The Heirs: The Murphy Sweetheart

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Rhys Whelan, Age 25

Five Years Ago

Boston, MA

Shaky hands.

Well, that's new.

Fuck.

I thought as soon as I stepped foot off that airplane back in Boston from Dublin the shakes would go. By some miracle, that I would be the same guy I was when I got on that plane over here a year and a half ago.

Before I left for Dublin, I'd successfully given up smoking. Now, all I could do was run out of that fucking airport to get my hands on one.

I didn't grow up rich. So as the sleek Murphy Beamer pulled up to the VIP pickup area of the airport, I wasn't expecting it to be for me.

Finn Murphy, my boss's ally, sits in the backseat.

Correction, Finn Murphy, my new boss.

Finn Murphy – the king of the Boston mafia.

"Get in," the older gentleman tells me. I'd met Finn Murphy a handful of times. As far as Boston goes, I primarily did some work for his brother-in-law, Fitz. Blinking, I slide into the car.

"Sir," I nod.

Finn gives me a look, "Finn."

"Got it."

He holds out a hand which I shake firmly.

"To what do I owe the honor?" I ask without thinking. This is the thing about me: I don't really have a fucking filter. I wish I did. My life would be a lot easier.

Finn chuckles as the car takes off.

"I know what you did for me over there. For the family," he says darkly.

I look down at my hands. Not shaking from nerves. But almost like I've had too much caffeine. I'd been shaking like a leaf for months now. What the fuck is my problem?

I've always known what this job entails. I knew what it entailed when I was offered a deal with the kingpin in Dublin, Alistair Callahan, or Cal as everyone called him. One of his guys came to me after I got out of prison five years ago, offering me a deal. I knew what the job entailed when I took that bullet for Finn's son, Noah Murphy, while he was in Dublin three months ago. And I sure as fuck know what the job entails better than ever now.

When Finn Murphy calls, you listen.

"You work for me now, Whelan."

I try not to look too excited. Working under Finn Murphy. What a thought. The Callahans had taken me under their wing since I was 20 years old. Right out of jail. I had no one. Nothing. No family left that gave a shit about me. Except a drunk mother who fucked off to America years prior and still begged me for money. I was resigned to maybe finding a construction job. I'd always been handy. Well, before the shakes.

I like keeping busy.

But I always knew I was smart, too.

Smart enough to do something that would make me a bit of money. That's why I agreed to take the Dublin job offering from Cal. I'd been promoted rather quickly, got my own crew, got shit done. When Cal told me Finn Murphy had called in and asked if I was interested in going to America to work for him, I knew it was my chance to make something more of myself.