Page 44 of Illicit Heir

"Yea, ya are. You're fantasizing," I state.

Mum scoffs. "I don't fantasize about anything. I'm a reality person. Ya know that, and something's going on here. I can feel it."

I huff. "Well, you're wrong."

She lowers her voice, insisting, "Ya girls are hiding something from me. I always know when ya are, and I always find out."

I groan. "Mum, we're not hiding anything from ya. Okay? Now, can I get to work? There's a whole bar full of patrons out there, and even though we have this money, we still need to make as much as possible. Ladies, stick to the plan for tonight."

My cousins nod as if we had this big discussion about what they're supposed to do for the evening. I brush past Mum, return to the pub, and grab an apron. I tie it around my waist and get busy serving our customers.

Hours pass. The entire time, I can't get Devin off my mind. Every time the door opens, I expect to see him and other O'Connors pushing through.

I don't know why I think that or what I expect them to do if they did. Yet I hate not knowing where he's at right now.

Lads' weekend, my ass.

How could I have been so dumb to believe that lie?

And golfing. Ugh!

He's definitely not a golfer.

"Guinness." Fred, one of our long-time patrons, an American who moved over here when he was in his twenties, shakes his pint so the edge hits the counter.

I grab the glass from his hand, seething, "Do not disrespect our property."

"I didn't disrespect your property," he declares.

"Didn't ya? Hitting the glass against the counter is disrespecting our property."

He grunts. "Stop being so uptight."

I finally have had enough. Maybe it's because of Devin and my guilt that I fell for his lies. Perhaps I'm just tired of Caleb destroying things in his path and thinking it's okay, just like all these other people who come here almost every day and want to enjoy the place but have no issues being destructive and disrespectful.

Screw this.

I jump up on the bar and yell, "Everybody shut up and put your attention over here!"

Some people stop talking. Others continue their conversations.

I scream louder, "I said, shut up!"

"Lauren, what are ya doing?" Mum questions in horror.

I barely glance at her. "What should have been done before." I turn back to the pub, repeating, "Shut up!"

The pub finally turns quiet, and everyone watches me.

I announce, "There's going to be new rules around here. If ya can't obey them, you're not welcome here."

"Rules? You're not one to make rules," a man calls out, and others praise him for his comment.

I don't see who said it, but it's gruff and arrogant. It's everything I hate about our clan members.

I insist, "I can and I will. If ya want to enjoy this place, so be it. Enjoy it. But the minute ya destroy it, you're done. You're banned, and it will be a permanent ban."

"Lauren," Mum quietly says, but I ignore her.

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