Chapter 6
6
FIONN
I held myself tall in the chair I sat in, keeping my presence imposing like Sloan had taught me. “Being the boss is a game of wits and dominance.” Sloan had taken a deep drink of his favorite whiskey for an effective pause. “Even if you aren’t in the mood, you always have to be prepared.”
So, I stayed ready.
Across from me, sitting behind his desk in his leather office chair, was Sloan. Conall lounged in a seat beside him.
“The Italians are hiding valuable information,” Sloan murmured, stroking his chin. “I wish I was surprised, but I’m not. You should never trust Follieros.”
Conall sighed. “Elio’s been fine, but he’s been touchy recently because of what happened to Matteo.”
“I know.” Sloan made a displeased sound and stared at me thoughtfully. “This is the danger of being in love with your right-hand man. It’s his job to protect you, and when he does that, you need to stay immune to feelings.”
I startled.
Was Sloan saying that specifically for a reason or did he purely mean Elio and Matteo? Sloan knew I was fucking Daire. I could tell by the way he watched us with a knowing stare. Most of the generals in the Company had the same idea, giving us pointed looks when they thought we weren’t paying attention, but they didn’t outright say it, so I couldn’t approach anyone about it. A small part of me liked the idea of them knowing there was something going on because I wanted it to be that way with Daire—and more.
“Elio is young, and his concern for Matteo is a weakness,” Sloan said.
Conall stared at me carefully, but I made a point of ignoring him. I wouldn’t lash out like I wanted to because I was trying to prove to Sloan I could do this.
“What do you want me to do about it?” I asked, squaring my shoulders. “I can go over to Elio’s immediately and demand access to the book.”
Sloan shook his head and raised his hand, smoothing it over Conall’s hair. The attention he gave his pet was sweet—or as much as it could be for a mob boss. His thumb worked over Conall’s temple, and Conall tilted his head toward Sloan, enjoying the devotion. “No. We want to handle him subtly. We don’t want Elio to know we’re aware of what he has.”
“Why?” I asked seriously.
Sloan ignored me for a moment as he leaned forward to lay a gentle kiss on Conall’s lips.
Conall moved toward Sloan, eyelashes fluttering closed as he let out a small moan of appreciation.
Sloan smirked and murmured something to him before he fell back in his chair and concentrated on me again. “Because relations between the Irish and the Italians have always been fragile. Remember what I told you about the war we had with them?”
I nodded. “Grandpa was the one who made peace. He nearly destroyed their empire, and when the Italians, or more specifically, Elio’s father, waved the white flag, Grandpa offered them a deal, and we became allies.”
“Exactly. If we go in there with guns blazing while demanding answers, it’ll get you killed.” He linked his fingers together and rested his elbows on his desk, lips pursed. “I won’t have that.”
My chest ached. It wasn’t often Sloan showed emotion toward me, but when he did, I drank in every second of his concern. After my father’s funeral, I’d felt lost. I’d swum in a sea of doubt and confusion and begun acting out at an early age. I had no father anymore. My mom couldn’t handle me, so she reached out to Sloan. I didn’t know what kind of agreement they’d come up with, but shortly after my father’s death, Sloan took me in and became my legal guardian. That was the last time my mom tried to be my parent.
While Sloan was very much a father figure, it wasn’t often that he showed me how proud he was or that he truly cared. He was a hard man. He showed more emotion to his pet than me.
“So, what do you want to do?” I asked.
Sloan sat back in his seat again and stared at me with a narrowed gaze. The scar across his left eye was more prominent today, and I thought it was because Sloan had been frowning a lot lately. The continued uprising of our enemies had plagued my uncle’s mind. Everything seemed to be happening at once.
“We let this die down for a few weeks. If the Italians know we visited their cop, they’ll be expecting us to show up immediately. When things have cooled down, you and Daire will go to Elio under the guise of a friendly visit.”
I frowned. “Is a few weeks long enough?”
“Yes.” Sloan tapped his finger on the desk in thought. “You’ll offer to help them rebuild the businesses that the Giordanos destroyed.”
“Elio is still pissed at us for making a deal with the Giordanos.” Conall laid his hand on top of Sloan’s, caressing his thumb across Sloan’s skin to gain his attention, as though he didn’t always have it. The action was enough to make me want to roll my eyes. “Do you think he’ll accept Fionn and Daire’s visit with open arms?”
“He’ll have no choice,” Sloan grunted out. He raised Conall’s hand to his mouth and laid a kiss on the palm, and I couldn’t look away. As much as I sought to despise Conall, I craved that kind of intimacy. I wanted to be adored like Sloan did his pet, but only by...Daire. “The boy has a lot to learn, but he knows his place. The Killough Company controls the East Coast.”
“That hasn’t stopped him from asking questions about the Company around the city.” Conall shifted in closer to Sloan, visibly shuddering when Sloan placed a kiss on the pulse point of his wrist. “You need to send a few guards with Fionn and Daire.”
“No,” I snapped before I could stop.
Sloan’s and Conall’s gazes shot to me, and I sat up straighter. I didn’t apologize for talking to Conall that way, even though Sloan would want me to, but I softened my voice, even as a bitter taste lay heavy on my tongue at the thought of giving Conall respect. “We need to show Elio we trust him or this won’t work. If we show up with soldiers, he’ll be suspicious.”
“He’s right, pet,” Sloan murmured, glancing at Conall from the corner of his eye. “We don’t want to appear as though we’re coming into his territory with an army.”
Conall frowned. “You show up in places with more guards than the couple I suggested. I want him to be protected. Fionn is the heir to the Company.”
“And Sloan’s nephew.” My jaw tightened. I had the urge to add that point, though, it clearly didn’t mean anything to Conall. I was more than the future of the mob, I was also related to Sloan by blood. I was a Killough. “I can take care of myself.”
“Enough.” Sloan cut a hand through the air, and I swallowed down the anger that had lodged in my throat. “My pet is worried about you, nephew. He cares about your well-being, and you should be thankful.”
Bullshit. He was undermining me, but Sloan was too blind to see it. Conall hated me, like everyone else in this company.
Sloan’s attention moved back to Conall. “Pet, Fionn is right. There are certain situations where soldiers will do more harm than good. But we can compromise.”
“How?” I asked, surprised.
“You’ll take Mancini with you.”
My nose scrunched. “The hit man that Ardan’s fucking?”
I suspected it was more than sex with them by now. They hadn’t outright come out as being in a relationship, but they didn’t need to, either. It didn’t take a genius to figure out they cared for each other.
Sloan’s mouth twitched in amusement. “Yes. Mancini is Italian, and he’s worked with mobs. He knows what to expect.”
“Uncle—”
“No arguing, Fionn. It’s decided. I will get in contact with Mancini and let him know. In the meantime, I want you to work with Daire and the generals.” He smirked. “Check in with each of them to see how they are doing and if they need any help. I don’t want any mistakes.”
I stood, keeping my back straight as I bowed slightly. “Yes, Uncle.”
Walking out of the office took every ounce of control my body possessed. I didn’t want Mancini there with us, but it wasn’t my place to argue. Sloan already had Daire babysitting me. Did he still have such little faith in me after all these years? What would I have to do to finally earn his trust? Daire always said everything Sloan did was for a reason, but I wished Sloan would let me in on the secret sometimes.
As I reached the end of the hallway beside the split staircase in the foyer, I paused and stared at the front doors. The quiet house wasn’t unusual during the evening, but faint voices caught in what sounded like a heated discussion had me frowning. I followed the noise around to the other side of the stairs and down the opposite hallway, which led to the kitchen. Here, I was close enough to hear what the two men—guards who kept night watch—were saying.
“I’m fucking telling you, dude, if he ever becomes boss, he’ll be killed in a week. He’s piss weak.” The first laughed.
“Eh. He’d last longer than that. A week and a half maybe.” The second gurgled out his own laugh, but this one sounded like he had food shoved in his mouth.
My stomach dropped, rage and shame making my jaw twitch as I stepped in closer to hear what they were saying. Either they thought I would be asleep or they didn’t care who was listening because they weren’t keeping their voices down.
“I reckon it would be better if Reardon stepped up, then the boss’s nephew could be his whore.” The first asshole snorted. “With lips like those, he’s gotta be good at sucking cock. There are times I almost understand what Reardon is up to.”
Hell, I already was Daire’s whore. I swallowed around the acid rising in my throat, stomach churning.
A door opened and closed inside the kitchen. “What the hell are you talking about?” echoed the very familiar voice of Conall’s bodyguard, Ronan.
“Little Fionn Killough.” The first one laughed again. “The Little Bitch. That’s what we like to call him. He never does anything that the boss doesn’t tell him. A perfect follower, not a leader. I bet the only guy he’s been fucked by is Reardon.”
My heart gave a jerk. It was true.
“Shut up,” Ronan snapped, the irritation clear in his tone. “You have no right to talk about the boss’s nephew like that. Get back to work.”
“You’re not in charge. Just because you got the job of watching the boss’s pet’s ass doesn’t mean you can order us around, you dick.” This came from the second guy.
Fuck. I wanted to know who they were.
“Right. Well, let’s see what the boss’s pet thinks about what you’re doing and talking about. Tongues have been cut out for less than disrespecting Mr. Killough’s nephew.”
Footsteps reverberated, and I shuffled backward, prepared to have Ronan open the door in front of me, but there was movement in the kitchen.
“Get your hands off me,” Ronan barked.
“You’re a fucking snitch,” the second grunted out. “Whatever. We’re going back to work.”
I waited until a door slammed inside the kitchen, signaling either a couple of them, or all, had left out to the backyard, where they were supposed to be in the first place. But when the door near me swung open and Ronan appeared, we both froze.
Ronan’s blue eyes widened. “Sir.”
I stared at him and he stared back. A weird silence hung in the air between us. I thought about saying something about what I’d heard, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. If it’d been Sloan who’d listened to that conversation, he would’ve stalked in there and demanded respect—probably killed someone—but I wasn’t my uncle. Instead, what the guards said only confirmed my fears. They didn’t think I could do the job.
I was useless. A fucking failure. No guard would ever speak like that about Sloan. He’d put the fear of death in them, but I was weak enough that they thought it was okay. They thought they were safe . My chest ached.
Ronan’s gaze softened and he clasped his hands in front of himself, bowing slightly. “You caught that gossip.”
“I did.” I took a deep breath. “Is that what they all think about me?”
Concern played across Ronan’s face, and he sighed, running a hand through his short blond hair. “No, but you have those who like to mouth off about their bosses. There are guys who do the same about Sloan and Conall.”
“Why haven’t you reported them?” I snapped, more worried that someone would plan to attack either my uncle or my uncle’s pet than me. Their hatred for me was understandable, but no one had the right to question Sloan’s leadership. I had my reasons for being irritated at Conall, but I would never let anyone else disrespect him.
Ronan hesitated.
“Tell me.” I gritted my teeth and added more force to my words.
“Because I have.”
I frowned. “If you have, then why are they still here?”
Ronan glanced around the narrow hallway we were in before he touched my upper arm, leading me closer to the wall. “Men like that enjoy feeling powerful,” he said, voice lowered. “But when you get them in front of the boss or his pet, they are nothing but cowards. Mr. Killough and Conall are aware of the issue. I keep them updated. They allow these men to say what they want, to an extent, but it’s my job to make sure they don’t get out of hand.”
“You’re essentially a spy,” I murmured, in awe of the simple strategy. Our men were never guaranteed to be one-hundred-percent loyal, even if they came from families that were, so having a mole among the soldiers who kept an eye on them made a lot of sense.
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s smart.”
Ronan quirked a half smile. “It was Conall’s idea for me to show my respect to our bosses, while also listening to what the men have to say or what they may plan.”
I should’ve hated that it was Conall who came up with making Ronan a spy hidden within our own men, but I couldn’t. Instead, I nodded. “Thank you for explaining.”
Ronan startled but inclined his head.
I ignored his surprise at my gratitude. Being considered a joke had lasting effects I didn’t enjoy. They’d been right to assume I’d only been fucked by Daire, and that made the hole in my chest even wider. It made me seem like a fool. I didn’t have the experience most guys did. By the time Sloan was my age, he was already the boss and making a name for himself in the organized crime world. Then, there was me.
The Little Bitch.
“You’re welcome, sir.” Ronan inclined his head. “Now, if you’ll excuse me?—”
“You have the rest of the night off, don’t you?” I asked abruptly. I gave Ronan a slow once-over, taking in his wide shoulders and high cheekbones, with a sharp jaw and nice eyes. Ronan was beyond handsome, but appreciating someone who worked for us wasn’t a good idea.
“I do, sir.”
“Call me Fionn. At least... while we’re alone.” I didn’t have many friends. Outside of Sloan and Daire and Conall, no one really called me by my first name. I was sir to everyone else. How pathetic was that? “Would you like to come out with me tonight?”
Ronan blinked at me and opened his mouth.
“I want to go to a club, and I know my uncle wouldn’t want me to go unguarded. I trust you ....” A huge thing for me to admit, though I wasn’t sure if Ronan knew that. “And you don’t have to babysit me. You can do what you want, but at least I could say I took someone with me to appease him.”
Ronan exhaled and a small smile stretched across his mouth. “I’d like that, Fionn.”
Warmth spread through me.
“You’ve got clothes, right?” I asked, ashamed that I wasn’t sure. I thought all the personal bodyguards had rooms of their own in the mansion.
Ronan laughed, and the genuine, deep sound made me grin. I couldn’t remember making someone laugh like that before. “Yes, sir. Fionn, I do. Should I meet you at the front with a car?”
“Yeah, sounds good. I don’t drive.” An embarrassed flush flooded my cheeks.
“I’m aware.”
“In an hour?”
“In an hour,” Ronan agreed.
I let out a breath. I was actually going clubbing. With someone. With a...friend? Was he a friend? Oh, fuck . I didn’t know how to dance.
More than a few hours later, we arrived at Club Bellissimo. While someone in my position might have informed the manager of the club and taken the VIP way in, I decided to experience the nightlife like everyone else. Ronan didn’t seem to mind, and as we waited in line, Ronan talked about his life in high school with Conall. It was strange to hear that Conall was an outcast who’d preferred to spend time by himself than with other people.
“It doesn’t really make sense until you know about his home life, you know?” Ronan said as we got closer to the front of the long line. He was dressed in a nice pair of jeans and a crisp white T-shirt. The jacket he wore on top was brown leather. “I guess when you get treated like a punching bag by your father, you don’t want any human contact.”
I frowned. I’d suspected there’d been some abuse there, but I’d never asked Sloan about it, and I’d certainly never talked to my uncle’s pet.
“His father beat him?” I didn’t know why I cared. I fucking hated Conall, didn’t I? He made Sloan happy, and that was something, I supposed. Maybe I didn’t hate him completely.
Ronan winced. “I thought you knew.”
I shrugged. “I had an idea.”
“Terrance mostly took the hits when he could from Morrissey Senior, but sometimes Conall was the easier target.” Ronan’s eyebrows scrunched. “At a certain age, Conall just broke, you know? His entire personality changed almost overnight, and he became this smart-ass. Always mouthing off to people. It got him into a lot of trouble.”
I snorted. “My uncle enjoys it. Gives him a reason to spank him.”
The bouncer at the door ushered the two women in front of us inside. He took a long look at us, probably trying to decide if we were good-looking enough for the club, and his nose crinkled.
“You two look familiar.” The bouncer had a faint scar across his jaw and a shiner blooming on his left cheek, like he’d already been in a fight tonight. He pointed a finger at us. “You going to cause problems?”
“No,” Ronan said, offering his best smile. “We’re just here to dance and drink.”
Another bouncer, this one bigger and broader, stepped out of the door and slapped the first on the shoulder, leaning close to whisper into his ear. The bouncer with a shiner grunted and offered us a curt nod before opening the door and gesturing us inside.
“Mr. Killough, sorry for the wait.”
Ronan snorted, clearly amused that they’d figured out who I was, and together we slipped into the club. Music hit us in a wall of sound, the beat so loud that I could feel it in my chest. My breath stuttered for a short moment as I remembered how to breathe. I’d never been in a club and didn’t know why I’d thought this was a smart idea, but the desire to prove to the men that I wasn’t The Little Bitch had rankled me in new and awful ways.
Mostly, I hated that they were right about Daire being my only fuck.
Club Bellissimo belonged to the Folliero Family, and it was the go-to place for the mobsters who were associates of the Family. Word would quickly get back to everyone that I had been here and I went home with a guy.
Hopefully.
Daire had made it clear from the beginning that it was only sex between us. He’d even gone so far as to say I could fuck anyone else I wanted. I’d never had the desire to, and I didn’t dwell on the fact that he might’ve slept with someone else. It was better to pretend I was the only one he’d been fucking.
Multicolored lights shot across the dance floor, and the fast beat of the bass had everyone jumping in the air, punching their arms in time with the music. The bar was crowded, and around the dancers were tables strewn across the rest of the club, covered in mostly darkness to give partiers their privacy. I spotted the VIP section—which was past red rope and up a set of steel stairs—and the security there watched me, like they expected me to head toward them and enter. I merely shook my head and stalked toward the bar, keeping my stride strong, chin raised. I was going to get smashed tonight, and then I was going home with a guy to get railed because fuck Daire and his attitude toward me.
If he didn’t want a relationship, I’d find someone else who did.
Ronan was right behind me. When we made it to the bar, he shoved people aside—taking his bodyguard role seriously even if he wasn’t on the clock. I wasn’t going to complain as he sidled up to the smooth wooden bar. A slim man with skin that sparkled with body glitter and glossy lips headed straight for me, leaning over the surface to pat my hand.
“What can I get ya, hun?” he yelled above the commotion of the club.
The bartender was cute, with short dark hair and arched eyebrows, but he was petite and didn’t have the power I wanted in a man. I needed someone who could throw me around and fuck me— hard . The bartender winked, though, offering me the chance to flirt. If I was smart, I would show the soldiers that I could pick up cuties just like Sloan. But if I was going to be boss one day, my men would have to respect the idea of me having someone different than a dainty little pet. The opposite. Someone bigger and wider. A man who could rip a person to shreds with his bare hands. A guard dog who wouldn’t stand for an ounce of disrespect tossed my way.
I hesitated as the bartender’s question caught up with me. The stupid thing was that I didn’t know what I wanted to drink. I’d only ever drunk whiskey because that was what Sloan preferred, and I’d never given myself a chance to experiment. I’d wanted so badly to be my uncle, I hadn’t discovered who I was. Fuck. Pathetic.
“We’ll have two Blue Moons,” Ronan said, taking over, and I gave him a smile in thanks.
The bartender nodded and sauntered off.
I turned to stare out at the crowd. Men and women rocked their bodies in ways that seemed surreal, and it was hard to tear my gaze away from how amazing these people looked. There was the odd embarrassing dancer, but most had clearly been here more than once and swayed with the pounding beat.
When the drinks came, Ronan paid for them before I could, and he passed me a bottle.
“Thanks.” I raised the beer to him and took a sip, wincing at the horrible taste but holding in the urge to dump it back onto the bar. We stayed where we were, watching, and I thought Ronan was waiting for instructions. It was a cruel reminder that he wasn’t my friend, merely a man paid by Sloan to keep us all safe.
Someone sidled up on my left, and I didn’t glance at them until a smooth voice said, “You’ve got to be the best-looking person in this place.”
Surprised, I glanced toward the man to make sure he was talking to me. He was.
He wasn’t anyone I’d met, but there was a certain familiarity about him that had my back straightening. I felt like I should know him off the top of my head, but I didn’t. I needed the files I had on all the powerful mob men that I kept at home. The fact that I didn’t remember him meant that he either wasn’t an important player or he hadn’t done anything to merit remembering. Yet. That could easily change.
With short dark hair like the bartender, this stranger had the large shoulders, hard chest, and height I was searching for in someone to fuck. He was taller than me by at least a few inches and had the kind of muscles I wanted to feel.
The man stuck out his hand. “Michele Scotti.”
The name struck a chord, and I stared, not bothering to take his offering. “Scotti? As in....”
It could’ve been a coincidence, right? Who was I kidding. Of course it wasn’t. Matteo Scotti, Elio’s right-hand man, had a younger brother named Michele. I had all the information in my notes about Matteo. Michele had a file of his own, though it wasn’t as extensive as his brother’s.
“As in Matteo Scotti’s younger brother, yes.” Michele’s sinful mouth curved deliciously. He dropped his hand before taking a step closer.
Ronan tensed at my side.
“And I know who you are. Fionn Killough.” Michele licked his bottom lip as his gaze slid down my body, catching on spots that seemed to hold his interest. “I’ve known since the moment I saw you.”
“How did you spot me in a crowd like this?” I asked, amused. I couldn’t help myself. He knew how to charm.
“I didn’t mean tonight,” he practically purred, dancing one of his fingers from the top of my shoulder down my arm, gaze tracking the movement. “Though, I’d have to be blind not to notice you come into the club. You light up the entire room.”
I laughed in embarrassment, heat blooming on my cheeks. “Does that pickup line work often?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t used it on anyone.” He leaned against the bar with his elbow. “I can tell you the exact moment I first saw you, Fionn Killough. It was during a meeting between Sloan and Elio. You were standing at your uncle’s side, dressed in a dark gray suit with a navy tie. You had blond hair back then, but I admit, I prefer you this way.” The man had no sense of personal boundaries as he raised his hand to run his fingers through my hair, an act so intimate that it felt like we were already lovers.
My eyes slipped closed before I could stop them. His nails teased against my scalp, sensual and pleasure inducing. A shudder swept through me, and I gasped. A simple touch had my skin buzzing. I didn’t know this man, yet my body craved this unfamiliar soft touch. Despite it coming from a man other than Daire, all I could think about was Daire doing it—his fingers, his nails, his everything.
“Has anyone told you that you’re gorgeous?”
His deep voice, not Daire , reminded me this wasn’t who I wanted it to be.
“Sir....” Ronan’s quiet voice had my eyes snapping open again, and I glanced at him. “Are you okay?”
I cleared my throat. “Fine, Ronan. Why don’t you go for a walk, maybe find a table?”
Ronan seemed unsure, a frown creasing his forehead, but he nodded and left us alone.
I watched until he disappeared before I switched my attention back to Michele. “You’re a straightforward guy.”
He threw his head back and laughed, slapping a hand to his chest, a reaction that had my insides turning to goo. Excitement squirmed inside me, and I shifted, not quite sure how to handle this new feeling. While Ronan’s laughter before had been genuine, this was different. Better. This was a man who was interested in me in the way I wanted Daire to be.
“I am honest.” Michele waved a hand. “I like to think I’m a true Italian. I tell it how it is, and I romance men I find attractive.” He leaned in again and put his mouth close to my ear. “However, you’re the first I’ve wanted to truly seduce.”
I exhaled sharply. So, this was flirting. I’d never had someone try to pursue me with such vigor—or at all, for that matter. Daire didn’t need to pull out all the tricks to get me into his bed. I’d always done the chasing with Daire, but now someone finally wanted me. It was fucking awesome.
My stomach erupted in butterflies and my fingers tingled in excitement. Pleasure bloomed in my chest, and everything felt light, like I was walking on air. Was this how having someone purposely choose you felt?
Michele placed his thumb on my bottom lip, dragging it across my mouth.
I froze, waiting to see what would happen next. I’d only just arrived, but I already wanted to leave. With Michele.
My heart gave a tug. What about Daire?
Daire was the only one I’d had any sexual experience with, and it felt weird to want someone else. No one would compare to my feelings for him, but for once, I needed someone to want me .
Michele shifted closer in a way that suggested he was going to kiss me, and my eyelids slid shut, my grip on my beer bottle tightening until my fingers hurt. I waited, and when he got so close that I felt his breath tickle my mouth, I went to close the distance.
I met air instead.
My eyes shot open and I gawked, surprised to see Michele’s back to me. In front of Michele was Daire and another man I didn’t recognize. Daire’s face was filled with rage I had never seen on him. Daire had Michele’s shirt in his fist, and he snarled at him.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Michele growled out, shoving at Daire. It didn’t knock Daire’s grip off him. Instead, Daire tightened his fist.
“I should be asking you that,” Daire snapped, baring his teeth at him. “Who the fuck do you think you are? You have no fucking right to touch him.”
The words hit me hard and my mouth popped open. I’d never heard Daire swear like that. Other than Sloan not liking it, Daire had always been as refined and gentlemanly as Sloan. This was new and shocking.
Michele chuckled, but unlike before, this sound was dangerous. “You seem confused. I can do whatever I want. Fionn was willing.”
I shot forward and grabbed Daire’s wrist. “Let him go. He’s right. I wanted him to kiss me.”
“Stay out of this, Fionn.” Daire kept his deadly stare on Michele. “I should kill you for even thinking about laying your dirty hands on him.”
“He’s an adult. That’s something for him to decide,” Michele said, smirking. “Not you.”
Behind Daire, the stranger laughed. He stepped forward, snatched the beer out of my hand, and chugged it. When he was done, he passed the empty to a random guy walking past, and the guy glared, muttering something. The stranger then clapped his hands together. “This is so much fun.”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Who the hell are you?”
The crowd in our vicinity had stopped to gawk, and when my cheeks heated this time, it was from shame. If Sloan found out about this, I would never live it down. Everyone knew Daire and I—we represented the Company at all times. Sloan would punish us severely for embarrassing the Company name tonight.
The stranger offered me a wide grin. He bowed dramatically. “You can call me Aodhan Reardon.”
Michele frowned. “Aren’t you banned from the city by Killough?”
“He is?” My attention danced between the three of them, complete confusion toying with my brain as I wrestled with what was happening. “Wait. Reardon?”
“He’s my older brother,” Daire grunted out, though he hadn’t let go of Michele yet. “It doesn’t matter.”
Aodhan grabbed my hand, laying a kiss on the back. “Aren’t you a cute kitty?”
“What?” My nose scrunched.
“Aodhan.” Daire shot his brother a glare. “Stop it.”
Aodhan merely shrugged and winked at me. “He’s a grumpy teddy bear, isn’t he? I blame our parents. They put so much pressure on him to make them proud in the Company.”
Daire let go of Michele and spun toward his brother. “I said stop it.” The way his voice went deeper than usual in anger had my stomach tumbling, a weird lust slamming into me and making me lose my breath.
Aodhan raised his hands, cackling. “See, kitten? Grumpy.”
Daire went to take a step forward, but Aodhan pointed a finger at him, a simple gesture that had Daire tensing and coming to a stop. I didn’t know what was happening between them, but the air around us thickened with tension.
All I could do was watch as the brothers battled each other in a staring contest.
Michele shifted closer to me. “How about we get out of here?”
Daire’s glare shot to him. “He’s not going anywhere, especially not with you.”
Anger exploded inside me, and I shoved between them to stand in front of Daire. All the years of wanting this man—who’d never wanted me in return—welled to the surface like a dormant volcano that had finally awakened. My head spun from my fury, and every ounce of me wanted to punch Daire, but I kept myself in check. It was one thing to give Daire the tongue lashing that was coming, but another thing to punch Sloan’s second-in-command. It couldn’t happen.
“You have no right to tell me where I can and can’t go, Daire.” I got in close to him, keeping my voice calm, even as rage blasted through my veins. Sloan would’ve been proud. “I am in charge of you, not the other way around. You’ve made it clear. I can fuck who I want.”
Even though the club was loud and the music blaring, silence fell between us. Daire stared with a deadly glare I would expect from an enemy. The look was a reminder that, like Sloan, he had killed men. Back in his younger years, he was known for his murder methods. They’d called him the Company Butcher, though the men rarely mentioned it these days because Daire gave the orders on behalf of Sloan now.
“Be careful, boy,” he murmured, but I still heard him because every atom inside me was tuned to him.
“Or what?” I snapped, feeling powerful. Not only had someone shown interest in me tonight, but I was out on my own, living it up in a way I never had. My confidence soared.
What I didn’t expect, though, was for Daire to grab me and throw me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing. I let out an embarrassing sound, but he didn’t acknowledge it as he stalked toward the front door with his hand on my ass, holding me in place. I struggled, but I had no chance against him.
I looked up to see Michele moving to follow us, but Aodhan grabbed him and yanked him back. That was the last thing I saw before Daire carried me out of the club like a damsel in distress.
I was going to kill Daire Reardon.