“He said that?” This time the shock is evident in my tone, which has Hadrian laughing out loud. “Hadrian, tell me.”
He places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a little squeeze. It’s an affectionate touch, but there’s nothing leery about it. “You’ll soon find out, precious. And call me Rev.”
With that, he leaves me to ponder what he said, and I know I won’t be able to get it out of my mind. Not for a long while.
EIGHT
MONSTER
Tye sauntersinto my office and sets down some printed pages. “This is all I could find on Bragan’s wife. The rest of his files are locked up tight. I’m running some code to hack into those records, but it could take time. I wanted to get you these so you can call Jameson.”
I scan the information. There isn’t an address, but there is proof Sinéad landed in America a few days ago, not far from New Orleans. She’s changed her name though. The strange thing is, her passport wasn’t in the name of Sinéad Bragan, it was Amanda Walsh. I’m going to need help from the other chapter in the States.
I glance up at Tye. “Any children? "
“Not sure yet. If she did give birth, there isn’t any proof. There should be more records somewhere. A doctor, someone. I’m tryin’ to get into those. I will, ye know.”
“Aye, I have no doubt ye will.” It’s the truth. I’ve seen him get into online spaces nobody would. It’s why I patched him in as Tech. He’s brilliant at what he does, and I’m lucky to have him.
“Everyone is out there,” Tye says then. “You coming?”
“Aye, I’ll be there in a few,” I tell him, and I’m thankful when he doesn’t press.
What’s bothering me more right now, though, is the girl out there. I pick up my phone and hit dial on Donahue’s number. Padraig has to give me some answers. I don’t like that he’s told me to toe the line and take this wee girl into my home. I don’t know her.
I listen for a few rings, and when he doesn’t answer, I sigh and hang up. I try Jameson. He should pick up since it’s the middle of the day over the waters.
“The man they call Monster,” he greets, and I can hear the smile on his face. I’ve known him for a wee while now, and I can safely say, he’s a goodun.
“Aye, how’s things wit ye?”
“Not too bad,” he tells me. “What can I do for you? I have a feeling you’re not just calling to check how I’m doing.” He cuts to the chase, which I like. There’s no faffing about.
“I’m looking for information on an Amanda Walsh. We believe her husband is the leader of the Irish mob.” Even as I say it, my muscles are tight. The frustration that we didn’t get the bastard is still weighing on me.
“Shit,” Jameson says. “I can get Hoax to look into it for you. He’ll be able to do some digging online. There will be records.” The man is a legend.
“I appreciate that.”
“Does this have to do with your mother?”
When I first took over the club from Da, it was Jameson who offered support and guidance. None of the men wanted me to take over. They didn’t see me as leader yet, but with Jameson’s advice, I was finally able to step up, to show the brothers I could do this.
“Aye.” It’s all I can say because each time I think of her, those feckin’ feelin’s I’d been hiding twist themselves in my gut. I don’t like it. “When you have somethin’ for me, give me a shout.”
“Will do,” he says before hanging up, and I settle back in my chair.
I don’t know when I’ll be able to close this chapter of my life. Revenge is all I’ve ever known, and yet, I find comfort in it. A man’s focus is as good as his goals in life. This was my only one. It had become the one thing I could hold onto. I don’t know what to do without it.
I try Donahue again, but there still isn’t any answer. Deep down, I wonder if something’s wrong. If he’s been in bed with Bragan all this time and he didn’t tell me, I’m not going to be happy. Perhaps he’s avoiding me. Maybe he’s hiding because he doesn’t want to tell me he knew where the bastard was all these years.
There’s a knock on my office door, which takes my attention from the phone and Donahue to the girl standing on the threshold. I’ve known Callia since she was a wee one. Rebel brought her to the club after finding her in an alleyway. Life wasn’t easy for her, and when she ran away from home, she didn’t want to return. We took her in, and she’s been here ever since. That was five years ago.
“Bout ye?” I greet as I look at her.
“Pres,” she says with a smile. The soft waves of gold that is her hair fall over her face like a curtain. She’s always been shy around me, but I know she sees me as an older brother. Someone who will protect her, but also, I think I scare her. Those pretty eyes though, are all for Rebel. He doesn’t see it, not yet anyway. “I wanted to talk to ye bout the new girl.”
“Aye?”