Keenan knows, too, having taken Caitlin as prisoner years back now. And my mother, she was wed to my father before they’d ever met, an arranged marriage between clans.
“Forget her for a minute,” I argue. “Even if I could get her to pay attention, to fall for me as it were, I want nothing to do with the woman.”
“Nolan,” Boner says. “Who do you think you’re talkin’ to? This isn’t the damn confessional, son. I’ve seen you around her enough times to know. The girl isn’t hard on the eyes. And she’s got a thing for you.”
“Does not.” I’m not letting this go. They won’t cajole me into this.
“Does too,” Lachlan says. “Tully and I noted it during the last party night at the club.”
I glare at him. Who’s side is he on?
“In any event, we’ve no choice, Nolan,” Keenan says. Serious green eyes meet mine across the room. My oldest brother’s always been the one in charge, our fearless leader, and he doesn’t back down now. “Bottom line, we need answers. And she needs to know once and for all that she isn’t to mess with us.” He pauses. “You know I’m not above what the Clancys did decades ago.”
I know what he’s referring to. In the eighties, a reporter from American got in deep. She didn’t know to leave well enough alone, but ran story after story about the Clancy Clan until they had enough. She was found dead in bed after running her stories, an example to the rest, and everyone knew who did it.
I don’t respond at first. Keenan continues. “Only reason I haven’t ordered a hit is because she could prove useful. An informant, as it were.”
I don’t understand why I clench my hand into a fist, why I want to slug my brother and make him bleed. A fucking hit for a naughty girl who doesn’t know to leave well enough alone?
There’s quiet in the room. Either they all agree with him, or they won’t speak against him.
For fuck’s sake.
I mull over his compromise.
Keenan continues. “So do it. This isn’t a suggestion, Nolan.” He’s pulling rank, and goddamn it, he’s given me no choice. “Find her. Interrogate her. Report back.”
I stifle a groan. This is an order. I have no choice. Keenan might be my brother, and he’s got enough respect for the rest of us to ask our counsel and tell us everything. But when he makes a decision, it’s iron-clad. I’m bound by blood, honor, and vows to obey.
“Aye,” I say. “I’ll start at the club tonight.”
Boner pumps his fist in the air and Lachlan gives me a grin. Carson looks at me thoughtfully, then goes back to his note-taking. When we disassemble, he comes to me.
“Nolan, a word,” he says while we exit. The other men disperse, and I walk out with Carson. Those of us born McCarthy live here in this house, but the others live a little ways off.
“Aye?”
“Do you know where she lives?” he asks. “Do you know her family history?”
“No.” I give him a curious look. “I’ve intentionally kept myself ignorant of anything more than the weight of her breasts and shape of her arse.”
He snorts.
“You do?” I ask him.
“Aye,” he says. “My girl was best mates with a neighbor of hers a few years back.”
“Was she?”
He nods.
“Something I should know?”
“Piss fucking poor,” Carson says. “Grew up in social housing just outside of Dublin. Still has three siblings and a mother at home she provides for.”
Aw, feck. “Don’t tell me anything that would make me sympathetic, now, Carson,” I warn him. I don’t know what I’m going to have to do with Sheena.
“Not why I’m telling you. But I know a few things, and I thought you should know, too.”
“Anything else?”
“Aye. A scrapper like her, she uses her body to get what she wants. Long string of men she’s slept with, all the way to O’Gregor’s Chief.”
I feel my eyebrows rise. “You don’t say. Well, fuck.”
Certainly doesn’t warm me up to the girl.
“She stops at nothing, brother. Nothing. If she thinks there’s a story, she’s all in. Does what it takes to get her money.”
“Maybe you should be the one to question her,” I say, half teasing.
He shrugs. “I’ll help you if you need me, but Keenan asked you.”
I don’t argue. I know he’s right.
“I have the articles,” Carson says. “I can send them to you.”
“Yeah, do it,” I say with a sigh. “You ever been to The Club?”
He grins. “No interest, brother. Got all I need at home.”
I grin back. “Well done, you. Go, bring the pastry to your woman before she loses her mind.”
“Aye,” he says, giving me a salute before taking off.
I sit on a rough stone bench in the garden, watching the sun set over the water. I glance at my watch. Got about ten minutes before I’ll have to get ready to go. Tonight, I’m heading to the club.