Chapter Twenty-Two
Maureen
Standing in the kitchen with Hash, Beck, and four children I didn’t recognize, I tried to stay busy, not wanting to ask about the new children in the clubhouse.
It wasn’t my business.
They were so cute, though. Three little girls and a little boy sat at the table, having a snack with Charlie, Jack and Sam’s little girl.
I missed the time when Colleen was little like this. I missed all the cute things she said, and the way she mispronounced words. I missed seeing the excitement on her face when she learned new things.
“Ok, kids. We need to get going.” Two very large men walked into the kitchen and began gathering up the children.
“I’ll get Charlie; you get Bri. Andi and Drew, clean up your mess please.”
“My name is Charlie,” Jack’s little girl said.
One of the men, the one who looked a little younger, squatted down in front of Charlie. “Oh yeah? Is that a nickname?”
She nodded. “My name is Charlotte. Mommy calls me Charlie after my daddy.”
“This little one is Charlotte, too.”
Jack walked into the kitchen, and Charlie squealed, “Daddy, we have the same name and the same nickname.” Pointing to the youngest child in the group.
“Wow, Shortcake, that’s pretty cool.”
“Shortcake? I thought your nickname was Charlie?” the man asked her.
“Shortcake is my road name. Daddy said I needed one ’cause I was a princess.” She beamed.
The two men laughed, and the older one agreed, “Your daddy is a smart man.”
I heard Beck snort at the table, and Jack glared at her. She just shrugged as she laughed some more.
I enjoyed spending time at the clubhouse. It reminded me of times when families got together back home. Though it was nice to see there wasn’t the drama and competition between the women here. They were true friends. Something that wasn’t always easy to come by when you were a woman.
“Hey, Charlie, would you like to sit on the couch and read a book with me?” I asked, looking at Jack, hoping I hadn’t overstepped.
He nodded just before Charlie squealed again, “Yes!”
She rushed over and grabbed my hand as she led me out to the main room.
I followed her over to the couch, where I sat down and waited for her to pick a book. I smiled when I saw the stack of them she carried over. I didn’t mind. I would gladly sit here all day reading with her.
Amber walked in carrying the children’s bags. King met her just inside the room, and after whispering something in her ear, Amber turned and walked back out.
The two men and the children left, and I spent the afternoon with Charlie. She was such a bright little girl. We read books, then she helped me bake in the kitchen. Sam fell asleep on the couch, and I knew that her pregnancy was wearing her out, so I spoke to Jack and told him I would stay and help with Charlie so Sam could rest.
No good deed goes unpunished, I guess, because an hour or so after lunch, the sheriff arrived, and with him he brought the one man I hoped to never see again.
I watched him from my corner on the couch as Declan walked through the door and looked around the room. When his eyes landed on mine, they widened in surprise.
He rushed over, ignoring everyone in the room.
“I didn’t know you would be here.”
“Hash asked me to come by and make cinnamon rolls. Sam was tired, so I stayed to help with Charlie.”
“Where is Charlie now?” he asked as he scanned the room.
“Taking a nap herself.”
He took my hand, dragging me up from where I was sitting comfortably and leading me across the room, he asked, “Can you go to the kitchen? Or upstairs?”
“Why?”
Before he could answer, five men I recognized walked into the clubhouse.
I froze, my eyes on Braesal O’Malley. His eyes traveled over me, locking on my hand. The one being held by Declan. He raised an eyebrow in a silent question, and my back went ramrod straight.
He had no right to question me.
Not anymore.
I pulled Declan to me, wrapping my arm around his waist.
“Reenie...”
Declan turned and saw his brother.
“I told you to wait outside.”
“It’s cold,” Sal said with a shrug.
“Maureen?”
I turned to the voice that was so similar to my husband’s. Surprised, but thrilled to see him, I pulled away from Declan and ran to my brother-in-law.
“Duncan! What are you doing here?”
He gathered me in his arms, lifting me from the ground. When he set me back down, he said, “To be honest, I’m not sure. What are you doing here?”
“What the fuck is going on?” King shouted from the open doorway leading to the hall.
I turned as his eyes focused on Sal.
“Hello, little brother.”
“Fucking hell.”
Hearing a snort, I turned to the man sitting at the bar, drinking coffee. I knew he was a doctor from New York, and it had been made clear all he could have was coffee, but I wasn’t sure why he had spoken up.
“Bane, wish I could say it was good to see you.”
“Fuck you, O’Malley. You find Kelley, yet?” He grinned.
“Don’t you worry your drunk little ass. I’ll find him.”
“Maureen, what’s going on?” King walked over to where I stood with Duncan and waited for an answer.
“I’m not sure. Declan walked in, followed by them. King, this is my brother-in-law, Duncan. He’s Duane’s brother.”
King held out his hand to Duncan, ignoring Sal.
“Good to meet you.”
Turning to Declan, he snarled, “What the fuck did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. He showed up at the station and was coming here next. I could have let him blindside you.”
“I was fucking blindsided. You could have picked up the phone.”
Declan shot a glance at Jack, and King turned.
“Did he call you?” he shouted.
“Yea, but he didn’t say who was with him, just for the prospect to let him in. I thought maybe Fury was back for some reason.” Jack shrugged.
“Fury was here?” Sal asked, looking at Tyran.
Tyran didn’t flinch as he held Sal’s stare, and I wondered what was going on. I never met Fury. I knew he was the father of the girls that were here this morning, but King had asked me to stay in the kitchen, so I did.
“How about we get the introductions out of the way, and then we can talk in church?” Declan suggested.
Cash and Gunner stood behind King. Declan hadn’t said a word, so I took the initiative and introduced everyone.
Behind me, Jack and Shotgun sat at the bar. “Hey, Jack, why does Maureen’s brother-in-law look more like King than O’Malley does? They related too?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Declan and the doctor at the bar spoke at the same time.
King looked over at the bar. “What the fuck are you talking about, Bane?”
“You’re related to them both. You can see it in the bone structure of your face.”
King looked at Declan. “What the fuck is he talking about?”
“The man’s a drunk. He has no idea what he’s talking about,” Declan scoffed, but I saw it. I may have been the only one because I was standing so close to him, but I saw the fear flicker across his face.
“Declan?”
“I’m not fucking drunk. Asshole kid won’t give me anything but fucking coffee.” He stood from his stool and walked over. Pointing out similarities between Duncan and King.
Sal looked between the two of them, a question in his eyes.
The same question we all had.
How would Duncan and King be related?
Duncan was only fourteen when King was born. Kathleen would never have cheated on Curran, let alone with her son’s girlfriend’s brother...
“Oh my God!” I gasped.
I looked at King, then Duncan, then Sal. How had I not seen it? Darcy left right before Declan did.
I spun around to Declan.
“Is it true?”
Declan closed his eyes, shutting me out.
“Declan! Is. It. True?”
“What the fuck is going on?” King roared.
“You bastard. You knew. You knew what Duane was looking for. You knew all along and you never told him? You never told any of them? Where is she, Declan?”
“He didn’t need to know. I told Duane to stop looking. I told him he was putting you, Colleen, and King in danger, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“Did you kill him?” I whispered.
“What the fuck, Reenie? He was my best friend. You think I would do that to him? To you and Colleen?”
“LANNIE!” Sal shouted. “What is she talking about?” he asked in a deadly tone.
“Where is Darcy, Declan?” I persisted.
Duncan froze next to me. “You know where my sister is?”
“No.”
“What the fuck do you know?”
Declan turned to King. He walked over and stood before him. “We need to talk. Alone.”
“What the fuck is going on, Dec. Who the hell is Darcy?”
“Darcy was my girlfriend,” Sal said from across the room.
I looked between the two of them. This was why they left without a word. This was why Kathleen cut Sal from her life.
“Officers, church. Right fucking now!” King yelled. He pointed at Declan and then at Sal. “You and you.” Then looked at Duncan. “You too.”
Tyran took a step to follow Sal, and Declan blocked him.
“Not you,” he growled.
“Hey, Ty, let them work this out,” Cian said, his hand on Tyran’s shoulder.
Tyran just stood there, glaring at Declan. I knew he wanted to do something, but the badge on Declan’s belt kept him from unleashing on him.
“Ty! Sit your ass at the bar,” Sal commanded, and Tyran finally moved away from Declan.
“Maureen,” King called softly. “Please join us.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It seems you know what’s going on. Maybe with you there, Declan will open his fucking mouth. If he doesn’t, you can. Tank, call Blade, tell him to get his ass over here.” He looked at Sal, then at Declan. “Should he bring his old lady?”
“I would very much like to meet my niece,” Sal said.
“She ain’t gonna stay away once she knows who’s here,” Declan conceded as he turned, looking around the room. “Tank, Big Ben, I want you both with her at all times. She doesn’t leave your sight. Understood?”
“You got it, Sheriff.”
Declan nodded and then walked into church ahead of Sal, King, and me.
King took my hand and led me to the front of the room. “I want you to sit with me, darlin’.”
Declan growled, then walked over and took the seat next to me. We all sat in silence for a few minutes before Blade walked in.
“Who the fuck is out there? I was trying to take a nap with my pregnant old lady. If she doesn’t get enough sleep, she gets mean.” He laughed, then halted when he saw Sal sitting at the table.
“Fuck,” he groaned, hung his head briefly, then moved to his seat and dropped into his chair.
“Now that everyone is here. Dec, what the hell is going on?”
I looked at Declan, wondering whether he would come clean and tell King the truth. I understood now why he didn’t want me here. Why he never wanted King to meet Sal.
Placing my hand on his arm, I whispered, “I’m sorry.”
He rested his hand over mine and smiled as he squeezed, trying to reassure me, I’m sure. But I felt awful. If I hadn’t reacted the way I did, I could have asked him in private.
“It’s not your fault. Secrets never stay hidden.” He sighed.
He took a ragged breath and began, “Last I knew, Darcy moved to Ireland. She showed up at our house one night, scared, and told Mom she was pregnant. She said she was too young to have a child and wanted to get an abortion.”
I stole a glance at Sal. He sat in his chair, listening and looking at the table. Unless you were watching him closely, you would think he had no reaction. But I saw the slight flex of fingers, the flare of his nostrils, and the tightening of his jaw.
He hadn’t known.
Darcy never told him.
“Why did she go to your mother and not her own?” Cash asked.
Declan closed his eyes again. I knew he didn’t want to say it. I squeezed his arm and spoke for him.
“Because Kathleen’s son was her boyfriend. Darcy and Sal had been together for almost a year when Darcy left town.”
“We never knew,” Duncan whispered. “She just left. No one knew where she went or why.”
“What happened to her?” King asked, his voice tight with emotion.
“Mom talked Darcy into having the baby and letting her raise him.”
No one moved.
No one said a word.
We all just sat there, a room filled with over a dozen people, and everyone remained silent while we all processed what Declan had just revealed.