Page 24 of Mob Saint

The party’s in an art studio loft. It has to be three or four thousand square feet, so there’s plenty of space for people to mill around.

“Tiernan, look. It’s Jimmy and Hilary. I’m going to say hi.” Suze doesn’t wait for my response before she waves and walks over to our teammates.

Seamus still has my arm wrapped around his as we walk to the bar.

“What would you like, Tiera?”

“Just a ginger ale, please.” I rarely drink anymore.

“Two, please.”

He pulls out a bill that’s folded, so I can’t tell how much it’s worth before he tucks it into the tip jar. He hands me mine after he intercepts it from the bartender. He’s glowering at the guy. He might have been looking at my tits, but that’s just because the dress accentuates them. Not in a trashy way, but they are definitely on display.

He steers us away from the bar and towards a quieter corner. There’s a DJ, so we’re standing at the opposite end of the loft.

“Thank you for inviting us. I didn’t think we’d run into people we know here.”

“Small world.” His eyes keep scanning the crowd.

I’m not sure if he’s looking for a way out now that he’s trapped himself with me or if?—

“Tiernan, there are a lot of people here I don’t know. Same as at the theatre. I’m working tonight.”

“You mean, you’re the women’s extra bodyguard.” Their husbands are their primary ones.

“Yes. I’m not ignoring you, and no, I don’t want to be anywhere else. But I am being diligent.”

“I can tell.”

He focuses on me, and I feel like I’m the only person in the room with him. A moment ago, I thought he regretted walking over here with me. Now I feel like I have his undivided attention. His gaze is intense. He slides his hand around my waist and pulls me closer, leaning forward to whisper.

“Will you go up to the roof deck with me? I’d like to talk, but it’s loud in here. I need to let the guys know if you’re cool with it.”

“Sure.”

I expect him to let go, but he doesn’t. His arm doesn’t stay wrapped around me, but his hand is definitely touching my lower back—finally—as we walk across the open space. He leans in to speak to Finn, who nods. We make our way to a spiral staircase that has a bouncer of sorts standing at the bottom.

Seamus cocks an eyebrow, and the guy moves aside. He’s not eager to do it, but nothing about Seamus encourages the guy to argue with him. He takes my hand and leads the way up until we get to a door. He holds it open, and we step outside. A gust of wind lifts the hair off my back. It’s not cold right now, but it will get that way after a while. Seamus realizes that before he slips his suit coat off and wraps it around me.

“Tiera, I spoke to Gareth this morning. I didn’t bring you up. He did. I didn’t like what he said, and I pointed out that he set you up for failure. His response didn’t make me loathe him any less. Why is he like this to you?”

“Seamus, I don’t want to talk about this. Not here. Not at all.”

It’s been a great night so far, and now it’s all going to crash and burn. My gaze locks with Seamus’s, and I know he won’t relent. We’re going to have this out now, or we’ll keep dancing around the subject, neither satisfied. His gaze softens when he realizes I relent. I don’t think he wants to browbeat me, but he also won’t let me keep brushing this off. He confirms that when he speaks again.

“And I’ve told you more than once that I will find out who’s hurt you, and you will explain why you’re protecting them. After the way he spoke today, I can’t fathom why you’d protect him when it’s obvious he’s one of the people who’s mistreated you.”

I look away, unable to speak while seeing his intense eyes on me.

“Our families have a tangled past. His best friend is my uncle. Gareth and I are like third cousins a few times removed. I don’t consider him family because it’s not like we spent holidays with his. He’s the boss, and my dad still works for him. I won’t do anything that could make my dad’s life harder. I have a thick skin.”

His gaze sweeps over my face, down my throat, to my chest. He nods, but I can tell the momentary distraction isn’t enough to change his course. He’s pissed I won’t explain more.

“So, you’re protecting him for your dad’s sake? I can appreciate that. But it feels like there’s more you aren’t telling me. I want to know, Tiera. Don’t skirt my questions anymore. I’m not that patient.”

“There’s nothing more to say. Gareth is an asshole, and we both know it. He has been since we were all kids. He says what he wants.”

And now I want to swallow what I said. Seamus’s gaze hardens to the point of emerald shards. That did not diffuse the situation. I just lit a match and tossed it on a powder keg. I just hope it doesn’t explode while I’m still standing here.

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