“Sh-sh-she told you about…the-”
His voice was cut off when I socked him right in the jaw. He fell to the ground, his shopping cart hurtling toward another car. I reached out and grabbed the trolley, wheeling it around to slam him in the side of his body. He grunted in pain, hunching over on his side.
“Pl-please,” he begged me, his hand coming up to stop me. “I’m so-sorry.”
“I’m not the one you should be apologising to,” I grunted. “She trusted you, and you almost let her die.”
My fist found its way to his face, the velocity of my punch sending his head to the concrete. He’d be concussed for sure, and I knew then and there I should have stopped, but something inside me rose up at that moment and I whaled down on his chest and abdomen like a man possessed. Blood splattered over the pavement, and on my arms and face. I stopped when I heard the wheezing coming from him.
People had scattered away from us, but I could already hear the sirens in the background. I didn’t care. I’d come here to do a job, and I fucking did it.
The cop cars pulled up and held their guns trained on me as I put my hands up, a slow smirk making its way on my face. I slammed my boot down on his hand that was laying on the concrete. He screamed and pulled it up immediately, cradling it on his chest.
Brogan came forward, looking from Brad to me, and sighing. “You done?”
I shrugged my shoulders as he rounded on me and slapped the cuffs on. “You know I can't let this one slide, Alex.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
Brogan tossed me in the back of the car. “Tell them to come and get my bike!”
I put my head back against the back of the seat, smirking as the paramedics ran over to check on Brad.
He’d be fucking fine, just bruised up, but damn it felt good to let that rage out. Brogan got in behind the wheel and drove me to the station.
“Cooper’s getting someone to come and get your bike.”
“Thank you.”
“Why?” Brogan asked. “Why there?”
“I didn’t know that’s what I was going to do until I did it,” I admitted.
“That’s fair,” he said. “Look, I know there’s no love lost between you two, but he’s connected to a big family here in Kilkenny. He could make real trouble for you if he wanted to.”
“I don’t give a damn, Brogan,” I said, honestly. “I’ll fucking kill whoever hurts Orla.”
Brogan let out a deep breath. “Shit, you’re back with Orla. No wonder you’re acting like a jealous teen.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“I advise you to do the same, O’Leary.”
The rest of the ride to the cop shop was quiet, my mind on Orla the entire time. I’d left her in bed this morning, sound asleep and safe but if I was locked up, she was in danger. Matteo was here and he was under the radar, which meant he could easily get to her if he knew how.
Fuck.
Orla
Brogan led me down the corridor to the cells. I’d spent a few nights in one of these during my misspent youth, and into my twenties when I was angry with the world. Alone in a cell, laying on a bench with his arm over his eyes, I saw my man.
My man.
That excited me more than seeing him after hearing what he’d done. I knew he’d done it for me, and although I felt bad for Brad and for his family who were probably terrified of the club coming after them, it didn’t stop the panging in my chest that my man had done it for me.
“Please?” I asked Brogan as he looked at me. He knew I wouldn’t give up. He sighed and unlocked the cell, alerting Bear to my appearance here.
“Ten minutes,” he told us before he left us alone.
