Page 17 of Cowboy (Fury Vipers MC: Dublin Chapter #4)

COWBOY

“Y ou good, brother?” I ask, sliding onto the stool beside Bozo. “Where’s Grá? I’ve not seen her today.”

I smirk as I watch his eyes narrow. “Why are you looking for my woman?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Just asking. Everyone knows she’s yours. I don’t poach my brothers’ women.”

“She’s working for Jer today. Jer called her early this morning saying he needed her.”

His woman was caught up with The Revenant.

She overheard something while working at the hospital and The Revenant thought she was a loose end and wanted to kill her.

Thankfully, she’s still very much alive and The Revenant is now dismembered.

Most of the members are dead, and those that aren’t, well, they weren’t high on the food chain anyway; just low lying thugs or dickheads who wanted a piece of the action.

“Oh, it must be the women Jer found,” Tank tells us as he joins us.

“What women?” I ask, wondering what the hell he’s talking about.

Tank leans in, lowering his voice. "You haven't heard? Jer's men busted a human trafficking ring last night. Found a bunch of women locked up in a container on the outskirts of town. You’ve got to be a scumbag to be involved in that shit."

My gut clenches, my thoughts once again turning to Caoimhe. It’s been a year without any idea where she is or if she’s even alive.

"Shit," I mutter. "No wonder Jer called Grá in. Those women are gonna need medical attention, not to mention some serious psychological help."

"Any idea who was behind it?" Bozo asks Tank.

He shakes his head. "Not yet. Jer's men are still investigating. But Jer’s beyond pissed from what I heard from Jason."

Jason is Tank’s cousin and works for Jer. Of course he’s going to know the ins and outs of what’s going on.

"Fuck," Bozo growls. Just when we thought it was over.

I lay a hand on his shoulder, feeling how fucking tense he is. "We all know that this shit doesn’t happen here. Once the news hits Prez and the Gallaghers, I’m just going to say good luck to whoever the fuck is behind it."

At once, our cells buzz, which means it could only be one thing. Prez.

Prez: Meet me at Jerry’s. ASAP.

"Looks like we're about to find out more," Tank says, sliding his phone into his jeans pocket.

It doesn’t take long for us to get to Jerry’s house. The second we’re off our bikes, Pyro’s there. “This shit is some of the worst I’ve seen,” he growls.

Jer’s face is grim as we approach. "Glad you’re here. We’re going to need all hands on deck."

"Is it a trafficking ring?" Bozo asks.

He nods. "Sort of. The women we rescued? They're not just random victims. They were targeted."

"Targeted?" I ask, wondering what the fuck he’s talking about. "What do you mean?"

Jer runs a hand through his hair. He’s frustrated as hell. "Basically, someone pays a fucking lot of money for someone, they give a detailed description, and then they’re delivered to that person."

Fucking scum, that’s what they are.

"How young are we talking?" Bozo asks, his voice darker than before.

Pyro shakes his head. “The youngest Jer’s men found was six months old.”

Christ, what the fuck? Who the hell are these sick cunts?

Bozo walks into the house, no doubt intending to find Grà.

“Cowboy,” Jer begins. “Son, you need to brace.”

I’m on alert instantly. “What?” I practically bark.

I watch as Py and Jer share a look. “Come on,” Jer tells me as he enters the house.

I round the corner to the kitchen and my world tilts completely. There, sitting at the kitchen table, is Caoimhe. She looks gaunt, her eyes haunted, but it's unmistakably her. For a moment, I can't breathe, can't move.

“Caoimhe?” I growl, my voice rough. I'm across the room in two strides, pulling her into my arms.

“Ciarán,” she says, shuddering against me. “Ciarán,” she whimpers.

“I’ve got you, Caoimhe,” I say gently, so fucking glad that she’s in my arms. “You’re coming with me,” I tell her, my tone brooking no arguments. I turn to Jer. “I want to know everything,” I snap before walking out of the room with Caoimhe still in my arms.

That fucker should have called me. Hell, my fucking president should have called me. There’s not a fucking chance they didn’t know who she was.

“Ciarán,” Caoimhe says as she burrows against my chest. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

I hold her tighter, almost afraid she'll disappear if I let go. "I never stopped looking for you," I tell her, my voice rough with emotion. "Every day, every fucking hour, I was trying to find you."

Caoimhe pulls back slightly, her eyes searching my face. "Really?" she asks, her voice small and uncertain.

"Really," I affirm, cupping her face gently. "I never gave up hope."

She leans into my touch, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opens them again, there's a flicker of the old Caoimhe there, but it's quickly overshadowed by fear she takes a step backward, almost as though she’s afraid of me.

What the fuck happened to her?

“I promise you, Caoimhe, I’m not going to hurt you.”

She blinks, tears coating her eyes. “I know that,” she whispers. “I really do. It’s just hard.”

I close my eyes, trying my hardest not to lose my damn mind and demand answers as to what happened to her.

“Let’s get you out of here. We’ll get you some clean clothes and a shower.”

She gives me a small smile. “That would be good, but there's something you need to know. I'm not alone."

I frown, not understanding. "What do you mean?" Who the fuck is she with? A guy?

"Saoirse," she explains. "She's upstairs sleeping. I can't leave her. She's... she's like my daughter now."

I take a deep breath, glad as fuck it’s not a guy, but confused as hell as to why she has a girl with her. I have so many questions but I know she’s not ready to answer any of them yet. "Okay," I say slowly. "Then she comes with us. We'll figure it out together."

Relief washes over Caoimhe's face. "Thank you," she whispers.

"Come on," I say, gently guiding her toward the stairs. "Let's go get her. Then we're getting out of here."

As we climb the stairs, I can feel the tension in Caoimhe's body. I know there's so much more to her story, so much pain and trauma she's been through. But right now, my priority is getting her and Saoirse somewhere safe, somewhere I can protect them both.

We reach the top of the stairs and Caoimhe leads me to a closed door. She opens it quietly, revealing a small figure curled up on the bed.

"Saoirse," Caoimhe calls softly. "Wake up, sweetheart. We're leaving."

The little girl stirs, her eyes blinking open. When she sees me, she shrinks back, fear evident in her eyes.

"It's okay," Caoimhe soothes, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "This is Ciarán. He's going to help us."

“Ciarán? He found you?” Saoirse says as she looks at me warily, then back to Caoimhe. "Are we safe now?" she asks in a small voice.

Caoimhe nods, gathering the child into her arms. "Yes, sweetheart. We're safe now."

As I watch them, I'm struck by the protective way Caoimhe holds Saoirse; the gentle way she speaks to her. Whatever they've been through, it's clear they've formed an unbreakable bond.

"Ready to go?" I ask softly.

Caoimhe nods, standing with Saoirse in her arms. "Where are we going?"

"Home," I tell her firmly. "I'm taking you both home."

As we make our way downstairs, I can feel Caoimhe tensing up again. I place a gentle hand on her lower back, trying to offer some comfort without overwhelming her.

"Everything okay?" I ask softly.

She nods, but I can see the worry in her eyes. "It's just... we don't have anything. No clothes, no?—"

"Hey," I interrupt gently. "Don't worry about that. We'll get everything you need."

As we reach the bottom of the stairs, Jer approaches us. His eyes flick to Saoirse, then back to me. "Everything alright?"

I nod. "We're heading out. I'm taking them home."

Jer's brow furrows. "Cowboy, I'm not sure that's the best idea. They've been through a lot. Maybe they should stay here where we can keep an eye on them."

I feel Caoimhe stiffen beside me. "No," I say firmly. "They're coming with me. I'll keep them safe."

Jer looks like he wants to argue, but Pyro steps in. "Let them go, Jer. Cowboy's got this."

Jer sighs, then nods. "Alright. But, Cowboy, we need to talk soon. There's a lot you need to know."

I nod, knowing he's right, but I don’t want to deal with it right now. My priority is getting Caoimhe and Saoirse somewhere safe and comfortable.

As we step outside, Pyro speaks up. “Take my truck. I was the one who drove Grà here this morning.”

I turn to Pyro, grateful one of us is thinking. "Can you bring my bike back to the clubhouse?"

He nods, understanding in his eyes. "Of course, brother. Take care of them."

I guide Caoimhe and Saoirse to the truck, helping them get settled. As I start the engine, I glance over at Caoimhe. She's holding Saoirse close, her eyes scanning our surroundings warily.

"It's okay," I say softly. "You're safe now. I promise."

She gives me a small nod, but I can see the doubt in her eyes. It's going to take time for her to feel truly safe again.

As we drive, I can't help but steal glances at Caoimhe. She looks so different from the last time I saw her. Thinner, more haunted. But she's alive. She's here. And I'm never letting her go again.

"Where are we going?" Saoirse asks in a small voice, breaking the silence.

"We're going to my place," I tell her, trying to keep my voice gentle and reassuring. "It's safe there.” Once again, I see the doubt in Caoimhe’s eyes and it’s reflected in Saoirse's. Both of them have been through hell. I don’t even know any details but I can already tell.

I haven’t stayed at my place for a while, though I have someone come in once a week to clean. But I know the girls need this. I couldn’t bring them to the clubhouse, too many men they don’t know.

As we pull up to my house, I see Caoimhe's eyes widen slightly. "This is your place?" she asks softly.

I nod. "Yeah. It's not much, but it's safe and secure."

"It's beautiful," she breathes, her eyes wide as she takes everything in.

I help them out of the truck, noticing how Caoimhe keeps Saoirse close to her side. As we approach the front door, I can feel the tension radiating off both of them. Saoirse's eyes are wide and fear-stricken; her arms wrapped around Caoimhe's neck, holding onto her like a lifeline.

"It's okay," I say gently, unlocking the door, hating that the two of them are afraid. "No one's going to hurt you here."

We step inside, and I quickly disarm the security system. Caoimhe's eyes dart around, taking in every detail of the living room.

"Why don't I show you where you can freshen up?" I suggest. "There's a bathroom upstairs with everything you'll need. I'll place some clothes on the bed for you. I don't have anything that'll fit Saoirse right now, but I'm sure there's a t-shirt you could use.”

Caoimhe nods gratefully. "That would be nice. Thank you."

I lead them upstairs, pointing out the bathroom and the guest bedroom. "Make yourselves at home," I tell them. "I'll go see what I can rustle up for dinner."

As I head back downstairs, my mind is racing.

There's so much I want to ask Caoimhe, so much I need to know.

But I know she needs time. They both do.

I've never seen a child so fearful in my life.

I've always been protective of Caoimhe. As Dylan's sister, she was someone I would look out for.

I'm not sure when she changed from Dylan's little sister to my Caoimhe, but she did, and I'll do everything in my power to ensure that she stays safe.

I'm not letting her out of my sight again.

As for Saoirse, she's got my protective instincts in full gear.

Just as I would for Caoimhe, I'd lay my life down for her.

In the kitchen, I start pulling out ingredients for a simple pasta dish.

As I cook, I can hear the faint sound of the shower running upstairs.

I hope the hot water helps Caoimhe relax, even if just a little.

I don't want to make a huge meal for the girls, as I'm unsure of when they last ate and I don't want them to be sick, but they do need to eat.

About twenty minutes later, I hear soft footsteps on the stairs. Caoimhe appears in the kitchen doorway, her hair damp and wearing one of my t-shirts, which hangs like a dress on her thin frame. Saoirse is beside her, also cleaned up and wearing another of my shirts.

"Feeling better?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light.

Caoimhe nods. "Much. Thank you."

"Dinner's almost ready," I tell them. "Why don't you two have a seat?"

As they settle at the table, I dish up the pasta. I place a plate in front of each of them then sit down with my own.

"Eat as much as you like," I say. "There's plenty more."

I watch as Caoimhe helps Saoirse with her food, making sure the little girl eats slowly. It's clear she's been taking care of Saoirse for a while now.

We eat in silence for a few minutes before Saoirse speaks up. "This is yummy," she says shyly.

I can't help but smile. "I'm glad you like it, sweetheart."

As we continue eating, I can see Caoimhe starting to droop, exhaustion clearly setting in.

"Why don't you two get some rest after this?" I suggest. "You can take the guest room. I'll sleep on the couch."

Caoimhe gives me a soft smile. "Thank you," she whispers as she cleans Saoirse's face. "Why don't you have the master bedroom?"

"You'll feel better knowing there's an entire floor between us and I'll feel better knowing I'm here if anything were to happen."

I stay seated as Caoimhe and Saoirse make their way upstairs.

It takes everything in me not to move, especially when Caoimhe sways on her feet, but right now the girls need time to adjust to me being around.

I'm more than willing to give it to them, because I'm not going anywhere.

When all is said and done, I know that Caoimhe's going to be my old lady.

But first, I need to know who the fuck took her and what the hell happened to her while she was gone.

I need her safe. I have a feeling that her brother's behind this, and if that's true, there's no hole in which Dylan can hide from me, because when I find him, I won’t hesitate to kill him.