Chapter 41 – Gabriella #2
“Threatening to gun your father down in cold blood counts as extenuating circumstances,” he said with a forced laugh, brogue thick and voice sure. “I do have permission to save you, cailín.”
“Fuck you.” I struggled to breathe properly. “You just damned my mother and sisters.”
“And you’re being a pain in the arse, so we’re even.” Connor pulled back, swept both hands in the direction we should move, and added, “After you, Mrs. McDonagh.”
I kicked out my legs and jumped out of the trunk. The parking garage was brightly lit. A hot gust of air from the industrial fan wailed through the length, rushing from shadow to shadow.
We were underground. At night. On a Sunday.
Stepping into the service elevator, I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. Who the hell was Liam meeting on a Sunday night? We had to be downtown, maybe the south side.
None of those questions really mattered.
The facts were simple. Connor was turning over a problem that was above his pay grade, and I would have to answer for my actions.
Maybe…. Maybe Liam will listen.
Connor swiped a keycard on the elevator, and the guards filed inside, me in the middle. Pushing past one of them, I stabbed my finger into the button to close the doors. “What floor?”
Connor swiped his card again, then gave me a nod.
“The top.” Connor leaned against the opposite wall, kicking his heel over the opposite ankle.
I jabbed the button and the doors began to close. The elevator rushed upward, soaring higher and higher. Hope waited for me up there. I shifted back and forth, tapped my toes against the floor. If anyone would listen, my husband might.
“Jaysus, missus, ye’re giving me the willies,” Sean cursed under his breath.
I rose on the tips of my toes and sank down. Over and over. Energy coursed through me. My chest was clear now. I could breathe. Rapid gulps of air filled my lungs.
I burst out of the elevator the moment the doors pinged open. “Which way?”
“End of the hall,” Connor called out, falling into a seat in the reception area.
If I’d had time to look around, I would have noticed the sleek, expensive office. It only dawned on me as I rushed down the hall, which wrapped around the building in a square path. The center was filled with offices as was the opposite side. The lights of the city blinked through the windows.
I nearly lost my way.
But a light in one of the external spaces was on. I made for it, determination filling my steps.
The frosted glass obscured the interior, but that didn’t stop me from reaching for the door. We had to hurry. My family was in danger.
I burst inside—
The breath I’d taken whooshed from my lungs. The words I’d hastily prepared died on my lips.
Grim-looking men, heavily tattooed, reeking of violence glared menacingly at me. These weren’t the pretty little Made Men who’d drunk and laughed at the restaurant. The men gathered at the table were hardened killers.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” someone with a harsh, guttural accent clipped out.
“Gabriella.”
That one word. My name. It was a calm summer’s breeze, warm and reassuring. I tore my gaze from the mean faces and gnashing teeth. Wild, stormy blue eyes focused on me. Liam’s handsome face was unreadable. But the way he held his body tight said that he was seconds away from launching to his feet.
I pulled myself up straight. “I need to talk to you.”
“Little girl, we’re in a meeting,” a suave, polished tone informed me.
The one who’d spoken first barked a laugh. “Either come and suck my dick or get the fuck out.”
Liam’s voice cracked through the room. “Get out.”
I sagged. Defeat bit into my bones. The danger of falling onto the carpet was real. I’d let myself hope….
Stupid girl. He doesn’t care enough about you.
And why should he? We were little more than acquaintances.
Still, I trusted him to at least hear me out.
“Now,” Liam snarled.
I forced my legs to move.
But then he added, “I said, this meeting’s done. My wife needs me.”
If ears could blink, mine did. I cut my gaze to his, staring in disbelief.
The dangerous men around the table seemed equally confused at being dismissed. They took the hint, however, and one by one, rose to file out of the opposite door.
Liam’s voice dropped to the barest of whispers. “Igor, if you ever speak that way to her again, it will be the last thing you do.”
The man who’d propositioned me snorted. “I’d like to see you try, little boy.”
All Liam had to do was stand up. The man mumbled something under his breath that sounded like an apology and hurried after the others.
“Come in.” Liam moved away from his seat and went to the bar cart.
I did. The door fell closed behind me, swallowing me in the tumultuous energy of the space.
There wasn’t a safe place to look. I didn’t know what to do.
So I stood there, gnawing on my lip as my gaze darted back and forth, one minute glancing at the skyscrapers through the window, then at the sleek, modern table, then at the pattern of the rough industrial carpet.
“Here.” Liam was suddenly in front of me.
I jumped.
He hissed but gently took my hand and placed a tumbler of whiskey in it. “Drink.”
I followed his direction while trying to unscramble my thoughts.
“You don’t have to look so frightened.” Those bare knuckles brushed down my cheek.
I choked on the burning liquid, somehow managing to finish it.
Letting out a curse, Liam retreated. He leaned against the boardroom table and kicked a heel over his ankle, partially sitting on the thing. The seemingly relaxed stance was exactly how Connor behaved.
It all came rushing back.