Page 5 of His Forced Irish Mafia Bride

“I make decisions regardless of where I am,” I said. That landed differently. I could see it, poor girl. She crossed her arms like that would stabilize something in her.

“So you just start fights wherever you go?”

I looked at her like she was crazy. “I removed a creep who was bothering you. I don’t think I need permission for that.”

“You interfered,” she repeated.

“Yes.” The word sat between us for a moment.

“Oh, right. I get it now. You think I was in trouble?” she asked, faking understanding.

“No.” I paused. “Youwerein trouble, and he was bothering you.”

“You didn’t even know him.”

“I didn’t need to.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she processed that. She didn’t like it, that was clear, but she also didn’t dismiss it. Her attention shifted for half a second, like she was noticing details about me she hadn’t wanted to.

“You don’t belong here,” she said.

“Well, I’m already here.”

“You think that makes you what? The owner? A judge? Some kind of authority?”

“I think it makes me responsible.” That word changed the air more than anything else had, and her reaction came quickly.

“You’re not responsible for me.”

“I didn’t say I was.”

She glared at me. “You don’t even know me.”

“Yes. But I know that you were in trouble. And out of the kindness of my heart, I had to get you out as soon as possible.”

Somehow that irritated her even more. She tensed as she glared at me even more. If looks were weapons, I would’ve been staring into a double-barreled shotgun.

She lifted her chin slightly. “I don’t like you.”

“That’s fine.” She blinked once, like that wasn’t the answer she expected.

Before she could respond, someone called from behind the bar, “Maeve!”

Maeve…so that was her name. She turned her head toward the sound, instinct breaking her focus for a second. When she looked back at me, I was still watching her. She didn’t notice the change in me; most people wouldn’t. I decided the moment was over, so I turned and walked to the door.

At the door, I paused and looked over my shoulder. Maeve was still watching me. Of course she was. Our eyes met across the room. Our gazes held longer than they should’ve, but she didn’t smile; she didn’t do anything. Then I left, and the door closed behind me.

Outside was colder than it had been earlier. l stood there for a moment before moving. Maeve…the name stayed with me. Inside, Murphy’s returned to its typical noisy atmosphere, but I didn’t need to stay to know she was still standing in the same place, trying to decide what I was.

***

Noise never really stopped at the site; it only changed in intensity depending on where I stood. Closer to the cranes, it was creaking metal and machinery and pouring concrete. Farther back, it became conversations—men calling out measurements, instructions, arguments that never lasted long.

I walked through it without breaking stride. A hard hat tilted in my direction as I passed. Someone stepped out of my way before realizing they’d been in it. I acknowledged neither.

My attention stayed forward, fixed on the skeleton of steel rising from the ground like something still deciding what it wanted to become. A foreman met me halfway, instinct replacing his hesitation. “Morning, boss.”

I gave him a short nod. The man fell into step beside me, delivering updates about the south foundation and a delay on reinforced beam deliveries. I listened without interrupting, myeyes scanning the structure ahead, adjusting timelines before he’d finished speaking.