Free The Untouchables by J.J. McAvoy Page B

guards as she took off the silencer on her gun. “Please stop bleeding all over our rug, it’s quite rude.”
    My grandfather looked down and smirked. “Shame. It was their first day too, I warned them that you could be as ruthless as your repetition called for, Giovanni.”
    “Better…who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?” Mel replied, and my blood began to boil.
    “You came across the fucking ocean just to test my wife?” I snapped, stepping forward as well.
    “Adriana!” I roared, causing the ex-ugly duckling to come in, “Have a doctor see to these idiots, and then have a new rug brought up.”
    She nodded, opening the door for the men to crawl out like the pieces of shit they were.
    My grandfather simply stepped around them, pulled out a pipe, cleaned the handle of the chair and sat down like he fucking owned it.
    “I heard about the Bloody Melody that was now part of my family and I figured a trip to this godforsaken country was worth it, so we could speak face to face,” he said as he blew out smoke.
    “Try using Skype next time.” I glared at him.
    He glared in return before turning to my parents. “You should have taken my advice and beat the wit out of him as a child.”
    “You can’t beat out personality, Shamus,” Evelyn said respectfully. “I kind of enjoy it actually.”
    “Of course you do.” He sighed, turning to my father. “Son, do I not get a welcoming?”
    “Welcome, Shamus,” was all Sedric said.
    “Grandfather…”
    “Speak when spoken to, child, or did all those seizures distort your brain as a youth?” he asked, reminding me once again why I hated him.
    “They helped me become head of this fucking family, so, with respect, I’m asking you to get out of my chair,” I hissed through my teeth.
    “And what a man you are. Allowing your home to burn down, your wife to lose her child, and losing millions in the process, I applaud you. I bow down to your greatness, child .” He snickered and Melody stood forward, but it was my turn to glare at her.
    This was not her fight.
    “Mr. and Mrs. Callahan,” Mina burst in. “We need to leave for the rally. Senator…” She froze at the sight of the blood on the carpet.
    “We were just leaving, Mina. You’re dismissed.” I didn’t even bother to turn towards her.
    When the door closed, I stepped forward, leaning across my desk. “My family and I will be leaving. I suggest…”
    “Beautiful, I will come along.” Shamus smirked, cutting me off once again. “What is the point of being so done up if no one can see me?” He rose to his feet, blowing the smoke from his pipe in my face.
    He walked forward only to stop right next to Mel to present his arm.
    “I’d rather hang myself while on fire,” Mel told him, but he took her arm anyway.
    “I wasn’t asking, my dear. There is no need to be so hostile, we’re family,” he said as he led her to the door. He, like all Callahan men, had charm, and it disgusted me.
    “You called me a cow. Twice,” she said with no emotion.
    “I’m sure you’ve been called worse.” He winked and the look on Mel’s face worried me. She didn’t hate him.
    Sedric stood in front of me as he tried to figure out the words to say. But, like always, when it came to Shamus Callahan, there were no words. My mother kissed my cheek as I leaned against the desk. One by one, they all left as the clean up crew came in.
    “There better not be a fucking spot left behind.” I finished off the rest of my brandy before leaving.

MELODY
    “Where is Liam?” I asked, stepping out of the car. I had been waiting for half an hour and that prick still hadn’t come into the car.
    The maids, who I didn’t even bother to get to know, stood outside waiting. They weren’t supposed to leave the driveway until we left. None of them looked uncomfortable, but that was years of training at work.
    “Ma’am,” one of them said. “He went to change in his room and never came back out.”
    “You’re