My face burned and I chuckled. “Yeah.”
Both men laughed and reached over to shove my shoulder, rocking me around, but they didn’t seem like they minded much that I was gay or enjoyed makeup. Some of the tension that had been coiling inside me relaxed. Overall, most people had been more accepting than I’d anticipated, and maybe some of that had to do with Mr. Killough and the types of people he tended to move up the ranks. I flashed a smile at the twins.
A hand thumped the back of the seat in front of me, and I flinched, sitting up straight.
“This is not a laughing matter,” Cillian snarled. His brow furrowed and he shook his head. “I have no doubt Mr. Sweeney will have my fecking head if ye manage to lose yers, so ye’re staying out of the way tonight. Those bikers are a good crew of boys, and they’re planning to get their hands dirty. Ye listen to me and do what I say.” He pointed at me.
Sighing, I nodded. “Sure. I don’t want to cause trouble.”
Cillian grunted as if he didn’t believe me.
“Oh, what do the bikers want to do?” Cove asked, leaning forward, but Cillian ignored him to stare at me.
“I said I would listen!”
“Ye’re gonna be careful, and I mean it. We will not have a repeat of the cock-up in Miami.”
Fallon turned and massaged Cillian’s shoulder until some of the tension drained from his face. His blond hair glinted in the headlights of the motorcycles turning around to drive past the van on their way out of the parking lot.
Cringing, I looked out my window. I’d forgotten a lot that had happened that night, but not that Cillian had told anyone who would listen he didn’t want to take me with him.
Then, I’d gotten hurt.
Luckily the guys had figured out a way to get me into a hospital, or I might not have survived to be here at all. I owed Cillian, so I nodded glumly. “Whatever you say, I’ll do. I want the chance to prove I can do my job.”
“What happened in Miami?” Fallon asked, glancing back at me, then at Cillian.
Cillian only grunted, so Fallon turned and raised his eyebrows in my direction.
I ran a hand over my face, feeling stupid. “I went through a windshield and nearly died. It’s how I got my scars,” I muttered.
Fallon winced in sympathy. “I’m sorry. That’s rough, pal.”
I shrugged.
Cillian tossed his phone back to me, and I fumbled it. He harrumphed as I scooped it out of my lap. The screen was already unlocked. “Ye’re to call the boss. If I got ye alone, he said ye should dial him, no matter the time difference, so do it.” He turned around and started the van, then followed the parade of motorcycles out of the parking lot.
“What are we doing?” Fallon asked.
Cillian started to answer, but I didn’t listen because I was too focused on going through his contacts to find one labeled Mr. Killough. Instead, I found Sloan.Jesus, he is on a first-name basis with the boss?I tapped Mr. Killough’s name, then the number, and the ringback tone distracted me. Before I could claim that no one had picked up a terse “hello” hit my ear.
I’d never spoken directly to Mr. Killough, and for a moment, I panicked. “Hello, Mr. Killough, sir? This is Finn McCorkell. I was instructed to call.”
“Ah.” On the other end the sound of liquid pouring into a glass was loud and clear, so I must be on speaker. There was another pause, and I could hear someone taking a small sip. “Now, then. Mr. McCorkell, I have heard some surprising news about you.” Ice clinked. “Are you personally entangled with Legend Sweeney?”
My heart drummed in my ears. “Uh.... Yes, sir.”
He hummed.
Cillian glanced in the rearview mirror as he drove, checking on me; although, I had no idea what he thought he could do to make this easier.
“Your uncle, Naoise, paid me a visit because your mother was upset that you were sent with the others to Australia. He asked me to do him a favor and bring you home soon. Is there a reason I shouldn’t do as he asks? He’s been very loyal to the Company.”
Silence passed between us, and all at once, I realized that Mr. Killough must be waiting for me to say something. “Legend wants me to stay, sir. He’s made that crystal clear.”
Ice clinked again, and then a sigh carried down the line. “There will be required negotiations with your family if he wants to keep you. Your uncle won’t make this easy on him.”
“Aren’t you going to ask if I want to stay?”
