Chapter 2 Sean #2
She was the one who wanted me. With her was Maureen, who was staring at Cormac like he was her meal and she hadn’t eaten in days.
Patricia was less blatant, likely because Patrick was no longer available.
However, she still tried after he got married and was sent off with an earful from him when she did.
“We’re about to leave as soon as we finish our drinks. You’re more than welcome to have this table when we leave. It’s hard to find one in here,” I told them, then took a big swallow of my whiskey. My brother was doing the same.
“Ahh, don’t leave. Please stay for at least one drink with us. It’s so boring here. If you leave, we’ll go crazy,” Maureen insisted.
Not wanting to be a total dick, I looked over at Cor. He slowly gave a single chin lift. I knew he would hang in there with me.
“Fine, one drink, but we need to order it now. We’ve got somewhere to be,” I lied.
“Where? Maybe we can go with you,” Linda stated.
Our guards had stood and given their seats to the women. The bitches never bothered to say thank you. It was something else about them I hated. They treated those they considered inferior as if they were invisible or became hateful and ganged up on them.
“It’s business, so no, you can’t go with us. Here comes Joan. Give her your drink orders,” Cormac told them, a few moments before Joan stopped next to us. Her frown was clear. She wasn’t happy about seeing the women.
“How can I help you?” That she aimed at Cormac and me. Then she reluctantly acknowledged the women who gave her narrow-eyed looks. “We have an open table over there, you may have.”
“We’re not moving all the way over there. If we do, we can’t be with Sean and Cormac, silly,” Patricia stated.
Joan’s mouth tightened, but she didn’t respond to the verbal jab.
She remained professional as she got the orders, then assured us she’d bring them soon.
As she walked away, the other three women were watching her through narrowed eyes.
It wasn’t until Joan was at the bar that they turned back to us.
“Where is Patrick? You guys are always together,” Patricia asked.
“He used to be with us, but not anymore,” Cormac told her.
“Why not?” Maureen asked.
“Because he’s married and more than content to stay home with his pregnant wife.
Our big brother can’t stand to be apart from her for work, let alone to come drink with us,” I added.
I enjoyed the way Patricia flinched at the words ‘wife’ and ‘pregnant’.
Yeah, bitch, he’s taken and doesn’t want your ass, I thought snidely.
“He’ll get bored with her and come back to celebrating life. He’s knocked her up. The heir is guaranteed. He should come enjoy himself,” Patricia stated.
Her assumption angered me. “Patrick didn’t marry Maeve out of obligation or to sire an heir.
He loves her. He wants to spend the rest of his life with her.
He’s enamored with his upcoming baby, too.
Our brother will never go out and fuck around on his wife.
She’s his anamchara, his soulmate. He’ll never risk losing her,” I told her.
“Sean’s right. Patrick and Maeve are so in love that it’s hard to be around them. I swear, those two are always disappearing to somewhere,” Cormac added, no doubt to dig the knife deeper.
Patricia’s face was red and her expression angry. Linda placed her hand on Patricia’s arm and shook her head. It stopped the woman from exploding with whatever she wanted to say about our brother. Good. I wasn’t in the mood.
“Well, at least you two are still out having a good time. There’s nothing better than letting down your hair, having a few drinks, and dancing, then seeing where the night goes from there. The night doesn’t have to end when the clubs close,” Maureen hinted. She was staring hungrily at Cormac.
“No, they don’t. We’re available to keep you company all night,” Linda tacked on.
“We already told you. We have business to attend to tonight. We agreed to a drink, that’s it. Don’t worry. There seem to be plenty of people you can do all those things with. You won’t be left at loose ends,” I reinforced.
“They’re not you and Cormac. No one can compare to the O’Sheeran brothers. Some want to, but they’re deluded. You know that many people are jealous of you and your family. Many want to be close to you to see what they can get out of you,” Maureen remarked.
It was hard not to snort. Cor stifled his snort by coughing. Our guards were exchanging amused glances. I took a deep breath and prayed for strength. I tried not to be an asshole to women and children. We were raised to respect and care for them, but women like these three tested that.
Catching sight of Joan returning made me straighten.
She quickly served the women their drinks, then leisurely gave Cormac and me ours.
When she handed me mine, I felt something crinkle against my palm.
A subtle peek revealed a small piece of paper along the bottom of the whiskey glass.
Joan smiled broadly at me before excusing herself.
I knew it was her number. I covertly slid it out and into my pocket.
Over the next five minutes, as we drank, the women kept up conversations that hinted that we should stay, dance with them, and spend the rest of the night with them.
As soon as my glass was empty, I looked over at Cormac.
He was setting his empty glass down. It was time to go.
I pushed back my chair and rose. Cormac and our guards did the same.
“Have a nice evening, ladies. Take care of yourselves,” Cormac told them.
“Goodnight,” I added.
They made entreaties for us to stay and share our numbers, but we ignored them. As many times as they offered us their numbers and we declined, you’d think they’d know better. Not the brightest minds.
“Christ, those three are fucking dense and tiring. I don’t know how you kept from strangling them,” Kevin muttered as we weaved our way through the crowd.
Those who saw us coming moved out of the way without us having to ask. Eyes stared at us. I knew we projected an aura of menace. We’d worked to cultivate that. It helped to cut down on those brave or stupid enough to mess with us.
“It wasn’t fucking easy,” I muttered.
“It sure wasn’t,” Cor agreed.
Further conversation was halted until we were outside and safely back in the vehicles. Eoin was in the front with Frank this time. The bodyguards sometimes liked to trade off.
“Where to, bosses?” Frank asked.
“Hell if we know. We had to get away from mercenary women. Any suggestions?” I asked.
The night was still young. I hated the idea of going home. I still held out hope we’d find some companionship for the night. We wouldn’t take them to our place, but a hotel or theirs would work just fine.
“What about that bar over on Eighth Street? You liked it the last time we were there,” Eoin suggested.
Mulling it over, I ended up agreeing at the exact moment Cor did. With that settled, Eoin used the car phone to call the other vehicle and tell them the plan. Within a minute of deciding, we were rolling. I hoped we’d get lucky at the bar.
???
Cor hadn’t woken me at dawn, but I was still feeling like shit.
At the bar, we’d been left in peace to drink.
There had been a couple of likely candidates for a bit of fun, but for some reason, despite how horny we were, we didn’t close the deal, even though they made it clear they were very willing.
Returning home at three in the morning, I’d taken a shower before bed.
During that shower, I’d relieved some of my sexual tension down the drain.
Fuck, this had better stop. I needed sex.
What was wrong with me? Those had been my last thoughts before falling asleep.
Those same ones lingered in my head as I rose, completed my morning ablutions, and then it was off to make coffee and find something to eat.
All that occurred an hour and a half ago.
Now, we were back in the cars and pulling into the parking lot of the shopping area we wanted to peruse.
It was a block of stores that sold high-end goods.
You could get anything from fancy clothes to designer handbags and shoes, fine jewelry, and more.
Surely, in one of these places, Cor and I could find Mam something for Christmas she’d adore.
If not, I might have to go to Maeve and beg her to help us without telling Patrick.
That was in addition to finding a wonderful gift for our sister-in-law.
The first place we entered was a boutique that sold designer clothing.
Our mam generally dressed simply at home.
When she went out in public and to special events, she dressed like what she was, a successful mob boss’s wife.
She knew her actions and appearance reflected on Daid and her sons.
We didn’t give a shit what she wore, but she did.
We found a couple of dresses with potential, but neither of us could bring ourselves to buy them, so we moved on to the next store.
This one sold handbags and shoes. Again, though their selection was extensive and lovely, nothing screamed Saoirse or Maeve O’Sheeran.
We left it and entered a shop that sold jewelry and perfume.
It was unusual to find a place that sold those two items together.
In a regular department store, you would see it, but then the quality wasn’t the same.
As we entered, we took in the glimmer of all the gems in the glass cases, sparkling under the lights.
They were so bright, I had to squint my eyes.
I saw Cor and our guards were doing the same.
Eoin stayed outside the store while Quinn and Kevin were inside at a respectable distance.
The store’s security guard was outside, eyeing Eoin like he thought he’d rob the place, but the guy was too scared to approach us.
They knew we hated to feel smothered. Ignoring the stir we caused, I went to the first display case on the left. My brother trailed behind me.