Page 42 of The Chief
She huffed out a laugh. “Charming.”
“When I need to be.”
“Sweet.”
I jerked back, frowning. “When was I sweet?”
Glancing down at the ground, she shrugged. “You talked me down from my panic attack.”
“Finnan doesn’t like women who make a scene.”
“You brought me clothes.”
“Caolan brought you the clothes.”
Peering up at me, she chewed on her bottom lip. “You killed the man who attacked me.”
The memory of walking into her tiny flat was suddenly at the forefront of my mind, and my anger surged like the beast it was. I had reacted without thinking that day; I could’ve let Grady have his fun, then snatched her right from under him. Yet seeing her like that, hearing her begging, broke something inside me.
I don’t have a tragic backstory where my ma or sister got attacked, I simply don’t like when men use their strength against a woman. I love women, and worship between their legs like my own personal church. Since I couldn’t share those thingswith Molly, I simply stepped away from the warmth of her body and looked at her mam’s house. “We should knock on the door before she wonders who the fuck parked in her driveway.”
I moved toward the door but glanced back over my shoulder when I noticed Molly was no longer with me. Arching a brow in her direction, she let out a sigh and shook her head, then stepped away from the Rover.
I knocked on the door, wrapping my arm around her waist before she could protest just as the door opened. A slender woman who looked to be in her early forties stood on the other side, her dark hair swept over the shoulder of a black satin dressing gown. She had the same piercing blue eyes as Molly, and they were filled with suspicion as she looked me over, but they widened in delight when they saw the woman standing at my side.
“Caitria?” she asked, already reaching for her and pulling her into a hug.
I reluctantly released my hold on Molly, giving the women a few minutes to reunite. As I watched the pair hug and cry together, I filed away the name she’d called Molly.
Eventually Molly’s mother glanced over at me and straightened. She tugged at her dressing gown, like she was embarrassed about not being dressed. “And who’s this?”
Holding out my hand, I spoke over Molly. “I’m your daughter’s fiancé, Keir Flanagan, ma’am.”
Molly’s gaze lasered into me, burning holes into the side of my head.
Molly’s mam looked between us, shocked for a moment, before her smile widened and she pulled me in for a hug. “I’m just so happy that my Caitria has found a nice young man. You can call me Nora.”
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Nora.”
“Mam, he’s not—” Molly said, her nostrils flaring in frustration.
“He’s notjusta nice man,” I interrupted, sending Molly a wink. “I’m the best kind of man for you. Isn’t that right,Caitria?” I asked her, emphasizing the name her mother used.
She opened her mouth to protest, but there must’ve been something in my eyes that gave her pause.
“Come inside out of the cold,” Nora said, hustling back into the house. “I was just making tea,” she called over her shoulder.
“What are you doing?” Molly hissed as she stepped inside.
I flashed her a smile. “Should I call you Molly or Caitria?”
She paled, her eyes darting to the doorway leading to the kitchen, then back to me. “Call me Caitria while I’m here. My mam…” She nibbled her bottom lip. “My mam doesn’t know that I changed my name.”
“But you’ll tell me why later, won’t you, Jynx?” I pressed, shutting the front door behind us and flipping the lock into place.
She sent me a scathing look. “Why are you doing this?”
“Bait.”
