“Hold your horses cowboy,” I try to laugh, but it catches in my throat and comes out as a cough. “I haven’t told her the L word yet, so don’t be swinging such big words around just yet.”
“But you do, right?” Fergus glares at me with his scary one eyebrow lift.
I know that Nola loves that eyebrow thing he does, but I won’t lie . . . that look has always made me shake a little in my boots. I’ve seen him use that expression too many times, and the person he usually gave it to does not always walk away alive. I may be the person in charge of guarding this man’s life, and I would take a bullet for him if I had to, but he is still one scary motherfucker.
“It’s put up or shut up time, Corrin.” Fergus taps on his phone screen a few times and puts it on speaker so we can all hear it ring. “Time to call the other Irishman.”
“Yea?” A deep voice barks a second after the ringing stops.
“Seamus, it’s Fergus O’Carroll.”
“Well holy fucking shit,” a laugh rolls over the line. “How’s the weather down in hell? Probably a lot nicer than up here in the frozen tundra.”
“Can’t complain, a chara.” He must be in a room with a few others, because Seamus says that Fergus is on the line and a few voices say various forms of hello. “So what can I do for you, Fergus? Any specific reason for your call or are we just shootin’ the shit?”
“There is a reason, but I promise it’s nothing bad . . . I hope.” He drops that last bit at the end at half volume.
“What does that mean?” The other end of the call goes silent.
“Tadhg and Corrin, my head of security, are here with me and he’s got a bit of news for you.”
“Okaaay,” Seamus drags out.
“Hey, Seamus,” it’s finally my turn to speak up. “long time, no see, a chara.”
“Hey, man. So, what’s up?”
“I met someone from your neck of the woods last night and—” There’s no beating around the bush and I just need to man the fuck up and say it. “I guess this call is more of a courtesy thing and I want to do everything right. You know Saylor Santini, right?”
“Sure do. She’s the sister of one of my guys. Frenzy.” There is more chatter in the background, then he comes back. “We knew she was down in Houston, but had no idea she was anywhere near your circle. Wanna fill me in on how that came down?”
“That’s why we’re calling, Seamus.” Tadhg speaks up. “I know we aren’t currently doing any business with your chapter at the moment, but for the sake of friendship and our past work, and maybe more in the future, everyone on our end wants to keep the peace and let the two new lovebirds be happy.”
“I totally get it. But I’m not so sure Frenzy will feel the same,” he says with a short laugh. “Dude has been antsy as fuck since Saylor left. I swear he would have ridden down to get her had she not threatened to keep running away if he did.”
“Ha!” Fergus, Tadhg, and I all laugh at that.
“That sounds like her. She doesn’t seem like the type to take shit from anyone.” I think about what she did to the idiot at the bar last night. “Hell, you should have seen her at the club last night. She pulled a knife out of thin air at put this dude in a headlock when he touched her ass. It was the craziest and hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“WHAT CLUB?” This must be Frenzy. Fergus pushes the phone further across his desk as the shouts continue blasting from the tony speaker. “What are you talking about? Someone touched my sister?”
“Calm the fuck down, dude.” A thump echoes through the phone line. “I apologize for the–cough–indiscretion.” Seamus is back. “What my brother is saying, but not in the right fucking way, is that we miss Saylor and would like to talk to her and make sure she is okay.”
“I’ll definitely let her know we talked and to call when she wakes up.” I lean in, elbows propped on my knees, hands clasped between my knees. “It was a long night and she’s still asleep.”
“YOU BETTER NOT BE FUCKING MY SISTER, ASSHOLE!” Which is followed by another muted thump, as well as a groan.
“I’m just fine, Frenzy.” I jolt up, back straight again in my chair as Saylor pushes open the door and walks in the office. Wearing another pair of my sweatpants, this time paired with a hooded sweatshirt, and white socks, she pads across the room and climbs right into my lap. She settles in sideways, ass on my left thigh, and legs dangling over the right armrest. She presses a kiss to my cheek which makes Fergus and Tadhg smile.
“When are you coming home?” Frenzy finally speaks at a more civilized, non-ear shattering volume.
Hazel eyes locked on mine, greener in the center currently instead of the gray they were shining this morning, Saylor smiles and my whole day is instantly better. “I am home.”
“What?” Frenzy’s shock echoes my own.
“I think that is what this phone call is for.” Saylor waves her hand toward Fergus and his desk, but her eyes never leave my face. “Right?”
“Absolutely, mo mhuirnín,” I reply along with a gentle kiss on her lips.
