Tiernan: A Dark Irish Mafia Romance

by Henry, Jane

  Aisling

  I’m filled with nervous excitement as I pace the room. Maeve sits on the couch, her legs tucked under her. Caitlin’s taking large, decadent chocolate biscuits out of a white pastry box and lining them up on a plate. Fiona’s rubbing my shoulder, like I’m about to enter a ring.

  “Megan says they’re good to go,” she says, looking at me seriously. “You ready to go, Ais?”

  I nod and blow out a breath. “Aye.”

  We’ve been here for hours while the Clan men orchestrated everything for tonight. We’ve chatted about babies and pregnancies, childbirth and teething, school and recipes and whether or not Keenan should get a tattoo with his wife and children’s names in the little space he has left on his back. Maeve has laughed and joked and chided and shared, made us excellent cups of tea, and Fiona’s poured us sparkling water from Paris, one of her favorite places to go with Lachlan on holiday. I’ve decided it’s best I don’t drink, and they’ve honored that.

  But now it’s time.

  “You look actually a little excited,” Caitlin notes in her bold, honest way.

  I nod. “I am. I’m so ready to be another person.” I take a deep breath and square my shoulders. “The old Aisling dies tonight, girls.”

  Maeve smiles at me proudly.

  “Good lass,” she says. “It’s time to turn over a new leaf, isn’t it? And then after we’ve given you another identity, Tiernan will claim you.”

  I feel my jaw slacken. “How did you know that?”

  She smiles her benevolent grin. “Because he loves you, and any man of the Clan would do just that once he’s set his sights on a woman he loves.”

  I smile at Fiona. “Remember when I asked you if any of them were single?”

  “Oh, aye,” she says with a rueful laugh. “And at the time I thought you were off your nut for being attracted to my brother.” She grimaces. “Honestly, I still find it a bit disconcerting as it were, but things being as they may, I see now why it’s best for the two of you. I really do.

  I turn and give her a big hug. “Thank you.”

  She kisses my cheek. “Of course. I have to admit it’s a bit selfish, though, really…” she bites her lip.

  “Why’s that?”

  Her eyes grow a little misty. “I want you here with me. I’ve missed you so, and I’m excited to have my friend back.”

  I blow out a breath and nod. I’m nervous, but it’s a hopeful sort of excitement, the type you get before a really big day.

  I don’t know all the details of the plan. Tiernan said it would be easier that way, if I could just focus on what I had to do without worrying about a crash or anything like that. He said he’d orchestrate everything.

  And I trust him. I really do.

  “Let’s go,” Fiona says. “You look perfect for your date.”

  My ‘date’ that will end up in my ‘death.’ The death of the woman I once was.

  I’m trembling as I go down the stairs. Tiernan’s got his hands shoved in his pockets, staring out the window as I come. He turns to look at me, his face breaking out into a grin when I hit the bottom of the stairs.

  He gives me a big hug. “You look gorgeous,” he says.

  I’m literally wearing nothing but a white top and plain trousers, and a pair of ballet flats.

  “Tiernan, I might go to the grocery dressed like this,” I say with a laugh. I have nothing but a sheer layer of lip gloss on my lips. I’ve got a little clip holding my short hair out of my face.

  “Doesn’t matter,” he says soberly. “You look lovely, nonetheless. You nervous?’

  “More like nervous excited. You?”

  He shrugs. “I don’t get nervous.”

  But his eyes are twinkling. “Oh, right.”

  He exhales. “I feel like I do before I enter the ring.”

  “Oh?”

  “Nervous energy.”

  We understand each other, then. As in damn near everything.

  Lachlan’s waiting outside for us by the garage, wearing a chauffeur’s uniform.

  “Bloody stuffy,” he says angrily. “Feel like a goddamn funeral director.”

  “You look excellent,” I say with a laugh. He grins.

  “Alright, kids,” he says, gesturing to the car. “In you go, and I’ll go over how this will work.”

  We do what he says. He slides into the driver’s seat, turns, and speaks to us.

  “We chose tonight because it’s quick, and there’s rain. I’ll drive along the road with dimmed lights, and there’s another car that will head our way, driven by Tully.”

  I nod. “Got it.”

  “We’ll collide, but we’ll have it such a way that no one will be hurt, and the cars will be wrecked.”

  Tiernan nods soberly, his fingers gripping mine more tightly.

  “There will be smoke. Fire. We’ll cart her away to safety and have a double taking her place. She’ll arrive at the hospital via ambulance, as will you.” He jerks his chin at Tiernan. “Only it’ll be the real you.”

  Tiernan nods.

  “Megan’s connection will pronounce Aisling dead on arrival. And Shanna’s connection on the local paper will do a story as well. Got it?”

  I exhale. “Got it.”

  “And in the meantime, Aisling will be brought to our house, where they’re waiting to do one more makeover.”

  “Do you know what I’ll look like?”

  He shrugs. “Damned if I know,” he mutters. “But I’m sure they’ll do fine.”

  “Should make me a redhead,” I reply. “Feisty temper and all.”

  He smiles. “’Tis the truth.”

  Tiernan rolls his eyes. “Got a ways to go before we pick out the shade of your hair, love.”

  “Right, then,” Lachlan says. “And off we go.”

  As if on cue, the clouds open. Rain pours down in torrents, lighting ripping through the dark night sky. Lachlan goes at a steady clip, until we come to the bend in the road we expect. I see headlights coming toward us, and instinctively bury my head on Tiernan’s shoulders.

  “Bloody hell,” Lachlan says, and in one split second, I worry that something’s gone wrong. Tiernan shouts, Lachlan swerves to the right, and moments later there’s a sickening crunch of metal. My head slams against the car door, and my world goes black.

  * * *

  When I wake, it’s hours later. I can tell by the way my body’s stiff, like I’ve worked out and a day’s passed. I try to turn my head but find I can’t, there’s some type of neck brace around it. My eyes fly open.

  Where are we?

  Are Lachlan and Tiernan okay?

  “Hello!” My voice rings out in the darkened room, and moments later, I hear the sound of footsteps approaching. The door opens, and a familiar voice speaks from the doorway.

  “Oh, thank God, she’s awake.” Fiona rushes in, swooping down to embrace me before she kisses each cheek. Her voice catches.

  “I was so afraid when they brought you in.”

  Panic gallops across my chest. “Did everything work out? Did it? Is everyone okay, Fiona?”

  A shadow crosses her features.

  “Well. They’re alright, yes.”

  I release a breath I didn’t know I held, and nod.

  “Okay. So… answer my question?”

  Her brow knits and she worries her lip. “Tiernan had a bad head injury. You did, too.” My stomach tightens. “Things didn’t work out quite as planned.”

  I sit up, and my head aches.

  “Stay in that bed, or I’ll call my brother,” Fiona says sternly.

  I roll my eyes at her. “Keep your knickers on, I’m fine.”

  “Okay, then, so. Well, the crash. Tully lost control in the rain. Hydroplaned, and couldn’t stop. He hit the car full on and wrecked both of them.”

  “Mother of God.”

  “You injured your head as did Tiernan. Lachlan broke an arm and several ribs.”

  I’m sick to my stomach.

  Her eyes wa
ter. “Tully was hurt pretty bad…” her voice trails off. I look at her sharply. Already, these men are like brothers to me, every damn one of them. And even if I don’t know them well, I know they did this all for me. And if anyone’s hurt because of me...

  “Oh, God, no… where is he?”

  “He’s at the hospital,” she says. “And they’re touting the men as heroes.” Her voice lowers. “And they bloody well are.”

  I wait for her to tell me the rest. She takes in a deep breath. “When the cars crashed, the plan was for you to be taken away, and for the woman they hired to take your place.”

  I nod in silence, a lump forming in my throat.

  “You were pinned in the car, and… well, it was hard to get you out, but there was smoke and a fire, and only a few witnesses far off in the distance.” She breathes out. “So they did what they had to. My brother was able to extricate you, but as he did, there was an explosion. He’s okay, though, Ais. I swear to God, he is. He’s just injured.”

  I look around and realize I’m not in a hospital like I thought, since I recognize the garden outside this room. “Where am I?”

  “Infirmary wing we’ve made right here at the house. It’s on the uppermost floor.” She sighs. “There were enough of you injured Keenan thought it best.”

  “And the girl?”

  She nods. “Everything went as planned. She took your place. Megan’s contact pronounced her dead when she arrived at the hospital.” Her eyes go wide at the panicked expression on my face. “It was the plan, Ais, she’s fine. Shanna’s got the articles in the local papers.” She sighs, looking older than I remember her looking in recent years. “There’s even a quote from the Prime Minister.”

  “Already?”

  “Carson made sure to work with Megan and Sheena to get word out as soon as possible. And Ais...”

  “Aye?”

  She winces. “Your funeral’s day after tomorrow. Keenan’s notified your mum…”

  I look out the window, suddenly aware that I don’t want to hear this. Those are words no living person should ever hear.

  Your funeral’s tomorrow.

  “Yes?”

  Fiona doesn’t look at me but stares at her hands. “I don’t think she’ll be here.”

  I nod, accepting this. It stings like a fucking spur to the gut, but it’s not anything new to me.

  “I helped plan your funeral arrangements,” she says, her eyes looking past me now.

  “Ack. I’m sorry, Fiona.”

  She shakes her head. “Don’t be. I think it was the smartest thing to do.” She smiles. “And now I’ve got another friend, see?”

  I squeeze her hand. “Aye.” The need to see Tiernan’s gotten stronger with every second that passes. “Fiona. Can I see him?”

  She nods. “Yes, of course. Just beware he doesn’t look himself, alright?”

  I nod, and shove out of the bed. The room reels, and she takes my hand.

  “Easy, now. You’ve been in there for a day or so, and you’ll likely be a little dizzy.”

  “Aye.”

  I look down and realize I’m wearing my pajamas. I wonder who helped me get into them. I wonder many things.

  My funeral’s tomorrow.

  “He tried his damnedest to get down to see you, but I swear to God Keenan almost chained him to the bed. I’ve never seen Keenan and Cormac so serious. Thought they’d put a detail on Tiernan just to keep in him bed. He broke a leg, had to have it set.”

  Another wave of nausea hits my belly.

  “Come to think of it, they may have actually put a guard on him…”

  I could believe it. Something warms at the knowledge that he wanted to see me.

  “Did they, now?”

  “Well, he was quite desperate.” She gives me a small smile. “You’ve bewitched my brother, haven’t you?”

  I shrug and give her a mischievous smile.

  I walk down the hall with her. I’ve never been on this floor of the mansion. Above me are large, brightly-lit skylights, casting vibrant sun on us from above. I bask in the sudden light and warmth, as we continue down the hall. Pretty vases of flowers sit on little tables, and voices are hushed. It smells vaguely of antiseptic.

  She leads me to a room at the far end. Inside the door, deep voices are rising and falling, until Fiona gives a tentative knock.

  “Who is it?” I recognize Keenan’s voice.

  “Fiona and Aisling.”

  The voices on the other side of the door are suddenly silent. Footsteps sound, then the door’s yanked open.

  Keenan looks at me with concern, and I think he’s got more gray in his beard than he had the last time I saw him.

  “You be careful,” he scolds me. “Fiona, you shouldn’t have let her get out of that damn bed.”

  Fiona gives him a haughty look. I have to admire the girl; it takes bravery to face Keenan the way she does. “With all due respect, Keenan, there’s no keeping these two apart. She hardly went out for a jog, but basically toddled down the hall holding onto my arm. Now, if you’d step aside, I’d be very much obliged.”

  Someone chuckles at the other side of the room. “Feisty, sweet girl.” Lachlan.

  Lachlan’s in one bed, and Tiernan’s in the other. His eyes go wide when he sees me.

  “Jesus,” he mutters. I can’t get to him fast enough.

  One eye’s swollen shut, and one arm’s in a sling. He’s got bruises and lacerations along the length of his face, and his leg’s extended in front of him, stiffly wrapped. I wince.

  “You look terrible.”

  “Do I?” he asks, giving me that grin that makes my heart skip a beat. “You look lovely as a picture.”

  I bury my head on his chest, and tears flow freely.

  We’re okay. We made it. We’re banged up some, but we bloody made it this far.

  He holds my hand. “Thought I lost you for real,” he says. “You were knocked out cold, and blood was pouring from your head. Christ, I’ll never get that out of my head.”

  “Never saw a man lift a car like that,” Lachlan says. “Superhuman strength, I’m telling you.”

  I look at him in surprise. “You didn’t, Tiernan!”

  He only shrugs. Jesus. My fierce boxer of a man took the literal world on his shoulders.

  “Did what any of my brothers would’ve done. Did what I had to.”

  Keenan crosses his arms over his chest and looks on.

  “Tell me, Tiernan. How’s Tully?” I ask.

  “Sustained a pretty bad head injury. He was unconscious and we thought he might be in a coma, but I’m told he’s revived and ready to go.”

  Keenan chuckles. “Of course he is.”

  “And you, Lachlan?” Fiona’s crossed the room to him. She sits in the chair, holding his hand.

  “Ach, I’m fine,” he says, brushing me off. “Don’t even need to be in the damn hospital wing. Should be able to leave here tonight, eh, Keenan?”

  Keenan nods. “I think you’re all well enough to go.”

  Tiernan nods. “And tomorrow? Did you tell her, Fiona?”

  “Oh, aye,” Fiona says. “She knows.”

  Tiernan squeezes my hand. “It’ll be fine, love,” he says, running his thumb along the top of my hand.

  I nod.

  “Need to get you a new name,” he says. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and looks somehow shy and smug at the same time. “What do you think of the surname Hurston?”

  I smile, lean in, and kiss his cheek. “I think it’s perfect.”

  Chapter 22

  Tiernan

  I hold Aisling’s hand as we watch the funeral from the upstairs window. Keenan made a fair to-do, and I’m glad he did. He’s got bagpipes in from a friend he knows in Scotland, and the soulful music seems fitting on the day we bury Aisling’s old identity.

  Fiona plays her part well, dressed in black, crying as she holds onto Lachlan’s hand. He walks with a limp, but is otherwise fine. Sheena covers the story with a fri
end from the press, and they take lots of pictures. It’s a bit like a celebrity funeral.

  Father Finn reads from his prayer book. He believes he’s actually burying Aisling. Though he’s smart enough to know in time, we thought it most appropriate that he believe what we’re telling the world. Puts less of an onus on him to tell a lie. His voice carries across from garden, as the funeral procession begins here and will walk as one to the cemetery.

  “I kind of want to go,” Aisling whispers.

  I gather her up in my arms, her back to my front, and wrap my arms around her. “No, love. It’s too risky.”

  She sighs. “I know it.”

  I nuzzle my head in her long brown hair that hangs nearly to her waist. I’ve no idea how the staff did it, but it had something to do with extensions, and she fucking loves it. “Another identity,” she says with a grin. “I’d go red if the Hurston family didn’t already have the corner on that market.”

  Our staff have done wonders. Besides masquerading as a full-length brunette, she’s got all new clothes. She’s even got the most adorable pair of glasses with plain lenses in them, to give her a completely different appearance. Last night when she got them, I made her wear them while I fucked her. My sexy librarian.

  She looks herself but different, and it feels fitting.

  “So have you decided what your new name will be, when I announce your claiming to the Clan tonight?”

  “Faidha,” she says with a smile. “Fiona helped me. Says it rhymes with Freya, her imaginary playmate when she was a child. And supposedly it means wild.”

  I smile. “Fitting, then.”

  Her eyes suddenly go wide. “Wait a minute. Did you say tonight?”

  “Aye,” I say with conviction. “I’ve no interest in waiting a second longer. This display out there’s for the press.” I wave my hand at the funeral procession. “I want them to know you’re mine, and I want us to make that happen. The staff will see a new woman here, and some will suspect, but they’re all bound to secrecy. And it’s not uncommon for a man of the Clan to take a woman in unconventional ways.”

  She looks over her shoulder at me. “Not something you really should take for granted, you know, Tiernan.”