2. Liam
“Take Liam with you to the docks to check the shipment we are set to receive today.” Conor – the Irish mafia boss – gestures to me.
Declan and Rhys nod their heads in acceptance of the order.
“Let’s go,” Declan says to me and strides out of the study.
Today is my first official day in America. Cormac – Conor’s brother – sent me and a few other men from Ireland to work under Conor after he recently had an altercation with the Russians and lost several men. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about being here. I’ve never been to this country, and I don’t know much about Conor aside from him being a ruthless and cruel leader.
Keeping my strides even with the two men before me, I collide with a small body when we pass through the foyer, and they fall to the ground with an “oof”.
“Shite, I’m sorry,” I exclaim.
I work to help whomever I knocked over when bright, turquoise-blue eyes meet mine. I’m rendered completely immobile and speechless. The sweet scent of berries and wildflowers assaults my senses. Electricity sweeps across every surface of my skin.
“Emily, are you okay?” Declan says, scooping her body from the ground.
Emily shrugs him off and then turns to me. Pink tints her cheeks, and she offers me a small smile. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“No, I’m sorry. I was tryin’ to keep up with Declan and Rhys.”
She pushes a strand of red hair behind her ear and nods.
“Where are you headed?” Her eyes flick to Declan.
“To the docks. We’ll be back in a few hours,” He replies.
I’m not sure what’s come over me. My eyes refuse to stray away from her stunning face. Her slightly upturned nose is littered with freckles that span across her cheeks. Her pouty lips are the perfect shade of rose pink. She’s petite with soft curves that demand worship. I’m captivated by her beauty in ways that I can’t comprehend.
Declan notices my stare, his jaw ticks and his eyes narrow.
“Liam,” Rhys’s voice cuts through my daze and I startle.
“Aye?”
“Let’s head to the car.”
He spins on his heels and makes for the front door. I quickly shoot a glance in Emily’s direction then follow Rhys.
“What the fuck was that?” he asks the moment I meet him by the SUV. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at me in annoyance.
“I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re takin’ ‘bout,” I say with a raised brow.
He gestures an arm to the mansion. “Do you have a death wish, kid? That’s Declan’s little sister.”
“How was I to know? I’ve never met her.”
Just as he is going to reply, Declan exits the mansion and stalks toward me with a venomous glare. Stopping just inches away from my face, he jabs a finger into my chest.
“Stay away from her,” he snarls.
I raise my hands in surrender, “I wasn’t aware who she was. I’m sorry.”
“Well, now you know and I’m warning you. Stay away from her.”
“Yessir.”
With one final jab in the chest, he shoulders past me and slides into the SUV.
Movement catches my attention and I swing my gaze to the mansion. Emily is standing at the entrance facing our direction. I feel her gaze on my skin like the heat of the summer sun. Electricity strums once more throughout my body.
Rhys coughs under his breath and I meet his eyes. They flare slightly and he juts his chin toward the car. Spinning on my heels, I climb in.
The crates filled with weapons are arranged meticulously around the warehouse. Grunts fill my ears as the men haul them into the vans and trucks for transport. The smell of gunpowder and metal invade my sinuses.
“Rhys, Finn, and I monitor the shipments, but Finn is now going to be handling outside communications for my da, so we’ll have you help monitor them.” Declan steps up to my right and I turn my head to meet his eyes.
Slipping my hands into my pockets, I turn back to the men and nod. “Alright, when do you want me to start?”
“Today. Finn is going to be heading out to Arizona with my da to discuss an arrangement with a gang out there.”
I nod again.
“I have some business to handle so I’ll leave you and Rhys to it. He’ll show you what is expected of you.” With a pat on my back, Declan leaves the warehouse.
I continue to scan the area. The operation is running like a well-oiled machine.
“Follow me,” Rhys says with a flick of his chin for me to follow.
We check the quality of the weapons as well as the ammunition. Rhys talks with some of the men that are overseeing the process. As he discusses everything, I can’t stop my thoughts from venturing toward Emily.
She is breathtaking. She doesn’t appear to be that much younger than I am either. She’s completely off-limits but I know it’s going to be difficult to avoid the draw I feel to her. Her allure is hypnotic.
I’ve never experienced this feeling before. It’s as though she’s created a space in my soul made specifically for her. It’s an absurd thought, especially since I’ve only just exchanged a handful of words with her.
Regardless, I want to make her mine. Declan’s threat seems minuscule compared to the mesmeric need to be with her. To claim her.
“Liam.” Rhys’s voice breaks my trance and I meet his annoyed glare. “Get your shit together, kid. We have shit to do.”
Shelving my thoughts of Emily, I follow Rhys as we make our way further into the warehouse.
Walking into the foyer, I struggle with the want I have to go search for Emily.
“Declan is down in the cellar. Follow me.” Rhys pivots and makes his way down a long corridor. He opens a large wood door and steps into an office. He strides in and stops in front of another door that is just behind the desk in the center of the room. Pushing it open, a stairwell is revealed.
We walk silently down the concrete steps to another door at the end of the staircase that opens to a large open room. A metal table sits to the right with a black bag and an assortment of tools set on the surface. Declan stands in a pool of blood and body parts are scattered in the center of the room with his back to us. In the back of my mind, I tell myself to heed his warning. But another part of me says to throw caution to the wind and take what I want.
Peering over his shoulder, he nods a greeting and then steps away from his victim. The body in the seat is nothing but flayed skin and meat. My stomach churns at the sight. I’m no stranger to torture but feck, this person looks like they got into a fight with a meat grinder.
Metal clanks as Declan sets his tools on the table. Blood coats his hands, face, and tattooed chest.
“Everything good?” He asks without lifting his head. His movements are slow and predatory as he scans his tools. He moves as though he’s not even human.
“Yeah, shipments are already heading where they need to,” Rhys replies as he steps through the blood and strides to Declan.
“Perfect. My da will be gone for a few weeks, so I’ll be in charge until then.”
“Declan!” Emily’s shriek comes from above and we all jerk our heads in the direction of the door before bolting up the stairs. I take each step two at a time with Declan and Rhys at my heels. Jumping over the desk, I pass through the threshold of the office door.
“Where are you?” I shout, scanning from left and right. My heart is pounding in my chest with such force that it’s almost painful. Her reply comes from upstairs, and I sprint up the steps.
Declan shoves past me and runs down the hallway before pushing a door open. We enter the space that I assume is Emily’s bedroom just by the smell of berries and wildflowers. Declan makes a beeline to the ensuite.
Emily is lying in the center of the shower with a towel wrapped around her. A gash on her leg is bleeding profusely.
“What the hell happened?” When Declan reaches for her, she shrieks.
“You’re covered in someone else’s blood! Don’t touch me!”
Declan looks over his shoulder and gestures for me to help but there is a clear warning in his eyes.
Emily’s blue eyes meet mine and I’m flooded with nerves. Walking slowly, I crouch next to her. The humidity of the shower causes sweat to slide down my back.
“Hold onto me,” I whisper, and she wraps her small arms around my neck. Goosebumps spread over my skin despite the heat of the room. Sliding my arms under her frame, I lift her from the tiled floor. She hisses when her leg touches the fabric of my shirt.
“How did you get hurt?” Declan asks as he scans the room.
“I fell in the shower and hit the edge of the bench.”
My shirt is wet from the water sliding down her soft skin and I struggle to keep my body from reacting to her proximity.
“I’ll call the doctor to come check her out.” Rhys pulls his phone from his pocket and leaves the room to make the call.
“Set her on the bed,” Declan orders.
My heart is beating so hard, I’m sure Emily can feel it. I can feel her eyes on my profile but resist the urge to peer down at her. Gently, I place her onto the plush mattress that is littered with pillows.
I scan the room, looking anywhere but Emily. I don’t know if I’ll be able to hide the bulge in my jeans if I look at her in that towel again.
The door swings open and Rhys steps in with the family physician a few moments later. He quickly walks over to where Emily lies and begins assessing her wound.
Anger, possessiveness, and jealousy flow through my blood at an alarming rate. I feel a growl threatening to escape my chest each time his fingers touch her delicate skin.
What the hell?
Quickly, I spin around and exit the room before I do something I’ll surely regret.