Chapter 14 #2
“All right,” said Gwen, setting the tray down on the nearest table. “You want to act like cavemen, do it somewhere else.”
The first man—tall, slicked-back hair, and probably full of piss and nonsense—shoved his chair back with a screech. “What did you say to me?”
“I called you a lying, cheating, prick of a bollocks,” the second guy slurred, his cheeks blotchy and hands twitching.
Gwen was there before either could make a move. She stepped straight into the space between them, eyes hard, jaw locked, heart pounding but feet steady. “Take. It. Outside,” she said, low and lethal. “Or sit down, shut your mouths, and drink like grown-ass men.”
“Move, sweetheart,” the slick one snarled, swaying slightly. “This is between me and him.”
Wrong answer.
“I said you’re done.”
He sneered, grabbing for her wrist.
She twisted out of it fast, catching his pinky and bending it back just enough to make him yelp. The pub gasped in unison.
“You want me to break it?” she asked sweetly.
He stumbled back, muttering curses under his breath. She thought that was the end of it until he reeled back to throw a punch.
At that moment, Sophie burst into the kitchen. “Keefe!”
He looked up from the stove, holding a hot skillet in one hand and a spatula in the other. “Yeah?”
“Fight. Out front. Ruby’s in the middle of it.”
Keefe dropped both and bolted after her.
But once he saw the fight, he didn’t rush in.
He stood near the threshold, arms folded, watching.
Because Gwen had this.
By the time they got there, the punch was already mid-swing.
Gwen moved first.
Her fist connected with a loud crack , sending the man stumbling backward into a chair that promptly gave out under him. He hit the floor hard and groaned.
“Calm the fuck down,” Gwen growled. “Now feck off home to your mammy before I call her to pick you up in a booster seat.”
That landed. The whole corner cracked up, and the pub broke out into applause.
Keefe was still watching, grinning now. Arms crossed. Proud. In awe. He winked at her before escorting the two men out.
Gwen brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before picking her tray back up.
Keefe finally approached, sliding up beside her as the noise of the pub resumed. He took the tray from her. “You all right?
Gwen arched a brow. “Took you long enough.”
He smirked. “Didn’t want to get in the way of the show.”
Gwen turned away from the lingering stares and headed straight for the bar. Her hands were still shaking, but only slightly, and only because the adrenaline hadn't worn off yet. She reached for a bar rag to give herself something to do.
Keefe followed, quiet behind her until they were tucked into the little alcove near the taps. Close enough for privacy. Close enough that she could feel his gaze on her cheek before she turned.
“You all right?” he asked again, voice low. Different this time. Rougher. Like he already knew the answer and didn’t care—he just wanted to hear her say it.
Gwen leaned back against the wall and blew out a breath. “I’m fine. Bit of a buzz, honestly.” She grinned. “I haven’t bent a man’s pinky like that in years.”
Keefe huffed a laugh, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
“I’d say it’s in your best interest.”
He stepped closer. “That was impressive,” he said, eyes warm, voice going gravel-soft. “You handled that like you’d done it a hundred times.”
She tilted her head. “Maybe I have.”
“Should’ve warned me I was falling for a one-woman riot squad.”
Her breath caught for half a second. “Still want that kiss now?” she teased, chin tipping up, the fight still flashing a spark behind her eyes.
Keefe smiled slowly. “Are you asking me or threatening me?”
“Depends,” she murmured. “You gonna behave?”
He stepped in fully, one arm bracing the wall beside her head, eyes locked on hers. “Absolutely not.”
And just like that, the space between them disappeared.
His mouth found hers in a kiss that was hungry and hot, laced with leftover adrenaline and the kind of relief that came when the danger passed—but the tension didn’t.
Her hands curled into his shirt, grounding herself, and his fingers brushed her jaw, her neck, like he couldn’t decide whether to worship her or pin her there.
Someone wolf-whistled from crowd. “Oi! Keefe! Save it for after closing!”
They broke apart, breathless and flushed. Gwen smirked, wiping a smear of lipstick off his mouth. She didn’t give a damn who said it or who saw. She loved this man and if she wanted to kiss him, she would.
* * *
Once the pub had finally closed, Gwen, Keefe, Sophie, and Ginny collapsed into chairs around a corner table, limbs heavy, backs aching, and breath still coming in after the chaos.
Sophie rubbed her temples, then glanced across at Gwen. “Ruby, thanks for pitching in tonight. You really pulled through. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Gwen, who was holding a bag of ice on her hand, shrugged her shoulders. “I couldn’t very well watch you all run around half crazed while I put my feet up and scratched me arse, now could I?”
That earned a round of tired laughter. Sophie met Keefe’s eyes over the rim of her glass, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. Despite her lingering suspicions, Sophie liked Gwen. And after tonight? She respected her.
“Did Keefe remember to invite you to the christening? It’s our cousins’ twins,” said Sophie. “We would love to have you there.”
Keefe blinked, then glanced at Sophie. His sister had just given her blessing. No fanfare. No fight. Just... welcome.
He slid his arm around Gwen’s shoulders and kissed the side of her head. “They’re all eager to meet you. Please say you’ll come?”
“I—”
The kitchen door swung open. “Hey, guys.” Liam strolled in, smiling as he headed toward Sophie, who tipped her head back for a kiss.
“Hello, my love,” she said, already smiling at the sight of him.
“You look beat.”
“It was a busy night,” she said after a kiss.
“I’ll say it was a busy night,” Ginny groaned, nearly horizontal in her chair. “We had our first bar fight. Ruby here handled it though. Like a boss.”
Gwen’s back stiffened at the sound of Liam’s voice. She hadn’t turned around—hadn’t needed to.
Liam circled the table and came to a dead stop. “Gwen?”
Keefe blinked. “Liam, this is my girlfriend, Ruby. Ruby, this is?—”
“Liam,” Gwen interrupted quietly. Her stomach dropped. Her throat tightened. She hadn’t known Sophie’s husband was Liam Gallagher.
Keefe looked between them, confusion creasing his brow. “Wait, you two know each other?”
Liam didn’t answer. He stared hard at Gwen, his jaw tight. Giving her exactly two seconds.
Gwen sat straighter, turned to Keefe, and met his eyes head-on. “My name isn’t Ruby,” she said softly. “It’s Gwen. Gwen McKenna.”
The silence was brutal.
“What?” Keefe blinked, shaking his head. “I... I don’t understand.”
Sophie’s chair screeched as she shoved back from the table. Her voice dropped into something deadly. “ You’re Darcie’s sister?”
Gwen couldn’t look away. Couldn’t defend herself. Not yet.
“Are you fucking serious?” Sophie demanded. She turned to Liam. “She’s Cian’s daughter? The one we’ve been looking for?”
Liam gave a single, grim nod.
Keefe turned back to Gwen, a storm building in his eyes. “Is that true?”
Her silence gave him his answer. The hurt on his face was instant. Devastating.
Tears spilled down Gwen’s cheeks. “Keefe, I?—”
But he was already on his feet, chair scraping loudly behind him. The back door slammed before anyone could stop him. A second later, the roar of his engine shattered the night as he tore out of the driveway.
“Keefe—!” Gwen moved to follow, but Sophie blocked her path.
“Don’t,” Liam warned, catching Sophie’s arm before she did something she couldn’t take back.
But Sophie was seething. “Ruby. Gwen. Whatever the fuck your name is.” Her voice cracked like thunder. “Get out. Now . And don’t you dare go near my brother again.”
Gwen stood frozen, heart in shards, then slowly pulled off her apron and placed it on the table.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
She made it to the front door. Then she was gone.