Chapter 6 - Brutus Chose Her
For three days, Mave stayed inside Declan's townhouse.
Her father vanished.
Her mother remained hidden.
Caleb remained supposedly dead.
And Declan Gallagher slept approximately two hours per night.
Mave knew because she didn't sleep either.
At 3:00 a.m. on the third night, she found him in the kitchen making grilled cheese.
She stared.
"What?"
"You run half the city."
"Allegedly."
"And you eat grilled cheese?"
"I contain multitudes."
Brutus sat between them waiting for casualties.
Declan cut the sandwich in half.
He offered one side.
Mave accepted.
It was the first peaceful thing that had happened in days.
"Why Brutus?" she asked.
Declan leaned against the counter.
"My father gave him to me in his will."
"That's not what I meant."
He understood.
Why did the dog matter so much?
Declan looked down.
"My younger brother died when I was nineteen."
Mave waited.
"After that, my father became..." He searched for the word. "Distant. Brutus was the last thing Patrick chose specifically for me."
"So he's family."
Declan looked almost embarrassed.
"Yeah."
Mave broke off a corner of bread.
"Then stop punching him."
Declan winced.
"I know."
"He was terrified."
"I know."
"Good."
"Do you always lecture armed criminals at three in the morning?"
"Only when they cook for me."
His mouth curved.
It changed his entire face.
Mave noticed.
She wished she hadn't.
Brutus suddenly stood.
His ears lifted.
Then the lights went out.
Declan moved instantly.
"Mave, down."
Glass shattered downstairs.
Gunfire followed.
Declan pulled her behind the kitchen island.
Brutus exploded toward the hallway.
"No!" Mave grabbed his collar.
Declan drew a pistol.
"Safe room."
"I can help."
"No."
"You need Brutus."
"I need you alive."
The words stopped her.
Their eyes met.
Then Finn shouted from downstairs.
"Inside breach!"
Declan pushed Mave toward a hidden door.
She resisted.
"Brutus. Guard."
The dog positioned himself in front of her.
Something clicked in Mave's memory.
Guard.
Home.
Three.
Turn.
She whispered the sequence.
Brutus's head snapped toward her.
Then he ran—not toward the attackers, but toward the pantry.
He began scratching.
Declan stared.
"Another cache."
Behind a removable panel they found a small metal box.
Inside was a burner phone.
It rang.
Mave answered.
Caleb Voss spoke.
"Hello, Mayfly."
Her blood turned cold.
"Where's my mother?"
"Ask Elias."
"Where is he?"
"Ask Declan."
She looked at Declan.
His face showed nothing.
Caleb laughed softly.
"That's the problem with dangerous men, Mave. Eventually you realize all of them believe they're protecting you."
"What do you want?"
"The ledger."
"I don't have it."
"But Brutus can find it."
"Then why not take him?"
"Because he chose you."
She looked at the dog.
Caleb continued.
"Your father built emotional authentication into the training. Clever man. The final sequence requires the dog to willingly follow someone carrying Elias's scent profile."
"My scent."
"Exactly."
Mave's stomach turned.
"Tonight's attack isn't mine."
Declan leaned closer to hear.
"Whose is it?"
Caleb chuckled.
"Now we're asking useful questions."
The call ended.
Seconds later the shooting stopped.
Finn entered, bleeding from his forehead.
"They pulled out."
"Casualties?"
"Two wounded. None dead."
Declan's expression darkened.
"Professional warning."
Mave stared at him.
"Caleb said it wasn't him."
"Caleb lies."
"So do you."
Declan looked at her.
"Probably."
She almost smiled.
Then Finn placed something on the counter.
A shell casing.
An emblem had been etched into the brass.
A crown split by a vertical line.
Declan went still.
Mave noticed.
"You recognize it."
"No."
"Bad liar."
Finn looked away.
Mave's anger rose.
"Tell me."
Declan finally spoke.
"It belonged to my father."
Silence.
"Patrick Gallagher used that mark for his personal security unit."
"But he's dead."
"Yes."
Mave stared at the casing.
First Caleb.
Then Elias.
Now Patrick Gallagher's private symbol.
Dead men were suddenly everywhere.
Declan picked up the casing.
"There are only four people alive who would know this mark."
"Who?"
"Finn."
Finn nodded.
"My father's old attorney."
"Who else?"
Declan hesitated.
Mave saw it.
"Who?"
"My mother."
A woman's voice came from the dark hallway.
"You always did talk too much, Declan."
Everyone turned.
An elegant silver-haired woman stepped through the doorway surrounded by armed guards.
Declan lowered his gun.
His face hardened.
"Mother."
Margaret Gallagher smiled at Mave.
Then at Brutus.
"There you are."
Brutus growled.
Margaret's smile disappeared.
"Interesting."
Mave's hand settled on the dog's head.
Margaret looked at her.
"So you're Elias Hart's daughter."
"Who are you?"
"The woman who has spent nine years cleaning up the disaster your father created."
Declan stepped forward.
"Why did your people attack my house?"
Margaret looked at her son.
"Because you weren't answering your phone."
"You shot through my windows."
"You inherited your father's stubbornness."
Mave stared.
"You knew my father was alive."
Margaret turned toward her.
"Of course."
"Where is he?"
"Running."
"From Caleb?"
Margaret smiled sadly.
"No, sweetheart."
May you like
She looked at Declan.
"From me."
