6. Keir
Keir
J ynx hardly weighed a thing. Even unconscious, I barely had to strain to lift her.
As soon as I’d walked into her building, I’d known something was wrong.
My thighs had burned as I raced up the steps to the fourth floor, and when I’d seen her door hanging by its hinges, a sense of rage had overtaken me.
Not because Molly had been attacked, but because I needed her alive to take back to Finnan.
Yeah, that had to be it.
There had been a man standing at the foot of the bed, his jeans loose around his knees, and his shirt rucked up like he wanted to watch his abs flex as he fucked her.
What a fucking asshole. As he shifted, I caught a glimpse of a raven tattooed on his hip.
Fucking hell. The piece of shit was a member of Clan Fiach.
What the fuck was he doing here, and how did Molly know him?
Stepping in closer, I saw Molly on the bed, her panties in tatters and discarded nearby.
“That’s right,” the guy—Grady, I’d learned—said. “You’re going to take my cock, Molly, then you’re coming back with me. There you can be our clan whore. You’ll pay me for my silence with your cunt, arsehole, and mouth.”
I quickly filed away that last sentence for later—information was king, after all—then took out my Glock and raised it.
The decision to shoot this fucker in the back of the head had been the easiest one today, even though he was a member of an enemy clan.
As soon as he fell, I knew Molly hadn’t really been in the room.
She’d mentally withdrawn, hopefully to a better fucking place.
Once we were outside her building, I bundled her straight into the Rover, thankful the area was empty. Getting into the driver’s seat, I checked Molly’s pulse, then called Brianna.
“Chief,” she answered. In the background, I heard pool balls clacking. She and her brother, Seamus—her partner in the clean-up crew—must’ve been down at that dive bar they loved so much, hustling the patrons.
“Got a job for you.”
“Where?” she replied, suddenly all business. They may have enjoyed their downtime, but when there was a job, they were the best in Galway.
I relayed the address, telling them to hurry. Brianna replied they were already in the van, and I hung up. I hesitated a moment. It physically hurt to call the next person on my list.
“Keir?” she answered, and I rubbed my sternum.
“Fallon, where are you?”
“I had a class, it’s just finished.”
Thank fuck she was close. “Meet me at Velvet. I need your help.” Before she could ask any more questions, I hung up and started the engine.
Velvet was a strip club the clan owned, an asset which brought in nearly a quarter of our income.
However, to avoid any unwanted questions or attention from Mary, the clan’s Pull, I entered through the back door of the club.
I knew the girls wouldn’t look twice at me, or the fact I was carrying a bloody, unconscious woman in my arms. Rhapsody, a stripper with long blonde extensions and huge blue eyes, saw me and sashayed my way.
She’d been Grayson’s girl once upon a time, but that was before Sloane stole his attention and his heart.
“New girl?” Rhapsody asked. She studied the other woman for a moment, before reaching over and brushing some hair off Molly’s face. “She’s pretty. Good body for dancing. Needs to eat a little more, though. Most of the lads don’t like girls who look anemic like that.”
“Don’t fucking touch her,” I warned. “You can tell the other girls, too. This one is off-limits.”
The stripper backed up a step, knowing my warning was real. “You got it. I’ll spread the word.”
Turning my back on the girl, I walked down the long hall which led to the private rooms. Each was identical—a semi-circular black leather lounge wrapped round a shiny podium and pole. I wasn’t sure how Molly would feel waking up here, but it was the safest place for her right now.
After arranging her on the couch, I went to the hidden cupboard along the wall and pulled out a blanket, draping it over her.
She’d probably be asleep for a little while longer.
As I rose from my crouch, I winced at the pain which lanced through my thigh.
Making sure my stride was smooth as I crossed the room, I locked the door behind me and walked back down the hall to the bar.
Caolan was leaning against the polished black surface, his attention fixed on something across the room, but Mary, who stood behind the bar, narrowed her eyes when she saw me. “You’re bleeding,”
“No shit,” I muttered back. “Can I get a whiskey?”
She gave me the side-eye, then bent to grab a clean glass, filling it with amber liquid. Caolan hadn’t acknowledged me yet, and I followed his line of sight to Kitty, who was on stage grinding to a song with a heavy beat. My gaze shifted to Mary, who simply shrugged.
“Who was the woman?” Mary asked.
I stopped mid-sip and placed down my glass. “What woman?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, I saw you on the security cameras. You brought a woman in with you. Unconscious by the look of it.”
“She’s nobody,” I replied stiffly. Sure.
I could’ve thrown my rank around and made her stop talking, but Mary held a lot of respect within the clan.
She kept the girls here safe, and being the clan’s Pull, she was adept at diffusing aggressive or violent situations within the ranks, as well as being a master negotiator.
“Okay. Do you want me to make sure the nobody has water and food sent to her room?”
Begrudgingly, I nodded, admitted she was right. Molly had been through enough trauma today, starting with being hunted by me. Her nervous system must be shot, and her body needed more fuel to burn. I tipped back the rest of my drink, feeling the warmth already numb my wounds.
“So, how did you get…” Mary narrowed her eyes as she checked out the wound on my forearm. “Slashed?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Like she’s nobody?” Mary asked, her expression neutral, but amusement sparked in her eyes.
I let out a sigh. Mary could be like a dog with a bone. “Fine. The woman did it.”
One gray brow arched. “You know, when a woman says no, she means it,” Mary lectured.
“That’s woman logic 101,” Caolan said, finally joining in the conversation even though I hadn’t even been sure he was listening.
“So is not creeping on a woman who’s clearly not interested in you,” I replied with a pointed look in Kitty’s direction.
Our Master’s head turned my way, his surprise that I noticed painted all over his face. “What are you talking about?” he demanded, as if that could convince me he wasn’t just looking at her.
“You’ve been staring at Kitty the whole time I’ve been here. And every other time we’re here.”
He shrugged, his gaze quickly darting back to the stage once more before it returned to my face. “I’m just keeping an eye on the girls is all.”
“Uh-huh,” I replied as Mary refilled my glass.
“You’re one to talk. Who was the stunner you brought in through the back?”
Motherfucker.
“She’s nobody,” I repeated. “And I’d like it to stay that way. At least until Fall?—”
“Keir.”
I turned to find Fallon walking through the door, Orin trailing behind her like a violent shadow. My jaw clenched at the sight of him, but if things were reversed and I was the one lucky enough to have her in my bed, I probably wouldn’t let her leave my sight, either.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, running her eyes over me, looking for injuries, no doubt. “I brought my supplies in—” She drew to an abrupt stop when she saw the droplets of blood on the floor. “You’re bleeding.”
“Aye,” I said. “Come into the back.”
With a determined nod, she motioned for Orin. He slid a pack from his shoulder and gave it to her. “Lead the way.”
My shoulders itched as I led the way to the room Molly was hidden inside. When we reached the door, I paused. “Orin, stay out here.”
The clan’s Reaper took a step forward, menace rolling off him in waves. “No.”
Getting up in his face, I met his cold, dead eyes. “You’re not allowed in there.” I jabbed my finger toward the door beside us.
“Where Fallon goes, I go,” he bit back, his anger coloring his words. “I’m not leaving her alone with you.”
Un- fucking -believable. “What the fuck do you think I’m going to do to her? Seduce her and fuck her against the wall?”
Orin folded his arms, setting in for a fight. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t want him to see Molly—not yet at least. She was unconscious. Vulnerable. And I was the only person she knew … besides Fallon.
“If you’ve bloodied up a woman—” Orin started.
“Blood isn’t my kink,” I interrupted. “That’s more your scene.”
The muscle in his jaw bulged. All the while, I felt Fallon’s eyes on us, watching us lob accusations back and forth. Reaching out, she laid a hand on Orin’s forearm and all thoughts of murder bled from his eyes.
“I’ll be okay, Orin. You know Keir. He wouldn’t hurt me or try anything.”
That same muscle bunched again as his dark gaze slid to me. Returning his attention to Fallon, he cupped her face gently between his huge palms and brought her face to his. Their kiss lingered—more for my benefit than hers—but I got the message.
He was pissing on the hydrant.
“You have two minutes to assess, then come out and tell me. Got it?” he told her, pressing their foreheads together.
I wouldn’t have said that love had softened our Reaper. He was just as dangerous as before, but he was more protective of her and craved her eyes on him. I wondered whether I would ever find a woman as good as Fallon. A woman who could love me despite my flaws and violence, like she loved Orin.
“Come on,” I muttered to Fallon, unlocking the door and ushering her inside. Before I could slip in myself, Orin gripped my arm.
“Watch yourself, Chief.”
I shot him one of my devil-may-care smiles and followed his woman inside. After I shut and locked the door, I turned to find Fallon already kneeling beside Molly.