Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
K elsey Byrne
My heart pounded in my chest as I approached Murphy’s Pub, my footsteps echoing in the quiet of night. As soon as I opened the door, the scent of whiskey assailed my senses, and the sounds of raucous laughter mixed with the lively tunes of Irish jigs spilled out onto the streets.
I adjusted the collar of my brown leather jacket, quieting my nerves. The neon glow of the pub sign flickered overhead as I let the heavy wooden door close behind me. The warmth of the crowded pub enveloped me, and I took a moment to let my eyes adjust to the soft lighting.
Honestly, it was kind of nice in here. If I wasn’t on the job, I might even enjoy going to a place like this on the weekend.
But this wasn’t my night off and I wasn’t coming in here for fun.
The Murphy family had a dangerous reputation, and I was about to get up close and personal with whatever they had their hands in, especially if it wasn’t exactly legal.
As I made my way through the crowd, the infectious laughter and lilt of Irish songs enveloped me. The bar was alive with activity, and I spotted a few familiar faces that matched the descriptions of the criminals I had memorized.
Kieran Murphy sat in the back corner, his piercing blue eyes scanning the crowd as he sipped a glass of whiskey. Two of his brothers, Aidan and Cormac, as well as his sister Ada sat with him. The twins, Connor and Caden, were at the bar, the two of them drinking pints of Guinness.
I needed to be more careful.
The Murphys were a close-knit bunch, and I needed to navigate their stronghold without arousing suspicion, so I headed towards the bar, ordering a drink to maintain the facade of a casual patron.
The truth was, I needed to slip into their back office to conduct a search. If I could find evidence against them, I could get them put away sooner rather than later.
I just needed to wait for the right time.
My eyes darted around, searching for the perfect opportunity to slip away unnoticed and lie in wait. The bathroom seemed like the safest bet.
After a few sips, I picked up my glass and made my way to the back of the pub. I slipped inside the bathroom, the raucous noise from the pub muffled by the thick wood of the door. I took a moment to steady my breathing, my back pressed against the cold tiles of the wall. When I’d finally gathered myself, I slipped into one of the stalls, sat on the toilet and picked up my feet.
I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and glanced at the time. It was almost closing hours, nearly two in the morning.
I just needed to wait them out.
Time seemed to stretch as I waited, hidden away in the small, dimly lit space. The distant sounds of the pub carried through the walls, and I strained to catch any snippets of conversation that could reveal the Murphy family’s plans. The stakes were high, and my cover depended on remaining undetected.
Eventually, the sounds outside gradually faded into hushed whispers and then nothing at all. Only when I felt like it was safe did I leave the stall and press my ear to the door, listening for any signs of life.
I heard nothing, but still I waited until I was certain that everyone had left, and the pub was closed for the night.
I waited until four in the morning.
Finally seizing the opportunity, I eased open the bathroom door and slipped back into the deserted pub.
I moved with cautious steps, my boots making only the slightest creak on the wooden floor. The empty tables and abandoned chairs seemed to be eerily still, and I sucked in a nervous breath.
As I tiptoed towards the back of the pub, the door leading to the office almost seemed to call out to me. With each careful step, my senses heightened. I could almost feel the weight of the secrets hidden within these walls, secrets that could unravel the Murphy family’s stronghold and lock them behind bars forever.
My heart was thumping in my throat.
The office door was slightly ajar, and I gently pushed it open, wincing at the faint creaking sound. I slipped inside. The soft lighting of a desk lamp illuminated the room, revealing shelves lined with files, cabinets full of dark leather books, and a desk covered in scattered papers.
I moved silently across the room, my eyes scanning the strewn documents for any clues. The air was thick with tension as I sifted through the paperwork, my fingers gliding over the edges of confidential files. There were names, dates, and coded messages that hinted at the extent of the Murphy family’s operations.
I needed to gather as much intel as possible. I’d worked for the FBI for years, and I’d finally been promoted to a covert operative.
My first job?
To infiltrate the Murphy family criminal organization and to finally make a difference in the world. If I could just find enough evidence to put them all away, I’d make the streets of Boston a safer place.
I gritted my teeth. Growing up in Boston I’d seen the insidious influence of the mafia firsthand.
My brother, a decorated police officer, had been killed by the Cosa Nostra. Left to reign free without rules or limitations, they’d gotten away with it without even a slap on the wrist. I lifted my chin, my quiet determination fueling me forward.
I could do this. For him.
As I meticulously sifted through confidential files, I heard a creak behind me, and a shiver ran down my spine. I turned to see a man standing in the doorway, his dark hair streaked with lighter patches that caught the faint glow of the overhead light. His hazel eyes met mine, and for a moment, the room felt too small and too intimate for the two of us.
It was Liam Shelby, the consigliere of the Murphy family.
In person, though, he seemed like so much more. His dark, well-trimmed beard framed a strong jawline. His hazel eyes, now even more intense under the dim light, held a darkness that seemed to pull me in. A sudden yearning to kiss him seized me. His proximity, and the dangerous glint in his eyes made resisting the urge to lean in and taste the forbidden all the more challenging, but I remembered myself.
He was a criminal.
I couldn’t kiss him. That was insanity.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” he drawled, his voice a low rumble that sent a spear of ice surging straight through me. His eyes, greener than golden brown under the light, bore into mine with an intensity that left no room for evasion. “You’re not supposed to be in here, sweetheart.”
My heart raced as I tried to gauge his intentions. His quiet, brooding presence only added to the suspense. Despite the threat in his words, there was an undeniable magnetism about him, and I found it difficult to look away.
You can’t be finding Liam Shelby sexy right now. That’s crazy talk.
“I… I was just looking for the bathroom,” I stammered, my voice betraying a nervous edge. The air crackled with tension as he stepped further into the room, his gaze unwavering.
“Does the bathroom usually have confidential files spread out on the desk?” he questioned, a hint of amusement in his tone. His lips curled into a smirk, adding to the enigmatic charm that surrounded him.
I swallowed hard, my palms growing clammy. “I… I got lost. Must be the layout of the place.”
“Lost, huh?” He chuckled, a low, throaty sound that resonated in the quiet room. His words hung in the air, and I was embarrassed by my feeble excuses.
Not only that, but I could feel my nipples pebbling in my bra and I sucked in a breath. I couldn’t be getting aroused simply by a man’s presence, a dangerous criminal no less, and probably a liar and a murderer, too.
Yet still, his gaze appeared soft, tender even.
“Yes. Definitely lost,” I tried.
He raised an eyebrow and appraised me, his heated gaze roaming up the length of my body. I felt the intensity of his scrutiny, and it left me feeling both uneasy and strangely alive. It was as if his eyes could unravel me with just a look, and I sucked in a breath. In that moment, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being seen, truly seen, by a man who exuded danger and charm in equal measure.
“I’m sure you are,” he drawled. He stared at me like he was a lion who had just happened upon a lamb.
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” he finally asked.
“Kelsey,” I blurted out before I could think to stop myself. As the echo of my first name hung in the air, I could have kicked myself.
How stupid could I be, giving him my real name?
I felt like a noob.
“Well, Kelsey,” he continued, taking a step closer, “You just stumbled into something you shouldn’t have. The question is, what do I do about it?”