Chapter Fifteen
MELLIE
Fiona slides into the booth across from me at the dimly-lit diner. I’m not sure why she wanted to catch up with me here in Southie when she could talk to me at Oracle, but she said it was important, so here I am.
“Hey, girl,” she mutters, her eyes darting around as she snatches up a menu, looking it over.
I tap my fingernails on the red checkered tablecloth. “Why this place? I mean, their food is amazing, but it’s a bit out of your way.”
“They’re not associated with any mafias,” Fiona mutters, turning to summon a waitress and place her order. I order my usual soup and crusty bread I always get when I come here.
“Should be out soon, ladies,” the waitress assures us, returning to the kitchen to place our orders.
As she disappears through the swinging double doors, Fiona pinches the bridge of her nose, looking like she hasn’t slept properly in a week.
“What’s up, girl?” I reach across the table to tap the back of her hand. Fiona shrugs, a grimace marring her pretty face.
“Fucking Tahlie,” she groans.
Yeah, the red-headed stripper isn’t my favorite either. When she’s not openly lusting after Seamus or being the world’s biggest bitch about Tiggy, she looks at Niall like he’s a lollipop she wants to suck.
The slampig can fuck right off. I’d cut off his dick if heeverput it near that dirty slut.
“What’s she done now? Tried to take more of your sets?”
That was the issue last time Fiona was bitching to me about Tahlie.
“No.” Fiona blows out her breath, falling silent as the waitress brings our coffees. Once we’re alone again, she makes another face, tapping a staccato on the table with her fingernails. “She’s been starting rumors. About Tiggy.”
“Christ.” I wrinkle my nose, plucking up my coffee and taking a sip. “She’s such a fucking slampig.”
Fiona nods in agreement, her eyes flitting around as she chews her plump pink lower lip, her fingernails drumming on the tabletop.
“They’re bad,” she whispers, paling as she says it.
“How bad?” I frown, feeling cold in the pit of my stomach. Fiona makes another face again. Christ. I lean across the table to hear her whisper.
“She’s been saying that the only way Tiggy gets Seamus to dance attention on her is by threatening to sleep around with the other lads in his crew.”
Fiona’s eyes are darting around the diner like she’s terrified someone will overhear. I don’t blame her. Working at the club has put me in constant contact with a number of mobsters.
I have learned all sorts of things about how their world works. Being a cheating wife is a death warrant. And since cheating is hard to proveafterthe fact, sometimes rumors are all it takes.
All the blood drains from my face. Tahlie has officially lost her mind. She will get Tiggy killed. Christ. What if that is actually her end game?
“I don’t know what to do about it,” Fiona breathes, slumping against the booth seat. I stare at her, shaking my head slowly.
“You have to go to Seamus.”
Fiona shakes her head vigorously, looking like she’s about to be sick.
“He’ll shoot the messenger. We both know he’s fucking head over heels in love with Tiggy. Hell, he ate her out in the middle of the dressing room to prove that fucking point,” she hisses.
“All the more reason to tell him. He’ll take care of Tahlie, and the problem will disappear,” I insist, but she’s still shaking her head. “I can tell him,” I volunteer gently, which earns me a glare and a look of disgust.
“I’lltell him,” she snaps. “I’m not a fuckingchildto be coddled.”
I nod, swallowing a smile. Fiona can be so predictable sometimes. “I don’t care which of us does it, as long as someone tells Seamus.Today. If these rumors get out….”