Getting Lucky Page 18

  How would she ever make it up to him if she were the reason he’d been discovered?

  “Aye, it’s true ye did,” O’Banion said, taking another drag off his cigarette. “And I do love me racehorses. Ye did good, and me men should be retrieving me long lost baby from that snake Donaghy now.” He glared at Hennessey. “If ye hadn’t bungled yer kidnapping at Belmont, he’d be back at me stud farm already. But ye did kill his new foal to make it up to me, right? The filly? Ye said ye did and ye’d better not have lied to me. Ye know what I do with liars.”

  “Aye, I handled it.” Hennessey muttered, looking away uneasily, and changed the subject. “At least I got a shot in on Donaghy while I was at the race. But that fecker and I aren’t finished for what he did to me face.”

  He grunted. “Bastard made ye prettier if he ask me.” Then he grinned at his own joke and turned back to her father, his face showing his disdain. “The two of us, we ain’t square yet. Not even close.”

  Her father looked around, his eyes huge and darting about wildly. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  “Ye really mean that?”

  Her father nodded, his face going from pale to ashen. “Yes. Anything to make us even.”

  O’Banion eyed her father, his expression one of interest. “I did miss me horse. What else ye got?” Then his face changed and his eyes went deadly serious. “Impress me.”

  “I’ll kill Sean Muldoon.”

  Her butt dropped to the ground as her knees gave out and her world crashed around her. The words made her blood run cold—made her want to scream. Her father had looked at the mobster and said them simply, easily. He’d spoken words that would be branded into her brain for all eternity. Four little words that shattered her reality.

  IN TOWN, SEAN, Jake, and Aidan canvassed the area looking for Shannon. With any luck she’d already caught a flight out of Fortune and was home safe. But Sean wasn’t taking any chances. Not after Tim told him he’d dropped her at the Sweetbriar and that thug had said Hennessey knew she was still in town. The B&B had been the first place they’d searched, only to come up empty.

  For what seemed like hours they ran down this street and that one, searching for any glimpse of Shannon or Hennessey. Running on adrenaline alone, Sean slipped down a side alley and came to an abrupt stop. “Oh, thank God,” he declared. He’d told her to go, but she hadn’t listened. He was too happy to see her safe to care.

  There was Shannon plain as day, crouched by a pair of garbage cans, her face devoid of color and her eyes blank with shock. In an instant he was kneeling beside her, his hands cupping her cheeks that had gone cold as ice.

  “Shannon,” he whispered raggedly. “Talk to me.”

  She seemed to look right through him, but said in a small voice, “I’m so sorry.”

  Confused and worried, Sean forgot about tracking Billy and tried to pull Shannon into his arms, because really, she was the only thing that mattered. Her entire body was shaking. But she jerked when he touched her, so he stopped. “What are you sorry for, a mhuirnin?”

  “I lied to you,” she said softly, her eyes huge and dark with emotion. “But I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know.”

  Searching her face earnestly, Sean asked, “What are you talking about, Shannon? I don’t understand.”

  Instead of explaining she pointed to the gap in the fence. “Look.”

  Shifting on his heels as Aidan and Jake arrived, the two men breathing heavily from exertion, he leaned around her and cursed swiftly at what he saw. It was his worst nightmare come to life. Right there in front of him in real time. “Shite! O’Banion and Hennessey. With Callum Charlemagne, that bastard. I knew he wasn’t right. What the feck is he doing with those two?”

  “He’s my father,” Shannon said, her voice flat and void of emotion.

  “I know, love. I’m sorry.”

  Her lips pressed together and her chin began to quiver. “I didn’t know what he was involved in, Sean, I swear. I wouldn’t have agreed if I had known.”

  Anger, betrayal, fear. Emotions reared up inside him over Shannon’s manipulation, and he knew he’d have to acknowledge and sort through them at some point, but right then he only wanted to know one thing. “Did you set me up, Shannon?” He wasn’t sure he could handle it if she had. Not the woman he loved.

  Her eyes never left his as she shook her head vehemently. “No! I had no idea what my father was involved in.”

  Taking a deep breath, he replied, “Okay, then explain to me what you were doing.” He wanted to believe in her innocence. Wanted to believe in her goodness.

  She swiped at the tears on her cheeks with the back of a hand and said, “Our company is on the brink of bankruptcy, and he led me to believe it’s your fault. That we’ve lost almost all our clients to your breeding program over the past few years and had to borrow against our stock to keep the operation going. But now we can’t repay the loan. He told me he was convinced you’re doping your horses and he wanted me to find proof. And I believed him because he’s my father.”

  A dark, bitter smile curled his lips. “Did you find what you came looking for?”

  She shook her head, concern furrowing her brow. “I didn’t, no. But Sean, I didn’t even look very hard.”

  “Well now, that’s a relief.” His voice dripped sarcasm.

  “I meant that I knew you were innocent. Please believe me.”

  How was he supposed to believe anything? Her father was in bed with the Irish mob. The very men who wanted him dead. “I don’t know what to believe.” That much was the truth.

  Shannon reached out and placed a trembling hand on his knee. “Then just listen while I finish explaining before making any decisions, please. That was the story my father told me, but that’s not the truth.” She paused and took a deep, slow breath before continuing. “He lied. I just saw and heard the real story. The truth is he’s a gambling addict. He got in deep with O’Banion and used our farm as a front to launder mob money in an attempt to make things right. But my father kept gambling away all our money and the mob’s, and now he’s in really big trouble with them. I see now that the real reason he sent me out here wasn’t because he’d wanted me to find dirt on you. It was to locate Zeke because he knew the truth about him and he was going to give both of you up to O’Banion in exchange for his debt being wiped clean.” She fisted her hands in her lap. “It makes me angry that I was used and manipulated like that, but it’s the honest truth.”

  His heart squeezed tight at the sight of her beautiful eyes looking so bleak. “I don’t know, Shannon.” Even if he did believe her, how did it change anything?

  “I’ve spent years worrying and trying to please him. I wanted so much for him love me again like he had when I was little that I put up with his bullying. I never stood up for myself. And all that time he’s been nothing but a liar and a thief.” Suddenly, Shannon shot to her feet, her face set in determined lines. “I’ll prove it.”

  He hissed, “Get back here, damn it.”

  “Don’t be foolish,” Aidan demanded. “Stay put and let us handle this.”

  She just shook her head at them as she seemed to resolve something inside. Her shoulders went back and her spine straightened. “No,” she said emphatically to him. “I’m right about you. And I’m not backing down from him this time. I’m done living in fear of his rejection and disapproval, and allowing that to dictate my life. Because I’ve learned that my perspective is valuable and valid, whether he approves of it or not. And I don’t need him to—not anymore. I’m going to prove I know you’re innocent. In fact, I’m going to put an end to this whole fucking thing right now.”

  Fear seized him when she turned and placed her hand on the back gate latch. “Shannon, don’t be stupid.”

  Something flashed in her eyes, and she seemed to grow stronger, more determined right in front of him. “That’s just it, Sean. I’ve been stupid for far too long. Now I’m going to make things right. Stay right here.”

  Before he
could stop her, she swung the gate wide open and said loudly, “Hiya, Dad! Imagine seeing you here!”

  “Feck!” He was on his feet, his heart lodged firmly in his throat. That was the woman he loved, regardless of how she’d come to him.

  And she’d just walked into a death trap.

  SHANNON HAD NEVER felt more determined or more angry than she did at that moment. Her hands shook violently, but she strolled across the cool green grass to the three men on the patio who were currently staring at her like she was an alien.

  “So, Daddy. Care to tell me what you’re doing here with these men?”

  Her father looked completely flummoxed, his face going five shades of red before he stammered, “Why, Sh-Sh-Shannon, what a surprise! What are you doing here?”

  Pasting a fake smile on her face even as her insides seethed, she forced a casual tone. “Well, see, I was just taking a walk since you didn’t want to meet for another half hour or so.” She gave him a wide-eyed innocent look. “Now I see why. You had another meeting.”

  The stocky man called O’Banion tipped his chin and said gruffly, “Ye’d best get out of here, lass. This isn’t where you belong.”

  Shannon had to disagree. “Actually, it is. Sorry.” Part of her was amazed at her courage and could hardly believe what she was doing. But she’d heard of the amazing feats people could accomplish when properly motivated.

  Saving Sean’s life was a damn good motivation.

  Her father must have regained some composure, because he said in that cold, condescending tone of his that never failed to set her off, “Do as you’re told, girl.”

  Then something inside her snapped. “No!”

  His bushy eyebrows shot into his hairline. “Excuse me?”

  But she didn’t hear anything else because a whole lifetime of putting up with his bullying and abuse while she’d kept her mouth shut was coming out. “I said no! I’m not listening to you anymore. My whole life I’ve done everything you asked, no questions. And what has it gotten me? A lifetime of insecurity and a fucking anxiety disorder!”

  “Now that’s not my fault.”

  Her mouth dropped open and she sputtered, fuming at his automatic rejection of accountability. But it’d been that way her whole life and she was done. Just fucking done.

  “Oh really? It’s not your fault? Why, because you’ve never shouted, belittled, or abused me and Colleen? Because you’re such a stellar specimen of humanity?” She scoffed, continuing, “That’s bullshit. You haven’t been a father to me since I was a girl. Ever since you took that business trip to Ireland and came back a different man. But you know what? That’s fine. You can believe what you want because I’m done with you.”

  Her father scowled hotly, clearly not happy about being dressed down in front of these men by his daughter. “I’m your father, young lady. How dare you talk to me this way?”

  “How dare I?” Shannon sputtered. “How dare I?” Marching up to her father she poked him right in the center of his chest. Hard. “How dare you!”

  Reaching into her pocket she yanked out her phone and hit the play button on the video she’d recorded. In stunned silence her father, the mob boss, and the hit man watched themselves on video as they planned their hit on Sean.

  “Seen enough?” she demanded after a few moments. “I know I have. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I’ve already emailed this clip and have copies.” She’d made sure to have backups. Though she was acting more rash than she ever had in her life, she wasn’t that stupid—even if her outward demeanor might suggest otherwise. Minutes before Sean had arrived, she’d managed to email the clip to herself and to Colleen with strict instructions to wait for a signal from Shannon. One simple, blank text from her and her sister would be on the phone with the police immediately. Though she really hoped it wouldn’t come to that, because it would bring Sean under scrutiny and she didn’t want an investigation started on him.

  Suddenly all three men looked past her shoulder and she heard someone approaching. “Shannon, stop,” Sean said from a few feet behind her, Aidan and Jake at his side. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and her heart filled with emotion for him. “I’m saving our life,” she said simply.

  “Our life?” He shook his head warily, his gaze moving from her to the other men and back. “I don’t understand.”

  And she could see that he didn’t. Well, that she could explain. “It’s simple, Sean. I love you.”

  “The hell you do,” Callum said.

  She turned to her father. “You don’t get to decide my feelings. Or my life anymore, for that matter. I love Sean.” She glanced over her shoulder to where he was standing, green eyes wide and his mouth a little gaped. She winked. “Get used to it,” she said lightly, a little amazed at her own boldness. “I’m going to be saying it a lot.”

  Sean just looked at her, stammering, “Umm, okay?”

  “When we’re all done, here you can reciprocate and tell me that you love me too. I’ll let you.”

  That got a grin out of him. And a short laugh. And a shake of his head like he didn’t know what to make of her. “You got a deal.” Then he glanced over her head toward the men on the patio. “How about we extricate ourselves from this little situation first though, love?”

  Why she felt so confident suddenly, she wasn’t sure, but deep down in her heart she knew her father wouldn’t let anyone harm them. If only because she had that video. “Here’s what’s going to happen,” she started and turned back to Mickey O’Banion and Billy Hennessey. “You’re going to forget about Sean. You’re going to turn right around and leave, going back to whatever rock you live under in Ireland. This vendetta you have against him is done. Finished.”

  Billy sneered at Sean, his face bruised and his already mashed nose swollen something terrible. She didn’t feel sorry for him. “It ain’t over.”

  She just raised a brow, giving her best regal expression. “Oh, I think it is. Because if it isn’t, I’m going to broadcast this video all over the fucking Internet, after I take it to the cops, my dear. We can let the police and the whole world see you planning a hit on the man I love.”

  He glared at her hard through puffy, blackened eyes, but fell silent. Next she turned to O’Banion and her father. “And I think there are a lot of people who’d be real interested in learning how you two are in business together.” To her father she added, “I’m seriously disappointed in you. You raised me to be a good, honest person full of integrity. You’re nothing but a liar and a fake.”

  “Shannon,” her father said, his tone conciliatory. But she knew better by now than to buy it.

  Walking backward across the grass, she shook her head at her father, stopping when she reached Sean’s side. “No,” she said again. Just, no.

  A large, hard hand grabbed hers and held it tight. Glancing up, she smiled at the expression in Sean’s eyes. Looked like he believed her after all. “I told you, Sean.”

  The man of her dreams squeezed her hand and whispered back, “I believe you.” And then he glanced at the men, clearly uneasy. “How about we get the feck away from here?”

  Shannon couldn’t agree more. But first, “Do we have a deal?” she said to her father and his accomplices. “Sean’s freedom for our silence.”

  At that moment, Hennessey moved quickly, a single blur of motion, and threw a knife directly at Shannon.

  “No!” Sean said, leaping in front of her. Aidan and Jake yelled and rushed toward her too.

  The knife sunk into Sean’s left shoulder and Shannon screamed. When she glimpsed a shiny piece of metal in his waistband as he began to slump to the ground, she grabbed the gun he’d shoved there, raised it, and in blind panic, fired a single shot.

  “What the feck?” Hennessey said as bright red bloomed on the front of his shirt. He looked at her father, his face filled with disbelief. “I think she got me.” Then he crumpled to the ground as he passed out from the bullet going clean throug
h his side.

  Her father looked from her to O’Banion, and back. “Shannon, what did you do? You just shot him!”

  She didn’t pay him any attention. She was already crouching next to Sean, Aidan and Jake standing guard over them with guns in their hands, raised and aimed steady on O’Banion. “Stay with me,” she ordered feeling more thankful than she could ever say to have the guys’ strong display of protection and support.

  “We’re going to get you out of here, Sean,” Aidan stated matter-of-factly, his eyes dark and stormy. “Just hold on.”

  Though his expression was pained, Sean replied with a strong, true voice. “I’m not going anywhere. It’ll take more than a flesh wound to get me.” He pulled the knife from his shoulder and let it drop to the ground with a clang.

  Thank God.

  “That’s my boy,” Jake said.

  Noticing she was still holding the gun, Shannon rose to her feet and immediately felt Aidan and Jake move to her side, the three of them a united wall around Sean. Raising her hand, she aimed the gun right at O’Banion’s chest. “You want to be next?” she demanded, not entirely sure if she was kidding. “Or do we have a deal?”

  O’Banion lifted his hands, palm out in a display of surrender, and nodded curtly. Funny how having three guns leveled on him and his trusty hit man bleeding and unconscious at his feet suddenly made him real open to negotiation. “We have a deal.”

  Relief flooded her. “Great.” Feeling triumphant, she added a warning to her father: “You’ll be hearing from me.”

  “I’m so sorry, Shannon. I never meant—”

  But she cut him off because she didn’t want to hear it. “Save it. You’re not my father.” As Hennessey started to moan, she said to O’Banion, “Your guy needs help.”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Sean whispered raggedly from the ground.

  Shannon nodded. “Let’s do.”

  Jake and Aidan helped Sean to his feet while keeping their guns leveled on O’Banion.