your boss gets at least one dance with you tonight.”
Erin pushed away from Nate and gave Connor a teary smile.
“Okay, but just one. You know how jealous Nate gets.”
Nate allowed Connor to pull Erin away from him and give her a hug. He was grateful. Like everyone who knew Erin, Connor loved her. His cousin was in awe of what the beautiful woman had survived. Thinking about the danger they were facing, Nate fought a combination of fear and fury. It wasn’t fair. After everything Erin had been through, she didn’t deserve this, to be in the middle of a hideous situation caused by evil men who were out to get him. Nate swallowed past the lump in his throat and sent a little prayer to a god he didn’t call on much. He wasn’t sure it was the kind of prayer God appreciated but at least it was heartfelt.
Please God let me kill any bastard who so much as threatens her. And please, help me make his death as painful as possible.
Chapter 7
“Glad to see you got most of your crew here tonight, Nate.”
The big Irishman’s grin was as broad as usual, as he pulled on the tap filling the frosty mugs in front of him. But the tension in his voice mirrored the rigid set of his shoulders.
Nate leaned back casually against the bar and swept his gaze around the crowded pub. He made sure his question reached Kieran’s ears only.
“Expecting trouble, Kieran?”
Without looking Nate’s way, Kieran shrugged.
“Have to be crazy not to—see’n who’s here.” He added with a grimace. “Trouble’s as sure as stink on shit when those two show up at the same time.”
Nate kept his gaze as casual as his smile. It wasn’t hard to see what had the burly bartender’s panties in a bunch. Nate’d spotted Jeb’s Jag in the parking lot and thought he recognized Cougar’s truck. Even before they entered, he’d rounded up his men and laid out a preliminary plan in the event there was trouble. Not exactly an unexpected outcome.
“You got your trusty enforcer polished up and ready to go, Kieran?”
Kieran managed a passably genuine smile. He reached down behind the bar and pulled out a gleaming Louisville Slugger.
“Hell, Nate, Killebrew here is as ready as he was when your cousin Luke threw me one of his spit-laced fastballs. And just like then, I’m ready as ever to catch a piece of any ball or guy who thinks he can take on Kieran Mallory.”
Nate guffawed.
“I respect that bat of yours as much as Luke did, buddy. Just know that we got your six, me and all of my men.”
Glancing at the group in the corner, Nate huffed.
“Hell, looks like Jeb and his band of Neanderthal idiots brought their wives tonight. Maybe they’re looking for no more than a chance to get drunk and show off their fancy two steps.
Kieran chortled. “Well, they got the drunk part covered, that’s for sure. Swear to God, Nate, Jeb’s turning into a bigger drunk than his daddy ever was. And he’s meaner than old man Jones was. At least the old guy just ranted crazy shit until he passed out. Jeb’s quieter. But a hell of a lot meaner. More dangerous, if you know what I mean.
“Yeah, Kieran. I know just what you mean.”
Nate carried a tray of glasses over to their table and set it down. He passed a beer to Erin, Annika and Kaitlin and one to Dan’s wife who had joined them. He shoved the others over to Sam, Dan and to Connor.
Keeping his voice low, he murmured, “This could be an exciting night, fellows. Seems as though we’re not the only ones celebrating.”
Dan’s expression was tense.
“Yeah, I saw them too. I’m surprised. This is the first time I’ve seen Cougar here since he and Jeb went their separate ways. Whadda you think, Nate? Think they really are on the outs or is it just a subterfuge to confuse us? You know, make us think they’re enemies to keep us heading in two different directions. Like fuckin’ cats chasing our tales?”
“Only one way to find out, Dan.”
Nate smiled at the beefy Lieutenant.
“I’m
Erin pushed away from Nate and gave Connor a teary smile.
“Okay, but just one. You know how jealous Nate gets.”
Nate allowed Connor to pull Erin away from him and give her a hug. He was grateful. Like everyone who knew Erin, Connor loved her. His cousin was in awe of what the beautiful woman had survived. Thinking about the danger they were facing, Nate fought a combination of fear and fury. It wasn’t fair. After everything Erin had been through, she didn’t deserve this, to be in the middle of a hideous situation caused by evil men who were out to get him. Nate swallowed past the lump in his throat and sent a little prayer to a god he didn’t call on much. He wasn’t sure it was the kind of prayer God appreciated but at least it was heartfelt.
Please God let me kill any bastard who so much as threatens her. And please, help me make his death as painful as possible.
Chapter 7
“Glad to see you got most of your crew here tonight, Nate.”
The big Irishman’s grin was as broad as usual, as he pulled on the tap filling the frosty mugs in front of him. But the tension in his voice mirrored the rigid set of his shoulders.
Nate leaned back casually against the bar and swept his gaze around the crowded pub. He made sure his question reached Kieran’s ears only.
“Expecting trouble, Kieran?”
Without looking Nate’s way, Kieran shrugged.
“Have to be crazy not to—see’n who’s here.” He added with a grimace. “Trouble’s as sure as stink on shit when those two show up at the same time.”
Nate kept his gaze as casual as his smile. It wasn’t hard to see what had the burly bartender’s panties in a bunch. Nate’d spotted Jeb’s Jag in the parking lot and thought he recognized Cougar’s truck. Even before they entered, he’d rounded up his men and laid out a preliminary plan in the event there was trouble. Not exactly an unexpected outcome.
“You got your trusty enforcer polished up and ready to go, Kieran?”
Kieran managed a passably genuine smile. He reached down behind the bar and pulled out a gleaming Louisville Slugger.
“Hell, Nate, Killebrew here is as ready as he was when your cousin Luke threw me one of his spit-laced fastballs. And just like then, I’m ready as ever to catch a piece of any ball or guy who thinks he can take on Kieran Mallory.”
Nate guffawed.
“I respect that bat of yours as much as Luke did, buddy. Just know that we got your six, me and all of my men.”
Glancing at the group in the corner, Nate huffed.
“Hell, looks like Jeb and his band of Neanderthal idiots brought their wives tonight. Maybe they’re looking for no more than a chance to get drunk and show off their fancy two steps.
Kieran chortled. “Well, they got the drunk part covered, that’s for sure. Swear to God, Nate, Jeb’s turning into a bigger drunk than his daddy ever was. And he’s meaner than old man Jones was. At least the old guy just ranted crazy shit until he passed out. Jeb’s quieter. But a hell of a lot meaner. More dangerous, if you know what I mean.
“Yeah, Kieran. I know just what you mean.”
Nate carried a tray of glasses over to their table and set it down. He passed a beer to Erin, Annika and Kaitlin and one to Dan’s wife who had joined them. He shoved the others over to Sam, Dan and to Connor.
Keeping his voice low, he murmured, “This could be an exciting night, fellows. Seems as though we’re not the only ones celebrating.”
Dan’s expression was tense.
“Yeah, I saw them too. I’m surprised. This is the first time I’ve seen Cougar here since he and Jeb went their separate ways. Whadda you think, Nate? Think they really are on the outs or is it just a subterfuge to confuse us? You know, make us think they’re enemies to keep us heading in two different directions. Like fuckin’ cats chasing our tales?”
“Only one way to find out, Dan.”
Nate smiled at the beefy Lieutenant.
“I’m
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