Paddy growls, casting her a dark look. His eyes linger on the girl, sighing, grinding his jaw. He doesn’t look happy, but he’s not going to push this.
“Fine. We’ll follow in the SUV.”
Tig looks appeased, but that’s not fucking happening.
“I’m not sitting in a fecking SUV while my wife walks the streets of Roxbury,” I snap.
“You can’t walk with us,” Tig warns.
“Fine,” I grit out. “Connor will bring the SUV. Paddy and I will flank ye.”
Tig looks like she is about to argue but nods instead, her lips in a thin line.
We all step outside, Connor moving to the SUV while Paddy walks ahead and I walk behind, shepherding Tig, who is still carrying the little girl, and the lad, who is walking at their side holding the backpacks.
We’re too exposed, and I fucking hate not being at Tig’s side. I speed up, attempting to close some of the distance between us. The little girl notices, losing her head and wailing again.
Tig’s head swivels to shoot me a warning glare.
“Don’t come closer,” she hisses.
Grinding my jaw, I fall back again. This is such fucking bullshit. We can’t get to this fucking Mcdonald's soon enough. Thank Christ, it is only a few blocks to walk.
Tig gets them both situated with food inside the restaurant while Connor and Paddy watch both exits, and I sit two booths over. After about half an hour, two cops come in, beelining for Tig’s table.
It feels so fucking wrong to let two cops approach her without intervening. A glance around tells me Connor and Paddy feel the same. Especially Paddy.
I can’t hear what they’re saying, but the female cop manages to get the little girl to take her hand, and the lad gives Tiggy a quick hug as the four of them leave.
The second they are gone, I’m on my feet, beside Tig’s table, pulling her to her feet and marching her out to the SUV. I bundle her into the backseat, Connor and Paddy seconds behind us.
It is not until we are finally out of Roxbury that the tension drains from my shoulders. No one speaks until we are back at Oracle. Paddy opens his mouth to start running it, but I ignore him, my fingers closing around Tig’s upper arm. I brush past Paddy’s annoyed face, leading her through the club, only releasing her arm when we are ensconced in my office, the door closed on the world. Well, apart from Paddy and Connor, who have followed us in for some reason.
I move to cup the nape of Tig’s neck, frowning as she shrugs away from me. What the fuck? I took her to Roxbury. We helped the lad and his sister. Why is she still pissy?
“Where’s Niall? Is he back yet?” she demands.
My face hardens. “Why do you need Niall?”
Connor and Paddy melt out of the room as I jab my finger at the door, shutting the door firmly behind them. Tig doesn’t answer, glaring petulantly at me as she slumps against the side of my desk.
Taking a step closer, I tower over her, crowding her space, my hands landing on the desk on either side of her.
“Why do you need Niall?” I ask again quietly, angrily, as she glares at me.
“I need his help,” she bites out.
I swallow an angry growl. We won’t get anywhere if we’rebothpissed off.
“I’llhelp you.”
She shakes her head. Excuse me? What the fuck.
“I don’t want your help. I want Niall’s help.”
So help me, God, I’m going to spank the shite out of her if she doesn’t snap out of this pissy mood.
“Well, ye’re not getting Niall’s help. Ye’re getting mine.”