Page 40 of On The Rocks

Callum was right when he said I needed to toughen up, especially when it came to him, because eventually, I would leave, and when I did, I wouldn’t look back with regret.

I began to pack the last of my stuff, noticing when I’d zipped up my last case and glanced nostalgically around the room how I’d left more behind than I’d taken.

Perhaps it was my subconscious telling me it was time to start again. Deep down, I knew if I stayed in this house,everything that set me apart from Orla and the girls would wither away and die.

I was determined to revel in my individuality, and I wouldn’t make apologies for who I was anymore; I wanted to celebrate it. Callum could have his opinion about who he thought I should be, but the only person I ever wanted to be was myself, and screw anyone who tried to take my power away.

Jutting my chin up, I pulled my shoulders back determinedly, and my lips curved into a wide smile as something profound occurred to me.

I’d done it; I’d survived my version of Hell.

Tomorrow was the first day of the rest of my life, and whatever bullshit the future and Callum O’Shea held in store for me, I was determined to make it beautiful.

CHAPTER 9

CALLUM

ONE WEEK LATER

“So,” Bowie declared, leaning against the polished, wooden bar top. “What you’re sayin’ is, you got married so you could buy time to raise the cake to keep the Shamrock in the family after Lorcan used it as security to borrow from a mobster to pay for his cancer treatment. Your wife’s an Irish Mafia Princess slash archeologist who spent two days here after your wedding before jetting back to New York for a meeting at some big museum. Oh, and she’s a nerd and not in that sexy, big glasses, red-lipped, let the hair down, hot secretary kinda way, more like, in a straight-up nerdy way, somethin’ you’re not down with at fuckin’ all.”

“That about sums it up.” I folded my arms across my chest. “Except, I better add, I almost fucked her stepsister a while back, a non-event which Maeve overheard us talking about an hour after we got married. That went down like a turd floating in a swimming pool, seeing as she hasn’t spoken to me since. If Donny hadn’t been checking in with her, I wouldn’t know if she was dead or alive.”

Bowie whistled through his teeth.

“It’s likeDays of Our Biker Livesall over again.” Atlas, the Speed Demons’ huge, heavily tattooed Sergeant at Arms,declared with black eyes full of humor. “I can’t fuckin’ believe you got wed to your nerdy little bitch then straight-up told her it wouldn’t be a real marriage, and you were gonna fuck other women, to which she told you, hell naw, and now you gotta enjoy a spell of self-imposed celibacy, at least until she leaves your fucknut ass.”

“Well, yeah,” I admitted, my tone a little defensive.

“It’s aMaurymoment if ever I heard one,” Atlas muttered, shaking his head incredulously. “I’m shocked your gonads are still hanging between your legs, and your nerdy bitch didn’t kick ‘em back up inside your gut.”

I heaved out a frustrated breath. “I know it sounds bad, and maybe it wasn’t my finest moment, but my head was scrambled. Dad had just died, and I was facing losing everything?—”

Bowie leaned toward me and roared, “Are you fuckin’ crazy? Why didn’t you come to me? I could’a helped.”

Silence fell over the room, and I winced.

Atlas jerked his thumb at me. “Crazy doesn’t come close. Hand to fuckin’ God, you’re simple as all fuck, and there ain’t no gettin’ away from it. Always thought Donovan was the village idiot of Hambleton when in fact, he’s turnin’ out to have more brains in his scab-covered dick than Cal here.”

“I heard that,” Donny snapped from behind the counter.

“You were fuckin’ meant to, fuckwit,” the SAA snarked.

“I’ve got the green you need, Cal,” Bowie clipped out, leaning toward me. “If I didn’t, I’d ask the club to invest. You know we help out local businesses, brother. I don’t get why you didn’t make an approach to set up a meet at the time.”

I straightened my back. “And that right there’s exactly why I didn’t. I knew you’d help; it was never in question, but it’s not your job to mop up my mess. I wouldn’t take your scratch; I sort my own bullshit, or I go down trying.”

“We’re family, Cal,” he argued, his tone lowering. “You’re my brother.”

“Yeah,” I replied, the word catching with emotion. “And I’d never take advantage of that.” I clasped his shoulder. “I fucking appreciate you, but I needed to do this. My da had just gone, and I had to prove I was worthy to pick up where he left off. I got given a reprieve in Maeve, and I took it.”

Bowie’s lips twitched. “And now you’re married.”

Releasing his shoulder, I dropped my hand and muttered, “Yep.”

“What’s she like?” he asked curiously. “Apart from the nerd thing.”

“Cute as fuck,” Donny interjected. “Sweet, unassuming, hilarious without knowing it. She laughs all the time and sees life through eyes full of stars. Maeve’s been hurt, but you wouldn’t fuckin’ know it, seeing as she’d give you her last dollar bill if you needed it.” He jerked his thumb toward me. “He constantly witters on that she’s not his type, but she’s the kinda girl you find yourself getting to know, then suddenly, you’re crushin’ on her like you’re twelve years old, and you just saw Helena Christensen in “The Wicked Game” video for the first time. Add on the fact that she’s smarter than Einstein, and you’ll get it when I say she’s too good for this ugly cunt.”

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