Page 26 of Dublin's Danger Dancer

“What’s a Leanhaun Shee?” Liam asks.

Admir reads from his phone: ‘The Leanhaun Shee (fairy mistress) seeks the love of mortals. If they refuse, she must be their slave; if they consent, they are hers, and can only escape by finding another to take their place. The fairy lives on their life, and they waste away. Sounds like a sort of love goddess who invites men for trysts and kills them.”

Liam dives towards his uncle, his hands around his throat. “If you weren’t family. I’d put a feckin’ bullet in your brain.”

“I don’t think family is what’s stopping you from doing that.”

“Apologise to the lady.” Liam demands, turning his reddening face towards me.

“I’m sorry.” Freddie blusters.

“She didn’t quite hear that.”

“I am sorry,” he repeats.

Voices drift down the stairs. One of them is talking about who’s gonna go first on the tasty brunette.

Liam inhales sharply. “Admir,” he says, “you were involved in this as well?”

“It’s not on me, boss.” Admir says as the three bemused men ascend the stairs to where we are standing.

Liam looks over at them with repulsion.

“Admir, Take Ciara upstairs. Make sure she’s okay.” Liam takes off his suit jacket and chucks it at Admir.

Admir beckons me over and wraps the jacket around my shoulders. We ascend the stairs.

“Where are you going? Asks one of the men. “I haven’t stuck my dick between your tits yet.” The three men laugh.

Before we reach the top of the steps, I hear three bullets and three men screaming.

There’s total silence except for the hum of the boat’s engine.

“I should put a bullet in your feckin’ brains. But you’ll have your limp to remember me by. Now get off my boat before I kill all three of you.”

Moments later, Liam rises up the chain of white stairs.

“Get them off my boat.” Liam barks at Admir. He nods

He walks towards me. “What the hell were you doing here?” he asks.

“I heard you saying you were going to meet a girl called Kathleen at the dockyards. I was pissed off that you blew me off for another girl. I wanted to see what was happening.” I lie.

He wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me into him. He places a kiss on the top of my head. “When will you believe I only have eyes for you?” He exhales.

“Well, you better cut your eyes out then, because I can’t see you anymore. This is too messed up,” I say, breathing heavily.

“Just take a breath.” Liam says hugging me more tightly. “Just breathe,” he whispers into my ear.

“I don’t need a feckin’ savasana right now. Your uncle is a real piece of shite,” I say looking up at the dark night sky, feeling the cable tie burns around my wrist.

“You’re right. He is a real piece of shite,” Liam says, pulling my arms into his jacket that hangs around my shoulders.

“But you’re ok.” He brings his finger under my chin and raises my chin towards his. “I like you in your running gear. You look even more beautiful without makeup.”

“It’s dark.” I say.

“Don’t be bashful.” He opens the top of his suit jacket. “But I don’t like you running outside like this.”

---