Chapter 22
DONOVAN
“Honestly, I’m fine,” Aislynn’s voice assured us through the cell phone sitting on Callum’s desk. “We talked, and he eventually accepted I wasn’t budging. After some back and forth, he took me home to Ma’s.”
My shoulders slumped. “Thank God.”
“What were you so worried about?” she asked. “I can look after myself.”
A muscle ticked in Callum’s jaw. “We know you can. It’s Pagan Sinclair we don’t trust.”
“Well, there’s no need to worry,” she said reassuringly. “I’m going back to Denver later, and that will be the end of it.”
“And the video?” I asked.
Her tone turned icy. “Pagan didn’t give a damn about the video. Never cared about Saskia getting hurt, either, and he sure as hell wasn’t calling the cops. It was all about him getting his own way. He deleted the video in front of me. Rosie’s in the clear.”
I slumped back in my chair, relief slamming into me. “Thank fuck.”
Atlas cleared his throat. “Ash, can you send us all the numbers you’ve got for Pagan and his men, including any burners?
Colt wants to hack into their phones so we can check that none of the others kept the video.
Pagan may have deleted it for your benefit, but it doesn’t mean Cruise did.
Tristan gave us his number, so we’re wise to what he’s got, but they proved last night that they’re sneaky fucks, and I’m thinkin’ they’ve got other cells stashed away. ”
“I’ll forward them the second we finish,” she confirmed, then quietly asked, “How’s Rosie holding up?”
My heart twisted. “She’s been a wreck, pacing the house all night. I told her you’d be okay, but it barely calmed her down. She felt guilty that you had to go with Pagan because of her.”
“It wasn’t her fault,” Ash declared. “What’s going to happen with the truce?”
Atlas replied to that one in a graveled voice. “Not your problem, sweetheart. We’ve got it.”
“I should have listened to you all when you told me to stay away from him. But he was always so good to me, so charming and... well... genuine, or so I thought. I never expected everything to come crashing down the way it did. I’m still in shock myself, especially after last night.”
My chest ached at the remorse lining her voice.
“Sis, if you want to give him another chance and see if there’s something redeemable in him, then go for it.
There’s no shame in giving second chances.
It’s not like he strictly cheated; you weren’t his ol’ lady, and your relationship wasn’t exclusive.
We’ve all serial dated in the past. As much as I hate to say this, I wasn’t very different from him a few years ago. ”
“It wasn’t just about what he did, Donny, it was how.
He didn’t even wait for me to leave the fucking building before he got Saskia to kneel.
It shows me he has no loyalty, and that makes him a hypocrite because it’s his favorite buzzword.
He expects total loyalty, but he’s shown me he’s not prepared to give it, or at least if he does, it’s on his terms. I admit there are feelings there because the side he showed me, I liked, but the other sides of Pagan, like last night’s, aren’t what I want in a guy.
He went after Rosie and Maeve, all because he couldn’t get his own way. I could never trust him.”
I could tell by her steely tone that she meant every word.
My sister was brilliant but spoiled, thanks to Dad.
She was used to everything falling into place without much effort.
Aislynn hadn’t had many relationships purely because she had an idea in her head about the kind of guy she wanted, and after last night, I knew Pagan had shown her he wasn’t what she’d envisioned for herself.
Honestly, it was a relief that Ash had chosen her sanity over Pagan’s slick lies.
My sister was a strong girl, and even though I had no doubt she was feeling the breakup deeply, I also knew she’d get over it and come out the other end even stronger.
Ash and Mam were both the same way, and so was Rosie, which was probably why I felt so fucking much for her.
“Thanks for last night, Sis,” I murmured. “Appreciate the way you stepped up for Rosie.”
“It was the least I could do,” she said softly. “Saskia would’ve slapped Maeve if Rosie hadn’t stepped in. I never even saw it coming, so I’m just grateful Ro was there.” She paused and then said, “Look, I have to go. Mammy needs me. I’ll forward those numbers to you.”
We said our goodbyes, and Callum ended the call.
“What do you think?” Atlas asked.
“What I think is that we can’t trust Pagan Sinclair an inch,” I declared. “Last night proved that.”
Callum sat back casually in his office chair.
“At least the drama showed us who Pagan Sinclair is. When the chips are down, it’s KOA all the way, and I get it, but did he have to play games with Rosie and Maeve?
What he did to Ash was shitty, but I would’ve kept my nose out of it if he hadn’t pulled that stunt last night.
Maeve’s really hurt by him. She thinks he chose Saskia over her, even though she’s always spoken up for him.
I won’t forgive him for that. As far as I’m concerned, the friendship’s done.
We won’t be inviting him or his crew to big nights at the bar anymore.
” He paused briefly before stating, “In fact, he’s not welcome in my bar at all. ”
“Cash wants to distance the two clubs,” Atlas confirmed.
“Prez ain’t happy with what went down, and the fact that Pagan did it on our turf shows blatant disrespect, which ain’t a good move in biker circles.
We won’t stop ‘em comin’ to town, and they can wear their colors when they ride through, but no more friendly visits to our clubhouse.
Last night’s shenanigans proved they’ll throw us under the bus for their own gain. No honor in that, so fuck ‘em.”
“We’re all in agreement then?” I asked. “Professional but not friendly.”
Callum jerked a nod. “Fucking with my sister’s bad enough; like I said, none of my business unless Ash makes it that way. But fuck with my wife, and I make it my business.”
“He fucked with Rosie, too,” I concurred. “I won’t entertain his ass now.”
“Ro’s my sister, but I could’ve put up with him for the good of the club. Luckily, Cash thinks the same way as me. We can’t trust KOA, and we won’t put ourselves in the position where we have to.”
My stare slid between the two men. “Decision made?”
“Decision made,” Callum muttered.
Atlas nodded his agreement. “Yip. Decision made.”
“If I had a gavel, I’d bang the motherfucker,” I joked.
“Nah, bro,” Atlas protested. “Between us three, I’d obviously be the man in charge.”
Callum chuckled just as my cell buzzed in my pocket.
I dug deep and pulled it out. “It’s Rosie.” Clicking the green button, I held it to my ear. “You okay, babe?”
“Kennedy just called,” she said. “The court date came through.”
“That was quick,” I noted.
“Ned thinks he’s pulling strings, which worries me. I wasn’t aware he was that well-connected.”
I glanced at Atlas. “I’m with your brother, baby, so I’ll put you on speaker.” I clicked the microphone icon and placed my cell phone on Callum’s desk, announcing, “Kennedy got the court date already, and Rosie’s worried that Evan’s pulling strings.”
Atlas pulled his phone from his pocket and started messaging. “Don’t worry, Ro. I’ll message Colt now and get him on it. He hasn’t gone into detail, but Kennedy’s PI’s been stakin’ Evan out, and he’s already got some juicy shit. But you’re right, we don’t wanna get blindsided by that fucknut.”
“What have they got?” Rosie demanded.
“He’s playin’ away and with someone he really shouldn’t, but we need to be careful about how much we tell you.”
She paused. “I’m going out of my mind with worry that I’m about to lose my kids.”
“You’re not losing the kids, Rosie,” I assured her.
“Right,” she whispered.
My heart ached at the hopelessness in her voice.
Rosie was mouthy and outspoken in the best of ways, but she was also sensitive.
She adored her kids, and all this bullshit must’ve been killing her.
The realization of what she was going through made me curse her ex-husband.
He wasn’t doing this because he missed his kids.
Much like Pagan, he just didn’t like losing.
And I couldn’t wait to see the motherfucker get taken back down a peg or two.
I looked up to see Atlas staring at me.
He knew exactly what I was feeling because he felt it too.
If it came to it, I could make one phone call and arrange for Rosie’s ex to disappear, and I’d have a solid alibi. It would mean I’d owe Paddy a marker, but when it came to Rosie, Gabby, and DJ, I’d cross any line to keep them safe.
Evan needed to watch his back because he’d messed with the wrong person, and if he carried on playing dirty, I’d make sure I taught him a life lesson he’d never forget.
Nobody fucked with the O’Sheas.
—————
“Posy!” I yelled, closing the door behind me and making for the kitchen.
Barney ran at me with a soft woof, so I bent down to rub his neck as he greeted me like a long-lost friend.
The murmur of my woman’s voice filtered into the room, and then she called out, “I’m up here!”
I did an about-turn and headed upstairs, whistling a tune under my breath. Rosie’s voice got louder as I climbed until I could eventually make out her conversation.
“Is three weeks long enough for you to prepare?” she asked, followed by a pause, then, “And your PI has enough already?”
I smiled because I knew what Colt and the PI had been up to.
“I can’t help worrying, Ned. These are my kids, my babies, you know? I’m fucking frantic.”
Kennedy must have cracked a joke because Rosie laughed softly and said, “I know, and I trust you, but last night made me realize that I can’t put a foot wrong between now and the hearing, and it’s hard because, well.
.. you’ve seen my temper. It’s taking all my self-control to not get in my car, drive to Idaho, and run the bastard over. ”