“I’m sorry, Mom.” The words were whispered into her shoulder where I’d buried my head.
She squeezed me closer. “Don’t apologize. I understand why you did it. And if you want to go back, then go. But promise me to stay in touch this time. Maybe I can come out for a visit. And you’re welcome here any time.”
I looked up, tears threatening to spill over. “You mean it?”
“Absolutely.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“And I love you. Always.” She leaned forward and grabbed the bottle of wine. “I think we need more of this.”
I held out my glass for a refill, and we stayed cuddled up on the couch, waiting for the guys to get back.
Chapter21
Gunner
“Well, that’s a problem,”Carter said, his voice sounding through my ear.
I couldn’t respond, and the bastard knew it. He had heard the argument that started the minute we stepped inside the warehouse and was finding this whole situation entirely too amusing.
This was supposed to be a “get in, negotiate a deal, get out” kind of meeting. But instead, I found myself with my gun drawn—just like every other gun in the place—not certain I’d make it through this meeting without a few bullet holes.
And all because Liam was a fucking idiot who started arguing with Cian as soon as they set eyes on each other.
“Apologize,” Cian ground out after everyone had somewhat calmed down again.
Guns were still out, but at least they weren’t pointed at anyone anymore.
“Fuck you,” Liam responded.
The prick was going to get us all killed. He looked livid. I didn’t blame him. Cian was a dick of epic proportions. But we couldn’t take him out. At least not yet.
“You shot my best man. He’s been with me since we were lads,” Cian said, his voice barely controlled, his accent pronounced.
“And he killed an innocent woman,” Liam shot back, his body vibrating with anger. “I guess that makes us even.”
Maybe he did have a good reason to take out one of Cian’s guys.
Cian waved him off with the hand still holding his gun, and I tensed. “Then you should have come to me instead of insulting me by shooting him in my bar.”
“As if you’d have done anything,” Liam growled. “Now either take the deal or don’t. But stop wasting my time.”
“You don’t know what I would have done, and you never will since you didn’t ask. But I don’t just go around shooting people. And I expect the same from my men. So if he did shoot an innocent girl, I would have taken care of him myself.”
Well, color me surprised. I wasn’t expecting that answer.
Liam looked ready to strangle Cian, no matter the consequences. I wasn’t intending to step in, only play the part of bodyguard. They hated each other with a passion that told me something else had gone down in the past to sour their relationship. I’d give this two more minutes before I put a stop to it.
“You want the guys to move in?” Carter asked in my earpiece.
I cleared my throat once, the signal to stay put.
“Fine. But I think we should come closer. You guys are sitting ducks. One wrong move from that psycho and you’re history.”
I didn’t respond.
Liam scoffed. “As if you would have gotten rid of your right-hand man for one girl.”
