She stops in front of me. Instinctively, I take her rucksack and swing it over my shoulder, but I don’t break eye contact.
“I know,” is all she says before she takes my hand and we head back down to where the rest of the men are waitin’.
The brothers only offer a greetin’ when I introduce each of them in turn. I know they’re curious to learn about the new girl in our world. I wasn’t lyin’ to her when I said they’re family. We run on loyalty and strength.
“Rebel, Sully, Racer.” I point at the three brothers in the front. “This is Einin,” I say as I glance down at her. Each of them offers a tip of their head before I continue namin’ the brothers who are stood further back. Once the introductions are done, I head to my bike and help Einin on behind me.
Monster returns from talkin’ to the agent who follows behind him. “Are ye all ready to go?”
“Aye,” Sully responds first, but Rebel steps forward. I hadn’t thought about how he would be doin’. I didn’t see Callia, and they didn’t mention her name.
“Boss!” a voice shouts from the house and they turn to him.
From behind the peeler who’s standing on the threshold of the mansion, a girl steps out, and for a moment, I think it’s Callia.
Her gaze lands on Rebel’s and I realise it is her. Only her hair isn’t blond, it’s a pastel pink and longer, much longer. She races into Rebel’s arms and sobs. The sound of her anguished cries has me pulling Einin into my arms. I’m thankful she seems almost normal, as if she’s okay. For the most part, I think she is. The man who took Callia from us was the devil himself. Which makes me wonder about the man who owns this house, who owns Einin right now.
“Let’s go,” Monster announces and we get on our bikes.
The rumble of all the engines at once vibrates through me. With Einin’s arms around me, I pull away, following behind in formation with the rest of the brothers.
Our connection with the Italians has allowed us use of their private plane. Venier is a good lad. Since he’s taken over from his father, for the most part, things seem to be runnin’ smoothly. So, when we get to the hangar, the aircraft is waitin’ to take us back to Ireland. The FBI can question Einin when they meet us in Belfast. I don’t want her to be here longer than she needs to. They have so many captives to question before they need Einin.
The girls have been through hell. The moment we get home, though, they’re going to need to sit down and take us through everythin’. I’m not stupid enough to think Patrick will just walk away from his daughter. There has to be a reason he’s let Callia go. Somethin’ doesn’t feel right when we board, and once we’re settled, it’s Rebel who is first to question it.
“Why did Patrick let ye come home?” His voice is chilled as he regards Callia.
The doubt in his eyes is enough to have me needin’ my laptop. I have to do some diggin’. The itch of not bein’ able to find information quickly is frustratin’.
“He said he… He told me he would be back in Belfast soon. And when he does return, he’s going to take the whole club out. He left me here to pass on the message.” Callia glances at Monster, and somethin’ flickers in her gaze. Her expression is pained. There must be more to it, and I have a feelin’ it has to do with him. She looks at Rebel, who’s at her side. “I want to go home.”
But Monster steps forward. “Why did ye go to yer father in the first place? What is he holdin’ over yer head?” Monster asks, leanin’ his forearms on the small table between them.
The air is thick with worry, the tension is feckin’ stiflin’. It’s times like these that make me feel more at ease with a whirrin’ computer than human interaction. But I haven’t let go of Einin’s hand since we got off my bike. I doubt I could ever let her go.
“I had to go. My choice has nothing to do with you. It’s done now,” Callia says with conviction clear in her tone. But she doesn’t say anythin’ more about her choice. “What I can tell you is that there were meetings being scheduled. They’re meant to take place over the next couple of months. He’s aimin’ for the new year, March. He said he needed time to set everything up. He had a call from someone in Italy because I overheard him speaking in Italian, but when I tried to listen in, he caught me and…” Callia turns to the window, her shoulders slumpin’, and my gut twists.
“What is it, Callia? Ye know ye can tell us anythin’,” Monster implores, while Rebel rages beside her. His hands are in white-knuckled fists as he glares.
Rebel’s not angry at her. I know he’s furious because of what she’s been through. The bastard hasn’t told her he loves her, but everyone else in the club can see it. I’m not sure why, but he’s been far too slow to react, to admit his feelings.
“He did his own form of punishment,” she whispers.
A shudder races through her; I can see her whole body shakin’. I’ve come close to killin’ once before, and today, a second wave of that same emotion rolls through me. I want to hurt the bastards who did this. I want to make them bleed.
My early life was spent in a small town where everyone knew everyone else. There weren’t any secrets, but people were happy. There was a sense of support, of community. We didn’t have brawls or any of that shite that happens in the city. But right now, violence runs through my veins. I got my girl, but I’m willin’ to fight for my family.
Since I joined the club, I’ve learnt that blood doesn’t always mean loyalty. I’ve watched fellow brothers struggle with their own lives, their own pasts. It’s not been easy. I’ve come to love each of them. And I realised, not long after patching in, I would do anything for these men. And the women who are part of the club.
I’ve watched Monster dole out his fair share of punishments over the years, and I’ve never understood it, not fully.
But in the past, I had nothing to fight for.
Now, I do.
SIX
EININ