All Chapters of Forged In Fire: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

JAMESONThe restaurant was one of ours—a high-end steakhouse in the heart of downtown that catered to the kind of clientele who appreciated discretion and didn't ask questions. Private dining room in the back, soundproofed walls, exits on three sides.Perfect for business.I sat at the head of the table with six of my senior associates, discussing territorial expansion into the South Side. The Kozlovs had left a vacuum when they'd retreated after the attack on the compound, and I intended to fill it before anyone else got ideas."The docks are the priority," I said, tapping the map spread across the table. "We control shipping, we control everything that moves through the city."Declan Murphy, my logistics guy, nodded. "The union's already on board. They're just waiting for the word.""Then give it to them," I said. "I want our people in place by the end of the week."My phone buzzed. I

JAMESONI didn't bother knocking.Grandfather's office door slammed open hard enough to rattle the whiskey bottles on his bar cart, and I stormed in like I owned the place.Which, technically, I did now.My grandfather looked up from his desk, completely unfazed by my dramatic entrance. He set down his pen with deliberate calm and leaned back in his chair."I take it the meeting went well," he said dryly."Don't," I snapped, pointing at him. "Don't you dare sit there and act like nothing happened.""Three men are dead, Jameson. I'd say something happened.""Three men are dead because my wife—" I practically spat the word, "—killed them with her bare hands and a collection of blades I didn't even know she had."Grandfather's expression didn't change. "And you're alive because of it.""That's not the point!""Then what is the poin

JAMESONThe food arrived exactly thirty-two minutes later.I'd spent most of that time sitting in the chair across from Cat's bed, trying not to stare at her while she scrolled through her phone, occasionally making sarcastic comments about the wedding photos that were already circulating on social media."Look at this one," she said, turning her phone toward me. "I look like I'm being held hostage."I leaned forward to look. She wasn't wrong—her smile was tight, her eyes slightly panicked."You kind of were," I pointed out."Fair." She scrolled further. "Oh God, this one's worse. I look like I'm about to stab someone.""Were you?""Mentally? Yes. That woman in the pink hat kept asking me invasive questions about our 'wedding night plans.'"I grimaced. "Mrs. O'Malley. She's been asking me invasive questions since I was sixteen.""She asked if we were pla

CATARINAI was still shaking with rage when I pulled through the gates of the Connelly compound.The entire drive back, I'd replayed the conversation with my father over and over in my mind, each repetition making me angrier.When you've earned that right.Like I hadn't already earned it a thousand times over.Like every scar on my body, every life I'd taken, every mission I'd completed wasn't proof enough.I parked the car with more force than necessary and stalked toward the house, my jaw clenched so tight it ached.Staff members scattered as I passed, their eyes wide with alarm.Good.Let them stare.I was done pretending to be the perfect, demure mafia wife who smiled politely and kept her head down.I reached my wing and slammed the door behind me hard enough to rattle the frame.The pink curtains mocked me from across the r

JAMESONThe war room at the Connelly estate was exactly what it sounded like—a converted library on the second floor with tactical maps covering the walls, intel boards tracking every known threat, and a massive conference table that had seen more strategic planning than most military operations.I stood at the head of that table, my top lieutenants gathered around me.Declan Murphy, my head of security. Liam O'Brien, my intelligence officer. Connor Walsh, who ran our operations on the south side. And Patrick Reilly, who handled our financial interests and money laundering operations.These were the men I trusted with my life. The men who'd helped me consolidate power after Grandfather's official transfer of leadership.And right now, they were all staring at the tactical map spread across the table, trying to figure out how to keep me alive."The Russians are getting bolder," Declan said, pointin