Page 18 of Cowboy (Fury Vipers MC: Dublin Chapter #4)

COWBOY

“Y ou good?” Jer asks as he joins me on the porch. Caoimhe and Saoirse are fast asleep. Both of them were exhausted. I hate to think about what they’ve been through, but now that Jer’s here, I need to know every detail.

“Tell me,” I urge him, my voice tight.

Jer sighs heavily, his expression grim. "It's bad, Cowboy. Really bad. From what we've gathered, Caoimhe and Saoirse were part of a high-end trafficking ring. They weren't just snatched off the street—they were specifically targeted and sold to wealthy buyers."

I clench my fists, rage boiling inside me. "Who?" I growl. "Who did this to them?"

"We don't have all the names yet," Jer says, shaking his head.

"But we're working on it. What we do know is that Caoimhe was initially taken to a private island owned by a man named Blackwood.

He's dead now, heart attack a few months back.

After that, they moved around a lot before ending up here in Dublin. "

I try to process this information, my mind reeling. "And Saoirse? How did she end up with Caoimhe?"

Jer's face darkens. "Saoirse was sold by her own mother.

Can you believe that? Sold to these monsters.

Caoimhe's been protecting her ever since.

A woman named Maria has spoken to me. She was at the Blackwood home, taken much like Caoimhe was.

She gave me an insight as to what had gone on.

She escaped when they were taken. One of my guys heard someone asking questions about Caoimhe and Saoirse, and it was Maria. "

I feel sick to my stomach. How could anyone do that to a child? "Jesus Christ," I mutter.

"There's more," Jer continues, his voice low. "Gráinne, was the doctor who examined them... she's worried about Caoimhe's health. Long-term malnutrition, signs of physical abuse. She wants Caoimhe to go to the hospital for a full workup."

I nod, understanding the necessity but knowing how difficult it will be to convince Caoimhe. "I'll talk to her about it," I say. "But, Jer, I need to know, how deep does this go? Are they still in danger?"

Jer meets my eyes, his gaze steady. "We're doing everything we can to dismantle this ring, but yeah, there's still a risk. These people have connections, money. They won't give up easily."

I straighten up, determination setting in. "Then we'll just have to make sure they can't get to them. I'm not letting anyone hurt Caoimhe or Saoirse ever again."

Jer nods, clapping me on the shoulder. "I know you won't, son. And you've got all of us behind you. Whatever you need."

As Jer leaves, I stand on the porch for a long moment, staring out into the night. My mind is racing with everything I've learned, with all the horrors Caoimhe and Saoirse have endured. But one thing is clear, I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, to help them heal.

I turn and head back inside, locking the door securely behind me. Tomorrow will bring new challenges, but for now, I take comfort in knowing that Caoimhe and Saoirse are here, safe under my roof. It's a start.

* * *

I hear the rumble of engines in the distance. My brothers are on their way.

As the engines grow louder, I step out onto the porch to greet my brothers. Pyro pulls up first, followed closely by Tank and Bozo. They cut their engines and dismount, their faces grim.

"How are they?" Pyro asks as he approaches.

I run a hand through my hair, exhaustion hitting me suddenly. "Sleeping. They're... they're pretty messed up, Py. It's bad."

Bozo nods, his expression dark. "Grá filled me in on some of it. Jesus Christ, what those bastards did to them..."

"We'll make them pay," Tank growls, his fists clenching at his sides.

I nod, grateful for their support. "Yeah, we will. But right now, Caoimhe and Saoirse need to feel safe. They need time to heal."

"Whatever you need, brother," Pyro says, clapping me on the shoulder. "We're here for you. All of us."

Just then, I hear a small sound from inside the house. Turning, I see Caoimhe standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with fear as she takes in the sight of my brothers.

"It's okay," I say quickly, moving to her side. "These are my brothers. They're here to help."

Caoimhe nods, but I can feel her trembling beside me. I wrap an arm around her shoulders, trying to offer some comfort.

"Boys, this is Caoimhe," I say, my voice gentle. "Caoimhe, this is Pyro, Tank, and Bozo. They're family."

The guys nod, keeping their distance, understanding Caoimhe's fear.

"Nice to meet you, Caoimhe," Pyro says softly. "We're glad you're safe now."

Caoimhe manages a small nod, pressing closer to my side. "Thank you," she whispers.

I can see the rage in my brothers' eyes as they take in Caoimhe's fragile state, but they keep their expressions neutral, not wanting to scare her further.

"We just wanted to check in," Tank says. "See if you needed anything."

I shake my head. "We're good for now. Thanks, brothers."

As they turn to leave, Bozo speaks up. "Caoimhe? Grá wanted me to tell you that she's here if you need anything. Day or night."

Caoimhe nods again. "Tell her thank you," she says softly.

Once they're gone, I guide Caoimhe back inside. "You okay?" I ask gently.

She takes a shaky breath. "I... I don't know. It's all so overwhelming."

I nod, understanding. "I know. But you're safe now, I promise. No one's going to hurt you or Saoirse ever again."

Caoimhe looks up at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope. "Do you really mean that?" she asks softly.

I nod, cupping her face gently in my hands. "I swear it, Caoimhe. I'll protect you both with my life if I have to."

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; the strong, determined woman I remember.

"Thank you," she whispers. "For everything."

Just then, we hear small footsteps on the stairs. Saoirse appears, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Caoimhe?" she calls out, her voice trembling slightly.

Caoimhe immediately moves to the little girl, scooping her up in her arms. "I'm here, sweetheart. Did you have a bad dream?"

Saoirse nods, burying her face in Caoimhe's neck. "I dreamed they came back for us," she whimpers.

My heart clenches at the fear in the child's voice. I move closer, speaking softly. "It's okay, Saoirse. You're safe here. No one's going to hurt you."

Saoirse peeks out at me, her eyes wide and wary. "Promise?"

"I promise," I say firmly. "I'll keep you and Caoimhe safe."

Caoimhe strokes Saoirse's hair, murmuring soothing words. I watch them, marveling at the bond between them. Despite all they've been through, they've found comfort and strength in each other.

"How about some hot chocolate?" I suggest, trying to lighten the mood. "That always helps me sleep."

Saoirse's eyes light up a little at this. "With marshmallows?"

I can't help but smile. "Of course. The more, the better."

As I move to the kitchen to prepare the hot chocolate, I hear Caoimhe talking softly to Saoirse, reassuring her. I'm struck by how naturally she's taken on this maternal role; how fiercely protective she is of the little girl.

When I return with three mugs of steaming hot chocolate, topped with a generous heap of marshmallows, Caoimhe and Saoirse are curled up together on the couch. I hand them their mugs, careful not to spill.

"Thank you," Caoimhe says, giving me a small smile.

We sit in comfortable silence, sipping our hot chocolate. After a while, I notice Saoirse's eyes starting to droop.

"I think it's time for bed," Caoimhe says gently, setting aside her mug.

I nod, standing up. "I'll be down here if you need anything."

As Caoimhe leads Saoirse upstairs, I start tidying up the living room, my mind racing. The protective instinct I feel toward both of them is overwhelming. I know the road ahead won't be easy, but I'm determined to help them heal and to keep them safe.

I'm just finishing up when I hear a soft footstep behind me. Turning, I see Caoimhe standing at the bottom of the stairs, her arms wrapped around herself.

"Saoirse is asleep," she says quietly. "I... I couldn't sleep. My mind won't shut off."

I nod, understanding. "Want to talk about it?"

She hesitates for a moment, then nods. "Yeah, I think I do."

We settle on the couch, Caoimhe curling her legs under her. She's silent for a long moment, and I don't push her. Finally, she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It was hell, Ciarán. Every day, every moment... I thought I was going to die. But I couldn't. Saoirse needed me." She trails off, her eyes filling with tears.

I reach out, gently taking her hand. "You protected her. You kept her safe."

Caoimhe nods, wiping at her eyes. "I had to. She's just a child. I was scared they'd hurt her like they hurt me."

My heart clenches at her words, at the pain in her voice. "You're incredibly strong, Caoimhe. What you've been through, what you've done for Saoirse... it's amazing."

She looks at me, her eyes searching my face. "I don't feel strong. I feel... broken. Damaged."

I squeeze her hand gently. "You're not broken, Caoimhe. You're a survivor. And I promise you, we're going to get through this. Together."

Caoimhe leans into me then, her body shaking with silent sobs.

I wrap my arms around her, holding her close, offering what comfort I can.

As she cries, I make a silent vow. I will do whatever it takes to help her heal, to make her feel safe again.

And I will make sure that the bastards who did this to her and Saoirse pay for what they've done.

As Caoimhe's sobs subside, I continue to hold her, gently stroking her hair. The weight of everything she's been through settles heavily on my shoulders. I want nothing more than to take away her pain, to erase the horrors she's endured. But I know it's not that simple.

"Caoimhe," I say softly, pulling back slightly to look at her. "I want you to know that you're not alone anymore. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

She looks up at me, her eyes red-rimmed but filled with a glimmer of hope. "I... I don't know if I can ever be the person I was before, Ciarán. So much has changed. I've changed."

I nod, understanding. "You don't have to be who you were before. You just need to be you, whoever that is now. And I'll be here, no matter what."

Caoimhe takes a shaky breath then leans her head against my chest again. "I'm so tired, Ciarán. So tired of being afraid, of looking over my shoulder."

"I know," I murmur, tightening my arms around her. "But you're safe now. I promise you, I won't let anyone hurt you or Saoirse ever again."

We sit in silence for a while, the only sound our quiet breathing. I can feel Caoimhe gradually relaxing against me, the tension slowly leaving her body.

"Ciarán?" she whispers after a while.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For everything. For not giving up on me."

I press a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "I could never give up on you, Caoimhe. Never."

As the night wears on, I feel Caoimhe's breathing even out as she falls asleep in my arms. I don't have the heart to move her, so I settle back on the couch, making sure she's comfortable.

Looking down at her sleeping face, I'm struck by how vulnerable she looks. The fierce, independent woman I remember is still there, but she's buried beneath layers of pain and trauma. I silently vow to do whatever it takes to help her find herself again, to help her heal.

As I drift off to sleep myself, my mind is already racing with plans. We need to make sure Caoimhe and Saoirse get the help they need, both physically and emotionally. And we need to track down every last person involved in their kidnapping and abuse.

But those are concerns for tomorrow. For now, I take comfort in the fact that Caoimhe is here, safe in my arms. It's not much, but it's a start. And for tonight, it's enough.