Cooper came up alongside her, steadying himself on the ropes. “She’s right. There’s no other way. We need to show O’Shaughnessy that we stand behind Mulligan, no matter what.”
The men shifted on their feet, exchanging glances, their faces showing their reluctance. She understood the hesitation; they were being asked to go into battle, where they might face injury—or worse. She couldn’t tell them of her plan just yet, but she hoped to avoid worse.
First, she had to get them to agree.
“I ask you,” she shouted. “How many of you has Mulligan personally helped? How many of you would receive the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it? He cares about each and every one of you. Every man here has made him proud. You joined together to create an organization the likes of which this city has never seen—a powerful organization even the police cannot touch. You did that—you and Jack Mulligan. So, are we going to let Trevor O’Shaughnessy take all that away? Or are we going to go over there and get our man back?”
They started nodding before she stopped speaking. By the time she finished, men were filing out of the saloon and pushing closer to the boxing ring. No one moved, all eyes remaining on her.
Cooper leaned in. “Well?”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re all waiting for you to lead them over there.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Seething, Jack glared at O’Shaughnessy’s profile. How had he been so stupid? The mere thought of Justine in danger had him running here without any consideration for his or Rye’s safety. The move had been astoundingly unwise. O’Shaughnessy had been ready for them and Jack hadn’t seen Rye in hours. As soon as Jack was subdued, they had separated him from his second-in-command.
O’Shaughnessy had taken Jack to a small room with no windows, tied Jack to a chair. They sat here, just the two of them, while O’Shaughnessy whittled a piece of wood with a long knife. Slivers of wood rained down on the floor at O’Shaughnessy’s feet. The other man said nothing, just whittled.
O’Shaughnessy was obviously employing Jack’s favorite method of intimidation: silence. And, while Jack hated to cede the upper hand, it was in his best interest to try and convince O’Shaughnessy to let him go.
“This is reckless and irresponsible, Trevor.” No response. “I don’t know what you hope to gain. The police won’t tolerate any struggles between us. We’ll both be taken out and everyone loses.”
Nothing.
“If you kill me, you’ll have every man under my command coming for you.”
More whittling.
Jack sighed. “Listen, Trevor. I understand. I was once reckless and irresponsible, too. Hungry for more power. This, however, is not the way to get what you want.”
“Oh, should we talk it out, Mulligan?” the other man sneered. “Would you be reasonable then? Or would you just try to keep me and my men in our small little box on the other side of town?”
“Do you honestly think you deserve more than that?”
“I don’t think you have a fuckin’ clue what I deserve.”
“Then enlighten me.”
O’Shaughnessy threw the knife toward the door, and it spun, end over end, until the blade sank into the wood with a thump. Putting his hands on his knees, he faced Jack. “You think the fancy suits and big words make you a gentleman, that you’re better than the rest of us. But, you ain’t better. Your hands are just as dirty, just as bloodstained as everyone else’s in this city. We’ve tried to respect you and your men, but the island isn’t big enough for two leaders. It only needs one—and I’m the one with the balls to do something about it.”
“By killing me? Don’t be stupid.”
“I’ll try for ransom first.”
“Ransom? From whom?”
O’Shaughnessy’s mouth curved into a sinister smile and Jack’s muscles tightened in dread. “Let’s see. Who do you know from a well-to-do family? I figure she can afford it—even if it won’t save you.”
“Tell me you fucking didn’t.”
“I did. She probably has ten thousand stashed under her mattress. She’ll never even miss it.”
Christ. Jack closed his eyes briefly, absorbing the news that O’Shaughnessy had dragged Justine into this mess. For that, Jack would strangle the man with his bare hands. Though they were no longer together, Justine was the type to rescue anyone she perceived as in danger. If she showed up here alone, putting herself at risk, O’Shaughnessy wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage.
And Jack could do nothing to help her.
Rage streaked through him, a red blur of emotion, and