The women smiled at Sam. So lovely. He would fuck any of them. Reminding himself not to flirt since tonight’s disguise was that of a nondescript, prematurely balding man. His stringy, brown wig was tied at his nape in an unimpressive ponytail. He had expertly applied acne scars across his cheekbones, bright blue eyes covered with brown contacts, and cheap, stretchy-waisted black slacks, a black button-up, and black orthopedic tennis shoes completed his look. Not a wet dream walking.
It was necessary to cover his appearance completely. He was extremely good-looking, and he kept his body appealingly fit. He could easily get any of the women seated before him. He knew this because when he wasn’t monitoring his enemies, he enjoyed picking up women with his boy-next-door charm.
He enjoyed getting them drunk, so their inhibitions were loosened. Sometimes he dropped a little something special into their drinks when they went to the restroom. It was one of Sam’s favorite games. Most of the women made it easy, though.His looks helped too much at times, taking the challenge out of it.
When they first saw his media room, they did tend to freak out, but that just made his homemade pornos worth more on the dark web. He’d made a pretty penny on his video rental site. Renting was a genius idea. Keep them coming back. He still laughed at his name. @SammySoGood— King of Twisted Love Stories.
Shaking off the hard-on-inducing thoughts, he snapped back to his current job. The ladies rattled off their drinks. “I’ll run get these and take your appetizer order then if you’re ready.”
Stroking the bartender’s ego— ‘Damn, bro, you’re one of the fastest bartenders I’ve ever seen’— Sam got his drink order in record time.
“Okay, here we are,” Sam said as he gently set the drinks in front of each of the ladies. Guinness with a full head, Jameson Black Barrel neat, and Slane, neat as well.
Grinning to show off his fake orthodontics, he told them that they could probably out drink every guy friend he had. That got them all laughing. That’s right, Sam thought, I’m just your average Mr. Friendly.
“We aren’t in a hurry, Charlie, so we are going to order a few apps before we order dinner.” This was the middle sister, River, he believed. They all looked gorgeously similar.
“Perfect,” he gushed, pen poised, “Let me have it.”
“Irish nachos, Kells shrimp, and the St. Mullins mussels.”
“Good choices, all. I’ll turn this order into the kitchen and bring back tableware and napkins. Just ignore my coming and going. I like to swing by my tables more than some of the other wait staff.” Let me do my job by ignoring me.
Not five minutes later, as he prepped the table for the apps and refilled water glasses, the ladies did as he asked and let him do his thing. They smiled at him but kept talking to each other.
“They’re visiting Nan today and getting some more Wolves shopping in.”
“When Raven called us this morning, she said they would be flying out on a late flight from Dublin tomorrow.”
“I don’t care about the timeline! Get to the good stuff already!” Josephine demanded.
The sisters laughed. “She confirmed that she is absolutely in love with Bran.”
“And,” the other sister finished, “Bran is absolutely in love with her.”
Sam could hear them all squealing in delight as he went to check on the apps. His mind was whirring. He was happy to have confirmation of what he already believed, but now, he had so much to accomplish before the lovebirds touched back down in Oklahoma.
He knew from O’Connor’s emails and messaging app that the Byrne sisters would be staying the night in Tulsa and working at Wolves tomorrow. This meant he would need to make a run to Eufaula tonight to see about setting up surveillance equipment at Triskelion. He would need plenty of pictures of Raven at her home and at the pub.
Preferably at Wolves. That would hurt Bran the most.
Hopefully, in a matter of weeks, he would ruin another one of the musketeers’ relationships.
Dropping the appetizers off at O’Connor’s table, Sam checked his watch. One more hour and a half, tops, and he’d be finished ‘working’ and walk out the back door. Always cognizant of not burning bridges, Sam would let the manager know he was extremely ill and couldn’t finish his shift. He would be so upset that he couldn’t finish his shift, he wouldn’taccept payment. The manager would probably appreciate his work ethic, and Charlie would receive a great review on the shift app. Winning. Always winning.
Sam cared for the few tables he was responsible for until finally, the ladies called an Uber. They were all smiles and thank yous, generous tips and good nights. As soon as they departed the pub, Sam was working his way to the manager.
Glancing over his shoulder at the three beauties stepping outside, his whole body tingled. He loved his life. He loved that the very people who spit on his family would never see who was coming for them. He knew.
16
“Ican’t believe you’re about to meet my grandma.” Raven nervously put her right hand on Bran’s thigh as he maneuvered their car across the private, wooden bridge that spanned the Boyle River, leading them into Nan’s timbered enclave.
“Are you nervous she won’t like me, babe?”
“No.” And then again, “No. She’ll love you because I do.” Raven knew this. Her nerves were bubbling up regardless. “I think... it’s just, besides my sisters, Nan is the last of my immediate family. I guess I still carry an old dream that I’d bring my first boyfriend home to meet Mom and Dad.”
Raven smiled at Bran in reassurance that she wasn’t going to break down, but she felt her smile wobble, and of course, he didn’t miss it.
