Steel Rain by Briar Molly

Author:Briar, Molly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-12-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Ajax

I watched the entire insane procession from the tree line. I had been invited as a witness, but because I wasn’t one of them, I had to steer clear of their formation. Eoghan still hoped that I’d join their insanity. That I’d put on their uniform and walk them into the battles to come.

Eoghan wanted me there to learn.

To learn what? I wasn’t completely sure. There was a chance that I was learning all the wrong lessons.

All I knew was that my woman stood before them all and cut her hand. It was unsanitary, and insane.

Then Eoghan held her hand as they mumbled something.

So why was I bearing witness to it? I suspected it was because Eoghan would want me to take the same oath.

The man was obsessed with a coming war. A war with the Italians that he was training his army for. He trained them the way the US Military trained to fight a war against Russia and China. He drilled them on the bosses, underbosses, capos and soldiers. He made them fight to counter their techniques, their ways …

Had he joined the Army like Dairo, he would have been a fucking general.

An absolutely insane general. More along the lines of Genghis Khan than a General Patton. But still. He missed a legitimate career path there.

With the procession before me, I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t turn my eyes from the soldiers, and the formations, and the strange ritual in the middle of it all. The sick, twisted, insane and barbaric world I was now living in.

But it still made sense. It still felt right. Because at the end of the day, among the barren trees, with the dirt at our feet and ancient, wooden structures in this little frightening compound, this blood oath made sense. It felt heavy. Meaningful.

Even the wind seemed to agree with it, howling as she and Eoghan lifted their joined hands. The men applauded, looking around as the leaves kicked up and danced.

Just as Dairo said, it was given meaning because we gave it one. So, what did it mean when I was starting to feel it myself?

Eoghan pulled her to his side with his hand, and like he was a referee declaring a champion in the octagon, he lifted her hand in the air.

“Now you all know that Sinead Flanagan is one of us!” He bellowed into the crowd. “She is one of us, and you defend her and hers, the way you would defend me. We are one blood. One family! United!”

The men applauded and cheered, and finally Eoghan let go of her hand. He stepped away, and the first man to come forward was that blasted Kieran O’Malley.

People lined up to congratulate her, each one shaking the wounded palm as they slapped her shoulder. Someone brought out a cooler, and drinks were handed out.

Keith and his men were the last to see her. The prick took up the rear so that he stood in front of her, alone, when it came time for him to congratulate her.

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