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She nods, and I motion for her to come in. Once she’s seated, she looks at me, her hands twisting in her lap. “She seems nice enough,” Callia starts. “I was wonderin’ if it would be nice for her to work at O’Hagans?”
I didn’t think Miren would be here longer than a week at most. I wanted Donahue to find the strange girl a home, a place to go that isn’t at the club. Perhaps it’s my own perception of her. There’s a glint in her eye I can’t quite place, and reading people is my thing. I observe, with her, it’s different. I can’t look away, but at the same time, I hate that Iwantto look at her.
“Is this somethin’ she’s asked about?” I look at Callia, and I can see every pain and heartbreak she’s suffered. With Miren, there’s nothing. “I don’t want a stranger in my home who’s hidin’ shite.”
Callia has known me for years. She knows I don’t take things lightly, and she’s seen me lose myself to violence. When we learned about her, I went along with Rebel to bring her here, and that’s the first time I got my hands dirty in front of one of our girls.
“She seems a nice lassie,” Callia tells me. “I believe everyone should be given a chance. I don’t know her story yet, but…” The girl shakes her head, and her blonde hair swishes. “I just have a feeling she doesn’t have anyone else.”
The plea in her eyes twists at my chest. I couldn’t say no to a pretty woman. I may not have been in love before, or ever wanted to be, but women have always been a weakness. The girls who live at the club are family, and Callia is like a wee sister to me.
“Ye reckon she’s sound?” I lean back in my chair as I stare at Callia.
“Aye,” she says with a nod, excitement glinting in her eyes.
I’m not entirely sure this is a good idea. But, if Miren does stay, it means I can keep an eye on her. I can find out who the feck she is and where it is she’s come from. Donahue didn’t just send some random girl to me.
“Tomorrow night then,” I finally say. “Bring her to the club and walk her around. I don’t want any shite,” I warn with a pointed finger at Callia. “No arguments. She will sit back and watch what you do. I don’t want her on the stage.” The order is clear. Only those women I approve can take off their clothes. Reason being is, I need to know there won’t be any shite in my club.
The clientele aren’t scum. However, there have been instances where boyfriends and husbands have followed along, which only ended up turning into a brawl. I can’t have that happening ever again.
“Thank you,” Callia says with an excited clap of her hands. “I’ll take her through everything tomorrow. I just think she’ll benefit from having a job, something to focus on.”
“Aye.” Makes sense. Even though givin’ her a job will mean she’ll stay here longer. Perhaps we can find her family. The thought process brings me back to Donahue. Something isn’t sittin’ right with me. “Tell Rebel I’m headin’ out.”
I push to my feet, and Callia nods. I notice the blush on her cheeks when I mention his name, and I wonder why the feck he’s not made his move on her. I doubt she’ll be leavin’ us anytime soon. Maybe I should sit the eejit down and tell him to sort his shite out.
“I’ll let him know,” Callia says before leaving me to gather my things. Shrugging on my cut, I make my way out through the back of the house. I don’t want to be dragged into the partying brothers right now. I need to talk to Donahue, get his thoughts on this girl.
Gettin’ Tye to dig into her past may be an option, but first, I’ll talk to the priest. He’ll have to give me answers. The moment I reach the bikes, I spot someone in the garden. The side of the house overlooks acres of land that goes on for miles before the perimeter. It’s one of the reasons Da wanted to have security cameras installed around the fence. It took a few days, but we’re safe here. It’s our haven.
I make my way to the shadowed figure and find it’s Miren. She’s not heard me approach. Her focus is on the sky. There aren’t many stars out, but the moon illuminates her as she looks up at it. I wonder if she’s praying to God.
I’m quiet for a long while as I watch her. Even though I can’t bring myself to look away, I know I can’t trust her. Not until I know who she really is. As much as I want to be a good person, to take her in and keep her safe, like I’ve done with all the other women who needed help, something about Miren doesn’t sit right with me.
I turn and take a step towards my bike when I hear her. “Where are you going?”
I glance over my shoulder to find her looking at me. “Donahue isn’t answerin’ his phone,” I tell her. “I’m goin’ ta have a chat with him.”
“May I go with you?”
She walks up to me, no fear in her eyes, which has me on alert. Most girls see me and there’s a hint of fear that shimmers in their gazes. I’m tall, broad, and a scary fecker. But Miren doesn’t seem at all perturbed by me.
“No.”
“Please? He helped me when he found me at Patrick’s house. He could have just sent me packing with those guards hunting me down,” she pleads, and I see the tears shimmering on her lashes. “I… I don’t know what I would do if something happened to him.”
When she blinks, the tears that had been hanging onto her lashes fall. They trickle down her cheeks, but she swipes at them. The conviction in her expression tells me there’s more to her connection with Donahue. Perhaps she’s related to the man. I know he has never been married, which confirms he’s probably never fathered a child. His brother on the other hand, isn’t a priest. Perhaps this wee girl is his niece.
Sighing, I turn to the bike and grab my helmet. “Put this on,” I tell Miren before swinging my leg over the bike and offering her my hand.
Once her body is nestled against mine, I start the engine. As much as I didn’t want her on the back of my motorbike, I can’t deny her wanting to see the priest.
He’s always been sound to me, and if my deductions of their relationship are true, she’ll want to see him. There’s no other explanation. She must be his niece. He would never have asked me to help her if he didn’t care for her. There isn’t any other conclusion I can come up with. If she were a stranger to him, he would’ve found a shelter in the city for her.
It feels as if this is the longest ride I’ve ever endured. I didn’t expect her to wrap her arms around me. But why wouldn’t she? She’s on a fast-moving motorbike. I can feel the warmth of her, and the softness of her moulds to me, which has my hackles rising. It doesn’t make sense that this stranger would ignite a fire inside me. I chalk it up to my self-imposed drought.
I got tired of the club whores who wanted a ring on their finger. I don’t want an old lady, but they didn’t get the hint. It brought me to a conclusion, every woman who slipped into my bed, no matter how much I told them it wouldn’t lead to somethin’ long term, wanted more.
