Page 9 of A Temptation Too Great

I stand from my desk, done with this distance she’s putting between us.

“Hey, Prez, Mr. Tiernan is here.” I look up to see my father standing behind the mechanic who doubles as my receptionist when I’m at the shop. I close out of the feeds, still not ready to tell him what’s going on in my life. He went to Fiona’s work and introduced himself without Aidan knowing. I don’t know how my father will react to me being with a peeler’s daughter—or a woman who wants to be a police officer.

“Hey, Da, what’s up?” I walk around my desk, and he pulls me into a hug. He’s as tall as me, and when he thumps me on the back, it’s with the heavy hand of a man half his age.

“Thought we could go to dinner. I have some information for you.”

I walk out of the shop I manage and glance over at the dealership, not seeing any issues. I slide into the back of the armored SUV my father uses when he comes to town. His guards climb into the front, and a second car follows us.

My father was once the leader of the Tiernan organization, but he didn’t build it into the syndicate my brothers and I run now. Aidan manages everything, both legal and illegal. He not only controls the racetrack but also our worldwide trade companies, which help us hide the arms shipments moving around the globe through our shipping fleet and ground transportation. We don’t deal in drugs or humans. Tiernan International is Aidan’s baby. When he made me the president of the Knights of Purgatory MC, many wanted me to prove myself, and it didn’t take long for me to earn my nickname.

Just like our father, each of us has a long fuse, but when we blow, it’s nuclear. My youngest brother, Rory, is the calmest of us all. He runs the clubs and the entertainment sector of the syndicate. Aidan stepped back from that scene after marrying Fiona. Now that they’re expecting, I figure he’ll rely on Lex more to handle the business side. Shane is Aidan’s bodyguard and right-hand man. Seamus and Grady are the true muscle. Grady can clean up anything left behind, and Seamus is the avenging angel. Lex is our computer guru, but a couple of weeks ago, I saw a hacker who put him to shame. When the girls were kidnapped, she tore through Lex’s system to track the microchips embedded in Fiona’s jewelry so fast it was shocking.

The driver pulls up to a restaurant close to the hotel where Moira works. I can’t stop myself from glancing over at it. I know she’s not there tonight. We head to the hostess station, and even though I’m not dressed like my father in a suit, they don’t think twice about seating us. I’m in worn jeans, a black pullover long-sleeve shirt, and a leather jacket. My cut’s on over the top. My dark, curly hair is a bit wild from wearing a cap most of the day, and I could use a shave, but as usual, I don’t give a feck.

I’m more worried about Moira and keeping my secret from my father right now. Just being with me is already going to be hard on her because of her family and life choices. But my father is a well-known man who’s been linked to murders and all kinds of criminal activity, even if he’s never been prosecuted. The courts can’t ever make anything stick. I don’t know how she’ll react to that. The one time they were in the same place, at Fiona and Aidan’s wedding, she avoided him.

We’re seated in a booth my father likes, near the kitchen but not too close. He sits on one side of the circular booth, and I slide into the other.

“Your usual drink, Mr. Tiernan?” the hostess asks, and my father chuckles.

“You know me so well. I’ll have one. Get him the same too.” He points to me, and I wait. It’s going to be Bushmills or a Guinness. When she returns with two tumblers of amber liquid, neat, I nod. I take a sip of the whiskey and set it down.

“Why don’t you tell me what you really asked me to dinner for.” I fold my hands on the table and wait for him to answer. He’s looking over the menu like he doesn’t come here several times a week.

My father has a house northwest of town, in Antrim, yet he’s always visiting. He’s retired but still likes to insert himself into our daily lives. It’s not that he doesn’t trust us to run the syndicate. It’s more like he’s bored and doesn’t know what to do with himself.

“Come on, you old gaffer, tell me what’s on your mind.” I scowl at him and raise my voice a touch.

“I’m not deaf yet, Brody, but you will be when I clap your ears for yelling at me.” He sets his menu down and crosses his arms before leaning back against the booth. “When are you going to admit you want to kill the wanker?” He smirks, and I shake my head.

I play dumb. “What wanker are you talking about?”

We quiet when the server arrives to take our order. Once we’re alone again, he watches me carefully. His eyebrow raises, and I wait him out. He taught us this. I learned the lesson well and use it all the time. Patience pays off, and eventually, he’ll show his hand.

“Moira is a peeler’s daughter and sister.” He finally gives.

“Yeah, so what?” I lift my glass and take another swallow, letting the whiskey calm my nerves. I won’t give her up, not for anything, not even the syndicate.

“She’s in danger, and you aren’t helping the situation.”

I lean forward, bracing my crossed arms on the table. “Are you telling me I can’t see her?”

“Not exactly. I like her.” He cocks his head, and I see him relax. “She’s good for you. She’ll keep you on your toes. And you’ll teach her to have fun once in a while.” He pauses, and I wait him out, knowing he’s going to say more. “But you need to walk away for a bit.”

“Not happening.” I lean back and smirk. “And you can’t make me.”

He nods and chuckles. “Fecking should have beat you boys more often. You’re right, I can’t.” He pauses and waves his hand behind me. “But he can.”

I turn to see Aidan standing there.

“What the feck? You told me to take care of her. Protect her.”

Aidan slides into the booth next to our father. The waitress walks over with a cup of Irish coffee, just the way he likes it. He takes a sip before answering me.

“I did. This is how it’s going to happen. You and your men are stepping back. I’m putting Grady on her. She will be protected just like Fiona was in the beginning, before I brought her in. I swear, I will protect her for you.”

“Why?” I growl at them. “Why should I listen to you? Why can’t my men and I protect her the way we should?”

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