"Cover your head!" I shouted.

I felt everyone's eyes on me then.

"Whose side are you on?" Bronagh asked me.

I flushed. "Sorry, I was sort of caught up in the moment."

My uncle laughed at me and shook his head. I looked back to the platform then and winced when Nico stood up and delivered a powerful kick to Thomas's stomach.

Nico paced back and fourth in front of him like a lion stalking his prey and it gave me goose bumps, he was straight animalistic on that platform. I can tell exactly why he won so many fights. He was amazing.

He didn't need to pace though because Thomas wasn't getting up; he was too busy writhing on the ground in pain.

"Dominic!" Bronagh shouted.

Nico looked to her and she said, "You won, babe."

Nico looked down at Thomas and kicked him once more then he hopped down off the platform and jogged over to Bronagh. He stood her up off the ground and hugged her body to his.

I smiled and leaned against Alec before I closed my eyes.

"Keela!" I jumped.

"What?"

I looked at my uncle who shouted my name and glared, "Don't do that."

I put my hand over my hammering heart and shook my head at my uncle.

He nodded to Marco.

"I thought you would like you witness Marco's platform debut."

What?

"What?" all the brothers said in unison.

Uncle Brandon nodded his head and suddenly two of his men grabbed Marco and forced him over to the platform. They got him up on it then kicked Thomas off it. He landed on the ground with a thud.

He was moaning in pain and for a moment I felt sorry for him, but then I looked at Bronagh's face and that sympathy went away.

"Who is fightin' Marco?" Bronagh asked.

"Me," Nico growled.

That seemed the logical choice since he was a fighter but when my uncle looked at Alec with raised eyebrows I broke out in a sweat.

"No," I said.

No way, he was not fighting Marco.

Alec sighed from beside me. "Keela, I have so much hate for that man right now, he has destroyed me family for too long, he has disrupted the Murphy sisters' lives for too long, and he did that to your face. Don't you fucking dare say no to me teaching that prick a lesson."

Holy fucking God.

"I don't want you to get hurt though," I whispered.

"I'll be fine."

"But Nico is the fighter, not you."

I started to cry.

"Sit tight and watch, you will see what a man is capable of when he is pushed to the edge."

Alec, please.

Alec got up and walked towards the platform. I stumbled out of the booth after him but arms came around me and halted my movements.

"Let him do this, red."

Kane.

I leaned my head back against Kane's chest because I felt so lightheaded I was afraid I would fall forward. I forced my eyes open just as Alec got up on the platform.

"How long have you wanted to get me into a situation like this, boy?"

Alec clenched his hands into fists. "For a long time."

Marco smiled and cracked his neck then rolled his head on his shoulders.

"Stay away from my ass, I don't swing that way."

That prick!

Alec laughed then pushed the sleeves of his t-shirt up to his elbows.

"The only thing going up your ass old man is my foot."

My uncle, his men and Alec's brothers either chuckled or flat out snickered.

I grinned as well.

Marco glared at Alec then out of nowhere rushed at him. I widened my eyes expecting to see Alec get speared to the ground like Nico did, but when Alec lifted his arms and swung at Marco the most disgusting thing happened.

Alec's elbow smashed into Marco's face and I heard the crunching sound from across the room.

"Oh my God!" I shouted.

Marco fell to the ground and hollered in pain. Alec reached down and pulled him back to his knees before punching him in the face and sending him back to the ground.

Marco turned in our direction and his face was covered in blood. I didn't know were it came from because it was all over his face.

He tried to crawl off the platform but Alec grabbed his legs and pulled him back.

"Stop!" Marco screamed.

Alec didn't.

Alec straddled Marco's chest, gripped his hair in his left hand and balled his right hand into a fist.

"This is for my parents," Alec snapped and punched Marco in the face. "This is for Nala." Another punch. "This is for Bronagh and Branna." Another punch. "This is for Aideen and Storm." Another punch. "This is for my kitten." Another punch. "And this if for me and my brothers you son of a bitch. You ruined our lives." Countless punches.

I felt my eyes well up with tears when Alec's voice cracked.

I looked away when Alec continued to beat Marco long after he stopped moving.

I moved out of Kane's hold and stumbled over to my uncle. I put my arms around his waist and placed my face against his chest and closed my eyes.

"I've got you, baby girl."

I gave him a squeeze.

"I'm sorry for what I did, I made a business choice and allowed it hurt you. I regret it dearly. I would take it back if I could, I swear it."

I didn't say anything as my uncle whispered to me.

"Do you hate me?"

I opened my eyes and looked up at my uncle. "No, I love you. You just made a bad decision, it will be okay. You're only human."

My uncle carefully kissed my sore head. "You're a good girl, Keela."

I smiled and placed my head back against his chest.

"Sir."

I froze when Alec spoke.

"Do I need to waste a bullet on Mr. Miles?" my uncle asked.

I swallowed.

I didn't like how casually he spoke of ending someone's life like that, even if the person who he was talking about was horrible.

I knew I would have to get over it though, after this night was over I knew I'd probably never hear of another incident like this ever again. It was still hard to wrap my head around the fact that my uncle was a gangster. Not only a gangster, he was the boss.

"No sir, you need to waste one on Thomas though. He is still breathing."

Jesus.

I heard footsteps.

"No, please... No." Thomas's voice moaned.

Bang.

I screamed into my uncle's chest and held onto him for dear life.

"Baby girl?" my uncle murmured.

I felt tears fall from my eyes, they slid down my neck and down onto my chest.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Your lad would like a word."

I swallowed. "The blood... I can't."

"He wiped it off."

I took in a deep breath and released as I slowly turned.

I looked up to a now shirtless Alec with his messy hair and a frowning face. He looked so young.

I looked down to his hands and could see some blood, but not enough to make me sick.

Alec watched me with nervous eyes, and I could tell he was afraid that I was disgusted with him and to prove that I wasn't I stepped forward and put my arms around him.

He wrapped his arms tightly around me and kissed the crowned of my head a few times then he sighed a sigh of relief.

I titled my head back and looked up at his tired face.

"Hi," he whispered.

I smiled. "Hey."

"I love you," he murmured.

"I love you, too."

"Ah bollocks, they are in love."

I laughed at my uncle, and so did everyone else. I moved to Alec's side and put my arm around his waist as I faced my uncle with him.

"I don't think I need to tell to look after her."

"You don't sir, I have her covered."