Chapter 35
Shannon
Outside, a storm tore through the yard, rattling buckets and creaking old beams.
Shannon checked her phone on the way to the coat hooks by the door, the familiar drop in her stomach hitting her once again.
It had been over a week since she’d kicked him out.
Despite everything, she missed the way he smelled, how his presence made her come alive inside, hungry for him.
His kisses had a fire to them, one that seared through her veins, sparking a desire that had pulled her in too deep.
But she couldn’t afford to fall for him. Not with Niall lurking on the edge, ready to pop his ugly head up at any moment.
Every time she thought about him returning, that bottomless, seething hatred flared inside her.
She bundled herself up in a padded jacket and beanie, bracing for the glacial wind.
When she opened the door, a large cardboard box sat on the doorstep. Bending to lift it, she took in the tape sealing it with the words, this way up only , and someone had scrawled her name in a bold black marker.
Too heavy to carry, she dragged the box inside and stood over it. What if Niall had sent her something? Some kind of twisted warning or bribe?
But then she caught herself. That asshole wasn’t smart enough for that kind of subtlety.
Grabbing scissors from the counter, she sliced the tape, lifted the flaps and pulled out the paper filling stuffed inside. Beneath the packing sat a sturdy picnic hamper.
She shook her head and unbuckled the leather straps, peering inside at a collection of fancy cheeses, fresh bread, thick rashers of deli bacon and a bottle of homemade tomato sauce.
Her pulse went wild as her gaze wandered over bottles of squeezed orange juice, pressed in Italy just the day before, and beside it, a small jar of gourmet maraschino cherries.
The flutter in her chest was so electric, she giggled out loud.
Damn that man. He hadn’t given up on her.
She closed the lid and ran her fingers over the woven willow, tracing the gold rectangle on the front etched with the initials JMcG . Her heart cracked open, and tears stung the backs of her eyes .
Somehow, he knew, without even being here, that she hadn’t had the energy to buy groceries. She kept telling herself he’d move on, but his thoughtful gesture still tied them together.
Leaving the hamper behind, she braved the night air, trotting down the stone steps and darting across the yard. When she reached Trixie’s stable, her eyes went to the empty hook where the head collar should hang.
Hanging it up after every use was second nature. So why wasn’t it there? Maybe Bucky had taken it to clean, but a small twinge of unease tugged at her.
“Hey, girl,” she murmured, peering inside the stable.
A chill prickled down her spine. She turned, scanning the yard, noticing the silence under whips of wind.
The moon hid behind dark clouds, casting eerie shadows across the cobblestones. The barn roof weathervane creaked like an old wheel, and when a thunderous thud came, her heart leapt in her chest.
She pressed her back against the wall, a creeping awareness of being watched prickled over her scalp.
Then Jackson burst from the shadows, all legs, and energy with a small plastic tub in his mouth. His nails clicked against the cobbles before he stopped and stared at her, tail wagging.
After a moment, he darted off, disappearing into the night, the tub still clutched in his jaws.
Shannon’s boots splashed through the rainwater as she hurried back to the loft, her heart still racing from the tension that lingered in the air.
She locked the door behind her, knelt before the hamper and unpacked the gifts, enjoying the buzz he’d given her.
Pouring a glass of juice and flicking the grill on to cook some bacon, her heart thudded with gratitude.
And in that moment, she realised she wanted to tell Jamie everything.
The following morning, Shannon found another package waiting on her doorstep, along with a card signed by Jamie.
This time, he’d filled a box full of red candied lips in jars, their taste sweet like cherries.
His persistence shone a light into the darkness and had her questioning everything.
Would telling him make things worse or could she bring herself to borrow money from him to buy Trixie?
That would be a move Niall would never see coming, then again, she’d be indebted to Jamie. And they weren’t together… He wasn’t the settling-down type.
The internal struggle carried her through the afternoon shift at Coffee Kicks. While she poured coffee, her mind weighed the pros and cons.
Jamie had already offered her the cash as a loan, so she wasn’t being a gold-digger by asking if he’d meant it.
Though borrowing that amount of cash from a guy she didn’t know that well was a huge risk.
It’s all belly flutters and racing heart beats now, but what if he turned out to be an even bigger asshole? In the back of her mind, she knew Jamie was decent. She just needed to take a leap of faith.
After hours of serving coffee with only a quick break, Shannon counted the change in the register to close up.
Jess had spent the last hour applying layers of makeup and strip lashes for a student night at the local club, bouncing off when her boyfriend showed up.
Shannon flicked off the music and grabbed her coat from the staff room. As she hit the lights, the space fell into darkness and the main door creaked open behind her.
“We’re closed.”
“Well, aren’t you the busy little bitch?”
The breath left her throat in a gust. “Niall. What the hell are you doing here?”
Shadow shrouded his face, but his eyes gleamed, glowing with a menacing glint. “I’m staying clear of the yard for a while. Got myself a crash pad here in the city where I can do whatever I want.”
“Yeah, snort as much coke as you want, too.” She gripped her bag strap tighter.
After weeks of looking over her shoulder, always on edge, she was pissed that he’d waited for her barista shift to end, showing up when everyone had gone.
“Are you judging me?” he mocked. “Shannon Colter, the money grabbing slut.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you think of me, Niall.”
He prowled further inside, stopping in front of her .
“Well, you should. I told you to stay away from that bastard, McGrath. Do you think I’m stupid?
Do you think I wouldn’t know he was in the loft with you again, or that he’s been sending you stuff?
How pathetic is that, huh? The rich guy sends you food.
Aren’t you embarrassed? I thought you had more pride than that. ”
Rage burned in her chest, and before she could stop herself, her palm shot out, striking him across the cheek. The sound cracked through the air like a gunshot.
His head snapped to the side, but the low, threatening laugh that followed sent a chill straight down her spine.
In a blur, he lunged forward, spun her around and held the cold edge of a knife against her throat. The blade bit into her skin as he wrapped his arm around her waist, yanking her ass tight to his groin.
“Phone him. Now.”
“Why?” Her breath faltered, panic rising in her chest.
“It would be such a shame if that silly old daddy of his went missing. The old man’s lost his mind, right?
He could disappear one day... Poof.” He emphasised the word.
“Call the cocky bastard and tell him to stop sending you stupid gifts. And Shannon...” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, “If he comes back to my yard one more time, I’ll shoot that fucking horse between the eyes. ”
“You can’t threaten me, Niall. I’m sick of your shit.”
The knife pressed harder into her skin, and Niall’s voice came out low and dangerous .
“I can. And I think you’ll find that I did. Phone him. Let me hear you cut the feet from under him.”
“No, Niall, please… no.” Her voice cracked, and a little sob bubbled out. “Why do you hate him so much?”
“I don’t hate him, Shan. I fucking hate you,” he sneered, a chuckle escaping him. “You think you’re better than me. You always have. Even my dad—he thinks of you as family. Shannon did this. Shannon did that. Shannon did everything right, and it fucking boils my piss.”
His mouth settled against her ear, and his grip on her waist tightened, forcing her closer to his chest. His body was a solid wall behind her, all harsh lines and unyielding strength.
“Get your phone out,” he growled in her ear. “Call the fucker. Or I’ll make sure George McGrath goes missing. Make it look like the old man got mugged when they find him. And Trixie...”
He let the threat hang in the air, heavy with menace. “She won’t recover from an accident.”
Shannon’s chest tightened, her breath quickening with fear.
“I hate you,” she hissed, her voice shaking with fury. “I fucking hate you.”
Fingers trembling, she pulled her phone from her pocket, scrolling through to Jamie’s name. Her heart pounded in her ears as she hit the dial button.
It rang twice. The moment Jamie’s voice came through, warm and familiar, her knees almost buckled.
“I was hoping you’d call, love,” he said, his voice rich with relief, with something else that made her stomach flutter. “You gonna invite me over for another bacon butty?”
Her heart screamed for him, but Niall’s knife dug in harder when she hesitated.
“Please don’t send any more presents,” she said, her voice breaking, a raspy whisper.
“Where are you? Is something wrong, Shannon?” Jamie’s voice rumbled down the line, confusion colouring his tone. “What’s going on?”
Niall’s grip tightened. The knife dug deeper, sending a jolt of pain through her.
“Get rid of him, permanently,” he muttered, voice dark and low.
“Shannon, don’t play games with me. Where the fuck are you right now?” Jamie demanded. “Are you at Meadow Dawn?”
Her throat tightened, and she bit back a sob. She could barely breathe with the blade tight to her throat, but she couldn’t let Jamie know just how dangerous things were.
“I’m fine, Jamie,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
She’d have to find a way to protect Trixie without leaning on Jamie.
“Bullshit,” Jamie’s voice snapped back, full of anger and authority. “I know you’re lying. Tell me, Shannon, or I swear to fuck, I’ll find a way to make you.”
“Did you think sending me food would make you my hero?” The bitterness in her voice was raw, real. “That it would make me fall for you? You can’t buy me, Jamie. ”
Her vision blurred with unshed tears. Niall yanked her head back, the sharp edge of the blade slicing a thin line. Terror knotted her insides, making her dizzy.
“Finish it,” he whispered, his voice dark and full of threat, his breath fanning the shell of her ear.
Jamie wouldn’t back down. “Shannon, I’m not letting this go. Tell me what’s happening, or I’m coming to you in a fucking chopper.”
Her chest tightened and her knees went weak. How much did he care? How far would he go? None of it mattered now because she couldn’t put him or his father in danger.
Niall’s hold on her locked tighter, and her neck burned with the pressure. The agony of the situation, of the two men pulling her in opposite directions, was overwhelming.
She forced herself to speak, her voice shaky, as the words broke through the pain.
“Look. Back off, Jamie.” Her chest heaved with a stifled sob. “You don’t know me. I don’t know you. It was random sex that meant nothing to me. You’re like a damn stalker. Leave me alone.”
“Shannon,” Jamie said, his voice dangerously low, “I swear to fuck, I can hear it in your voice. You don’t mean that. You’re not alone in this, love. Whatever trouble you’re in, I’ll help you.”
His statement crushed her, the sincerity in his voice slipping under her defences. But she had to push him away. She couldn’t drag him into her mess, not with everything at risk .
“I don't need help. Not from you. Not from anyone. Leave me alone.”
With trembling hands, she ended the call, her heart breaking when Niall chuckled.
“Wise choice.” His words hit like acid. “Just remember, I’m always watching…and waiting.”