Britt changes the subject, “Okay tell me again about Mr.tall, hot, and dangerous from the other day. Is there really no chance you’ll see him again? I’m not saying you have to do anything, Clara, BUT you do deserve, at the very least, something nice to look at. Just text him, you have his number now.”
We burst into a fit of giggles as I tell her, “There’s zero percent chance I’m seeing or talking to Rowan Byrne again. That’s the only interactions with him I’ve had in the six months I’ve been here. And let’s not forget how mortifying those situations were. Even I’m not that unlucky.”
* * *
Sunday flew by and now it’s Monday again. I’ve dropped Rhett off and am now walking into the office ten minutes early to talk to my boss about my hours. I put on my favorite navy dress that hits right below the knees with a modest neckline, my hair in a low neat bun and my favorite kitten heels on. I’m feeling good, I’ve got this. Rounding the corner to my desk in front of Mr. O’Brien’s office my feet stop on a dime and I almost fall on my face from the abrasive move. Nolan sits in the waiting room. No, oh no, no thiscannotbe happening.
My body warms and my cheeks heat as a hand lands on my lower back, electricity zaps through me as I stiffen and spin around looking up into the green eyes that have starred in my dreams and dirty fantasies for the past three nights. Backing up quickly, I trip over my own feet. Rowan’s hand shoots out and gently wraps around my forearm, balancing me. Instinctively I flinch back and put space between us, “I’m, I, uh, I’m s-s-sorry. I’ll let Mr. O’Brien know you’re here.” Spinning back around I’m trying to play it cool, but I’mpractically running straight to his office door.
After knocking his distinct deep voice vibrates through the door, “Come in!”. I walk into his office and just rip off the band aid, “Mr. O’Brien I am so sorry about Friday. I swear I didn’t know you were in a meeting.”
He holds his hand up stopping my ramble, “Clara it’s fine. I’m sorry it was so dramatic. Nolan O’Connor is a react first ask questions later kind of man. What did you want to talk about?”
I nod because what do you even say to that? “Um yes, sir. Because of the childcare I have lined up I have to pick my son up by ten past five every evening. So I was wondering if instead of my hours being nine to five if there was any way I can work eight to four that way if I have to stay late some days I’m still on time to get him.”
Mr. O’Brien mulls it over for a minute or two before answering, “Yes, that should be fine. I’ve been meaning to move up my own hours anyway.” He shoots me a small nod, “Now, Clara, what’s my first meeting today?”
“Well actually Mr. Byrne is outside.”
He rolls his eyes, “Of course he is, send him in.” I nod and quickly leave his office. Once I’m settled at my desk I look up to Rowan and smile my fakest smile, “Mr. O’Brien will see you now.”
* **
Rowan
“Mr. O’Brien will see you now.”If her voice didn’t roll over me like the most captivating song I’ve ever heard, I’d have been annoyed. Like she can’t feel the pull between us, like I’m just some guy with a meeting not someone who called to check on her and only popped up at her job to catch another glimpse of her. I can’t think about that right now though. Pushing all thoughts of Clara Sanders this morning to the side for now, I feel the weight of the gun in my hand.
Looking around the musty dark warehouse, this is where we keep the product we distribute to other organizations. It’s also where we keep the scum who cross us while we work them for information. I’m not a good man, nor have I ever claimed to be, but I try to be fair. At least that’s what I tell myself while circling my soldier who is tied to a metal chair. He looks nothing like he did six hours ago when we caught him on CTV loading some of our new guns into the trunk of his car. Guess that’s what happens when Kieran gets to you first, oh well.
Turning to my brother and lifting a single brow, Kieran just shrugs, “He tripped, what was I supposed to do?” Chuckling then turning back to the man in front of me.
I grit my teeth and spit out, “You think you can steal from me and I won’t find out?” His nose is definitely broken, his eyes almost swollen shut, cuts, bruises, and burns cover what I can see of his flesh. He mutters something I’m unable to understand.
“SPEAK!” I bellow.
He lifts his head, “I’m sorry,boss. It won’t happen again” Of course it won’t, because he won’t live to tell the tale, nevertheless repeat the offense.
“Who do you owe? What was so important that you steal from us?”
He stays silent long enough for Kieran to get twitchy before he finally spills, “You don’t understand. He told me if I didn’t help him he’d kill me and come after my family.” Pulling back and throwing all my weight behind my fist as it connects with his jaw, snapping his head to the side from the force.
I grab his head by the hair and snatch it back, “You have five seconds. Five…four…three…”
He rushes out, “Pakhan’’ and my temper snaps.
I start to the table holding all our favorite accessories for these types of meetings. I toss a crowbar to Kieran and grab my favorite paring knife. “Let’s make an example out of him now, Kieran. Remind everyone what happens when you mess with the BOCG.” His screams echo through the building as Kieran and I get to work. No one’s coming for him, but apparently the Bratva is coming for us and stealing our shit.
As I finish with what’s left of the rat, turning to Kieran who’s covered in blood that isn’t his I give him the most “You look disgusting”face I can manage. “I’ve got other shit to do. Clean this up, then take a fucking shower before you go home.”
He lets out a loud boisterous laugh, “Pot meet kettle. Check a mirror, Roe.” I roll my eyes and head to the office we have in the front of the warehouse. It has a bathroom with a shower and we keep it stocked with a change of clothes for each of us.
I turn on the shower and take my clothes off while I wait for the water to heat. I’m not new to this so I grab an empty trash bag from under the sink, and carefully placeevery article of clothing I had on my body in the bag then tie it up. I check the temperature of the shower before stepping in. Leaning my head on the tile I let the water beat on my back. Thoughts of the skittish Clara flash through my mind without permission, the way she flinched back when I caught her, how her head is constantly on a swivel. She was on edge the entire time I watched her and her son at the park.
Speaking of, I need to check in on her. Making quick work of washing my hair and body, not a speck of DNA is on me that doesn’t belong to me when I finish. I quickly towel off and get dressed. Storming out of the warehouse I quickly dial Nolan, needing an update.
He answers on the first ring, “Boss?”
“Is she still at home?”
