Page 2 of Dangerously Safe

“Aiden and Freya left Ireland shortly after we did and started working for us here. They both pledged their allegiance to me and swore they wanted nothing to do with Freya’s dad, Declan, and changed their surname to Hayes to hide from him.”

Declan Whelan. The literal bane of our existence. That motherfucker killed Finn’s parents, killed Aiden and Freya, and he continue to mess with our shit. He’s an asshole of epic proportions who doesn’t deserve any of the respect he miraculously has.

“Their daughter, Harper, was 13 when Aidan and Freya were killed. They never told her who her family was or what the two of them actually did. They wanted to protect her from this life as best they could. The less she knew as a child, the better. When they died, Cece took custody of her and ran the store for us. It was always Cece’s plan to tell Harper everything one day, about the bookstore, her parent’s murder, but then she died of a stroke and never got the chance.”

Mac finally turns around from facing the window and glares at our dad, “How old is she now, 24? Why the hell did Cece wait so long? She’s an adult. It’s not like she’s a child.”

“She’s 23,” Dad states matter-of-factly, “and I think Cece was always scared of blowing up her life. She’s already gone through enough.” I can’t help but roll my eyes at the fact that my father is sitting here acting like he genuinely cares about someone else’s life besides his own.

Mac snorts while bringing his glass to his mouth. “Well, her mother is Declan Whelan’s daughter, and her parents had an undercover identity and worked for the McDermotts. I think being involved with two major mob families earns her a right to know what the hell is going on.”

Mac may act like a hard-ass, but he has a soft spot. He always wants the best for people. In this line of work, it will be his undoing.

Mum sits forward and looks at me, “She does, Cormac, and she’s about to find out exactly who she is.” Mac purses his lips at the use of his full name. He hates it but lets it slide with Mum. She’s the only one allowed to call him that.

Dad follows suit and locks eyes with me, “Declan Whelan found out about Harper and is looking for her. She might not be my daughter, and she might not know any of us exist, but Aiden and Freya were loyal members of this syndicate, and we will look out for her.”

“For her or your precious bank?” Mac snarls. Mac loves Finn and I. He’ll always do whatever I ask of him, but he’s always resented our father for everything he did to him growing up. I’ve tried to confront our dad countless times, but Mac has stopped me. He knows that Mum knows nothing about it, and it would kill her to know it all happened right under her nose, and she didn’t do anything to stop it. Mac’s heart wasn’t made for this life, not like mine. Me, I love this shit.

“Don’t you speak to me like that, Son,” Dad snaps as he jumps out of his spot on the couch, “For once, can you just do as you’re told?”

I don’t miss how Mum cowers back in her seat on the couch as he raises his voice. “We need you three to go get her and bring her here. She needs to be kept here until we know Declan’s plan. We don’t know who he will send for her or if he will show up himself. She cannot go anywhere without your supervision.”

“Absolutely fucking not. I am not a goddamned babysitter.” I stand up and come face-to-face with my dad, the great Liam McDermott. I used to bend to his every will. He was larger than life. Now, he just needs to back the hell off and let Finn, Mac, and I do shit our way. “We have enough going on and don’t need some girl walking around our apartment and taking up all our time.”

Dad doesn’t back down, “I don’t care what you do or do not want. You will do this.” His eyes level with mine, “Am I clear?”

“Consider it done,” Finn interrupts, standing from his chair before I can argue further. I know he’s trying to prevent a fight between Dad and me. It happens more often than any of us would care to admit.

I glance at Mac, who is back to staring out the window, gripping his now-empty glass so hard it could break. With a not-so-subtle roll of my eyes, I walk to the bar and pour myself a drink. “I’m going to bed, we can come up with a plan in the morning, and we will have her here tomorrow night. Goodnight.” I give Mum a soft smile before disappearing towards my room, whiskey in hand.

Great, just fucking great.

2

Harper

“Wow,” I say to myself as I finish the last page of my most recent book. These are the kinds of endings I live for, happy ones. The type of ending where the girl gets the guy, makes her dreams come true, and discovers who she wants to be in this life. That’s what I want. Dreaming of the life I could have is why I get so immersed in books. It doesn’t hurt that the main characters in my favorite books have the most incredible, toe-curling sex. The kind of sex I’ve never had, nor could I imagine myself having. Maybe mediocre sex is all I’m meant for. I hope not.

Books have always been my escape. Before my parents died, they weren’t around a lot. There were lots of late nights closing up the store and weekends away at book conferences. When they were gone, I would read and read until my eyes couldn’t stay open anymore. I would dream of a life much more exciting than my own. My own happily ever after.

When they died in a car accident when I was 13, I was left in the care of my dad’s younger sister, Cece. I genuinely don’t know where I would be today without her. She was my best friend.

Cece raised me as if I was her own child. She took over my parent’s bookstore, so I would always have part of them, even after they were gone. It was always my dream to take it over one day. I just didn’t realize that day would come so soon.

Since Cece’s passing six months ago, my world has completely flipped upside down, yet it’s stayed exactly the same. After her funeral, I sold her apartment, used the money on repairs this building desperately needed, and saved the rest for a rainy day. The rest of my time has been spent in the store. I wanted to learn everything I could as fast as possible to ensure it was successful. I would not let my parents or Cece down. I can’t lose this too.

I look at the clock hanging on the door, 7:45. Time for me to do my final rounds.

I walk up and down the aisles, picking up books left on the floor and straightening out shelves so they look halfway organized. Once that’s finished, I walk through the back rooms to make sure there isn’t anyone left reading back here. This part of the store is my favorite. Cece said my Dad built these three rooms after he and Mom bought the building. Each of the rooms looks the same. Dark green walls with a large plum-colored velvet couch sit against the back wall with a dark mahogany coffee table in the center and are lit only by an ornate table lamp on the end table next to the couch. Each room has its own mini fridge with water and juices and a coffee machine with all the fixings.

Anyone can use these rooms, whether they buy a book from the store or bring one from home. They are welcome to hang out back here while getting lost inside the pages of a good book. I love it here. The three of us used to spend endless hours hanging out back here during shop hours. I remember Dad reading The Velveteen Rabbit while I would rest my head on Mom’s lap. She would run her fingers through my curls until I fell asleep. When I remember them, I remember them here.

After standing in the doorway of room three a while longer, I switch off the lamp and head to the front to shut everything down and lock up.

After turning off the computer and throwing on a jacket, I round the front desk as I hear the bell above the door.

“Sorry, I already shut down the computers and am about to lock up.” Before I can let whoever came in know that we open at ten tomorrow morning, I’m surrounded by three of the most beautiful men I have seen in my entire life.

---