Page 69 of Illicit Heir

Brody states, "Caleb should know better than to mess with American territory. But we'll send that message. He's going to get it loud and clear. He messed with the wrong families."

More panic fills me. "You're going to storm the pub?"

"Aye, by the time midnight hits, it'll be a blood bath everywhere in Coolock, including the pub."

My chest tightens so much I feel like I'm having a heart attack. I declare, "There are women and children in there."

"No, only strippers," Dante says.

I freeze. "What do you mean? It's not a strip club, it's a pub."

He adds, "Caleb's banned women and children from entering tonight. He's having his own private show."

More shock fills me. I blurt out, "In front of Lauren?"

Brody's eyes turn to slits. "So ya did go see her?"

I stand taller and continue to lie. "No, I didn't. Alaina said he was seeing her. If he's seeing her, then why would he take strippers in front of her?"

Aidan gives me a knowing look. "Caleb does what Caleb wants."

I argue, "The barmaids are women, and so are the strippers. Ya can't go in there and shoot up the place without taking them out too."

Boris claims, "Our men have been given orders not to shoot any of them."

"Ya know ya can't guarantee they won't get hurt or killed," I point out.

Tense silence fills the air. Everyone exchanges glances.

I accuse, "You're okay killing innocent women now? Women who've done nothing but their jobs?"

Dante replies, "Our men will do their best to ensure that none of the women get hurt." He pats me on the back and asks, "Where's the locker room?"

Aidan points to the door behind me.

Dante pushes past me.

Killian adds, "Who's first in the ring? I'm ready to do some damage."

"I'm ready for ya," Brody declares.

They all disperse, and the amount of horror that fills me is unheard of. The image of Lauren's body covered in blood fills my mind.

I have to get her out of there.

In a trance, I watch the others enter the locker room until it's only Tynan and me.

"We can't let the barmaids stay in the pub. They'll get hurt. They might die," I tell him.

He shakes his head with a solemn look on his face. "It's not what any of us want, but it's also not our call."

"Damn if it's not," I say.

"Ya can't do anything about it, bro. Let it go. It was one night. We don't owe these women anything. Besides, they're O'Learys."

My stomach flips and flips and flips. He continues assessing me. "Don't tell me you've fallen for her."

"I haven't," I claim.

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