My body reacts, surmounting all thought. I go over the bloody table, flying like afeckingmonkey. While the two of us usually favor slacks and casual business attire, over the rest of the clan, he’s in a suit tonight. I’m bloody prepared to scrap. A few of the customer’s murmurs exceed the sound of the inappropriately loud music as my fist connects with his jaw.
This is why I picked Donahue’s. Food’s cheap, and it never fails that someone’s always getting theirarsehanded to them.
“Kieran!” A thousand voices call out, some squeaky.Shite, I land on top of Leith in front of hiswean. With unstoppable fists, I bash his face in.
Little Brody hauls me off him. From the corner of my eye, Ewan raises a glass to me. The formalities are over now that he’s got a drink in hand. “Ya caught the bloody bastard off guard. Good job, son.”
Ewan and Big Brody share another round in my honor. Camdyn blocks my path from their good-natured antics, pointing a stiff finger a sliver away from my nose.
“Made your point yet?” Camdyn’s blue-green eyes flash.
Eh, what’s eating him?He’s supposed to hit me, thus initiating round two. Next, Old Donahue would think more about kicking us out than the bloody tab.
Camdyn grabs a paper napkin and holds it up. “You’re bleeding.”
I touch a fingertip to my nose. High off adrenaline and not feeling anything, I give Leith a respectful nod as Blythe helps him up.“Got one in,bawbag. Good for you.”
The brothers, James and Knox, who must’ve entered with the rest of them, pat my shoulders. “He’s done,” one says. They resemble each other so much that I can’t differentiate between the two. Bloody can’t.
Blythe rolls his shoulders. “If we’re not done wrestling, I hope you all don’t mind that I bow out. Kier, just imagine me as your enemy, Clan Mackenzie for life.”
His cousin, Firth, who’s big brother to James and Knox, adds, “Well, Blythe’s gotta keep that arm in tip-top shape for tomorrow. My excuse . . . I can’t fight, so...I’m gonna down all the bevy’s I can on your tab, Kier.”
Little Brody laughs behind me, still holding me back.
I huff. “I’m done. Unless Leith wants to get his lick back.”
“Alright, we’re good.” Brody releases me and points to where his girlfriend has claimed a spot on the opposite end of the table with theweans. Toting a diaper bag and none-the-wiser, Leith’s wife, Chevelle, joins Brody’s woman and Firth’s wife. They fuss over Leith and Chevell’s new bairn. “You’re lucky she didn’t see it, or Twigs would be all over you.”
The clan I call family sits around the table as servers set a spread before them. Aye, Donahue put the money above all. I’d not asked for all this food, but anytime we get rowdy, I’m paying for more. I stand in the corner near the bar area watching them.
Getting up slowly, Leith rubs the back of his ginger head and heads over.
I ask, “Mia hate me?”
“No, mate. The lassie wants Fruit Loops, and the waitress ain’t got those. I’m here to ask for your phone. You’re gonna Uber eats my kid some Fruit Loops.”
“To a pub?” I shake my head, and we laugh together.
“Also, I promised her Disneyland next week.” Leith clicks his tongue. “While we already have annual passes, I need you to pay for my hotel, and it’s gonna have to be a suite. Mia knows the difference.”
I cock a brow. “You live—”
“Close enough to Disneyland, aye, but she saw her father getting into a fight. She’s scarred for life.”
“Bullshite,” I mutter, shoving my hand into my pocket for my wallet.
“Black card?” Leith asks.
“Feckyou, Leith. You probably got one too.”
“Aye, but you reset the nose of the lassie’s father.Me, bawbag.”
“Stay on guard,” I tell him, shoveling a few hundred bucks into his hand.
A few seconds later, the jokes have ended as Leith takes on a serious face. “About the man who came up to your place those months back—”
“Who?” I growl. Blood drains from my face. Ava’s wrecked my whole life. Well, Kiera too. My little sister ran away, and I thought Ava and I became a strong front that night. An untouchable fortress, her and me. That wasn’t the case. With all that had happened, I’d forgotten all about the John Doe.