Of course, I took his opinion with a grain of salt since Francesco isn’t one to talk. He, too, has an insatiable lust for life that makes him dabble in the unsavory. Not only does he enjoy his alcohol a little too much for my liking, but I have run in on him—too many times to count, unfortunately—enjoying the prettiest servants in our home, in the most embarrassing and salacious of positions. Having the image of my kid brother’s head stuck in between a woman’s thighs is something that I wish I could bleach out of my memory.
But then again, I guess it takes an animal to know one.
If I really want to know what I’m about to face, my best chance is to get it from the one brother who knows them best.
“Alejandro, can I ask you for a favor?”
“You may.”
“Tell me about them. The Kellys, I mean. What are they really like?”
He stares at me for a spell, and after letting out a long exhale, he gives me a clipped nod.
“Very well. Who do you want to learn about first? Your betrothed, I presume?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Tiernan Kelly is tricky to pin down. Niall, his father, stepped down as the boss of the Irish mob five years ago and gave Tiernan the keys to the kingdom when he was only twenty-five. Not many men would relinquish their hold on their empire and give it to their son at such an early age, but Tiernan was a soldier very early on and therefore ready to take over the reins from his father. I heard he got his first kill in at only fifteen years old and didn’t so much as break a sweat. In his teens, I know he was hot-tempered, and he may very well still be like that today, but not when it comes to business. He’s shrewd. Intelligent. Calculating. That’s one thing you must know about the Kellys. They might act laid back, humble in their origins, but it’s a fa?ade. They’re animals, Rosa. Filthy, unscrupulous, vicious animals. Niall Kelly and his men have put more of our brethren in the grave than any other family. And when it comes to us, their lot aren’t to be messed with.”
“Us? You mean the cartel?”
“Precisely. They hate our way of life. If it wasn’t for this peace treaty, I have no doubt that they would have continued their crusade against our family and killed everyone we have ever cared about. Including you, dear Rosa. They would have waited until you were sound asleep, warm in your bed, feeling safe and secure, and then they would have blown the whole house up, with you in it. There wouldn’t be anything left of you. We wouldn’t even be able to give you a proper burial.”
I swallow dryly, my pulse racing at the horrid image Alejandro planted in my head.
“Is he the only one I have to worry about?” I croak, my throat feeling dry as the Sahara.
“No. Tiernan has a brother and cousin he is tied to. They are the only two men he actually trusts and confides in. He never goes anywhere without them. Not only are they his muscle when he doesn’t want to get his hands dirty, but they are also his sounding board to bounce ideas off of.”
“Okay, tell me more about them. Start with the brother,” I plead eagerly, needing to know as much information as I can about the Kelly clan.
“Shay Kelly is two years younger than you. Twenty-five, if I recall correctly. But don’t let his youth fool you, he’s just as lethal as Tiernan. He will put on an alluring smile, sweet talk you into his confidence, and then cut your throat when your back is turned. With him, you never see it coming. His kills sure didn’t. He’s the Irish mob’s favorite assassin. And if the rumors are true, he’s never missed a target.”
Gulp.
“I’m afraid to ask about Colin, now.” I smile, disheartened.
“You should be because compared to Colin, Shay is a pussycat. Stay away from that one if you can.”
“Why?” I stammer, hating the fear that is coursing through my veins.
“He’s not much for words, but I know he’s the one responsible for most of the bombings to our East Coast warehouses. He’s a genius at making bombs and has a weird fetish for fire and dynamite. Rumor has it, he likes to set his enemies on fire just to watch the skin peel off their bones. If you can, keep away from that sick fuck. I’d sleep easier at night if you did.”
So would I.
“Is that it? Is that all of the family?” I ask, worried that my brother is keeping the identity of another monster close to his vest.
“Aside from their younger sister, who is probably on her way to Vegas to be married off herself, there was another brother. He died a while back and never had a role in the war, so I don’t know much about him. I know they have a bunch of uncles and cousins, but none that bear mentioning. Besides, who has time to list them all? They take their Catholic upbringing very seriously, so they breed like wild rabbits, popping out kids left and right. And they make sure that everyone in their family pulls their own weight if they are to have their hand in the pot. To society, the Kelly family name is synonymous with being moguls of construction and real estate and beloved philanthropists. Boston loves them. The city has put them up on a pedestal like Irish saints. They turn a blind eye to their criminal activities and reap the rewards of their generosity. So don’t be surprised if you don’t find many happy faces on your wedding day tomorrow.”