Read Online A Bloody Kingdom (Ruthless People Book 4) by J.J. McAvoy - Free Book Online Page A

trying to build a name for himself. He wants to be feared, and his followers are loyal—not to mention he’s starting to get much bolder. From what I can tell he’s simply ignorant of the way things work around here.”
    “Why are we just hearing about this now?” Neal shouted at him.
    “Calm down,” I muttered, sliding a slice into my mouth. “I was already informed about what’s happening in Bella Vista.”
    “And you let it go?”
    My eyes narrowed on Neal. “Do I look like the let-it-go type of person to you, brother?”
    “Sorry,” He grumbled. “We have peace, Liam. Real peace. Please, I don’t—”
    “I understand that, which is why I’ve been waiting to see how far this new idiot would go. If he had settled himself and followed the rules, I wouldn’t have to step in, but apparently something happened in the last twenty-four hours I was not aware of?”
    “Yes sir,” Fedel answered. “Last night there were multiple drive-bys, but the most notable one that is gaining media attention was a seventeen-year-old football player and honor student that died shielding his younger sisters, one nine, the other twelve. The shooter hasn’t been caught.”
    “So Mel went to bring order herself? With no men?” Declan pressed as if I would tell him more; even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell him, but it bothered me that I didn’t know. “Does she have an inside man?”
    “Not that I am aware of,” Fedel replied.
    Neal shook his head. “I thought your setup was to keep her looking clean for when she ran for president. If anyone sees her…”
    “Has my wife ever been careless?” I asked, sliding another piece of apple in my mouth.
    “No, but—”
    “But what about your wife?” I finished for him. “I’m happy Mina brings you so much joy Neal, and I understand your need to protect her, but remember she came into this family eyes wide open. She chose to work for my wife. She is loyal. Mel protects those who are loyal to her. You shouldn’t be worried. I say that knowing full well you won’t listen, but it needs to be said. The Callahan women are not just fashion icons and charity heads. They get their hands just as dirty as we do. If that is all, you both can go.”
    Neither of them said anything more before going back to their tables. I could tell Neal was annoyed, but he was just going to have to get the fuck over it.
    “Fedel, when did she tell you she was leaving?”
    “This morning before mass.”
    “And you didn’t fill me in then because…?”
    “She directed me to wait.”
    Melody…God damn it, woman…must you drive me to gray hair before I even turn forty?
    “Boss?”
    “What!”
    He moved to stand in front of me. “I would never dare pretend I know the boss more than you.”
    “But?” I could feel it coming.
    “But…as you remember, she did not grow up like you did. You had a family. No matter what you all went through as a family, you were a family. The boss was alone for most of her life and when she was with her father, he was doing everything in his power to make her into a bloody soldier. The boss, Melody Nicci Giovanni Callahan, is a soldier, and like all soldiers, she is at her best when she is fighting. She doesn’t understand peace. She tries to for the sake of you and your children, but at the end of the day, she will always feel the need to fight. It has nothing to do with you or anyone else; it is her own personal curse.”
    I didn’t reply. Instead, I kept eating, watching my children as they tried to learn poker from my mother. He hadn’t told me anything about my wife I didn’t already realize myself. She’d been playing the role of Governor Callahan for so long, Bloody Melody was losing her mind. If she needed to smash a few skulls to get focused again, I’d happily serve them up to her; that was the twisted way we loved each other.
    MELODY
    It must have been some person’s idea of a sick joke to call this place Bella Vista.
    Over the years, I had put