Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I can’t tell her yet. I need ta wait until there’s no longer any threats ta my life. Thankfully, Callia’s not in danger, but I don’t want the pressure of violence to make me say it. The fact I love her needs ta be somethin’ I confess when we’re happy. But right now, I have ta focus on makin’ sure that Orla is safe. It’s the only thing I can think about right now because my daughter needs her ma.
When Callia heads over ta Aine ta make sure she’s still smilin’, I push ta my feet and turn ta face Miren.
“Please, look after the girls,” I ask her as I look back ta my two beauties. The idea of either of them bein’ in trouble, in danger, makes me want ta kill.
“Ye know I’ll always be there fer them.” Miren tells me somethin’ I already know, but the confirmation calms my erratic feckin’ heartbeat. “I know ye’ll figure it out, Rebel. And I know ye’ll bring that wee girl’s ma back ta her. The brothers are with ye. The whole family’s with ye,” she confirms.
Noddin’, I say, “I know. I’m just worried. I don’t let anythin’ get ta me, but this is a feckin’ shite storm that’s hittin’ us.”
“Are ye ready?” Monster says when he reaches the lounge with Racer and Hades behind him.
The men are prepared fer war. I didn’t expect them ta go with me, but they’ve insisted.
“I am,” I say as I look over at Aine and Callia. They’ll both be safer here than with me, fer now. And I’ll be back.
When Callia lifts her gaze, I can tell she’s worried.
“Come home ta us,” she mouths the words, and I can only nod.
It’s a silent promise, and I don’t know if I’m goin’ta be able ta keep it. As much as I want ta come home and give them both good news, I know there’s no guarantee that will happen.
Goodbyes only mean ye’re not comin’ back. One day, Da kissed ma goodbye, walked out the door, and he never returned. Since then, I haven’t used that word. It’s a promise I made myself because none of us knows the future.
There’s no way of tellin’ what’s goin’ta happen.
“Let’s go,” I tell Monster.
Outside, I stop at my bike. Every single brother is here. They’ve all volunteered ta come with us ta help. I didn’t expect it. I know the family always sticks together, but this situation is personal ta me, so I didn’t think every one of the club members would get involved.
They should be stayin’ home with their families, but instead, they’re goin’ta put themselves in harm’s way fer me. And it’s not even ta save a woman I’ve claimed as my old lady. Orla is an ex who hurt me and lied ta me.
My future’s with Callia. It’s been a long time comin’. She should have been mine years ago, but I was too stubborn. Now she’s mine, and I find myself havin’ ta risk everythin’ ta save Orla and give her a second chance at life. I don’t like it.
Once we’re on our bikes, we take the route Tye gave us. When he told me Orla was not far from Dublin, I didn’t want ta believe it. The last time I was down south was when I met Callia. It’s strange how things work out, and how your life ends up in a feckin’ circle.
I’m not sure what Orla’s gotten herself into. Tye couldn’t discover much about the organisation that’s based just north of Dublin city. All he could tell us was that there were men there who’d gladly hurt a woman ta get what they want.
We do know Orla borrowed money from the man in charge. A loan shark with a reputation for makin’ sure debtors pay up, whether it’s in cash or in body parts.
The anxiety that kicked in when Tye told me the situation is still coursin’ through my veins. I’m not sure what ta do with it. It’s not fear I’m feelin’, it’s more anger at the fact that she’s taken a chance ta go there and try ta fix this shite herself.
Deep down, I have a feelin’ it wasn’ her who took out the loan. I know she’s not dumb enough ta do that. I have a feelin’ it was her ex-husband. The bastard must have put her in this situation, thinkin’ the loan shark would be more lenient on a woman. But these feckers don’t know about mercy. They only care about gettin’ their money back.
The open road is usually where I go when I need ta clear my head, but right now, my mind’s racin’ with thoughts of violence. I’ll kill anyone who’s even come close ta hurtin’ the woman who gave me my daughter. And when I do get her back to Belfast, I’m goin’ta make sure she doesn’t do somethin’ that feckin’ stupid ever again.