Page 1 of The Warrior's Salvation

1

EVIE

Da's voice is so loud it rumbles the walls. I swear if he were a pitch higher, the windows would shatter. I glance at Jasper who sits across from me massaging his temples as if he's got a headache, and I know it's not just me who is feeling the effects of our father—and boss's—rage. Everyone in the union office is on edge today. It's like they all have PMS or something, and I’m the only woman in here.

"Hey," I whisper harshly, catching Jasper's attention.

His hands lower slowly and his eyes flit open as he glares at me. "What?" His returned hiss is less pleasant than I hoped.

"What the feck is going on in there?" Nodding at our father's office, I glance around the office space. I'm still settling in, and maybe this happens more frequently than I expect, but I get the sense that the fuse burning behind that door isn't just about a passing frustration. Da sounds like he's going to murder someone, like the time Jasper accidentally set the garage on fire and we had to use the fire extinguisher and put it out just as the fire squad showed up with their hoses. I've never seen his face redder.

"Mind yer business, Evie," Jasper growls at me just as the office door bursts open and fresh meat walks in.

I turn over my shoulder to see a tall man, broad shoulders, barrel chest, hair that's piled on his head in a knot, and eyes that drill through me as I look up at him. Lochlan O'Rourke has shown his face around here a few times, but that's not where I know him from. My father is friends with him, which isn’t something that pleases my mother much. She’s said so herself on more than one occasion.

I'm not sure what to think of it. In Dublin, the O'Rourke name is synonymous with danger and crime and dark things no one speaks about for fear of their chief hunting nosy busybodies down in the night. I swallow hard, trying not to stare, but it's hard. He's hardly invisible. With biceps like that, ink peeking out from under the sleeves, and the way his jaw muscle flexes, showing off the strength of those lips, I find myself biting mine and picturing his face between my thighs.

"Loch," Jasper says, standing up and thrusting out his hand. The booming behind our father's office door continues, though no one can make out what he's saying.

Lochlan shakes my brother's hand and tilts his head at the source of racket. "He's a bit stiff today, isn't he?" He chuckles, curling his lips into a smile that makes his whole face light up, and I can't help but drool. Every time I've ever seen this man, I've been smitten. He makes my heart beat oddly and my palms get sweaty. He’s more than ten years older than me and someone I shouldn't even look at twice, but I'll be damned if my panties aren't soaked the second he walks in the room.

"Evelyn," he says, nodding at me, and I shudder.

"Loch," I reply, feeling my throat start to constrict. I have to remind myself that he's a fucking criminal, a bad influence, someone my mother hates and whom my father should have no business with. But he's looking at me with those blue eyes and my mouth is watering.

"I should calm him," Jasper says, turning toward the office, but the shouting is over now, faded out while I lost my mind for a second.

When Da's office door opens, I tuck my chin to my chest and forget the illicit thoughts racing through my head. I'm here to learn the ropes about labor unions and business and put to use the degree I'm almost finished with. I'm almost done, just a few classes left, and finally, my father has agreed that I can be helpful here, much to my mother's chagrin. She feels it's not safe, though I don't know why. So Da does business with Lochlan O'Rourke. It doesn't mean he's a criminal too.

I know the O'Rourke family does run a few legitimate businesses, and from what I've gathered from working here the past few months, they are unionized much like many of the other businesses in Dublin. It's no mystery why business owners come to my father, and I know his heart. He's a good man, not a criminal. The connection is coincidence and nothing more.

"Draco, you monster," Lochlan jokes, slapping Da on the back in a man-hug, then pulling away. "I came as soon as you called."

"Not a moment too soon," Da says, pulling away. Then he turns to the rest of the office—ten or so desks organized in clusters facing each other. Mine is facing Jasper’s, but a third one on the end is empty, reserved for the new accountant who hasn't started yet. "Everyone, I have some news." Da scrubs a hand down his face, and I see the stress weighing on him. His thick black hair is peppered with silver strands, worry lines etched into his forehead and around his eyes. He doesn’t sleep much, doesn't do anything but work anymore—and drink. He and Jasper drink a lot.

"We have a slight situation out on the picket line. Our teams from the docks are striking, and we've encountered protestors who aren't thrilled about it. Jasper and I have to handle some situations, which means we may be out on the line until the strike is over." He sighs and rests both hands on his hips as he locks eyes with me. "Evelyn, I'm leaving Mr. O'Rourke in charge, so you'll report to him. But I also need you to get him up to speed. He's new to all of this, but I trust him with my life. He will be learning as he goes, and I'm depending on you to show him everything you know. What you don't know, Jasper can fill in by phone."

My curiosity piqued, I slowly rise from my seat and smooth my hands down the front of my grey slacks. "Da, I'm new here too. I mean…" I swallow hard as I see Lochlan staring at me intently. "There has to be someone here that knows more than me."

"Not someone I trust with everything." Da's eyes pin me to my desk, and my hand flutters to the cross around my neck. "Now, this could take a few days, maybe a few weeks. If you have questions, you can call me or Jasper. Everything else will fall on Lochlan's shoulders." His eyes sweep across the half-dozen other employees in the room and then land on Jasper. "Go on ahead. I have a few things to finish up," he says to Jasper.

Da nods at Lochlan before grunting. “I’ll be back in a few minutes and give you the tour, Loch. Make yourself at home.”

I bite my lower lip as I watch Da and Jasper walk out of the office and I'm left standing there gawking at Lochlan, who looks as lost as I feel. The others shrug and refocus on their work, and I feel warmth pooling in my belly, joining the swirl of anxiety as I realize he really means it. I'm going to have to show Lochlan what to do and I'm not even sure what that fully means yet, but it's my chance to prove to my father that I'm capable. My business degree—almost in reach—is supposed to help me with that, and I'm not going to back away from a challenge.

"Evelyn, I'm going to?—"

"Evie," I blurt out, tucking some hair behind my ear. "I like to be called Evie. Sorry." Wincing at my own stupidity, I look away to avoid eye contact. My cheeks burn like the sun and I smile. He's got to think I'm an idiot. Twenty-one years old and I'm acting like a fucking child with a crush. I don't know how to even act around him. He's so fucking hot.

"Evie," he says smoothly. His voice is low, so I'm the only one who can hear him. The others on the other side of the room are busily typing away at their computers. "I'm going to settle in and make a few calls, but you can come in in about" —he glances at his watch— "fifteen minutes?" His eyebrows rise, and a single dimple appears when he smiles softly. "Get me caught up?"

I don't trust myself to speak without making a fool out of myself, so I nod and curl more hair around my ear, realizing I’m still pinching my cross necklace between my thumb and forefinger.

Lochlan grins at me like he understands how flustered I am, taking two steps backward before turning and walking through Da's open office door. He flicks a glance over his shoulder, and I swear he winks at me, but I'm too flustered to focus now.

My hands shake as I log back into my computer, unlocking it and shutting the screensaver down. If having a damn crush on him wasn't bad enough already, my da has to go and bring him into this office to oversee my work. Once or twice a month visits to our home are bad enough. I end up with dreams about a torrid affair or fantasies of him that make me want to touch myself, and now I have to work with him face to face for a few days or weeks?

I smile as I open my email client and wait for it to load up so I can at least attempt to distract myself from the flurry of endorphins racing through my body. I enjoy the feeling of being this aroused, but I know it's going to distract me and probably get me in trouble. I'll have to fight through the cloud of lust for a while, but maybe in doing so, I'll prove to myself that I'm capable of more than my mother thinks I am.

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