Page 19 of Puck (The Lost Boys MC)
How stupid did they believe me to be?
“You can’t be serious,” I said as I took a step back.
Rowan stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my neck. “We know you’re not a little girl, Brigid. And yes, we know that you know what our family does.”
I turned to face him. “Good. Then that means I can either be involved, or I can figure it out myself. Got it?”
Rowan looked over my head. “She’s got a point, Pa.”
Shea snickered. “Yeah, I’m with her on this.”
Kieran clicked his tongue. “She could bring a finesse to this meeting that we can’t.”
Even Torin stepped up to the plate. “I mean, did you really think we could keep her in the dark for this long?”
Rowan chuckled. “There’s a reason why we trained her the way we did. Why we showed her how to protect herself. And it certainly wasn't because she was headed off to college.”
I turned to face Dad. “Come on, Daddy. You know I’m an asset at this point.”
And as his eyes danced between my own, he finally relented. “I swear, sometimes I look at you and I still see those bouncing red pigtails you always used to wear.”
I walked over and wrapped my arms around him. “I’ll always be your little girl, Daddy. But you have to let me operate as an adult when it’s necessary.”
He wrapped me up in a tight hug. “I know, I know. You’re not the little princess I sent to the states all those years ago.”
I shook my head against his chest. “Nope. I’m a strong, badass woman who’s capable of carving out a good, strong life for myself.”
He kissed the top of my head. “Ye get that from yer mother.”
His accent made me smile. “I know, Daddy. I know.”
“Plus,” Rowan said as he came to stand beside us, “she’s always had the better instincts out of all of us.”
Torin chuckled. “She can read the hell out of a situation, and we could use that when we’re waist-deep in negotiations and meeting new people.”
Dad groaned as he released me. “You’ve convinced me. Now don’t piss me off.”
I grinned. “Plus, if you guys have good relationships with business partners out here, then they might be able to keep tabs on me while you guys are back in Ireland. You know, make sure I’m safe.”
Dad quirked an eyebrow. “You’d be okay with that?”
I shook my head. “Nope, but I know you’re going to do it anyway, so we might as well get it out there.”
My brothers fell apart in laughter as a grin spread across my father’s cheeks.
“You always knew me too well, a leanbh.”
He cupped my cheek and I nuzzled against his palm. “Also, for what it’s worth, I can be a direct contact if these new people are going to be big business partners.”
He kissed my forehead. “Did you not hear me when I said I was convinced?”
I shrugged as I looked up into his eyes. “Never hurts to keep reminding you of why I’m valuable with you and without you.”
His stare grew serious. “And you’d be okay with our new business partners watching over you? Assuming all goes well tonight?”
I sighed. “I’ll find a way to be okay with it, yes.”
“Then it’s settled,” he said as he finally released me. “Let’s get ourselves ready and prepare to head out.”
I blinked. “Wait, I thought you said the meeting was tonight?”
Kieran rubbed my back with his hand. “We have a pre-meeting ritual that takes a couple of hours. That’s why we’re heading out now.”
I furrowed my brow. “Pre-meeting ritual? What is it?”
Torin chuckled. “Whiskey, steak, and dessert.”
I groaned. “God, that sounds fantastic.”
Dad smiled. “Then, get your ass into your room and get changed into something more professional.”
And he sure as hell didn’t have to tell me twice.
Eleven
Puck
“When are they supposed to be here!?” Frost called out.
West snickered as I chugged back the last of my beer. Stone glared at the man as if he’d ask to see Hayley’s tits or something, but his glare was followed by lights flashing through the living room windows.
So, we all hopped to our feet and shook our heads.
“Sober up if you’re drunk and shut up if you’re not me or Texas. Got it?” Stone demanded.
“And me,” Asher said.
Stone shrugged. “You’re a given.”
“Anything else we should know?” I asked.
Stone sighed. “Don’t fuck this up. This might just be our last chance at battling the cartel fairly.”
A knock came at the door as I tossed my glass bottle into the trash can. It crashed against another bottle, shattering into pieces as Stone opened the front door. The hallway walls prevented me from seeing the group of individuals that came through the door, but judging by the amount of different sounding footfalls, there were at least five of them.
If not six.
“Clancy Fitzpatrick,” I heard an Irish man say.
