Page 1 of North (The Moral Compass 2)

Prologue

North

I’mNorth.Atthirty-two,I’m the youngest man in the McGarry family. I’m the good-looking one. Six feet, two inches, olive skin, and, as I’ve been told, a smile to melt ice cream in the Arctic. I’m the one who can charm his way into a nun’s habit. (Not that I have, but I know I could.) My friends and brothers call me cocky. I would say I’m pleasantly confident and very happy with my life. Or I was until two crazy women turned up with their trailer full of baggage.

I make no secret that I like women. I like them a lot, but not enough to pick only one. Why would I starve the female population of everything North McGarry can give?

There’s four of us McGarry kids. I’m not the baby of the family. That would be my sister, East. She lives in New York most of the time and works from there, supporting the other side of the business; tracking down and stopping drug and people smugglers. In her spare time, which she seems to have a lot of, she flits around the world stalking her rock idol, Drake. He is an absolute dick, but she insists he is “so amazing.” God give me strength. He’s what gives us men a bad name. He promises the earth to get into a woman, and then fucks off without a care in the world. I just hope for his sake she hasn’t been one of his notches.

At thirty-seven, South is the eldest brother. He’s a grumpy, sullen, and almost silent arsehole. He’s the biggest of us all, too, but nowhere near a gentle giant. He’s rude and obnoxious, the complete opposite of me. If he’s not grunting, he’s rolling his eyes in disgust. I could cheerfully strangle him most of the time. I don’t understand why the fucker can’t even break a smile, if only at Christmas.

Then, there is West. Although, he’s not the oldest, he’s the leader of our family. He’s the one who will solve your problems, whatever way he sees fit. Sometimes, you don’t want to know how. It’s just better that way.

He’s the one I am closest to. He was in the army and then the special forces doing all sorts of stuff we can’t talk about or else he’d have to kill you. I’m serious. He’s a crazy motherfucker, but he is also the kindest guy you will ever meet. He has put his and my life on the line so many times to save other people. He never used to think of the consequences until my father died. He took over our family business and promised our mum, Liz, that he would stop working on the other side of our business. That lasted all of six months before he met Sutton and embarked on a crusade to save her from a life of hell.

Sutton’s mother is a real-life psycho. She hated Sutton from birth and by the time Sutton was a fully grown adult, she had decided she wanted her dead. This is where West stepped in and, as a family, we saved both her and her best friend, Kara, from a fate worse than death itself.

To keep Sutton safe, West moved her and Kara into the family house we call “The Fortress” and, well, me being me, I took one look at Kara and let’s just say I liked what I saw. So much that I got shot in the process of protecting them. When everything calmed down, and I was discharged from the hospital, Kara moved into the house on a more permanent basis.

That’s where this story begins.

Chapter 1

North

Iamnotsurehow I feel about my brother and his soon-to-be wife moving back to the family home. Don’t get me wrong, I get on really well with West. He’s my favourite sibling, but his fiancée is pregnant with triplets. Yep. Fucking triplets. I love Sutton, too, but still…

Fucking triplets.

I moved back home after I was shot in the ribs and, as my new best friend, Kara, lives here with Mum. I don’t want to go anywhere else. The truth of the matter is, I’ve fallen head over fucking heels in love with Kara.

“Aww thats so sweet”I can hear you say.

But no. She doesn’t feel the same way. In fact, I have been well and truly friend zoned.

We did have a little interaction before the whole kidnapping and shooting but, since then, she has taken it to the next level of friend zone. I wouldn’t even mind friends with benefits, but she just isn’t interested.

I’ve never had a woman not want a second go. I usually have to let them down gently. I have to admit, my ego is bruised, but that’s not why I want more. I’m lying here on the sun lounger with my eyes closed and daydreaming of our first day in the pool…

“You know, Kara, when you walked into the café this morning, I don’t think I have ever seen a more beautiful creature on this planet,” I flirt.

“Oh, fuck off, you cheesy bastard. If you think I’m falling for that one, you’ve got another thing coming.” She laughs and splashes water in my face.

I wipe the water from my eyes and swim off behind the oasis in the middle of the pool, hoping she follows. And she does.

“I mean it, Kara. You completely threw me off balance. I’ve gathered that trying to fill you with my normal bullshit isn’t going to get me very far. So, I’m telling you the truth.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, North. I have had to move in here with no notice whatsoever, and your main focus is getting your dick wet? I’ve got news for you, big guy. You’re in a swimming pool, so your dick is already wet.” She splashes water in my face again, so I do the only manly thing left to do. I dunk her under.

She splutters as she tries to get her breath. Fuck, she is so beautiful. Her hair is slicked back off her face, her eyelashes are dark and wet, and she has a glare that could slay a dragon. What the fuck is happening?

I can’t take my eyes off her plump pink lips as she gasps. Fuck, that sound… It’s making me fucking harder than I already am.

I pull her close, acting all chivalrous. “Sorry, Kara, I was only messing around. I didn’t mean to drown you.” I give her my best smile, but she just gives me the evil eye. I’m completely lost in her eyes when her arm flies back in the water, creating a bloody tidal wave straight to my face. The water goes in my eyes, up my nose, and down the back of my throat. I’m laughing so hard I can’t see anymore. When I finally open my eyes, she’s gone.

I turn around, looking for her. I look down to find she is swimming between my legs. Then, before I know it, she’s got my shorts and pulls them down.

“Oh, hello,” I think. Haha, North, no.

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