Chapter 9
BUTCHER
As I sliced my knife across the latest paedophile's throat, I contemplated why this wasn’t satisfying me anymore. I hated going home to Moira and Mikayla after ridding the world of scum. I didn’t want to taint them with the filth that I dealt with.
They were all sunshine and goodness while I was darkness and death. It was getting harder and harder to stay away from them. Every time I left Wolfie with her. I kissed her cheek and walked away craving more. Maybe it was time to train someone else up that could take this over from me.
It would have to be someone I trusted and therein lay the problem. I didn’t trust many, and this job wasn’t for everyone. Even my crew looked at me slightly differently. They understood and they’d killed, but never like this.
It didn’t take me long to cut the latest one up and dispose of his body. I had a few friendly contacts in the farming industry, and they never even knew when I made a deposit. Better for everyone when it comes to deniability.
I was careful, never leaving any prints or fibres behind.
I used stolen cars to transport the bodies to the kill houses, of which I had several.
All in remote places, and all easy to clean.
Never under my name but under shell companies.
I did everything I could to keep off the garda’s radar, although I’m sure some knew about my extracurricular activities.
None of them cared enough about paedophiles and rapists going missing to do anything other than a cursory investigation.
After disposing of the body, I ditched my latest ride, setting it on fire on waste land where I’d hidden my bike.
Starting it up I rode to the airport, switching on my phone.
When I arrived there, I checked through the messages from my crew, smiling at the updates and the picture of Wolfie and Mikayla playing on the lawn in front of our houses with Moira in the background laughing.
The turmoil in me settled as soon as I saw them and the message.
They’re good, bossman. No problems to report.
I didn’t bother replying, I never did. They were used to me, so none of them expected a reply.
Happier now that I knew my girls were okay, I started up my bike and rode to my uncle and aunt’s house to check in on them. They’d arrived back today.
Using my key, I entered the house and followed the sound of their voices to the kitchen.
A few of my cousins were also there. I nodded at them before greeting my uncle and aunt.
Kissing my aunt on her cheek, I allowed her to take my face between her hands and study me.
Whatever she saw there made her frown, but she didn’t mention anything.
“Sit, Andy, I’ll get you a cup of tea.”
“Thanks Aunt Jess,” I say and do as ordered by the diminutive woman.
“Everything okay?” Uncle Sean asks as he looks at me over the rim of his mug.
“Aye,” I reply, taking the mug my aunt hands me.
“We’ve got company arriving in the next few days, an MC from Southampton. Liam sent them to us. They’re looking at doing business with Kelly.”
I grimace. I hate the man with a vengeance, and if it wasn’t for Aiden I’d have taken him out long ago.
Uncle Sean chuckles, “I know how you feel about him. Can you do some checking on this new MC? They do business with Adam and are allies of the Crow MC, but I’d still like you to look into them.”
“What’s their history?”
“Mother chapter is in the USA, South Dakota small town called Shadow Haven. They were a one percenter club but have gone legit over the last few years. That’s about all I know.
The UK chapter is new, only a few years old.
I haven’t figured out what they’re up to.
For the most part they seem legitimate when it comes to business, but we know that may be a cover. ”
“I’ll look into them. Send me the dates of when they arrive. If they're on the up and up, they can stay in one of the houses opposite me.”
“Really?” Uncle Sean raises a brow, “with your girls there?”
I shrug. “If they’re a problem, we’ll deal with them. I’ll know once I’ve done a check on them. Give me a day or two, and I’ll let you know. I’ve got to get home.” I stand, taking my mug to the sink. I rinse it out and put it on the drainer.
Kissing my aunt, I nod at my uncle and the cousins that are at the table. “I’ll see you later, let me know if you need anything handled.”
I left the house that had been my home throughout my twenties—and the family who welcomed and shaped me into the man I am today.
I loved them. I may not always show it, but I did. They knew that. That was all that mattered. Starting my bike, I ride away, making my way slowly through the city towards the lights of my life. The two people that kept me sane and whole.
Parking my bike in the garage, I can hear Wolfie barking from next door.
It’s too early for Moria and Mikayla to be home, so I let myself into her house.
Over the last few months, ever since Moira had started looking after Wolfie, I’d done this if I got home before they did.
She didn’t like me leaving him in the house alone if I was back.
Wolfie throws himself at me. I chuckle, giving him a hard rub down, “Hey boy. Did you look after the girls for me?”
He barks once.
Tapping my thigh, I call him to the door. He’s used to moving between the two houses. I’d bought doubles for him so that he had a bed, toys, and food in both our homes. More often than not, I’d find him over here if I was late coming back on days when I wasn’t away killing people.
Once I’ve got Wolfie settled I start making calls, researching the Queens Wraiths.
I can’t find anything untoward on them. They seem to be exactly what they say they are.
The only bug bear I have is the person they want to do business with, and the type of business they’re looking at.
The O’Sheas deal with weapons, but not the type they’re after.
Only one person is capable of making them, and she’s related to Aiden Kelly.
As my last resort I put a call through to him and leave a voicemail, asking for a meeting.
He messages me within minutes.
Aiden: Tonight. 2am. Usual place.
I’ll be there.
Checking the time, I see that Moira and Mikayla will be home soon. Going to my bag, I find the teddy I bought Mikayla and go outside with Wolfie, throwing his rope for him to fetch while I wait for my girls to get home.
I’m sitting on the step to their home when they drive up. A smile lights up Moira’s face as soon as she sees me.
A smile tugs at my lips when I hear Mikayla squeal my name, and her head pops up from her car seat as she strains to look out of the car window.
I stand as Moira parks and open her door, helping her out.
I happily return her quick hug and hurried, “You’re back.
Welcome home.” Before she moves to the back of her car and helps the tiny tornado better known as Mikayla Jane from her car seat.
She’s a big personality in a small body, and I love the stuffing out of her.
Kneeling, I wait for her small body to tackle mine, pretending to fall over onto the lawn between our houses as she crawls over me. Frowning, she looks down at me.
“Butch you been gone for eva.”
Smiling up into her little face so like her mother’s, my heart clenches and love for the two of them fills me.
I need to make changes to my life if I want them in it permanently.
They’d slowly wormed their way in, no matter how hard I’d tried in the beginning to keep away from them.
It was as if I was pulled towards them like a moth to a flame.
“I’m sorry baby. I’ll try not to go away so often, but sometimes I have to.”
She nods her head hard enough that her blonde curls bounce around her head, “I know. Mammy said. Did you bring me a present?”
“Mikayla Jane, you did not just ask Butcher that,” Moira scolds her, walking out the house with a tray with drinks and snacks.
Chuckling, I stand up, taking Mikayla with me and settling her on my arm as I carry her towards the table and chairs that Moira had put between our houses when I’d been away last summer. It was cool today, but not so cold that we couldn’t sit outside for a bit.
“Here,” I pick up the teddy I’d bought her and give it to her.
She immediately cuddles it then presses a kiss to my cheek, “Thank you, Butch. I go play now.” She announces as she squirms to be put down.
Making sure she’s steady on her feet, I watch as she flies to Wolfie, showing him the teddy and chattering a mile a minute.
“Come sit,” Moira says, handing me a mug of tea. “Was your trip okay?”
I hesitate before answering, “It was successful.”
“Good,” she replies, handing me a plate with a few bits from the bakery before sitting back with her own mug of tea, watching her daughter play with her new teddy. “You spoil her, you know. She doesn’t need a present every time you go away.”
I shrug. “I miss her.” I admit, turning my gaze to hers. “I miss you both when I’m away.”
Moira’s cheeks flush with colour. “We miss you too. I always feel better when you’re home. Not that your crew don’t make sure we’re safe, I just feel better when you’re next door.”
“I’m going to see about making some changes, maybe not travel so much.”
“Good. It will be nice to have you home more, and I know your Aunt Jess will be happy too.”
Surprised, I turn my full attention to Moira, “You discuss me with Aunt Jess?”
“Well,” she blushes bright red, “not in a gossipy way, just in a she’s worried about you kind of way. She’s worried you’re working too hard.”
“Damn, milseán, and here I thought you were gossiping about me,” I tease.
Moira looks horrified, “I’d never. Not when I know how much you’ve done for me.” She gives me a look. “And Butcher, I know it was you who made sure that Mikayla and I were okay. I know it was you who got me the job at the bakery, arranged this house and for Mikayla to go to nursery.”
Shifting uncomfortably in my chair, I look away from her. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I mutter.
Moira rests a small hand on my arm, “You do, don’t lie. Just like I know it was you who used to watch me. I’ve been waiting for a long time for you to say something, but you never have. I just have one question.”
Turning my head, my gaze is snared and held by her curious eyes.
“Why me?”
“Honestly?”
She nods. “I always want you to be honest with me.”
“The honest answer is that I don’t know.
” He pauses, jaw tightening slightly, as if he’s searching for the right words to explain.
“All I know is that the minute I saw you, I was drawn to you. Even with everything he was putting you through, you were like sunshine. Smiling at everyone you met …kind, good. You’re everything I’m not, and you drew me in. I felt protective.”
His voice softens. “Then you had Mikayla, and there was another person for me to worry about. So when you needed me, I used my connections to get you where I knew you’d be safe.
My aunt needed someone trustworthy to run the bakery, and I wanted you not to worry about anything.
I wanted you to smile like you did the first time I saw you five years ago…
before he started whittling away at you. ”
He’s silent for a beat, before he speaks again. His voice rough with feeling. “You’re light to my darkness, sunshine to my moodiness. You and Mikayla make the things I do worthwhile, because I’d burn the world down before I let any harm come to you.”
Moira stares at me for a long time, lips parted, eyes wide.
“Wow,” she whispers. “You see me in a completely different way to how I do. And I see you in a way that you can’t comprehend, because you see yourself as bad, and all I see when I look at you is good.
We’ve been tiptoeing around our attraction for months, if not longer.
Maybe we can meet in the middle. What do you say? ”
I’m silent for a minute as I think about everything she’s said. “Maybe,” I reply, “but before I can move forward with you, I need to finish a few things. I don’t want my darkness to taint you and Mikayla.”
Moira threads her fingers through mine, turning our hands over as she presses a kiss to the back of mine. “I can wait.”
“I’ll try not to make you wait too long, aghrá,” I reassure her. “I’ve got to go out tonight. Do you want Wolfie, or should I leave him home?”
“He can stay with us. I like having him home with me. You’ll be careful?”
Other than my aunt and uncle, it’s been a long time since someone’s been worried about me. I’m not sure what to do with all the emotion filling me at her worry. “I’ll be careful aghrá.”
“Good,” she settles back in her chair, seemingly content to watch Mikayla play and be in my company.
I’m not sure what I did to deserve her, but I’m making plans to ensure I keep her.