Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
TRICK
About ten minutes before we land, Laurel removes my hand from her thigh and laces our fingers together instead. We slept part of the flight, but she doesn’t look the worse for wear. She’s so pretty and suntanned she doesn’t need makeup.
The plane touches down, and she squeezes my hand. My fingers answer with a squeeze of their own.
“Home,” she says. “Or almost anyway.” She licks her lips. “Thanks for such an amazing week. I love you,” she whispers.
“Same.” I stroke her hand with my thumb before letting it go. “We’re still newly married, Laurel. The vacation’s over, but that doesn’t mean anything has to change.”
I turn off airplane mode on my phone as the flight attendant gets the cabin ready for us to disembark. As signals from the nearest tower reach it, my phone buzzes in a rapid succession.
“No, nothing has to change,” Laurelyn teases.
I give her a quick kiss. “It’s tough being popular,” I say with a wink.
There are a couple of texts from Aiden Callahan, which I don’t open yet. I’ll get to those later. The one I open is from C.
C: Welcome back. I need a word. Ask Laurelyn to stay on the plane for a few minutes.
I frown. He’s waiting near the runway? That doesn’t bode well.
“What’s wrong?” Laurel asks.
“Nothing.” My hand smooths her hair as I stand. “Do me a favor, and stay here for a couple minutes. I’ll come back up to get you.” I take my holstered gun from my duffel and strap it on.
Laurelyn’s brows pinch with worry. “What is it?”
“Nothing. Everything’s okay. We’re just back to civilization where I carry, remember?”
She licks her lips, not completely believing my reassuring words.
“I’ll be right back.” I walk down the aisle and to the door.
“Everything all right?” the flight attendant asks, glancing at Laurel who’s still seated.
“Yeah, can you do me a favor? Get my wife a glass of sparkling grape juice. She’s going to need another minute before she’s ready to deplane.”
“Of course, Mr. Patrick.”
“We really appreciate the way you took care of us on both flights. I wired you a bonus. Enjoy.”
“Oh, thank you. It was my pleasure.”
I nod and head down the steps where I find C and Aiden Callahan waiting.
C’s not wearing a suit, just a white button down and black pants.
So it’s business, but not a big meeting where we dress to impress.
Callahan’s dressed similarly, not too casual, but not in a suit.
He needs a new tailor because the shirt’s too tight across the shoulders.
If he had to make any big moves, the shirt would rip at the seams like he was The Hulk busting out of it.
Aiden’s around ‘Vil’s size. Six-six or seven and closer to three hundred pounds than two hundred from the looks of him.
His auburn hair’s too long. It’s spilling over his shoulders like he’s auditioning for a shampoo commercial, or a stint on a mountain man reality show. At least his beard’s neat.
C smiles when I extend a hand. “Man, look at you. Hell of a good time, huh?”
“A life of sunshine and sex never hurt anyone.” After we shake hands, I offer a hand to Callahan. “What’s up, Aiden? What are you doing here?”
“I came to apologize.”
“For?”
He looks at C. “Do you want to talk first, C?”
“No. Say what you came to say,” C says.
I give Aiden my attention. “Whatever’s up, be concise. It was a long flight, and my wife’s waiting.”
He nods, his expression grim. “There was an incident that I think might’ve been triggered by something I did. About a week ago, a little Latina girl with ties to the Sosa gang lured your sisters into a Sosa-dominated neighborhood.”
For a second, my heart stops, but then my mind immediately catches up. I’ve had a couple texts from Kath and the baby. They’re safe. They’re in Ireland in fact and coming back tomorrow.
“They’re both fine, Trick. You know that, right? C said they’d send an email?”
“I know that, yeah. I haven’t heard why you need to apologize yet.”
“I think they were targeted because the Sosa guys thought Ash was my girlfriend.” His cheeks are ruddy from the wind and embarrassment.
“Why?”
“The thing is Jack Murphy was being an asshole. I can get into that another time. Or not. He was talking shit, claiming, among other things, that no one from Boston got an invite to your wedding. I’d had enough.
You said not to post pictures, and I didn’t.
But there was a group shot that got sent to Murphy.
Never said it was at your wedding or anything, but Ashling was in the picture in her dress.
Me and Liam in our suits. You could see the table with the big flower arrangement behind us.
Anyway, I guess Murphy forwarded it to his niece, and she posted it.
The Sosa girl is at their school and follows Ash and Fiona Murphy on Instagram.
I had no idea. I had a run-in with the Sosas last month.
A bloody one. They would very much like to get a piece of me. ”
I wait silently, anger brewing. Aiden Callahan should know better than to circulate a picture of anyone in my family.
Ash is allowed to have an Instagram with the stipulation that she never tags me.
I have a social media account under a false name, and I post nothing personal.
It exists solely for me to lurk and to create false narratives that I want out there to protect C Crue.
“Anyway, I wanted to come in person to apologize. I offered to help make sure your girls were secure, whether in Boston or Coynston, but C and Kathleen decided it was best if they all went on a vacation until you were back. I’d like to have paid for their tickets, but, well, that wasn’t an option.
So I’m here to report that I’ve done jack all so far to make amends, but I’d like to.
I did get that picture taken down, and I’ve been promised any digital copies have been destroyed.
” He shrugs and frowns. “I’m ready to do whatever else needs to be done.
I already told Joe Sullivan I’m first through the door any time he wants to hit the Sosa gang hard, but I wanted to tell you personally.
Anywhere, anytime, just say the word, Trick. ”
“All right.”
Callahan stays standing with us for a moment, then seems to catch sight of C stepping forward and spots his cue to leave. “I’ll head out then. Good to see you.” With that, he walks away.
“You think he’s right?” I ask C, watching Callahan turn the corner of the hangar as he heads in the direction of the parking lot. “You think Ash was a target because of a wedding picture with him?”
“I do. We’ve looked into things. C Crue’s had no beef with the Sosas or vice versa. I can’t find a reason they’d grab your sisters and Zoe, other than that they’d like to retaliate against the Callahans and thought Ashling was the way to do it.”
“Zoe, too?” I say grimly. “Was it a bad scene? The girls must have been scared if they grabbed my mom and flew across the Atlantic to hide.”
“No, they’re all right. I was going to bring them to Coynston, so our crue could keep watch until you got back, but in that case, I would’ve told you.
They were adamant that they did not want your honeymoon ruined.
We agreed if they went to Ireland, they’d be safe, and we could wait until you got back to tell you what happened. ”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me straight off.” I glance absently at the plane.
“Did you have a good time?”
“The best.”
“So then, I’m not here to apologize.”
“Is there anything in Boston that can’t wait?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll take Laurelyn home first, and then come by the castle to hear the whole story.”
“The story’s a week old. There’s no rush.”
“I don’t think that’s an argument you want to make right now, C.”
He chuckles. “Fair enough.”
“Let me get my wife. What cars are here?”
“Both Rovers. Anvil, Miller, and me. Wasn’t sure whether you wanted to drive back alone with her?”
“No. If there’s an issue, I want my hands free for the drive through Boston. Anyone but me at the wheel works, but I’d prefer not to have to ask Laurelyn to drive.”
“No, no. That’s why there are three of us here. Who do you want?”
“Doesn’t matter; we can’t talk on the drive with my wife in the car. You know Anvil prefers to be on you, so give me Miller.”
“Sure.” A beat passes, but C doesn’t move. “Go get her. I’ll wait here, so I can say hello. Unless I shouldn’t?”
“No, it’s good. My mind’s just occupied right now. Can’t believe you left me out of the loop for a week.”
“Think of it as a wedding present.”
“I want every detail, C.”
“I know.” He lowers his voice. “And it’s a pretty interesting story. I should probably let Zoe tell you the part where your little sister pulled a gun on the ringleader.”
I pause and cock my head. “The baby was carrying?”
“No. Picked it up on the fly.” C studies me. “I wonder where she learned that move.”
“Where’s the gun?” I ask, immediately concerned about Ash’s prints being on a weapon I can’t vouch for.
“We’ve got it.”
“Did someone wipe it down?”
“Several someones, starting with the girl herself.”
Good girl. I put a hand up. “All right. Let’s table this for now.” I jog over to the steps and go up.
Inside the cabin, Laurel’s standing in the aisle, but she hasn’t moved toward the door. Good for her.
“Hey, sorry, babe. That took longer than I thought. Everything’s all right, but there is something C and I need to talk about.” I grab our duffle bags.
“I can carry one of those,” she says.
“Like hell,” I say, making her chuckle. I guide her to the door and proceed down the steps.
“There she is,” C says, walking over with a smile. “He looks good, but you look better. Welcome back.”
She gives him a hug, which surprises me and him too I’m sure. Laurel and C have not been the best of friends so far, but it seems like all’s forgiven.
“Thank you, C. We had a great time. I’m glad you could spare him for a whole week.”
“Sure.”
Our luggage has been unloaded, and C grabs a couple of bags and so do I.
Laurelyn walks between us, chatting. My eyes scan the area, and so do C’s. Nothing suspicious.
When we reach the Rovers, Laurel twists to stretch her back.
“One more hour, and then we’re free to really stretch our legs.
It was a nice flight, but too long.” She notices Miller and Anvil and waves at them.
“Hi, Derrick. Hi, Sasha.” She gives ‘Vil a hug, which he accepts with more friendliness than anyone usually sees from him.
“Now see that,” I say to ‘Vil. “You give my wife a hug, and there’s no word of warning from me. There’s no scowl. Are we making progress? Can I give Rachel a hug when I see her?”
“Don’t touch my wife,”Anvil says flatly, making both Laurelyn and I laugh.
“Good to see you, too, ‘Vil.” I open the door for Laurel and hand her up into the truck. “Mill, you drive. I’m going to sit back here with my wife.”
“Sure.” Miller gets in, looking as sober as a judge.
My eyes narrow.
C catches the look and murmurs in a low voice, “Yeah, we’ll talk about it.”
Hmm. Not good. Of course, Miller wouldn’t be driving anyone anywhere if there was a real problem with him. Still, I’m curious.
The gears in my brain churn, already back to work like the honeymoon’s been over for months.