Page 4 of Wicked Duty
She might be beautiful, and she may be more innocent than I’m giving her credit for, but my instincts still insist that at the core of all this, I’ll be spending the next however many months babysitting a spoiled, self-absorbed brat.
The fact remains that if she’s been singled out as a star witness in the case against Roguilin, she must’ve gotten close enough to pry into his secrets. No one who breaches the inner circle of organizations like his could be completely free from guilt. Why else would the man want to come after her? And why else would Shane Gallagher be involved?
I’m not a fan of protecting these types of women.
They’re always a pain in the ass, start to fucking finish.
But Darren’s business is new. I can’t say no to him or his uncle without a good reason, and I doubt my finickiness over accepting annoying clients counts.
Maya sniffles and swipes at a tear. “I’m afraid something terrible’s going to happen to her. And since I’ll be studying abroad in Italy, she’ll have no one to help her. If you can’t do it, Callum, that’s all right. I can cancel my plans and stay in New York.At least she won’t be alone in our apartment.”
The devotion shining in her teary expression twists some remnant of emotion in my chest. Maya’s clearly loyal to her baby sister.
My own sister’s face flashes through my mind. Deirdre.Maya’s waterworks only amplify the deepening ache beneath my ribs.
Despite all my doubts, as well as the headache that’s already throbbing in my temples, I already know I’m taking the job.
Several sets of hopeful eyes fixate on me. Along with Shane Gallagher’s chilly attention.
Fuck.
I release an inevitable sigh. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
Palpable relief flows through the room. Too bad none of it touches me.
Though tears streak down Maya’s cheeks, her mouth lifts into a tremulous smile. “Thank you, Callum.”
The depth of her gratitude and emotion penetrates my iron shell.
Even if Lucy does prove to be a selfish brat, Maya seems like a decent person. And decent people are always the ones who suffer. If I can ease her mind while raking in some cash, then I’ll use that as motivation.
Besides, I can’t afford to decline a job that both Darren and Shane are requesting I accept. Not without facing undesirable repercussions.
The rest of the meeting passes quickly.
Veronika assures Maya they’ll be back in touch soon with the terms of our agreement. Darren tells me they’ll finalize the details by the end of the day. There’s nothing left for me to do except wait to sign the contract.
When my friend and his wife rise to leave, I follow suit, but Shane Gallagher stops me before I reach the door.
“Stay a minute, Callum.”
I freeze before slowly turning back around. “Sir?”
“Rory, leave us.” The tech whiz with golden brown hair grabs his laptop and vanishes.
Unsure of what to do, I return to the chaise across from Shane and lower myself back down, sitting face-to-face with the leader of the Irish Kings.
This can’t be good.
Shane fixes me with an unreadable look. “In addition to protecting Lucy Marlow, there’s something else I need you to do.”
Great.“Of course.” My voice reflects none of my inner discomfort. “Name it.”
“Our intelligence indicates that the girl stole something from Roguilin.”
Even though I knew news like this was coming, an anvil crashes onto my chest, flattening my lungs.
Lucy Marlow, some random twentysomething aspiring model,stolefrom one of the deadliest men in the whole of the criminal underground? This assignment just keeps getting better.
