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What? That’s the first I heard of it. I thought Carmichael simply got jumped one night. It happens all the time in Dot.
Seamus stares at his cousin with his lips pursed. After a long moment, he turns to me.
“Get rid of her, Paddy,” he grunts. Not a fucking option.
“She’s too much of a fucking liability if Connor’s right. We used a lot of currency with the Italians to clean house with the Romanians. We can’t afford a beef with them right now.”
“Not happening, Fitzy,” I growl back at him. He blinks in surprise at my opposition to his careless order. “I’m not about to turf a crying lass out onto the street. That’d be throwing her to the wolves.”
Where the fuck would she go? The Italians would eat her alive. The Bianchi Crime Family doesn’t exactly have a reputation for compassion.
“Why would she be crying?” Seamus is frowning now, looking confused. Why is that what he’s focused on?
“Fucked if I know.” I shrug. “How d’you make Tiggy stop being emotional?”
“Tig’s not a crier,” Seamus replies, sounding pissy.
“Tiggy cries all the time,” Liam pipes up. Seamus glares at him like he’s fucking betrayed him.
“Tig’s pregnant. It’s different. Hormones,” he offers. Liam snorts, rolling his eyes. That’s a bold fucking move by the kid.
Seamus rounds on him. “You’re the one who coddles her like you’re her mammy.”
“She’s pregnant!” Liam blusters.
It’s my turn to roll my eyes. Jesus fuck. I came all the way down here for this? I could be at home finding out who the fuck is after Lauren. Seamus catches the look on my face, frowning and changing the subject.
“Paddy, Niall. There are some lads who’ve taken to avoiding their debts from the poker tables,” he sighs. “I’ll need you to talk some sense into them.”
Niall grunts from where he’s standing in the corner, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Talking isn’t his strong suit.
“Fists only.” Seamus throws the Reaper a warning look. Niall grunts again, disapprovingly this time. For him, that’s articulate. “Paddy, you take the lead.”
Expected. It will also keep me away from Lauren, which isn’t ideal. How the fuck can I figure out what trouble she’s in if I’m not in the same building as her?
I can’t disobey a direct order. Seamus might be my best mate, but he’s also second in command. Without another option, I nod, shoving out of my seat as Connor smirks and texts me the addresses.
As we’re leaving, Seamus’s voice rings out. “Cuddling.”
He sounds like saying the very word pains him. I stumble to a halt and turn to him, my eyebrows raised. Did he really just say that?
“Fucking, what?” I ask, my jaw hanging slackly.
Seamus shifts uncomfortably in his seat, clenching his jaw, and repeats himself.
“Cuddling,” he grits out. “When Tig’s upset, she likes to be held.”
Liam snickers, and when Seamus shoots him a murderous glare, Ronan reaches out and smacks the lad upside the head. He’s lucky he didn’t get worse. Seamus is handy with a flick knife when he needs to be.
“What? Like hugging her?” I ask, nonplussed. Cuddling. Isn’t that what mammies do to weans? Seamus shakes his head, scrunching up his face.
“Nah, like, lying in bed and holding her to your chest.” He gestures awkwardly. “Stroke her hair and shit.”
“You’re telling Paddy he should cuddle her after fucking her?” Connor asks, fighting a losing battle to keep a straight face. Seamus shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
“There’s no fucking involved,” he sighs. What? All five of us stare at him, baffled.
“At all?” Connor’s eyes are bugging out of his head. Seamus looks like he wishes someone would burst in and blow his brains out for him right now. I don’t blame him. This is awkward as fuck.
