Page 9 of An Angel's Share
It’s the biggest pack of lies ever fabricated. The truth Mammy has spun for herself. She’s honed the story into an international best seller. A dramatic romance, a whirlwind of love. Can’t live without each other. Liam leaving New York after doing all the work and making the business the most successful whiskey franchise in the city. In fact, not just the city—the whole of the East Coast. No, West Coast. Naw, go on, make it America. My feelings were so strong that I couldn’t live without him. I followed him home.
I’ve got tears in my eyes, but not from the romance of it all. Purely from gritting my teeth so hard. I’m glad when a friend of my dad’s comes over to chat and I can turn away from Mammy's ridiculous words.
And from those mesmerising eyes that seem to be able to strip me bare and read me like a book.
4
Jonno
Unfuckingbelievable.
It is her. What are the fucking chances of that? My mind is running on overdrive now. Five fucking months pregnant. Puts conception right in the time frame she was in California.
I need to dig, and dig fast. If the family and Mae are to be believed, it’s Liam’s baby. And they are all ecstatic over that fact. But something about Aoife is off.
She’s gritting her teeth and hanging on to her sanity. I know I’m affecting her. I can see it. Feel it. Her body is shouting out to me, and I don’t even think she knows it.
And boy am I stoking that fire. I need to get her off guard, but I need to be careful—she is pregnant after all. And my sister was a maniac when pregnant.
I need to think. My Spidey senses are going haywire.
“Back again so soon, Jonno.” Patrick the prick—Aoife’s older cousin, and the man determined to bring downO’Cleryssingle handed—strides over. His voice is full ofbonhomie. Confidence in his limited ability, sky high. He puts his hand out to be shook, which I do.
“Patrick, how are things? Family all good? Business going well?” My polite front is in full throttle mode. But I know it’s a cheap shot. His face drops immediately. He knows the business is a disaster. But I’m not supposed to know, so his response surprises me.
“You think you can do better?” Sooo defensive, his face going brick red instantly. Oh dear, I certainly hammered that nerve.
“Whatever you may think, I’m not here to run your business. I’m here for Marshall. I have my own businesses to run. I don’t know anything about whiskey, other than how to drink it.” I grin at him, trying to diffuse the situation quickly. I may need him later on and don’t want to alert him to any issues I think they have. Or give any indication that I am, in fact, looking into them all.
He looks slightly mollified and decides to answer my questions rather than skulk away with a slightly bruised ego. “Family is all good. Business, as I’m sure you may know, could be better. I’m glad Marshall has come over. Seamus will perk up, and he can take over his third again.”
I nod at him. Clearly Aoife is as welcome as I am. They don’t want her, that statement makes it obvious, but they obviously don’t know about the transfer of shares. This board meeting, in a week or so’s time, will be an interesting one. I’m metaphorically rubbing my hands together. I love a bit of drama.
“I’m sure it’ll get sorted one way or another. You all want the same things:O’Clerysto be the powerhouse whiskey out of Ireland. It is actually. We just need to make sure you all stay there.”
His chest puffs up at the compliment. He thinks thesuccess of the past is down to him, all because of him. The man is delusional. But is he a thief? A fraudster? He doesn’t present as clever, and whoever is stealing is smart. Or at least thinks they are.
I look over at the tall, beautiful, red-headed woman. Is she smart enough? Definitely. Dr Aoife O’Clery. Been out in America where the thefts started. Remained out there until two months ago. The thefts continued past her return home, but in a business that is global, theft is global. The more global the better sometimes—harder to follow and trace. Money moving electronically country to country.
I ensure I’m in her eyeline all night. I need her on edge, and if my presence does that, then so be it.
Is it because she thinks I’m here for another reason other than Marshall? I tell the same story every time. I had business in Ireland, and Marshall wanted to come see Seamus and be here for the board meeting. I’m a loyal family member looking out for my sister's dad. That and only that.
Or is she on edge because of the baby? Is it just embarrassment that she came all fucking night long on my cock, fingers, and tongue? Screamed my name when she lost her mind. Is she remembering how I fucked her into oblivion? How much she loved the flogging, loved submitting to me. All whilst having a fiancé in New York. My fingers are itching to hack her records.
Marshall never mentioned she was taking over, told me about the plans to transfer the shares, until we were in the air on the way here. Seamus has thirty-four percent, casting vote. Now so will Aoife. Her cousins will not be happy. Marshall is happy with the decision, however. He thinks she’s great.
Me, not so much. A person who cheats on their fiancémight also be lying about who the father of the baby is. Could someone like that steal from a family business? Totally.
I watch her stay the minimum amount of time that is acceptable and then make her excuses to leave. Her fiancé makes a show of fussing over her going, but stays behind, continuing to entertain their guests. This lot look like they’re in for the night. I slip out right behind her, collect my rucksack, and dip into a different room to fire up my laptop.
I sit back,staring at the screen, her medical records open in front of me. I huff out a laugh devoid of humour. I imagine my sister shaking her head at me. Breaching medical confidentiality is a specialism in our family. Conception date the exact date of the Runners’ night at CAshO. Due date: tenth December.
Now I’m absolutely sure it’s my baby. I don’t actually believe in coincidence. Fate, yes. Coincidence on this scale? A great big fat fucking no. No way. The gods must be laughing it up at this one.
The condom broke. She assured me she would take the morning after pill. But did she? What if she did and she’s still pregnant? What if she chose not to? But what about the fiancé? Determining a conception date is not an exact science. Maybe she was with him at that time. Maybe it is his baby. Or does she not know and decided to disregard me. I was an unknown entity. A sperm donor, never to be seen ever again. Maybe she always planned to pass it off as his.
I bet he doesn’t fucking know about me. The joker in the pack. I grin at that. My favourite thing normally. But I feel alittle sad. This is way more serious. This is a life, an innocent being born into this shit show.
