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“And since she was able to help your family, you’ve become friends with her? That seems extreme and hardly your style,” her daid interjected. He was frowning.
“No, it’s not because of what she did for my mam that has me here today. Maeve isn’t my friend, Mr. Kelly. She’s much more than that. She and I—,” he cut me off before I could finish.
“It’s obvious what you are. Maeve, I can’t believe you’d do this. What are you thinking?” he snapped.
“Daid, let us explain,” she said pleadingly. I was only going to allow this to go so far before I interceded. No way would I allow them to verbally abuse her if it came to that, which it might, based on his tone.
“What’s there to explain? You’ve become one of those women. The kind who lets his money and lifestyle seduce you into becoming one of the women he uses then discards. You’ve seen him in the papers. He has a different woman on his arm every time! However, I can’t figure out why he chose you. You’re not his usual model. You’re not in his league. You’ve shamed us. I never thought our daughter would become a—” I cut him off this time.
“Don’t say that word or so help me, you’ll find my fist in your mouth. How dare you say such things to her! Maeve is the sweetest, kindest woman in the world and her beauty far outshines any other woman’s. You’re right. I’ve been with lots of women and they only wanted my wealth and my name. They didn’t give a damn about me and I didn’t give a damn about them. That’s not the case with Maeve. She’s everything I want and need. She won’t be used then discarded. We came here today to let you know we’re together and to plan for a wedding soon. I wanted to ask permission to marry your daughter, but I see that’s not happening, so I’ll just tell you. Maeve will be my wife. We hope you’ll be a part of our lives.”
He came to his feet. He was scowling and his fists were clenched. Her mam was sitting there with a frightened look on her face and her hand over her mouth as she stared at her husband. I didn’t like it. It set off warning bells. I hoped I was wrong about what I was starting to suspect.
Maeve stood and pleaded with him. “Please, Daid, don’t. Patrick isn’t what you think. I know it’s hard to believe, and I once believed it too, but he’s not. Give him a chance to prove it.”
“Sit down and don’t say another word! This is my house and my family. He won’t come in here and disrespect me. He’s shaming our family. He’s using you, you stupid girl. I don’t know why. Maybe he’s bored. But mark my words, he’ll dump you so fast your head will spin. I guess he fed you the marriage line to get you to spread your legs for him. I never thought you were a whore,” he said spitefully.
She began to cry along with her mam. That was the final straw. I got up. Now, he was a tall man, but I was still a few inches taller and I was bigger. I admit, I moved closer to him to intimidate him. I could now see the cruelty and rage in his eyes. This man was an abuser and his wife and daughter knew it, intimately. As I stared at him, I spoke to his wife.
“Mrs. Kelly, I’d like you to go pack a bag and come stay with Maeve for a while. I think it would be good for you two to have mother-daughter time and you can help her and my mam plan our wedding. She and my brothers will be thrilled with our news.”
“Rose, you’ll go nowhere,” he barked as he shifted toward his wife. Before I could get between them, in case he tried anything, Maeve beat me to it. She placed herself between them and glared at her daid.
“Don’t you dare touch her,” she hissed.
“Do I have to remind you of what happened the last time you got between me and my wife,” he snarled.
I moved so Maeve and her mam were both behind me. Maeve answered him as I did. “No, you don’t. I remember it but I won’t let you hurt her. Mam, do as Patrick said. It’s not safe for you here. I promise, this time, he won’t take you away from me.”
Fury turned my vision to red at the thought he’d been using his fists and Dia knows what else on them. As he let out a roar and lunged, I punched him in the face. I heard Rose cry out. I didn’t have time to reassure them. Her daid was coming at me again but more cautiously. The next couple of minutes were filled with him attempting to hit me and me beating his ass. If he thought I was some rich guy who had others always protecting him, he found out he was mistaken.
Brian broke us up by pulling me away from him. I didn’t know how he got into the house. “Patrick, go see to your woman and her mom. I’ll keep an eye on this piece of shit,” he said in disgust. That’s when their crying registered. Whipping around, I hurried over to them. They were huddled in the corner with Maeve standing protectively in front of her mam.
I saw Rose flinch when I got near them. I held up my hands. “I’m not going to hurt you. I don’t hurt women and kids. I’m sorry you had to see that, but you have to know, you can’t stay here with him.”
“It won’t do any good to leave. He just finds me and brings me back,” she cried brokenly. I glanced at Maeve. Her mouth was tight.
“Mo grá, how many times have you two tried to get away from him?”
“Since I turned eighteen? I don’t know, maybe five. We finally stopped because the beatings when he found us kept getting worse. Mam tried when I was little and he always came for us. When I grew up, I thought I could do it,” she said defeatedly.
“Well, this time, you won’t have to worry about it. Go pack and bring as much as you can. You’re not coming back here.”
“Where can I go so that he won’t find me? And if he can’t, he’ll just go after Maeve.”
“He won’t touch either of you. You’re both now protected by me and the O’Sheeran family. If he dares to try anything, he’ll disappear. Hell, if you want, I’ll make him disappear now for what he’s done to you,” I growled.
I heard a sound of protest from behind us. I turned and saw her dad was now sitting in a chair, breathing heavily. His face was a mess, and I felt only satisfaction and the desire to hammer on him some more. There was still anger on his face but I saw traces of fear in his eyes. He knew this was his one warning. Men who abused women and children deserved whatever they got. Maeve and her mam got up and left the room. His angry eyes followed them.
“I meant what I said. You come anywhere near either of them or attempt to contact them and no one will ever find your body. You’re a pathetic excuse for a man. My future children will never call you seanathair, grandfather. Real men don’t abuse their women and children. Brian, take him out of my sight. I don’t want the ladies to see him when they come back. I need to make a call.”
Brian nodded then hoisted Mr. Kelly out of the chair and marched him outside. I didn’t waste time wondering where he took him. I knew he’d take care of him. I went to their phone and dialed. When she answered, I smiled. “Mam, it’s Paddy. Maeve and I will be there soon. Her mam is coming with us. I’d like to have her stay in the guesthouse. Is that alright with you?”
“Of course, that’s alright. May I ask why?”
My mam knew there were some things that me and my brothers didn’t share with the women in the family for their protection. She was trying to see if this was one of those cases. “We came to visit her parents, and I found out that her daid is an abusive bastard. I can’t leave her here.”
“Bring her to me. If he dares to come here, I’ll shoot him myself. We’ll see you soon. We’re having dinner, so I hope you’re hungry. Oh, and your brothers can’t wait to meet Maeve. Is breá liom tú, I love you,” she said with a laugh before hanging up. I groaned. Dia, I half dreaded Maeve meeting my two crazy brothers. They’d better behave, or I’d have to kill them.
