Page 30 of Dark Succession (The O’Malleys #1)

W hen she’d agreed to spend time with Teague’s sisters, Callie had anticipated a spa day or something equally relaxing.

She’d said yes because she needed that relaxation desperately.

Instead, she was near Fenway Park, being towed through the front door of what looked like a warehouse.

She glanced at the two younger women who’d been introduced as Keira and Sloan—more sisters—but they didn’t look the least bit surprised to find themselves in a club packed with gyrating bodies with music so loud she could feel it in her blood.

Carrigan led the way around the dance floor and up a set of rickety-looking stairs.

She grinned at the man guarding the top, leaning forward to speak directly in his ear, her hands resting on his chest. Callie couldn’t hear his laugh, but she was grateful when he stepped back and allowed them through the door.

Inside, it was moderately quieter—at least to the point where she could almost hear herself think.

She turned to Carrigan. “This isn’t what I had in mind. ”

“Maybe not, but it’s what you need.” She turned and strode over to the bar on the back wall, manned by a woman who could barely be seen over the counter.

“Why don’t you sit down? You look a little shellshocked.” Keira guided her to a U-shaped couch built into the wall. It afforded a small amount of privacy, more than she’d expected because this room was only half-full.

She shot the woman a look. “Are you even old enough to drink?”

“My ID says I am.” She gave a cheeky grin and dropped down next to Callie, dragging Sloan behind her. “This is great. Carrigan never lets me tag along when she slips her leash.”

Things started to fall into place. This wasn’t about her at all—this was about Carrigan.

She couldn’t even blame the woman for using any excuse she could come up with to find a legitimate escape from the gilded cage she lived in.

Callie knew all about that, being how she was trapped in one of her own.

She relaxed back into the seat. She’d been considering making her excuses and getting out of here, but it was the least she could do to stick around for a little while longer.

She might not be free in any sense of the word, but it wouldn’t hurt to let these other women have a little taste of it.

Carrigan reappeared with four shots in her hands. “Let’s start this night off right.”

Oh dear God, this is going to go sideways fast .

But she’d already decided to stay, so she took the glass and held it gingerly between her fingers.

Carrigan sat across from her, next to Sloan.

“Here’s to the men who love us, the losers who have lost us, and the lucky bastards who have yet to meet us. ”

Keira laughed. “Hear, hear!”

They took their shots, and Callie didn’t miss the sick look on Sloan’s face.

Apparently the woman wasn’t much of a drinker—or a partier, since she looked a half a second from bolting.

It was enough to make Callie want to hug her, or offer some meaningless words of comfort.

Carrigan must have noticed as well, because she put her arm around her sister in a half hug.

“I know this isn’t your choice of a good time, but you need to stretch your boundaries a little. ”

“For real, Sloan. You’re in danger of becoming that weird sister in the attic who only haunts the halls at night.”

Callie started to smile, but the expression died when she realized neither of them was joking. There were emotional undercurrents in this conversation that she barely understood, so she kept silent and watched it play out.

Keira jumped to her feet. “I know just the thing to get out of your funk. Come on, let’s go dancing.”

“I don’t—” The rest of Sloan’s words were lost when her younger sister yanked her to her feet and through the door leading back the way they’d come.

Carrigan sat back and crossed her legs, making the tiny dress she wore ride up to indecent lengths. “Sisters.”

There was so much meaning and history in the word. “I always wanted one.” Though she’d been happy tagging along behind Ronan on his many adventures when they were children, she’d always longed for someone who would rather play dolls than sword fight with sticks .

“They’re both a blessing and an enormous pain in the ass.” Carrigan shrugged. “But the same could be said for most families.”

The bartender appeared, two drinks in her hand. She set them on the little table between them and disappeared before Callie could get out a single word of thanks. She picked up the glass, examining the mix of bright colors. Her first sip found it pleasingly sweet and fruity. “This is good.”

“Miami Iced Tea. It only takes two to get your head into exactly the right kind of place.” She drank deeply with great relish.

In that case, Callie was going to have to be careful. She didn’t drink often enough to build up the kind of tolerance necessary for both the shots and mixed drinks, and she didn’t trust this situation enough to indulge freely. “Good to know.”

“My brother likes you, you know.”

She knew, but hearing it still made her entire body go warm. “I like him, too.”

“Good.” Carrigan took another drink. “Because if you hurt him, I will have no problem taking you into a back alley and cutting your heart out.” It was delivered in exactly the same careless tone that she’d said everything else, and for a long moment Callie was sure she’d misheard her.

But then the woman turned those pale green eyes on her and she knew she had it right.

As ruthless as Teague could be on occasion, he didn’t have anywhere near the degree of cold that his sister obviously possessed.

Then Carrigan blinked and the look disappeared, replaced by a light, teasing expression. “Do you dance, Callie? ”

“Yes.” She answered without thinking, still marveling at how completely the woman went from icy to warm, and how little effort it seemed to take. This was a person who wore masks with such regularity, there was no telling what she was really like.

Though Callie would bet the cold threats were closer to the truth than the carefree smiles.

“Perfect. Finish your drink and let’s go join my sisters before they get into trouble.”

She took a sip before she realized she was obeying.

“If you’re worried they’ll get into trouble, why did you bring them here?

” Maybe she should have begged off on this outing as soon as she realized what they planned.

Though her father had always taught her that recognizing a threat was important, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Teague’s older sister was exactly that.

Carrigan’s grin was downright wicked. “Sometimes a little trouble is good for the soul.”

Carrigan slid into the mass of dancing people, feeling like she was coming home. In here, surrounded by strangers, with the music so loud there was no chance of conversation, it didn’t matter that she was an O’Malley or that her future was less than certain.

She was blissfully—if temporarily—free.

She dragged Callie behind her and worked her way toward where she’d seen Sloan and Keira from the balcony above.

They’d been directly in the middle of the seething mass—something she suspected was her youngest sister’s doing, because God knew Sloan wouldn’t set foot on a dance floor without being forced.

She’d much rather find a relatively quiet nook and watch the drama going on around her than to actually participate in them.

Well, that was too damn bad, because tonight she was participating whether she wanted to or not.

People were packed in like sardines, making it a struggle to get through, but she relished the contact.

It seemed like the only time she got touched was when she was out here and surrounded by strangers.

She always managed to convince herself that she didn’t need it, but then she’d slip her cage and prove herself a liar on the dance floor.

The truth was she was well and truly skin-starved.

It was enough to make her do truly foolish things.

They found Keira first, her arms above her head, her eyes closed as her hips moved to the grinding beat.

There were no less than three men around her, circling like sharks.

Carrigan cut through them and wrapped her arms around her, laughing as she pulled her away from them.

She glanced over to where Callie had found her other sister and towed her to safety as well.

Carrigan let go of Keira and crossed to Sloan. She leaned in close because she wanted her sister to actually hear. “Are you okay?”

“Mostly.”

She might actually be okay, or she might be saying the right words so as not to make waves.

Carrigan leaned back and looked her over.

She was a little pale and her eyes were a little wide, but she wasn’t searching for the exits.

“If you want to leave, just tell me. I’ll make sure you get in a cab safely. ”

“I’m fine. Go dance. You need this more than I do.”

The truth was a bitter pill stuck in her throat.

She did need this, and she was just selfish enough to drag her sisters and Callie into it in order to justify coming here.

Actually, selfish didn’t begin to cover it, but she wasn’t going to apologize.

For all the love her siblings bore her, there was no one in this world who’d put her happiness and emotional needs above all others.

That was her responsibility and hers alone.

If she had to be a selfish bitch to meet those needs, so be it.