Page 8 of Beautiful Trauma

Something appeared to click in the receptionist’s eyes. When she started to reach for what I imagined was a panic button, Eamon dove over the desk and tackled her to the ground.

“Fucking hell,” I muttered as Eamon muffled her screams with his hand.

As I came around the desk, I shook my head. “Was that necessary?”

“Hell yes, it was considering she was about to sound the alarm.”

Considering Eamon was only nineteen, he still had a lot to learn. Sweeping my hands to my hips, I countered, “And what do you think Callum would say about your technique?”

Eamon rolled his eyes. “Would you just get on with it?”

I squatted down beside them. With my eyes locked on the receptionist’s, I asked, “Do you promise not to scream if my brother takes his hand away?”

When she nodded, Eamon eased his hand away. “Please don’t hurt me,” she pleaded in a whisper.

Gently, I cupped her cheek. “You’re safe. I promise.” Tilting my head at her, I asked, “What’s your name?”

“C-Callie.”

“Callie, I’m sorry that my overzealous, and somewhat idiotic brother, inflicted pain on you–” At Eamon’s huff, I shot him a look. Turning back to Callie, I said, “But you and I both know that we couldn’t have you alerting your boss that we were here.”

“I understand.”

“Since you obviously know what kind of man your boss is, I’m going to shoot straight with you. We have business that we need to take care of with him, and that business requires that he doesn’t get tipped off that we’re here.”

“Yes,” she replied in a pained whisper.

“So, I’m going to help you up, and then you’re going to take an extended coffee break. When you come back, you’ll tell anyone that asks questions that you weren’t here.”

As I rose to my feet, her words froze me. “He’s my father.”

“Fuck,” Eamon muttered.

With a grimace, I held out my hand to her. As she slipped hers into mine, I gently eased her up. When she finally pulled her gaze to mine, I gave her a regretful smile. “I’m sorry, but your father has been skimming off the top of the shipments he owes us. Since you’re a part of our world, you know what has to be done.”

Pinching her eyes shut, she bobbed her head. “My mom left him because of what he was doing. She hates that I work here because she says he’s going to get me killed.”

While I wanted to agree with her mother, I didn’t want to frighten her more than she already was. My fury at Lowry grew that he would do something so fucking stupid that it would endanger his daughter’s life.

After squeezing her hand, I said, “You have my word that no harm will befall you and your mother because of your father.”

“Thank you.” After swallowing hard, she asked, “Will you kill him?”

Eamon sneered at her. “How the fuck do we get our money back if he’s dead?”

I shot Eamon a glare before looking back at Callie “Please excuse my brother. He has yet to learn any social graces and persists in acting like a jackass.”

“Fuck you,” Eamon growled.

Ignoring him, I focused on Callie. “We will spare him this time because we need our money back.” At her relief, I shook my head. “But if he continues to double-cross us, I’m afraid we won’t show mercy the next time.”

She swallowed hard before nodding. “I understand,” she whispered.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a crisp hundred-dollar bill. I held it up in front of Callie. “Take this and go to the nearest bar and have a couple of drinks.”

Eamon snorted. “Feckin’ hell, Kellan.”

Callie’s gaze bounced between the two of us. “I can’t take your money,” she protested.