Chapter 8
Am I Dreaming?
Dylan
Five months later …
“I love this place. I’m thinking about making some changes to a few of our bars and lounges. I can see a few things here that are inspiring so many ideas,” Connie muses as she looks around the bar.
“Really?” I take a glance around and nod.
I can see her point. There’s a nice vibe here. Nicer since the DJs have changed. I didn’t like the last set that was played.
We like to keep our clubs more lively. If the floor is dead, our DJs know to change the vibe. The last guy didn’t seem to know how to make that happen. The movement has been stale since we arrived an hour ago.
If not for the service and ambience, I would have been ready to go twenty minutes in. Connie is in charge of entertainment and hiring at our locations back in New York. It’s her job to be in tune with shit like this.
“Yeah, I want to make the changes now before Logan gets back. Jamie is too focused on his new extra duties to worry about my spending,” she says with a rueful smile.
I laugh and shake my head. Jamie usually handles all the finances. He’s supersmart with numbers. However, he’s been doing more enforcing and negotiating since Logan’s disappearance.
“What? Ya know he’s a tightwad with the money. Ya couldn’t squeeze a shilling out of his ass if ya feed him a dozen.”
“Listen, I was thinking the same thing about making upgrades at the gym. I don’t blame you.”
“Ya know I’m going to need to lean on ya to spend more time at the lounges. Is that going to mess with yer training?”
I take a sip of my beer. “No. I’ve got your back. You take care of what Brooklyn needs from you.”
“Yer the best little brother there is. Ya know I love ya, right?”
“I love you too.”
I smile at my sister and return to observing the bar. Being that I help out with our family’s bars and lounges, I can’t help but keep a watchful eye and note a ton of things about the place.
I bob my head to the music and get lost in my thoughts. I can’t help thinking about how things turned out for Felix tonight. Connie and I came to the West Coast thinking we would see our cousin and his girl get engaged.
I’ve seen this proposal coming since Felix first brought Kaye to us for safekeeping. She and Dae-Dae have become family. The little guy is like a nephew to us all. Connie and Kate are very protective of Kaye.
I’m sure Kate would have been here if Brooklyn didn’t have her watching over our little princess. We’ve all fallen in love with Shauna. I was the first to hold her, so Brooklyn was the one to name her.
That little girl will always have a special place in my heart. She’s a fighter, just like her mother. I didn’t get to know Raven, but I’m proud of her and how she fought to give Shauna life.
My brother will be devastated when he finds out about Raven’s death, but he has something special to return to.
For now, Brooklyn has been hiding her away between Ireland and Scotland.
My grandfather might be out of the picture, but there are still plenty of people who would like to see my brother broken and unable to complete the Alliance.
That’s not going to happen on our watch. We failed him once; never again. My da made sure my sisters were built as tough as us guys. You don’t want to fuck with an O’Brien, period.
Kate and Connie have been on baby duty because my grandda has never paid them as much attention as he has me and my brothers. If he does have a successor we don’t know about then most likely they’re ignoring my sisters as well.
Not that they don’t use discretion when it comes to taking care of Shauna. I meant what I said to Felix tonight. I’m grateful that he tried to find Ciara.
Things may not have gone the way Brooklyn had hoped, but the thought and effort mean a lot to me. I don’t know how I feel now that I know Donald Walsh is dead.
I’ve been preparing all my life to fight him for a chance to win his daughter’s hand. Now everything has changed. I wish I knew where Ciara was and how she’s doing.
Losing her ma and da must have been hard for her. She would be about twenty now. I have so many questions.
I didn’t know her ma was pregnant before they left. However, she must have been, or she became pregnant soon after, to be survived by Ciara and a son. I’ve run over and over the details Brooklyn has shared with me.
“Okay, now this is what I’m talking about. This DJ is much better than the last guy,” Connie sings and stands from her seat.
I smile as my sister sways her hips to the music. Both Kate and Connie have been dancers for as long as I can remember.
They went from river dancing when we lived in Ireland to hip-hop, jazz, and ballet once they came to America. Connie introduced Kate to the dance studio she attended before we all got here. I think that’s why Logan put Connie in charge of entertainment for the businesses.
Glancing around, I take notice of the guys whose attention Connie’s swaying has grabbed. My sisters are gorgeous women. Gorgeous and dangerous.
“Come on, love. Come dance with yer sister. This is what I came out for.
“I want to cut loose and have fun. Everything is so … ugh. Come on,” she coos and reaches for my hand.
I shrug my shoulders and follow her to the dance floor that’s starting to fill. “Past Lives” by Sapientdream and Slushii is playing as we grab a spot to move around. I frown wondering why the DJ would play this and kill the vibe he just got going. Then it blends into the remix dance pop version.
I pull a face and nod. I’m not mad at all. I grab Connie and move her out of the way as two small women go to dance by. The one in front with the long dark hair looks drunk and has her eyes closed as she pulls the other one behind her.
I scowl at the two and shake my head. However, I come to a dead stop as the face of the second one comes into view. She’s gorgeous.
In the dim lighting on the dance floor, I have to squint to get a better look at her face. Her brown skin has a glow to it even under the low lights. Her dark hair is pulled up in a mass of thick curls. She’s small, maybe five two. Damn, she has a nice, slim, toned build.
I’d bet money she does some powerlifting. Those thighs are giving it away in those tight jeans. Allowing my gaze to pass back up to her face, I swear hard.
I don’t know if it’s the music, the beer, or just my longing to find Ciara, but this girl looks so much like her. I can’t stop myself from moving closer to her. I need a closer look at her face.
Am I dreaming?
Ciara
“New York will be so much better for us. You’ll see. I promise,” Daliah slurs.
I laugh and smile at her. Daliah has been like my guardian angel since we arrived in San Diego. I met her in the diner where Ciarán and I stopped in to find something to eat after we landed. She was our waitress.
She was so kind to us and after talking a little, she told me she had just lost her tenant and could offer us a place to stay. I was skeptical at first, but Ciarán looked like he was worried and tired, so I took her up on her offer.
It worked out as she lived in a duplex home with her mother. Her mother has also been a godsend. They helped me find a waitress job and get Ciarán into school.
“I hope you’re right. I need to find something more stable, with better pay. I wish I had more time to do things with Ciarán.”
“Well, honey, we can throw him the best birthday party ever in New York. You’re sure to have time and money there.”
I bite my lip and think about our plans. Daliah has wanted to leave San Diego since I met her. I, on the other hand, hadn’t planned on leaving.
I haven’t found a gym with a team interested in the tournaments; those who are don’t have a team that could actually make it. I still work out and train, but I’ve all but given up on my dream.
For now, Ciarán has been my main focus. He’s beginning to need more things that require more money. Something I don’t have much of.
When Ciarán showed me a TikTok of a gym in New York, I became curious. They were training for this year’s tournaments. I checked out their website and found out they’re looking for a few female fighters.
They have talent. Their male fighters are top tier. It looks like they have a real shot.
Not to mention, I’d already be in New York for the finals and wouldn’t have to come up with the money to travel there. If I can land a spot on their team, there’s at least hope to fight in a real match again.
I scoff. “I don’t know about time and money. I’ll most likely have to settle for one or the other.”
“Don’t think like that. I have this great feeling about New York. I told you my cousin knows about that gym Ciarán told you about. If you want to fight, my cousin is the one to know.
“She says that gym has like one good female fighter, but she’s retired or something. You could probably kick her ass in your sleep. Besides, Vega has connections.
“My stepuncle is a big deal and Vega lives the life. We’ll have new jobs in no time. She’ll get you the access you need to the underground scene there. It won’t be like here.
“You already have an in. She’s giving us a place to stay, and the schools are nice in the area. With Ciarán’s grades, this is going to be a dream come true for us all.”
I roll my eyes. “Those schools cost money. I’ll need to make two grand a month just for his tuition. Then there’s food and clothing.”
She rolls her eyes and pouts. “You sound like you’re going to change your mind. The gigs she has lined up for us pay well. We’re going to be fine.”
I had still been on the fence until I started looking into more information on Donald Walsh. His last mentioned fight was in New York around the time I was eight. I was so mad when the internet connection dropped right as I had been about to find more information on him.
I couldn’t get back to the initial site I found when I got my next opportunity to do some more digging. It’s all been so frustrating. I know nothing more than I did a year ago, other than the fact that my father was a boxer.
It’s weird how hard it is to find information on him. However, once I’m in New York and make my way into a gym, I’m likely to find more. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself.
“Pull your lip back in. I’m going. Ciarán would kill me if I pulled out now. He’s so excited to be going to the Big Apple.”
I just hope I’m doing the right thing. Chasing ghosts could come back to bite me. I haven’t heard a peep out of Theo or his asshole kids.
What if I’m jumping out of my safe zone by making this move? I honestly need more financial stability and Daliah’s cousin is offering a shot at that.
“I’ve got your back, Ariel. Trust me, it’s going to be great. If not, we can always come back here with Mom.”
Ariel.
It’s been a year, and I’m still not used to answering to that name.
I didn’t want to go by Cee-Cee in case Theo decided to come after me.
I was too afraid to use Ciara Walsh, as I still don’t fully understand why Theo never allowed me to use that name.
I’ve been going by Ariel Norwood and Ciarán goes by Chris Norwood.
Daliah knows Ariel isn’t my real name. After all, she has been very instrumental in helping me stay under the radar. She’s aware that I’m running from something, but she’s willing to help anyway she can. She’s become a real friend.
“I hope you’re right,” I murmur.
“I am. Now drink up. I didn’t bring you out to this bar to sit around and look sad.
“I want to dance and say our farewells with a bang. This time next week we’ll be living the life,” she sings.
I look around the bar. The music is a vibe. I think the DJ has changed since we arrived because this place was sort of lame when we first got here.
I didn’t complain because Dahila can be Dahila sometimes. Her taste in music will leave you with no doubts that she’s a white girl, no matter how cool and down to earth she can be.
I’m so over Taylor Swift. We’re going to have to come to some type of agreement when we get to New York because the way this chick will run a record in the ground on full blast is enough to drive anyone crazy and make you hate an entire genre of music. She almost ruined Ed Sheeran for me.
She would have if Ciarán hadn’t used his drone to somehow disconnect her Bluetooth. I swear she was driving us both crazy.
“Oh, I love this song.” Daliah jumps up from her seat and grabs my hand.
I’m still trying to down my drink as she pulls me out onto the dance floor. This is the first time I’ve gotten to hang out like this. Alice, Daliah’s mother, demanded I go out and allow her to watch Ciarán for me.
Ciarán nearly pushed me out the door. The promise of Alice’s homemade cookies was enough for him to forget all about me. The thought of my brother being safe and happy makes me relax a little.
I fall into the music and begin to dance. I close my eyes and lift my arms over my head. This is the most relaxed I’ve been in … I can’t name a time that I remember.
Suddenly, my back is engulfed in heat. Strong hands land on my hips, and I’m hit with a mouthwatering scent. I open my eyes and look up.
I’m met with intense blue eyes. I knit my brows as they look so familiar. The expression on the guy’s face is one of awe … surprise … disbelief. I have a hard time placing the look.
“Do I know you?” I ask.
He opens his mouth to say something, but a loud commotion breaks out. People begin to shove and scream. The guy laces his fingers with mine to pull me with him, but Daliah grabs my other hand and tugs me in the opposite direction.
I release his hand because I don’t know him. Daliah and I race out of the bar as fast as we can through the side door. We don’t stop moving until we’re a few blocks away from the bar.
“Ugh, I was just starting to have some real fun,” Daliah says.
“Want to head to another bar?”
She pouts. “No, I broke my shoe.”
I look down and burst into laughter. This would only happen to us. I guess it’s for the best.
My mind goes to the blue-eyed guy at the bar. It was dark, so I couldn’t really take him in fully, but there was something about his eyes. I brush it off.
We’re leaving in a few days. Besides, I never have time for guys. My last date was supposed to be right before I left Seattle.
Because of that asshole Sean, that never happened. Austin had asked me out for about six months before I said yes. I’ve never been focused on guys.
I’ve always had too much going on in my life to date. In seven years, when Ciarán is eighteen and I’m twenty-seven, then I can think about myself and a love life.