Page 11 of Shattered Union

"Even your mam hates you," Marie practically shouts.

I've had enough of this shit.

"Wow, guess your mam never taught you manners, Marie," I say as I step forward so I'm close to the girls. It's then I realise the young girl is really young. "You have to pick on younger girls to make you feel better?" I shake my head in disgust.

Marie snarls at me, her fists balled up. "Go away."

I shake my head. "Not going to happen. But I'll tell you what will. You and your friends are going to walk away and leave this girl alone. You don't, and Marie, I have no problem talking to your mam."

Leeane is in her late thirties and always causes trouble in my bars with the shit she pulls with going after married men. I understand women have needs also but going solely for men that have taken vows is disgusting. Cheating is a big no-no for me. I despise it. Leeane has no qualms in going toe to toe with a woman for a man. But she does have a problem with going against me. She claimed Stephen tried to assault her. So I went for her. Thankfully, I grew up with a brother and learnt who to brawl. Leeane gives me a wide berth ever since, and she's left Stephen alone.

Marie scowls at me. "She's not even worth it," she snaps at me, but the anger and hatred in her eyes that's directed at the young girl tells me otherwise.

"I'm warning you, Marie, you go after her again, and me and your mam are going to have problems, do I make myself clear?"

Marie purses her lips but thankfully gives me a quick, sharp nod of her head.

"Good, now go on, all of you." I wave them away and they move quickly. Once they're out of sight, I turn to the girl who's shaking. "Hey, they're gone now. You're okay."

She turns her face to me and I see the tears in the most striking blue eyes I've ever seen. God, the beauty this girl has is breathtaking. "Thank you," she whispers.

I smile at her. "You're welcome. Are you okay?"

She swipes away at the fallen tears and takes a couple of steadying breaths. "I'm grand, thanks. You didn't have to do that."

I shrug. "I fecking hate bullies and that girl is a mean one. No one deserves to be subjected to that nastiness." I hold out my hand to her. "Hi, I'm Callie."

She smiles at me, and it reaches her eyes. "I'm Chloe."

"Well, Chloe, are you going to be okay by yourself? Are your parents coming to get you?"

She shakes her head. "No, I won't have a lift home until almost six. Da's working and Ma, well..." She trails off and I know better than to inquire about something she obviously doesn't want to talk about.

I don't really feel comfortable leaving her here. Those girls could come back and start their shit again. I glance down at my watch and see it's just gone two in the afternoon. Another four hours before she'll be able to go home.

"Okay, I'm just about finished here. I've got to do some work, but you can come with me. Have some food, and relax?"

She frowns. "Where do you work?"

I smile and point to the pub that's just down the road. "So, Ms. Chloe, what do you say?"

She grins widely at me. "As long as you don't mind?"

I shake my head. "I really don't. I have to do the schedule for next week. So, you can keep me company as I work on it."

She nods, and I sigh in relief. I'm not sure what it is about this girl, but she makes me feel protective of her.

We walk toward the pub, she's talking a mile a minute, telling me about her parents. "My da is the best da in the world. He loves, not just me, but all my brothers and sisters."

I grin at her, glad she's close to her da. I am with mine and I know how important it is to have someone in your life you're close to, who you can rely on, and who loves you.

"My ma." She swallows hard. "She's not nice. She hates all of us. She's never around and whenever she is, she tells me I'm ugly and fat."

God, my heart shatters into pieces. I want to find her mam and smack the ever-loving shit out of her. Who says those things to their child?

"What is your ma like?" she questions as we cross the road.

"My mam is the best." She raises her brow in disbelief. "Honestly. She's my biggest champion. When I was at school, I used to do volleyball and she wouldn't miss a game. She hates the sport," I tell her with a laugh, and I'm pleased she smiles. "I mean she hates it with a passion. Mam hates any type of sport. You won't even get her watching the All-Ireland final."

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