The long 9mm kicks in my hand. With a jagged black hole punched between his eyes, Jack’s head rolls back. He crumples to the floor like a rag doll.
Aaron leers as he lifts a revolver from behind his back. Of course, he has a huge black 44 Remington Magnum Super.
I’m shaking my head. The bollocks can hardly hold it steady, but still, he’s too dumb to use two hands.
“You did me a big favor, old man,” he crows. “Now I inherit the crown early.”
“True,” I agree, “But not for long.”
“What?” he sneers, shaking his flashy revolver.
I shrug. “I never was going to let you get away with what you said to her.”
Before he’s got a round chambered, I give him two shots.
To be sure, to be sure, as we used to say in the old days, back in Dublin.
Chapter Eleven
Tegan
Out on the deck, I’m looking down at Carrick’s red face, twisted in a feral snarl. Finn and Gavin lashed him with cable ties into a corner of the wood fence around the deck. They perch either side of him.
I knew straight away I could trust them both.
Carrick’s eyes flash and he chews the inside of his mouth as the first shot cracks inside the cabin. Then two more.
I flinch at the first one. I’m ready for the other two. When I hear the shots and I know what they mean. Inside, I’m washed through with numb relief.
Finn says, “I knew your daddy, Tegan. He was a good man. You can be proud of his memory.”
I can’t process it all. Not yet. But Finn’s kindness touches me. Liam has great people around him.
When I hear the quick, steady thump of his feet and he strides out through the busted doorway, I spin around to see him.
His face is full of concern. I run, spring to him, to hold onto him. To be wrapped in his arms. My gut churns in turmoil; fear and apprehension, mixed with a buzz that I can hardly contain. Wrapped around him, I’m afraid that he won’t want me, that I’m being inappropriate, that I’m embarrassing him.
But I let that go.
For this moment, I feel safe. After the last few hours, and the last few months, I feel like I deserve that much.
He holds me tenderly. Strokes my hair as he folds me, wraps me in his strong arms.
Then a panic shakes me. I look up.
“I don’t want to go back to that house.”
“I’ve thought of that, butterfly.” I hold on to him tighter when he calls me that. His business here is probably done now. I don’t want to let go. He’ll be gone too soon, I know it. But he’s here now.
I press my ear against his chest and feel the rumble as he speaks.
“I talked to Finn. We’ll take you to his mammies house. You’ll be welcome and well cared for. She’ll feed you up. Gavin will get your things from the O’Leary house.”
“That place,” I shudder. Then, “You’re going back to Las Vegas?”
He pulls me closer. “Not yet, Butterfly.”
Ma Connolly’s bar has a bustling restaurant full of steam and laughter, and the air is warm with comforting, appetizing cooking smells.
In back, her own dining room is a thieves palace. There are enough people around the big table to run the city or steal it, if they’d ever stop laughing long enough.
Ma Connolly herself is a big, hearty, no-nonsense woman with red cheeks and flowing red hair to match.
“Liam, you old crook,” she calls to him, “How long has it been? And this poor beauty. Did you kidnap her?”
Her welcome is like a hard, joyful shake, and it makes everything seem alright. At least while I’m sat at a corner of the table with Liam. For now, I couldn’t want more.
She greets me like part of her family and asks me, “Is he holding you against your will, child? Say the word and I’ll rip the rascal’s head off.”
Ma slides a hefty plate of ham and eggs and potatoes in front of me before I’ve even sat.
She twinkles like a gypsy queen as she stands a big mug of coffee by me. Just the scent of the steam makes my eyes open. “Breakfast,” Ma Connolly says. “Start the day over. End it wherever you feel like.”
Before she goes, she tells me, “You’ve nice big rooms upstairs. If there’s anything you need,” and she slides a look at Liam, “Well, I think you’ve got someone who’ll be taking care of you. But if you do need anything at all, I’ll either be here or in the restaurant. That or throwing people out of the bar.”
I don’t feel like I can eat. I’m too jumpy and jangled inside. But Liam insists I take some food.
Once I start, I clean the plate in no time and I do feel like I’ve started over.