Page 8 of Cowboy (Fury Vipers MC: Dublin Chapter #4)

COWBOY

ONE YEAR AGO

“Y ou good?” Tank questions as he takes a seat beside me. “You’ve been quiet these past couple of days.”

I grit my teeth, not wanting to talk about it. “I’m grand,” I lie. “Are you working tonight?”

It’s been three and a half years since I last saw Caoimhe.

She ran from me, managed to slip into the crowd.

She blended in seamlessly, which meant she’d been doing it for a while.

I fucked up by grabbing her the way I did.

I was just so fucking relieved that I found her.

But since then, there’s been no word, no sighting, despite Travis having his men and women, everyone who works for The Agency, keeping an eye out for her.

She’s managed to keep to the shadows. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

It could mean that she’s dead. Fuck, I won’t think that. I can’t. She has to be alive.

The leads on the trafficking ring have gone.

They died down around two years ago, and nothing has resurfaced since.

Those who were involved in purchasing the women and children who were trafficked have died over the past four years.

Everyone involved seems to have gone, meaning there’s nowhere else to look.

Dylan’s death is still unsolved, and I hate that those fuckers have gotten away with it.

“Damn, Cowboy, are you sure you’re okay? You just spaced out,” Tank says, his gaze focused on me.

Almost a year ago, I met him when we both were recruited to prospect for the Fury Vipers MC here in Dublin.

It wasn’t something I had ever considered, but when I met Pyro, the president, along with Wrath, Raptor, and Preacher, I was intrigued.

I found a family here, and I like being part of the Fury Vipers.

The club has four other chapters, all of which are in the US.

This chapter is the only one in Europe, and that was due to Pryo and his old lady being together.

Chloe Gallagher is the daughter of Denis Gallagher—the Mafia boss—and there was no way she was going to be anywhere but here in Dublin, so the Fury Vipers took a vote and they voted in favor of opening a new chapter here in Dublin.

Now, there are three new members who have joined them: me, Tank, and Connor.

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about some old shit."

Tank nods, not pushing further. He knows I don't like to talk about my past much. "Well, if you need to talk, you know I'm here, brother."

"Thanks," I say, appreciating his support. "Will you also be working tonight at the club?" I ask again, as I had spaced out.

The Fury Vipers MC owns a strip club, along with a custom build shop. I work in both. Tonight, I’m in the club as a bouncer to ensure the women on stage, as well as on the floor, don’t get any hassle.

"Same here." Tank grins. "Should be a good night. I heard Jer’s going to be around."

I raise an eyebrow. "Jerry Houlihan? Damn, that man has his pies in everyone’s business. Didn’t realize he was in with the Vipers. How long have they been working with one another?"

Tank shrugs. "Not sure. Pyro just mentioned he’d be in this evening. I think Jer’s close as he’s Chloe’s uncle. You know how it is with family."

I nod, understanding all too well. I still have Ma, but I lost Dylan and then Caoimhe disappeared. The Vipers became my family, and being a part of the brotherhood gave me a sense of belonging I desperately needed.

As we head into the club to start our shift, I can't shake the thoughts of Caoimhe. I've not stopped thinking about her. I’m always wondering where she is and if she’s doing okay.

As Tank and I enter the club, the familiar pulsing beat of music and flashing lights greet us. We nod to a few of our brothers as we make our way to our positions. I take my usual spot near the main stage, keeping a watchful eye on the crowd.

The night progresses as usual, a mixture of rowdy patrons, drunk businessmen, and the occasional troublemaker that needs to be escorted out.

But my mind keeps drifting back to Caoimhe.

Where is she now? Is she safe? The questions that have haunted me for years resurface, and I have to force myself to focus on the job at hand.

Around midnight, I spot Jerry Houlihan entering the club, flanked by two of his men, Stephen Maguire and Maverick O’Hara, Chloe’s uncle.

He nods in my direction as he passes, heading toward the VIP section, where I know Pyro is waiting.

There's something about Jerry that sets me on edge.

Maybe it's the way his eyes seem to take in everything, calculating and cold.

A commotion near the bar pulls my attention away. A drunk patron is getting handsy with one of the waitresses. I move quickly, grabbing the man's arm and pulling him away.

"Time to go," I say firmly, steering him toward the exit.

He struggles briefly, but one look at my face and he thinks better of it. As I'm escorting him out, I catch a glimpse of something that makes my heart stop.

A flash of familiar auburn hair and a pair of green eyes I'd recognize anywhere.

Caoimhe.

She's here, in the club. Our eyes lock for a split second before she disappears into the crowd. I'm frozen in place, my mind reeling. After all this time, she's here?

I barely register the drunk patron stumbling away as I scan the crowd desperately, trying to spot her again. But she's gone, vanished like a ghost.

"Cowboy!" Tank's voice snaps me back to reality. "Everything alright?"

I blink, trying to compose myself. "Yeah, just... thought I saw someone I knew."

Tank gives me a curious look but doesn't press further. "Alright. Jerry's asking for you, says he wants to talk."

My brow furrows in confusion. Why would Jerry Houlihan want to talk to me? But I nod, following Tank toward the VIP section.

As we approach, I can't shake the feeling that something big is about to happen. Between Caoimhe's sudden appearance and Jerry's request, my instincts are on high alert.

Jerry looks up as we enter, a smile that doesn't reach his eyes spreading across his face. "Ah, Cowboy. Just the man I wanted to see."

I stand there, tension coiling in my muscles. "What can I do for you, Mr. Houlihan?"

He leans forward, his voice low. "I hear you've been asking questions about a certain trafficking ring.”

“Last I heard, it was dismantled after the information that was gathered. They took out everyone who was part of it. From what I know, it’s no longer in operation.”

Jer shakes his head. “While that’s true from the outside, it’s not the actual truth. You see, from what me and my guys have uncovered, those at the top are very much still involved.”

I tense. “Who?”

He shakes his head. “We’re looking into it. Are you still in contact with Travis James?”

I narrow my eyes. “What’s it to you?”

He laughs. “Calm down, Cowboy. I was just asking. Travis is a friend. I know he’s been looking into this as well.”

"As I said, the trail ran cold, but I'm interested in knowing what you have found out. Have you spoken with Travis?" I ask, knowing he'll want to know everything too. We've both been keeping our ears to the ground, trying to uncover who's at the top of this ring.

Jerry leans back, his eyes calculating. "I have some information that might interest both you and Travis. But I need to know I can trust you."

I feel my heart rate pick up. "You can trust me," I say firmly. "I've been looking into this for years. I lost people I care about because of these bastards."

Jerry nods slowly. "I heard about your friend Dylan. Tragic business, that. And his sister... Caoimhe, was it? I heard she went missing not long after."

I tense at the mention of Caoimhe's name. How much does Jerry know?

"What exactly are you getting at, Jerry?" I ask, trying to keep my voice level.

He leans forward, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "The trafficking ring never truly went away. They just got better at hiding. And the people involved... let's just say they're in positions that make them virtually untouchable."

My mind races. Does Caoimhe know about this? Is that why she's back?

"I'm listening," I say, my full attention on Jerry now.

He glances around before continuing. "I can't say much here. Too many ears. But if you're serious about pursuing this, meet me tomorrow night. I'll text you the details. And bring Travis if you can. He'll want to hear this too."

I nod, my mind already whirling with possibilities. "I'll be there."

As Jerry stands to leave, he pauses, fixing me with an intense stare. "Be careful, Cowboy. The people we're dealing with... they don't play by any rules. And they'll do anything to keep their secrets buried."

With that ominous warning, he's gone, leaving me with more questions than answers. I scan the club once more, hoping for another glimpse of Caoimhe, but she's nowhere to be seen.

As I resume my post, my mind is racing. After years of dead ends, could we finally be close to uncovering the truth? And what role does Caoimhe play in all of this?

One thing's for certain: tomorrow night's meeting with Jerry could change everything. I just hope we're ready for whatever comes next.

* * *

The next evening, I find myself in a dimly lit pub on the outskirts of Dublin. Travis sits across from me, his face grim as I fill him in on my conversation with Jerry.

"Are you sure you saw Caoimhe at the club?"

"Yeah," I confirm, the memory of her wide eyes still haunting me. "It was only for a split second, but I'm sure it was her."

Travis leans back, his brow furrowed in thought. "That's... interesting timing. Her showing up just as Jerry starts talking about new information on the trafficking ring."

I hadn't made that connection, but now that Travis mentions it, it does seem like more than coincidence. "You think she might be involved somehow?"

"I don't know," Travis says, shaking his head. "But we can't rule anything out at this point. Caoimhe's been off the grid for years. We have no idea what she's been up to or who she might be working with."

The thought of Caoimhe being involved in something dangerous makes my stomach churn. "I need to find her, Travis. I need to know she's safe."

Travis gives me a sympathetic look. "I know, Ciarán. But right now, we need to focus on what Jerry has to tell us. If it's as big as he's hinting, it could blow this whole thing wide open."

Just then, the pub door swings open and Jerry walks in. He spots us and makes his way over, sliding into the booth next to Travis.

"Glad you both could make it," Jerry says, his voice low. "What I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this table, understood?"

We both nod, and Jerry leans in closer.

"The trafficking ring you've been chasing? It's just the tip of the iceberg. We're talking about a network that spans multiple countries, with connections in government, law enforcement, even international organizations."

I feel my blood run cold. "How deep are we talking?"

Jerry's eyes are hard. "Deep enough that they can make people disappear without a trace. Deep enough that they can influence policy decisions at the highest levels."

Travis leans forward. "And you have proof of this?"

Jerry nods. "Some. Not enough to bring them down yet, but enough to start unraveling their operation. That's where you two come in."

"What do you need from us?" I ask, my mind already racing with possibilities.

"Information," Jerry says simply. "You've been investigating this for years. You have connections, resources that I don't. Together, we might be able to piece together the full picture."

I exchange a glance with Travis. This is what we've been waiting for—a real chance to bring down the people responsible for Dylan's death and so much more suffering.

"We're in," Travis says firmly. "What's our next move?"

Jerry pulls out a small USB drive. "This contains everything I've gathered so far. Names, dates, locations. It's not complete, but it's a start. The one name that stands out the most is The Revenant. We’re trying to find out who or what it is, but everyone is tight-lipped about it."

As Jerry hands over the drive, I can't help but think of Caoimhe. Is she somehow connected to all this? And if she is, how far is she embedded with it all?