Sully: An Irish Mafia Romance (The Brotherhood Book 3) Read online

  Sully

  The Brotherhood book three

  Penelope Black

  Copyright © 2021 by Penelope Black

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products references in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publications/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  for Rachel Van Dyken.

  I’ll never forget your kindness and encouragement.

  Contents

  Playlist

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Epilogue

  A Note to Readers

  Acknowledgments

  Playlist

  “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

  “Train in Vain” by The Clash

  “MakeDamnSure” by Taking Back Sunday

  “The Scientist” by Emily James

  “Don’t Cry For Me” by Cobi

  “Rebellion (Lies)” by Arcade Fire

  “Hateful” by The Clash

  “Punk Rock Princess” by Something Corporate

  “River” by Bishop Briggs

  “Guys My Age” by Hey Violet

  “Gooey” by The Glass Animals

  “Desire - Slowed” by Hucci

  “I Should Live in Salt” by Ásgeir

  “Transantlanticism” by Death Cab for Cutie

  “Y Control” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

  “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths

  “Ready to Start” by Arcade Fire

  “Do You Realize?” by The Flaming lips

  “We Are Free” by The Mowgli’s

  “Cosmic Love” by Florence + The Machine

  Chapter One

  Sully

  “Kiss me, James, and tell me you love me.”

  The sun shines down on us as we stroll through Central Park. The trees form a sort of tunnel overhead, providing shade from the unforgiving summer sun.

  I stop walking and tug on our interlaced fingers to bring her closer. The teasing smirk on her face taunts me, and like the enchantress she is, she lures me in with a quirk of her lips.

  I can’t deny her—I don’t want to.

  I unlace our fingers and curve an arm around her lower back. A nearby bird whistles a light melody, and a soft breeze carries the sweet scent of nearby peonies. I slide my other hand along the curve of her neck and into her hair at her nape.

  She winds her arms around me and tugs me closer. She’s addictive, my princess, and the shriveled-up organ that should be a heart throbs at her affection.

  It’s only ever beat for her. And after her betrayal and absence, it’s all but ceased to exist.

  “You know I love you, princess,” I say against her perfect, plump lips. Her bottom lip is just the slightest bit bigger than her top lip, and I can’t resist pulling it into my mouth with my teeth.

  Alaina pulls away to press her promise against my lips. “And I love you. Always.”

  Adrenaline flies through my veins at those simple words delivered with ease from those perfect lips. I used to think love was for fools, and then she crashed into my life, and everything I thought was bullshit was true.

  Unfortunately, she left just as spectacularly, and I came full circle. I was the fool then.

  Urgency pounds at my temple, demanding I make it so she can never leave me again. I won’t survive a second time.

  “This could be our life, you know. Walking through Central Park, holding hands, and bringing home our favorite pizza.”

  “And don’t forget sneaking off behind that patch of bushes over there, bro.”

  I press my hand into Alaina’s lower back on instinct. Once I realize it’s just my brother, I relax. She twists her head around, and Wolf strolls toward her. When he’s close enough, he snags an arm out and curls it around her neck, bringing her face to his for a kiss that’s just a little too lewd for midday in the park.

  “Where the hell did you come from, Wolf?”

  He separates from our girl to lift an eyebrow at me and smirk. “I’ve always been here.”

  “Me too,” Rush says from behind me.

  My chest feels tight, and my gaze flies around us in alarm, kick-starting my adrenaline. Why didn’t I know they were with us? I could’ve sworn it was just Lainey and me.

  “Fuck, I need some sleep or something. I’m losin’ it.” I run a hand down my face as Rush leans in to greet Alaina with a kiss.

  She turns to look at me, familiar mischief twinkling in her eyes.

  “Wouldn’t that be nice? All of us together, all the time.”

  I stare at my girl, the way her Ramones tank top flutters in the hot breeze. When I stare into her soulful eyes, I forget all the awful shit in my life. All the bad shit that still waits for me. I know deep in my gut that she’s the only good thing in my life.

  “Aye. I think that’d be nice, Lainey.” I brush my lips along her jaw with each word.

  Her fingers curl into my shirt, and she releases this little noise of contentment.

  “Then why do you torture me, James? Why do you always leave me?”

  I pull my head back, brows furrowed. Her smile fades with the sunshine. Midday rapidly turns to dusk, and sorrow replaces her playfulness.

  “C’mon, Sully.”

  I whip my head around to look at my brothers. My chest squeezes again, and my thoughts stutter. “When did you get over there?” I ask Rush.

  My brother just stares at me, his gray eyes darkening until they’re pitch-black. When he doesn’t answer me, I refocus on Alaina.

  “Princess? What do you mean?”

  Her beautiful whiskey-colored eyes fill with tears as she takes a step away from me, her fingers trailing down my arm.

  “Come back to me, James.” She takes another step back, and her fingertips just barely touch my own.

  I take a step toward her, confusion furrowing my brow. I reach out for her, but there’s an invisible force holding me back.

  “Alaina! Wait. Come back. I’m right here.”

  I push against the invisible wall, panic tightening every muscle in my body and fear wrapping around my heart. She’s walking away from me—no, that’s not right. It looks like someone is dr
agging her! There, someone in a dark hoodie and dark jeans has her upper arms in a tight grip, and he’s pulling her away. His features are unclear, almost like he’s somehow being blurred.

  Alaina’s eyes widen with fear, and she screams my name. Rage erupts in my gut, burning hot and fast.

  “Get your fucking hands off her, motherfucker, or it’ll be the last thing you ever do!” I pound my fists against the wall, putting every ounce of strength I have behind each swing.

  And still. It’s not enough.

  I watch as someone drags the only girl I ever loved—fuck it, the girl I still love—away while some fucked-up invisible barrier traps me in some kind of purgatory hell.

  “Alaina! I’m coming for you!” The words are ripped from my throat, born out of desperation and sealed with determination. I’m not sure how the fuck I’m going to get out of here, but I will.

  Something jerks my shoulder, hard and to the right. I spin around, expecting to see the blurred-out guy, but there’s no one there. The same thing happens on my other side, and I whirl to the left. No one.

  I lift my hands to drag them through my hair, but something’s holding them against my side, squeezing me tight. I try to thrash my way out of this hold, but it’s strong. My breath stutters in my chest as the pressure increases until my vision dims.

  And then I don’t feel or see anything. I’m trapped in an endless black, alone.

  I’m always alone.

  Abandoned by those who claim to love me.

  I succumb to the darkness, letting it roll over me.

  “The fuck’s this?”

  “Jack?” I hear my voice, but it doesn’t quite sound like me. Maybe if I were underwater. I can’t shake the feeling of trepidation, and I can’t quite remember where I am.

  With effort, I pry my eyelids open, each of them weighing heavy, and darkness greets me. I raise my arm—or at least, I try to, but something holds it down.

  “Settle now, boyo,” Jack says before I feel two pats to my right shoulder.

  “Alaina.” Her name leaves me on a rasp, and fear sends my pulse flying. “Fuck. I need—I need to go. She’s unprotected.” I grunt and try to sit up, pain searing my left shoulder and chest. Black spots dot my already dark vision, and I break out in a sweat.

  “Aye. We’ll send someone to fetch our songbird,” Jack says as he catches me by my less-painful shoulder.

  I pant through the pain. “No. I don’t trust anyone. Call Rush.”

  “Rush and Wolf are a little busy, man. I’ll go get your girl.”

  I turn to look at Matteo, and with every single ounce of strength I can muster, I reach up and curl my fingers around his shirt. “If a single hair on her head is broken, I’m going to dismember you personally.” The words come out through clenched teeth.

  “You hear that, O’Malley? A knife in his shoulder, and he still manages to threaten me,” Matteo says with a chuckle.

  “Aye. He’ll be alright. You go fetch us our girl, Rossi.”

  Matteo glances at my clenched fist with a raised brow before he looks behind me to where I’m assuming Jack stands. Jack pats my shoulder twice, and I reluctantly uncurl my fingers and meet Matteo’s gaze.

  “Bring my girl back, yeah?”

  My jovial associate I’ve come to think of as a friend—or friendly—is uncharacteristically serious when he holds my gaze. “I’ll get her. You have my word.”

  “She’s at Blue Lotus Diner.” I exhale and let my weight fall back to the table I’m lying on and stare at the ceiling. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Matteo turn and walk away.

  “You just relax, boyo. We’ll get our girl, and you’ll be patched up good as new. Doc’s already on his way.”

  “Call my brothers. And, Jack, don’t trust anyone,” I say through gritted teeth. “And what the fuck happened?”

  “We were hoping you’d be able to tell us that, boyo.”

  Images of the dream I just had superimpose over my memories from this morning, and I’m having a hard time separating reality from fantasy.

  Black spots crowd my vision, and I try to hold onto consciousness with both hands, at least until my brothers get here, but fate has another plan, and darkness swaddles me in its icy embrace.

  I throw up a prayer to a god I don’t believe in to keep my girl safe and surrender to the encroaching darkness.

  Chapter Two

  Alaina

  I step over a fallen piece of drywall with wires sticking out and jump over a pipe, landing on the first stair. The building rumbles, and I feel the vibrations underneath my sneakers as I race up the staircase. Halfway up, I pause with my hand on the railing, knuckles white with tension.

  The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and goosebumps zip down my spine. I turn my head first left, then right, looking for something. I’m not sure what it is, but something doesn’t feel right.

  What a fucking joke that thought is. None of this is right. But this feels different. Like the moment you’re at the top of a rollercoaster, and it feels like the whole world holds its breath as you gaze across the horizon. Your heart slams against your ribs, and you feel invincible in your fear because you know you’re going to be okay. It’s a game—it’s for fun.

  This moment feels a little like that, except there’s no reassurance that everything will be okay.

  It doesn’t feel like a harmless game, and I’m not having fun. I look around one more time, sweeping the area with my gaze and dismissing all the wreckage while looking for the cause of my unease. But this time, my fear doesn’t feel invincible. It feels fragile.

  Satisfied I don’t see anything yet, I jog up the staircase, doing my best to dodge the fallen debris and missing stairs. It’s when I get to the second-floor landing that it happens. That thing that’s been pricking at my nerves the whole time.

  There’s a moment of quiet before a boom splits the air. The floor shakes, and the walls tremble, and I lose my footing. My back hits the wall with a thud, and I groan as something pierces my shoulder.

  The noise reverberates, and I grit my teeth while I press on my ears to find relief. I stare, wide-eyed, as part of the exterior wall collapses in a heap of broken concrete and twisted metal. Wires flail and sparks flicker in the thick air. Dust and debris blanket the air, and I know my time has just decreased dramatically.

  Panting, I wrench myself away from the wall, my shoulder screaming. I use my hands for leverage and push off the floor to stand up. Eyeing the sparks lighting up the space, I spin on my heel and jog toward the next staircase, keeping my left arm close to my torso.

  I’m halfway up the staircase when it starts to sway. Dread fills my veins as I lift my head and look up toward the third-floor landing.

  Or where the landing should be.

  The staircase is moving. The stationary, built-in staircase is fucking swaying like a rope bridge on a playground.

  My heartbeat thunders in my ears, loud enough that I almost miss the explosion.

  I look over my shoulder and see a fire directly underneath the swaying wires and sparks.

  “Oh fuck.”

  With fear hot on my heels, I race up the last staircase and jump over the foot of space that should connect the stairs and the landing.

  I don’t know how the hell I’m going to get Mom and me back down, but that’s a problem for later. My shoulder pulses in time with my heartbeat, and I feel something warm slide down my arm. I don’t look; instead, I focus on where I step. There are more broken pieces and parts here, and a quick glance up tells me why.

  Sunshine and humid air pour in from the huge hole in the ceiling. I skirt around a busted pipe leaking brown liquid and jog toward the room we were just in. Two of the walls have now come down, so I see my mom before I’m inside the room.

  “Mom!”

  Heartache holds me immobile for a moment, eyes blinking rapidly, trying to clear the vision in front of me.

  My adrenaline spikes, and I run toward her. I burst through the doorway, uncaring of
where Liam is, my sole focus on my mother.

  My mother, who’s lying on the dirty floor with her blood-stained hands pressed to her gut.

  Tears fill my eyes, swift and violent.

  “Mom! Mom! It’s me. I’m here. Oh, god, Mom.” My words end on a choked sob as I land on my knees next to her. My hands flutter above her stomach for a moment before I whip off my tank top, panic and adrenaline overriding the pain from my injury. I ball it up and press it against her wound. “What should I—I don’t know what to do. Tell me what to do!”

  Mom tilts her head toward me as she lifts one of her bloody hands to my cheek. I grasp her wrist and hold her to me, leaning into her palm.

  “My girl. My sweet girl. I never understood how someone so good, so pure came from me. But now, now I understand.” Mom’s eyes glisten, a small smile on her face. “You were my salvation, Lainey. The only good thing I’ve ever done. And I didn’t do right by you all these years, I know that. I did what I thought Aidan would want.”

  “Shh, Mom. It doesn’t matter, okay? But we have to go now. We can’t stay here.”

  She coughs, this horrible wet sound that stops my heart for a moment. Fear coats my skin, sticky and thick.

  Her eyes shine as she looks at me, her smile growing wider. “No. You have to leave without me. I won’t make it.”

  “Stop—just no. I’m not leaving without you.”

  As if fate herself is agreeing with my mother, the building trembles again.