Chapter 17
Big Mistakes
Dylan
Nothing but tension fills my body as I stand here. My chest is heaving and anger courses through me. There are a million places I’d rather be than here.
We pulled up just in time as Hanson was skipping his happy ass into this apartment building like this is just an ordinary Saturday. He didn’t even see us coming. Although I got the sense after we got him in here that he knew we were coming.
Why would a man be so resigned to his fate? Something more is going on here. That’s the only reason I haven’t killed him already.
My gut is telling me to get the truth before I make a decision. O’Briens always follow their guts. It has saved us a ton of times.
“I hate when people make shit harder than it needs to be. I asked you a question, now answer it.” I seethe as I look down at Hanson’s battered ass.
I’m going to need to shower and change after this because he couldn’t just cough up the answers I came here for. I’m not in the mood to kill anyone today. I’m trying to give him a chance at redemption.
Blood drips from his nose and out of the corner of his mouth, but he’s still trying to be defiant. That shit is about to get him killed. I get the feeling he knows this but he’s choosing to be a sacrifice for someone.
“I don’t have an answer for you.”
“That’s bullshit,” I snap. “Book, get him to his feet.”
“No, no. I really don’t have an answer. Tell Brooklyn it won’t happen again. I’m cracking down on my crew. I’ll take care of it.”
“You see, the problem is … I don’t think my brother cares anymore. Your fate is now in my hands. I’m not satisfied with your response,” I say and punch him in the gut.
The sound of his ribs cracking again fills the air. I look around his place at all our family has afforded him to build. He wouldn’t have any of this if it wasn’t for my family and yet he thinks he gets to choose when he delivers our return on our investment.
“Oh God,” he gasps. His face turns bright red, and he looks like he’s about to puke. “My little brother. He … he’s been wanting more responsibility, so I gave him some. He was jumped and they took the money.”
“Why the fuck couldn’t you tell me that in the first place?” I snarl.
“It was the cops … they’re the ones who jumped him. They’re blackmailing me. They want names, but I just needed time to figure out what to do.
“I need … I need to get him out of this, but I’m not going against you guys. Your father … he was good to my father and Brooklyn and Logan have always been good to me. This is my mess … I need to fix it.”
I nod to Aidan for him to verify this. He returns the nod as he takes his phone out and gets on it. I saunter over to the couch and have a seat. Pulling my phone to check it, I see the time and scowl. I’ve wasted my day here.
I’m closer to my parents’ house, but it would still be a while before I get back to the gym. I think of my talk with Ciara earlier and I remember something I want to give her. I’m not going to make it back anytime soon, so I decide to text Taegan.
“He’s not lying,” Aidan says as he returns. “Strong and Vargus are pressing him. The kid stabbed Detective Baker while they jumped him. They’re threatening him with attempted murder. He’s holding it down, hasn’t said anything, but they’re using him to squeeze Hanson.”
“Shut that shit down. Bring the kid to me when he’s released. Get this motherfucker to a medic,” I command.
“Dylan, what are you going to do to him?”
“I’m just going to talk to him. You worry about healing up. Next time some shit like this happens, you come to us first.
“Don’t make us come to you. If this happens again, I’m cutting out your tongue first and taking two fingers. Am I clear?”
“Yes, yes. This won’t happen again, I promise. Please don’t hurt my brother,” he sobs.
“You were willing to die for him. I’m just going to make sure he was worth it.”
I get up and walk out. My work is finished here. Da and Brooklyn will want to know this.
Clearly, someone on payroll isn’t paying attention. Maybe it’s time their pay was docked. Not my call.
It’s time I go back to my corner. I wonder what my girl will think of my place. I can’t wait to see her again.
Ciara
I walk over to the bleachers and take a seat, then lift my bottle of water to my lips. I’ve been working out and sparring with Halley, the fighter who used to be on Dylan’s team a few years ago.
I like her. She has a good vibe like Taegan. She’s also a good fighter. Smart about the ring. Her MMA IQ is impressive.
“Dylan is right about you. You’d make a great replacement for me. If you want to join the team, I’d be happy to come back on as your trainer,” Halley says.
“Do you mind me asking why you left?”
“Got pregnant, had a kid, then got married. My munchkin just turned three and his father travels a lot for work. I miss this place, but I’m getting old and I’m not the fighter I once was.
“I know I’m not in competition shape. Dylan is extremely competitive. He hates to lose. He’s not going into the next tournament without fighters who can win. Besides, my husband and I have been talking about baby number two.” She shrugs.
“Why did he ask you here to meet me?”
“Dylan wanted me to see you in action because he knows I want to be involved in the gym again somehow, but I’m not training that bitch he already has. That’s a waste of my fucking time,” she adds and rolls her eyes.
I chew on my lip, wanting to ask what the deal is with that. I overheard someone else mention not liking one of the female fighters who trains here. They only have two. One is injured and the other is this woman no one seems to like.
I don’t know that I’ve met her. Taegan ordered lunch and we stayed up in the office while she filled me in on the membership, which I had planned to pay for despite Dylan saying it was on him. That was until Taegan informed me he had handled all of that.
She then gave me a quick tour. I did see a few other women, but I can’t say if any of them are this woman I keep hearing about. I shrug it off and decide not to ask.
“Speaking of the bitch,” Halley mutters under her breath.
I look up from tying my shoe as I sit on the bleachers where we’ve been taking a break. The redhead who bumped me last time I was here makes her way over to where we are with a stink look on her face.
“What are ya doing here?” she snarls at Halley.
“Oh, hell nah. I’m minding my fucking business like you need to be doing. You still don’t want this smoke, Cadlha. A baby hasn’t changed that much,” Halley hisses.
“What are ya doing here again?” Cadlha changes her attention to me.
“Oh, honey. You don’t want to go there either. Go find yourself something safe to do,” Halley warns.
“Who are ya?”
“Yer replacement,” Taegan sings as she walks over with a smile on her face.
“What are ya going on about?” Cadlha scoffs at Taegan.
“Ciara, I want ya to meet and then ignore my cousin, Cadlha. She’s irrelevant. I’d disown her if I could.”
“Ya don’t even fight. Why are ya always here? Dylan would be so much better off if ya got lost.”
“Aye, she’s talking to herself now. Don’t need much more to get ya out of here, but keep talking so I can have Dylan put ya out on yer ass today,” Taegan says as she folds her arms over her chest.
“Whatever.”
“Ya want to watch out for this one and that big-ass head, she thinks it’s a third fist or something since she can’t manage to throw and land the other two properly,” Taegan taunts, causing Cadlha’s face to pinch and turn red.
“The only thing you know how to throw are words.”
“Words and bullets. Play with me if ya want. I’ll teach ya a lesson or two, with yer oul big-ass water tower head.”
“Fuck off, loser. Ya just keep out of my way and stay away from Dylan, he’s mine,” Cadlha hisses toward me, causing me to whip my head back.
“Ha. Does he know this? Ya crazy bat. Go work on trying to land a punch or blocking one from knocking ya on yer ass.” Taegan waves this crazy bitch off. “Ciara, Dylan called. He wants us all to meet him for dinner at his place; he’s not going to make it back to pick ye guys up.
“Halley, he said for ya to call him. Give me a minute to get Oscar to handle things here and lock up and I’ll be ready.”
“Yer taking her to Dylan’s place? What the fuck?” Cadlha bites out. “Where the fuck did ya come from?”
“Anyone ever tell ya to shut yer fucking gub? I’m not a problem ya want to find out about, so stop fucking around while ya can,” I snarl, having enough of her damn tantrum.
“Oh, yer just like Dylan. The Irish comes out with yer ire. Love it,” Taegan says as she cackles.
I blink at her. I didn’t even notice. Now that I think of it. That has happened in the past. Now that it’s been brought to my attention, I can remember Theo correcting my speech when I was younger. In the beginning, he corrected me a lot.
“Are ya mocking me, bitch?” Cadlha snarls.
“No, ya nub. Yer a fucking eejit. She’s more Irish than ya are. Everything isn’t always about ya, ya twit.”
“One.”
“What are ya going on about?” Cadlha glares at me.
“Keep going and you’ll find out. I promise,” I say and wink.
She flips her hair and storms off, pushing Ciarán when she moves by him. I ball my fists at my sides. Remembering this is Dylan’s gym and I’m new here, I bite back my anger.
“Two,” I call out after her in warning.
She looks back and narrows her eyes at me. I give her a look to let her know that shit doesn’t faze me one bit. Taegan and Halley burst into laughter.
“I knew I liked you. About time someone put that bitch in her place. Fucking psycho,” Halley says.
“She’s a monster of my own making. I allowed her to think she could get away with that shit for too long. Dylan only gives her a pass because of me. I should have told him a long time ago how I truly feel about her ass,” Taegan says and rolls her eyes.
“You can tell Dylan thank you, but no thank you. I’ll pass on dinner. I’m going to head home.”
“Cee, Cee, did you hear? Dylan wants us to come to his place for dinner. He has a gift for my birthday. When are we leaving?”
Taegan shrugs as she gives me a mischievous smile. “The kid was upstairs with me when I got the call.”
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath.