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There’s no threat in his movement. There’s no gun ta see, and there’s nothin’ he can grab to use against us. We’re all too far away fer any close combat. But I’m tempted ta put a bullet in his head anyway.
“Where is Orla?” I ask again, frustration now takin’ hold of me. “Tell me. Now.”
The order is clear. I’m not here ta play games. I’m done with this shite. I want ta get Orla and go home ta Callia and my daughter.
“Why do you want to know where Orla is?” he says as I watch him pour a drink.
I’m not sure what I was expectin’, but fer him ta be so calm wasn’t it. It’s my turn ta be confused. But I’ll get an answer from him one way or another.
With my anxiety and anger takin’ a lead, I step towards him and cock my gun, ta show him I’m serious. “I don’t give a shite what ye’re playin’ at. I’m leavin’ here with Orla before ye have any ideas of killin’ her fer the loans she’s taken out.”
His brows furrow, and this time, it’s his turn to look confused. His gaze never leaves mine as he takes me in from head ta toe.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” he tells me. “Orla is here of her own free will. I haven’t forced her here, and any money she’s uses of mine is hers as well.”
Fer a split second, I lower my gun because what he’s sayin’ is makin’ no sense. Orla said she borrowed money from him. And fer him ta say it’s hers doesn’t make any sense.
And that’s when she walks into the room.
“Ronan?”
“Darling,” the man I was about to shoot greets her. “These men are under the impression I’m going to hurt you. I’m utterly confused.”
And that’s when I realise, fer the second time in my life, this woman has fecked me over.
FOURTEEN
REBEL
There are no words to describe what I’m feelin’ right now. Even if I wanted ta forgive Orla fer the past, I couldn’t bring myself ta do it now. Not after what I’m witnessin’ here. I didn’t want ta believe she would lie ta me again, not after her tearful goodbye with our daughter back at the clubhouse. But seein’ her here, standin’ beside a man who I know does bad shite fer a livin’, I’m speechless.
Everyone’s eyes are on us. It’s as if we’re the feckin’ circus act, and they’re waitin’ fer the joke. There’s a heavy silence in the room, and I’m tired of it all. I’m feckin’ exhausted.
“What are ye doin’ here, Ronan?” Orla asks, her genuine confusion only stokes the anger bubblin’ inside me. I’m goin’ta explode.
“What the feck do ye mean, what I’m I doin’ here? Ye told me, while ye were cryin’, ye had somethin’ ta sort out. That was right before ye said goodbye ta our daughter.” As I utter the words, I see her expression change. It’s an obvious grimace paintin’ her features, and I realise it was all an act she put on back at the house.
“Ronan, can we talk about this in private?” she asks as she makes her way towards me, but I step back, puttin’ my hand up ta stop her.
“There’s nothin’ ta talk about,” I tell her as the realisation dawns on me.
I know what I have ta do now. It’s what I should have done when she first walked into the house. When she first came ta me fer help. She wasn’t in a fearful fer her life situation. She’s here of her own free will, and once again, she’s chosen someone else over me.
No.
Over our daughter.
I’ve always been taught ta respect women. My folks would tell me I must always be a gentleman and ensure the safety of any woman who needs my protection. But right now, I can’t bring myself ta feel that way about Orla.
“Are ye tryin’ ta tell me that ye walked away from Aine?” I question her, my voice low, but there’s violence in every word.
As much as I want ta keep calm, I’m close ta losin’ it, and I suspect her whatever she says next will ensure I do.
“I needed time, Ronan,” she responds as she takes a step towards me.
Her voice is cool, detached from everythin’ that’s goin’ on around her. She doesn’t care. I can see it in her eyes now. There’s no emotion there.
“So that whole sob story back at the house, that was all an act?” I challenge her.
With every second that passes, I realise my next steps are already laid out before me. I need ta get custody of my daughter and ensure her mother never gets ta see her again.
“Ye don’t know what it’s like ta try ta move on,” Orla tells me as she takes another step in my direction. “I want nothin’ more than ta be a good mother, but I can’t. Startin’ a relationship with someone and expectin’ them ta accept another man’s child isn’t easy, Ronan.”
