Page 29 of Liam

Adam and I joined them. Sera wandered around, taking everything in while the other three worked our thieves over; they were pretty casual about it, and I wondered how they’d all ended up like this, so casual about violence. Sera finished looking over everything, walked over to me and leant up against my chest. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pulled her close, widening my stance so that she fit perfectly against me.

“What type of background do your girls come from,a stór,” I whisper softly in her ear, making her shiver slightly.

Sera gave a small laugh, tilting her head back to whisper in my ear, “Billie and Ange’s dads were enforcers in the Wise organisation, and Evie and JoJo’s dad was the accountant for them. I’m the only one that didn’t have any ties to the organisation. My childhood was nothing like theirs. But their parents didn’t want them to get too deeply entrenched. I don’t think they ever thought they’d follow me into the military, though. It always amused me that two of them became medics, but I guess knowing the best places to kill a person helps you save them too.”

“They’re efficient, I’ll give them that,” Johnny says with a hint of admiration in his tone.

“Fuck, aren’t they just,” Lou groans quietly. “Is it wrong that I’m getting hard watching them?”

Adam leans over and slaps the back of his head, glaring at Lou, “Yes, it is. They’re my fucking sisters.”

“Sorry, boss,” Lou replies, discreetly adjusting himself, “but fuck, where were they when we were running guns?”

“Serving our country,” Sera tells him dryly. Turning my head, I press my lips to her temple.

“And we thank you for that,mo bhanríon,”I tell her, proud of all of them.

“Can I just ask why they’ve left their faces alone?” Lee queries in a puzzled tone.

It was Evie who answers him, “This way they’re hurting but can still go out without anyone wondering what happened to them. Not that these two will have to worry about that because they’ll be leaving town tonight.” Evie kicks the chair one of them was tied to, “Won’t you?”

“We’ll leave, just please, no more.”

Billie squats in front of her and tilts her head back with the knife she holds, her brogue thick as she says, “See, now I’m not sure I believe you,” she tuts. “You stole from our brothers, and we don’t like that. Now you’re lucky that Liam is kind and doesn’t want us to kill you. Me,” Billie shrugs casually, “I think that’s a mistake. I’d not let you go, but he’s the boss. I’d remember this, though. If you ever come for them again or even try something like this, we,” she waves her knife around to Evie and Ange, “won’t be so lenient. Nod if you understand.”

They both nod frantically, snot and tears running down their faces; both had pissed themselves, and one had thrown up.

Ange wrinkles her nose a little at them. Turning towards us, she asks, “Is there a hose? There’s no way I’m riding with them in the car smelling like this.”

I didn’t blame them; they were pretty rank.

“I’ll get it for you,” Lee replies, walking over to the wall and pulling the hose out, uncoiling it and connecting it to the tap. They were just about to start hosing when we heard the knock to gain entry. We all exchanged looks; Sera straightened when Idid. It was Adam who went to the door, and a few minutes later, he was coming back down with Colin following him.

Colin walks straight up to me with paperwork in his hand that he hands me, “JoJo said to get them to sign this before you got rid of them.”

“What is it?” I ask.

Colin shrugs, “Not a hundred percent sure, but she said you knew her background and that she’d take care of you.” His tone indicated his curiosity, but he’d not get that curiosity satisfied by me. I did notice that Evie, Ange, and Billie exchanged looks and relaxed slightly.

“Oh and,” Colin turns towards Evie, handing her something, “JoJo said you’d know what to do with this and if they didn’t sign to kill them and she’d take care of it.”

There was an intake of breath from every person in that room except for the girls. Evie nodded and held up a ring with a clear W on it. Her eyebrows rose in query when she looked at me, “You good with this, Liam?”

“I am,” I agreed, scanning the papers I’d been handed. “When you’re done doing whatever she wants you to, then you, Ange, and Billie are to take them to Brayden and Seth; they’re expecting them.”

“Ooo, JoJo’s mad,” Evie claps. “You girls really fucked up, huh? You’re going to wish you’d never laid eyes on the O’Sheas, and you are definitely going to wish you’d not pissed off JoJo Wise. She’s feral when it comes to those she considers family. Billie, pass me the torch and those heatproof gloves; we’re going to have us a little branding party now.”

“What?! No! Why?!” one of the girls stutters before turning those eyes to me, “Liam, please, we’re sorry, okay?”

“I’m sure you are,” I reply, “but only because you got caught. Before the girls continue, I’d like to know why, though. I pay good wages, treat my staff well, and if you’d needed money, you all know that my door is open. You’ve worked for me for nearly two years and stolen close to a hundred thousand, and I’d like to know why.”

“Because we could,” she replies. “We knew you were no longer running guns and had gotten soft. At least that’s what our brother said. He wanted to see how far he could push so he can take over this town as part of his territory.”

“Uh huh, and who is your brother?” I ask, relaxing back against the wall. I already knew JoJo had included it in her note and told me it was being taken care of. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that yet. It didn’t sit well with me letting someone else take care of my problems, but I’d leave it for now. One problem at a time.

“Harvey Dixon,” the girl replies with a slightly haughty tone. There was no way I could have stopped the laugh that escaped me when she said his name.

Johnny, Adam, and his crew snorted with derision. I had to agree with them. Harvey Dixon was scum; he liked to think he was big, but he was just a nuisance, one we’d been dealing with for years. It seemed that maybe we should have put him down a long time ago.

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