. Morgan has powerful friends and I don’t want any of them at my door looking for his body.”

Chalmont looked at him defiantly.

“Don’t let hurt pride jeopardize everything we’ve built,” Lawrence told him. “One day you may stand in my place, but not if you fail to curb this reckless streak.”

Chalmont wrestled with his emotions and finally tucked his pistol into his waistband. “Then we will take him and do it somewhere else.”

“I have no problem with that,” Finch replied. “But make sure it’s somewhere that isn’t connected to any of us.”

And with that, the king of Propaganda Tre had sanctioned my execution.