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“It’s trouble I had back at home, and I think it followed me here,” she said.
“It?” Cillian asked.
“Well, more like, ‘He’,” she admitted. “You remember Cian Walsh?” she asked.
“Yeah—he was just a kid when I went to prison. I remember Ma telling me how you followed him around like a lovesick puppy,” he teased.
“Did not,” she grumbled.
“Is he the one putting you in danger?” Savage asked.
Lil sighed, knowing that she might as well start from the beginning if she was going to get it all out. Playing twenty questions wasn’t getting her anywhere. “Let me tell it and then, ask your questions,” she ordered. Both guys sat back and waited for her to go on with her story.
“Cian got himself mixed up with a bad crowd back at home,” she said. “Kind of like you here, Cillian, but he didn’t end up in prison. Instead, he pissed off the wrong people, and well, he had to take off for America to keep one step ahead of them. The gang he went up against threatened to kill him and everyone he cared about if they ever crossed paths again. He left Ireland, but he also left someone behind whom he cared about.”
“Let me guess—you?” Savage asked.
“Right, but I had no idea that he felt that way about me. I mean, maybe I did have a little crush on him, but he barely spoke to me outside of school and all that. I thought that he didn’t even know that I existed until the leader of the gang showed up at my job. I worked for a local doctor, as a receptionist, and I really loved that job. Anyway, this guy—Sid something or other, came in and told me that I was the only link he had to Cian and that I had five days to produce him, or I’d be dead.”
“Shit,” Cillian grumbled.
“Right,” she agreed. “Well, I didn’t want to go to any of our siblings back home. They all have families and such, and until a few minutes ago, I had no idea that you were in the same boat. I would have never come here if I had known, Cillian. I’d never want to put your family in peril.”
“I believe you, Sis,” he said. “But you’re here now, so why not let us help you?”
She didn’t answer his question, just kept right on with her story as if she hadn’t even heard his offer. There would be no way that she’d accept it. Lil wouldn’t let her brother help her because that would mean risking his family—her family, and she wouldn’t allow that.
“I didn’t know who to trust or where to turn for help, so I grabbed my passport, packed my bags, and got on a plane. I flew here hoping to find Cian, but I realized that America is a much bigger place than I’d ever imagined, so I gave up on that fantasy and decided to look you up. I brought Ma’s old letters, that you sent home, with me, and they gave this place as your contact address. I had no idea it was a biker bar,” she said. “I guess I was clueless about a lot of things,” she whispered more to herself.
“Lil,” Savage said. “You don’t know me. Hell, you don’t really know your brother, but I can tell you that coming to us for help was your best idea yet. This is what we do here at the Royal Bastards. My little club is called Savage Hell, and I can promise you that we’ll find whoever is after you and your friend, Cian, and give them hell. You won’t have to run anymore, not with our help.” Hearing Savage’s pretty promises made her want to agree to his offer, but she also knew that the people who were after her would stop at nothing to find Cian and if that meant using her and the people that she cared about to do it, they would.
“You’d be putting yourselves and your families at risk by helping me,” she said.
“I’ve already told you that Cillian is my family and that makes you family too, Lil. We take care of our own and there is no way that we’ll let that group of thugs from Ireland anywhere near you. But first, I think that we need to track down your friend, Cian.”
“How the hell will you do that?” she asked. Her accent was always a little more pronounced when she was pissed off. “He didn’t come to America to be found. I’m sure he’s found a way to go off-grid and that’s exactly what I should do. It will just be safer for everyone that way.”
“No fecking way,” Cillian growled. “You’re staying with me, and Vivian, and I won’t take no for an answer. You came to me for help, Lil. Let me help you. Besides, I think it’s time for my kids to meet their Auntie Lil.”
“You know, it’s very unfair of you to use your children against me, Cillian,” she grumbled.
“Is that a yes?” he asked.
What other choice did she have? He was right, she had come all this way, and he was her last option, not that she’d tell him that. “Yeah,” she agreed. “I’ll stay with you.”
“Great,” Cillian said. He stood and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll call Viv and let her know to make up the guest room.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you both,” she said, looking over at Savage.
“You’re welcome, Lil. Welcome to the family,” Savage said. He stood and crossed his tiny office, pulling her up from the sofa and into a bear hug, nearly squeezing the life out of her.
“Savage,” she gasped.
“Yeah?” he asked, still holding her in a bear hug.
“I can’t breathe,” she choked. He laughed and put her back down on the ground.
“Sorry about him,” Cillian said, putting his cell phone back into his pocket. “You’ll get used to him though. Viv said that she can’t wait to meet you. I’m going to head out, man,” he said to Savage. “Sorry about church.”
