Chapter 15
BUTCHER
I’d known that if Moira and I took our relationship further than just friends it would change everything, and I was right.
Moira sighs softly in her sleep, curling closer to me as her blonde curls tickle my nose, getting caught in my beard. Light to my darkness.
Possessiveness fills me, dark and all consuming.
She’d been my obsession for years but now I’d made her mine, claimed her body as mine.
I’d already killed for her… nothing would stop me from raising hell on earth if anything threatened her, our daughter and the life I was going to build for us. Of that I had no doubt.
Turning us, I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her into my body as I close my eyes, but not to sleep. To plan. Changes needed to be made if I wanted to keep Moira and Mikayla in my life. I didn’t want darkness touching them, not if I could help it.
I just had to figure out a way for me to have both.
***
A smile breaks over my lips when I hear her. Little feet slapping on the wooden floor and her whispered words, or I imagine it’s her trying to whisper.
“We have to be quiet, Wolfie. Don’t wake mammy or I can’t give you a treat before breakfast.”
A chuckle rumbles from me as Moira tilts her head up to look at me. “Told you he’s hers when you’re not here. Bought and paid for, one sneaked treat at a time.”
I’m still smiling as I roll, taking her with me. Keeping my weight on my elbows, I grin down at her. The love of my life, still looking sleepy but oh, so beautiful in the early morning sun lighting up the bedroom.
“If he keeps her busy so that I can spend time with her mam this morning, I'm not complaining a stór.”
Moira’s gaze softens and she runs her fingers through my hair, tugging my head closer, “Kiss me, Andy.”
I do. I’d never deny her anything that was in my power to give her. Pressing my lips to hers I kiss her, starting slow before it turns heavy. I know we can’t take it any further as much as we both want to, not when we hear Mikayla coming back down the hall.
When she turns the handle and nothing happens, she bangs on the door. “I hungry, mammy. You awake?”
Moira sighs and opens her eyes. “I guess that’s the end of our morning.”
Chuckling, I bend my head and take her lips in a quick, hard kiss before pushing up from the bed and slipping into my jeans, throwing my shirt at Moira. “I’ll wake us up earlier tomorrow, milseán,” I assure her as she slips my shirt over her head and brings the collar to her nose.
Her lips tilt up in a smile when she catches me watching her.
“What? You smell good.”
Shaking my head, I walk over to the door and flick the lock, opening it only to be nearly taken out by Mikayla grabbing my knees. “Butch, you here! You stayed! I give Wolfie a treat!” She shouts.
Smiling softly, I run a hand over her soft curls as she looks up at me with wide blue eyes. “So I heard. Why don’t you go and say good morning to your mammy while I take Wolfie out for a quick walk?”
“’Kay,” she shouts and runs to the bed, scrambling up and into Moira’s waiting arms.
I rub at the slight ache in my chest as I watch them.
Happiness is a strange feeling for me, but I realise that’s what I’m feeling as I watch the two people who hold my heart giggling in bed.
Wolfie nudges me with his head, as if to hurry me along.
Pulling the door gently shut behind me, I take him out to do his business before we head back inside.
Breakfast is chaotic, as it only can be with a busy little girl, but I love it. For the first time in a long while, I think of the family I left in England. I know my brothers have children, and I wonder what their lives are like. Are they like this every morning?
Chaotic, filled with laughter, chatter, and mayhem as we try to wrangle one little girl between two us. If I knew them as well as I thought I did, I imagined it was.
Still shirtless, I follow Moira to her car and wait for her to strap Mikayla in. Opening her door for her I draw her to me, enfolding her in my arms as I kiss her.
“I’ll see you this afternoon, milseán. I’ve got a few things to take care of this morning, but I’ll be home by the time you get back.”
“Okay,” she runs her hands through my hair, curling her fingers into the short strands at the nape of my neck, tugging my head down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “I’ll miss you. Be careful,” she says softly, clinging to me for a minute.
“Always, milseán. I have you two to come home to.”
“Yes, you do Mr O’Shea. Now let me go before I’m late for work. Love you.”
“A fecking hell, milseán, you can’t say that then expect me to let you go,” I grumble against her lips.
She giggles. “That’s good with me, but you’ll have to call your Aunt Jess and explain why I’m not coming in.”
“Fine,” I playfully swat at her rump as she turns away and slides into her car. “I’ll see you later, a stór.”
“Bye,” she waves, reversing down the drive and onto the road.
“Love you too,” I murmur, raising my hand as she drives away, Mikayla waving wildly from the back seat. “Fecking hell.” I mutter, whistling for Wolfie. I walk into my house that seems empty and clinical after the warmth of Moira’s this morning. It’s not a home like hers, that's for sure.
Going into my office, I choose a burner phone and call Aiden. “I need to meet who you want to replace me at one this afternoon at O’Hagan’s.”
“Good morning to you too,” Aiden grunts and I smirk. “I’ve got shit going on Butcher, I can’t let you take one of my best men when I need him.”
“Nothing will happen until the meet with your Da, you have time. Today, Aiden. I’m not fucking around.”
“Fine,” he sighs. “I’ll have Keelan meet you at the pub.”
“I know him,” I reply. “Good choice.”
Aiden chuckles but I can hear the stress in it, and I feel for my friend. There’s nothing I can do. He’d need to clean house himself, but that didn’t mean that I couldn’t offer my services if he needed them.
“Figured you’d know my crew. Not much gets by you.”
“I make it my business to know everything Aide, something that you’d do well to remember if you go ahead and become head of your family. You’ll need to be more proactive at learning what’s going on in our city and keep your finger on the pulse.”
“I know,” he replies. “I’ve been so busy trying to keep my sisters safe and alive that I’ve not cultivated relationships like I should have.”
“You only have to ask Aide; I’ll help where I can. Never hesitate to reach out to me. I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks, Butcher. Appreciate that. Let me know how things go with Keelan. I’ve got another name for you.”
“Will do.”
Ending the call, I again destroy all evidence before hitting the shower and getting ready for my meeting. I wanted it done so that I could be home when my girls arrived home and while I didn’t distrust the Queens Wraiths, I’d still feel better if I was around while they were here.
Starting my bike, I ride to the city, glancing at the bakery as I ride past. It’s busy as fuck, which is good.
I catch a glimpse of Moira’s hair as I drive past. One of my guys is on the bench opposite, reading a paper or pretending to and another is in a car a few doors down. I always have my crew work in pairs. Nobody works alone other than me.
I’m pleased to see them notice me as I ride past. I flick my fingers up as I ride past to acknowledge them. Traffic thickens as I get to the centre of the city. It’s one of the reasons I changed to a bike. I don’t have the patience to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours on end.
O’Hagan’s is one of our many legitimate businesses, not that I have anything to do with it. One of my cousins runs all our pubs. I very rarely use them, unless I need to have a public meeting somewhere that I know isn’t bugged.
Circling around to the staff parking, I cut my engine, swing my leg over the seat and get off my bike. Removing my helmet, I glance up at the security camera, letting whoever is on security check that day get a good look at my face so they know it’s me.
The red-light flashes, turns to green and then back to red in acknowledgement. Only then do I walk to the back door, which clicks open as I approach it.
Tipping my head at the barman, I walk past the bar to the booth in the shadows at the back. It has a clear view of both the back and front doors.
Right on time, Keelan Malone walks through the door.
He’s not what many would think a fixer would look like.
He’s not the biggest man, just short of six foot tall, with a wiry strength that is often overlooked.
Dark hair cut short, short beard, dressed in old, faded jeans, a long-sleeved flannel shirt and worn boots.
He looked just like any other construction worker that roamed the city.
He blended in seamlessly, which I appreciated.
I know he’s seen me, but he first stops at the bar and orders two pints, scanning the pub for any possible threats. I wait him out. He has nothing to fear from me, but I appreciated a man that was careful about his surroundings.
The barman tried to wave the money that Keelan offered away. Instead of arguing, he stuffed the notes in the tip jar. Picking up the glasses, he walks over to me and slides into the only other seat that puts his back to the wall and gives him the view of the front door.
He pushes one of the pints towards me. “Aiden said you wanted to see me,” he mutters.
Wrapping my hand around the pint he’d given me I take a sip, “Sláinte.”
Silently he takes a sip of his own pint, patiently waiting me out.
There wasn’t much I didn’t know about Keelan Malone.
Son of a single mother after he’d dispatched his father who liked to beat on them.
He’d done it once too often, and Keelan had snapped.
Not that anyone knew it was him that killed the man.
My Uncle Sean had made certain of that. I’m not sure why he’d decided to work for Aiden instead of us, but he had.