Shaking my head, I reply honestly, “No I didn’t.” I knew he’d owed them money, not that he’d joined them. I was incensed and not a little worried. Fecking Harry, if we’re in danger from the gangs because of him. “Am I in danger from them?”
Doherty shakes his head, “Not that we can tell, but we all know that could change on a dime. Do you have somewhere you can go for a few days?”
“No,” I reply, licking my suddenly dry lips as nausea rises along with the new worry. “No, we don’t,” I continue, “I start a new job next week, but it will take me time to save up to move.”
They nod sympathetically. Like most from here, they’d understand without me having to explain.
“I tell you what, we’ll check in on you over the next few weeks just to make sure you’re okay.” Doherty informs me. Taking out a pen, he rips a paper from his small book and writes downa number. “Here’s mine and Reilly’s numbers, call us if you’re worried about anything.”
Surprised and more than a little shocked, I take it from him. Even though they’ve been kind, it’s not like the Garda to check up on a person once they’ve given you the information.
“Thanks,” I whisper just as Mikayla lets out a cry.
“Here,” Reilly gives me an envelope. “There’s information in there for you on the next steps, and what we’ll need from you.”
“Okay,” I reply distractedly turning and looking towards the stairs as Mikayla starts to cry in earnest.
“We’ll leave you now. Call us if you need us.” Doherty tells me and I nod, closing the door on them before rushing off to tend to Mikayla.
My mind is in turmoil, and I don’t know what to do next.
I pick up Mikayla who instantly stops crying as she snuffles closer, snuggling her head into my neck. I take comfort from my baby, knowing that tomorrow is going to be a hard day.
Harry had no family, so anything that needs to be arranged will have to be done by me.
CHAPTER 3
BUTCHER
I’m where I’m the most comfortable; in the shadows watching. The garda are with her, and they’re on our pay roll. I'd made sure that the news would be delivered by those that I trusted. Well, trust is maybe not the right word.
Out of all the garda we had in our pockets, Doherty and Reilly were the two I knew would be the gentlest when they delivered the news that Harry had been killed.
My gut clenched as I watched her fold in on herself, as if in pain. She’d been with the dumb fuck for years, so I expected it to hurt but she’s not weak, and my woman rallies fast. She may not know she belongs with me yet, but she soon will.
Moira doesn’t break down for long. She’s stronger than she knows.
She speaks to the two of them for a few more minutes until the babe’s cries draws her attention away from them. Reilly does as I’d instructed and gives her an envelope. Everything in there is to make the next few days as easy as possible for her.
I bring my phone to my ear and call Doherty as her door closes on them, and they walk away. Doherty answers.
“Is it done?”
“Yeah, Butcher, it's done. She’s worried about retaliation and wants to move.”
I smirk, although he can’t tell that from the tone of my voice when I tell him. “I’ll take care of it.”
He hesitates before speaking. “She seems like a nice lady Butcher. Don’t hurt her.”
I have to give him props for having the balls, especially when Reilly looks at him as if he’s grown another head.
I don’t owe him anything. Not an answer, or my intentions to the beautiful blonde. I don’t reply and hang up the phone, holding back my laugh as he inhales on a shaky breath and wipes a hand down his face.
“You got a death wish or something?” Reilly grumbles as they walk right past me towards their squad car, completely unaware that I’m standing not a meter away from them. “You know that family doesn’t hurt women. If anything, that one’s lucky theytook her under their wing, considering what we found on Harry. I’m glad he was stopped before he could sell that sweet baby.”
A growl rumbles out of me as anger fills me again when I hear them discussing what I’d found out from the leader of the South End gang before they killed him.
The motherfucker was set on selling their babe. What type of father does that? I’d kill him all over again if I could.
