Perfect Sinner by Maggie Cole

9

Nolan

It has barely hitnoon when we get to the pub, and it's already at max capacity. There's a line around the corner of the building. My cousins are on the front doors. Leo, the Ivanov bouncer who usually is outside their gym, is in the alley.

O'Malleys usually take care of all the security, so I ask, "Leo, what are you doing here?"

Leo's thick Russian accent fills the air. He crosses his arms. His natural scowl is on his face. "Boris didn't like the situation that occurred last year. He decided it's best to let the Irish party and have a Russian on this one."

I can't argue with Boris's reasoning. Nora brings in a heated tent and creates more seating on St. Paddy's Day. You can't enter, only exit. Last year, my cousin was in charge of alley duty. He decided to drink the whiskey shots his girlfriend kept bringing him. He let people in, and we were over capacity. A fight broke out in the alley. Boris, Sergey, my brothers, and I, had to break it up.

"Should I make you go to the front?" Leo seriously asks.

I reply, "When did you become the comedian?"

He grunts, lifts the rope, and motions for Gemma and me to go through.

I lead her through the tent and into the hallway. A wave of heat and loud noise hits me. There's a crowd waiting for the restrooms.

"This is insane," Gemma shouts.

I grin. "Yep."

Killian steps out of the stairwell with a keg. Declan is behind him, carrying two cases of alcohol.

"About time you showed up. Next keg, you're getting," Killian states.

"How long have you been here?" Gemma asks.

"Six."

"Wow."

"I told you we were running the race this morning," I remind him. I've always been at the pub at six on St. Paddy's Day. It's the busiest day of the year. We open early, and none of us go home until closing time. But things are different this year. Nora is due to have the baby any day. Boris insisted she stays out of the pub, worried about the large crowd. Nora tripled her staff, Boris took over the security, and her manager, Darcey, has things under control.

Before I signed up for the 8K, I spoke with Nora. Gemma's always run that race. She told me it was one of her favorites. I wanted to do something to make her feel like her old self. And I always wanted to run it but never could because of the pub. Nora assured me she had everything sorted and to sign up.

Killian shakes his head and passes us. "Excuses me, lasses. Green beer coming through."

"Why's he so pissy?" I ask Declan and grab the top case he's holding.

"No idea." He leans over and kisses Gemma on the cheek. "How was your race?"

She beams. "Awesome. I beat your brother."

Declan chuckles. "That isn't hard. He's slow."

"Shut up. You run like a turtle," I claim.

"I'm a gazelle and you know it. And I always let you win so I don't make you look bad."

I snort. "Is that what you tell yourself?"

"Yep." He pushes through the crowd.

I nod for Gemma to go and follow them. We get to the bar and set the cases down. Killian is switching out the keg. Declan removes his pocket knife and rips open the boxes.

Gemma reaches in and pulls fifths of green apple schnapps out.

"I'd say take a seat, but there aren't any," I tease.

"It's okay. I'd rather help."

"Those go at the shot station in the game room." Molly comes up behind us. She has her hand on her hip and an annoyed expression.

Gemma takes a deep breath then smiles. "Okay. I'll take them over." She puts the bottles back inside.

"I'll do it." Molly tries to pick up the box but barely lifts it. She turns to me. "It's kind of heavy. Can you carry it for me, Nolan?"

Before I can pick it up, Gemma grabs the box and steps away from the bar. She grumbles, "It's not that heavy."

Molly rolls her eyes. When Gemma is several feet away, she asks, "Why is she here?"

"Molly, we're too busy for you to be chatting. Table sixty-six wants to cash out, and they've been waiting," Darcey reprimands.

Molly leaves, and I spin. "Hey, Darcey."

She pats me on the shoulder. "Any chance you can cover the shot station for about an hour? Nicky and Tyler need a break."

"Yep. On it." I go into the game room. Gemma is helping Nicky open fifths. I can't help but smile. I didn't bring her to work all day, but I like how she just jumped in. Plus, she looks hotter than I imagined in her O'Malley fitted T-shirt and skinny jeans.

I sneak up behind her and slide my palm on her ass. I lean into her ear and whisper, "Did you get a shot yet?"

She tilts her head and smiles. "Nope. These are cute though. I've never seen Lucky Leprechauns."

I reach around her and grab a green shot glass with gold sparkles on the rim. I hold it in front of her and tease, "And you call yourself Irish?"

She laughs. "You seem to enjoy accusing me of not being Irish today." She picks up another shot and clinks the one I'm holding. "Sláinte is táinte."

I chuckle, impressed she knows the Irish verbiage toast meaning health and wealth. "Sláinte is táinte."

We take the shots. I tell her, "They need a break. I'm going to cover them for a bit."

"I'll help."

"You want to be my shot girl?" I wiggle my eyebrows.

"I told you I used to work in a bar, right?"

"You did mention it." I turn away from her. "Nicky, Tyler, go take a break."

They smile gratefully and leave.

Gemma starts dipping the shot glasses in the gold sparkles, and I pour the whiskey and schnapps into the shaker. As soon as I pour the alcohol, it seems like they are gone. The waitstaff keep filling their trays, and the line in the game room gets longer.

Killian joins us and shouts, "Cash only! Use your server if you have a tab."

There's a groan, and half the people get out of line.

"Glad to see you have sprinkle skills, Gemma." He picks up a shot. "Here. Have some fun while you're doing this."

She takes it, Killian and I take another one, we clink glasses and all say, "Sláinte is táinte."

He roars, "All right. Lasses first. If you have a dick, step to the back of the line."

The men start grumbling. Gemma gapes at Killian.

I yell, "If you're an O'Malley and don't move your ass to the back, Declan's going to kick it all the way outside for not having manners."

There's more shouting and men shuffling to the back.

Gemma picks up a tray of shots and yells, "If you're an O'Malley and think you're better looking than Killian or Nolan, form a line here!"

Hoorays and cheers fill the air. My extended family is huge. There are relatives I barely recognize that only come here once a year or for family events.

"Oh, you're out of line now, lass," Killian states.

Gemma smirks. "Looks like everyone thinks they're better looking than you."

"They're blind when they look in the mirror," he replies.

"All tips go to Killian's erectile dysfunction fund," Gemma shouts.

The game room explodes in laughter.

"No blue pill needed here, lass. We're not sure about Declan though," Killian barks back.

My third cousin, Lorcan, says something in Gemma's ear. Her cheeks turn to fire, and my chest tightens. I don't trust him or any of my single cousins not hitting on her. The same goes for the men in line I haven't seen before. I move to the other side of Killian. I growl at the line of men, "Pay, take your shot, and move along. And I better not find out you said something indecent." I scowl at Lorcan until he leaves, knowing full well he said something that will piss me off.

Over the next hour, the three of us make and sell hundreds of Lucky Leprechauns. For every comment Killian or I make, Gemma fires back with something to top it. I don't remember laughing so much. Four staff members come over and relieve us of our duties.

I steer Gemma behind the bar. "What do you want to drink?" I point to the chalkboard with the green drinks.

"Ooh. I'll have a Green Whiskey Smash."

"Good choice." I create two then steer her to the back of the room. Nora keeps a large table reserved for our family and the Ivanovs. Sergey and Kora, Maksim and Aspen, and Declan are seated at the table. I pull a chair out for Gemma, and she sits.

"Is Hailee coming?" she asks.

"She texted they were on their way," Aspen says.

"Darragh insisted they have brunch together," Declan adds then takes a sip of his green beer.

I sit next to Gemma, and Killian slides onto the seat next to me. A server brings over a tray of appetizers. He sits down avocado pesto with a bread and cracker tray, tiny green goddess grilled cheese sandwiches, Irish potato bites sprinkled with chives, and spinach balls with a dill-lemon dip.

"Looks like we're just in time for more food," Hailee chirps and leans over Gemma's back to hug her.

Gemma's face lights up. "Hi! How was brunch with Liam's parents?"

"Good."

Liam kisses Gemma's cheek, slides out a chair for Hailee, and sits in the one next to hers. "What did I miss?"

"Gemma collected tips for your erectile dysfunction." Killian snatches a potato bite off the plate and stuffs it in his mouth.

The table erupts in laughter, and Kora asks, "Have some issues, Liam?"

"Actually, it was for Killian's," Gemma smirks.

"Still think you're confusing Liam with me," Killian replies.

Liam huffs. "Definitely not. I can assure you, I have no issues." He puts his arm around Hailee.

Declan pours a beer. "Hailee, you want this or something else?"

"That works."

Declan hands one to her and one to Liam. I make a plate that has everything on it and put it between Gemma and me.

Hailee turns to Gemma. "When did you get here?"

"Around noon. Nolan and I ran the 8K today."

"You did? That's great!"

"Finn coming?" I ask Liam.

Liam's face hardens. "No. He said he's not into the crowd. Can't say I blame him." Liam glances around the packed pub.

Molly brings a tray of Jell-O shots. The bottom layer is green, the middle is white, and the top is orange. "Darcey said to bring these to you."

"Thanks," everyone says.

She stands next to me and directs, "Try it and tell me if it's good. Darcey said she used the lime gelatin instead of the green apple. She wants your opinion."

Gemma stiffens next to me. I wish she'd stop feeling uncomfortable about Molly. I'm not sure what to do about it.

Everyone takes the shot. Declan proclaims, "Tell Darcey it's a keeper."

"Do you like it, too, Nolan?" Molly asks.

"Yep," I reply, wishing she'd leave. Lately, it feels like she's hanging on me, and I assume it's Gemma's accusations messing with my head. I'm usually not self-conscious about the attention Molly gives me. I'm sure I'm paranoid. Still, I wish she would go to the next table.

She looks at Aspen. "Your bracelet is beautiful."

Aspen smiles. "Thanks. Maksim got it for me in Vegas."

"Did you just go?"

Aspen's lips twitch. "No. It was where we met."

"Wow. You bought it for her right away? So was it love at first sight?"

Aspen and Maksim exchange an intimate look. Maksim speaks, and his Russian accent is thicker than normal. "I answer yes to that."

"But you didn't exactly feel it the first time you saw him?" Molly asks Aspen.

Killian clears his throat. "Molly, your table over there is waving at you."

"Oh! Sorry." She squeezes the top of my shoulder and leaves.

I hand Gemma a fork.

"Is it feeding time?" she mumbles in a bitchy tone, but it's enough for Hailee to hear.

"What does that mean?" Hailee glares at me.

"Nothing." Gemma drinks half her Green Whiskey Smash.

"Might want to slow down, princess," I snap, annoyed at her nasty comment after all the fun we've had today.

"And prince charming is back," she seethes.

"Are you not treating my sister right?" Hailee fires at me.

I scowl at her. "Stay out of our business."

"Watch your tone," Liam warns.

I lean closer to him. "Your woman needs to focus on something else."

"Jesus. Knock it the fuck off. It's St. Paddy's Day," Declan bellows.

I rise and fume, "I need some air. Watch the princess for me."

"You're such an asshole," Hailee mutters.

Gemma mutters, "Hailee—"

"Go ahead and tell your sister what an ass I am to you while I'm gone," I tell Gemma.

Guilt crosses her face.

I shake my head at her and leave. I go out into the alley and behind the outdoor bar. I pour a glass of whiskey and drink it while trying to calm my rage.

Everything was going well. Why she can't just let Molly be Molly and ignore her, I don't know.

Killian joins me, tops off my drink, and fills one for himself. "What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing." I let another mouthful of whiskey burn my throat on the way down. The last thing I want is to admit anything to Killian when I don't even know what Gemma and I are.

He grunts. "It's obvious you two are screwing."

"No, we aren't," I lie, not looking for his unsolicited opinion.

He takes a long sip and gives me his, I don't believe a word you're saying, look. "If you're going to mess around with a girl like that, you better set some ground rules."

"A girl like that? What the fuck does that mean?" I ask, my rage transferring from Gemma to him.

"You know what I mean."

I step closer to him. "No. I don't. Why don't you tell me?"

He shrugs, and arrogance fills his face. "Fun. Outgoing. Sexy as hell and knows it. Also, not someone who likes rules."

I scrub my face. "You just told me I needed to set rules, proving you don't even know what you're talking about."

"Sure, I do. You have to set them and hold her to them. If you don't, she's going to get attached."

"Jesus. You're a dick. You know that?"

I add more whiskey into my cup, feeling slightly buzzed from the quick alcohol intake.

"If you can't handle a girl like her, you shouldn't play around with her. All you're going to do—"

"I said no entry," Leo's Russian accent barks.

Killian and I glance over at him. He's standing up, and four men are surrounding him. Everything about their appearance screams they aren't here to have a good time. They have on matching black hoodies and wool hats. They don't seem fazed by Leo, who's one of the strongest, most intimidating men I've ever come across.

"Who's that?" I ask.

"No idea," Killian says as we both make our way toward Leo.

"This is a free country. Or don't you know this isn't Russia?" one thug with a deep Polish accent states.

Killian and I exchange a glance. Since Darragh set up Bruno Zielinski's sons for Boris's crimes and then arranged to have them killed in prison, retaliation isn't out of the question.

"You aren't welcome here. I suggest you leave," I growl. Killian and I step next to Leo.

"You discriminate against Poles?" one man snarls.

From the corner of my eye, I see the man who insulted Leo stick his hand in his pocket, and the hairs on my arms rise. I didn't bring my gun or knife, since we would be drinking, security is covering the pub, and our drivers have weapons.

Killian steps past Leo. "If you don't turn around and leave in three seconds, you're going to wish for months you did."

None of them flinch. One steps right up to Killian's face. "If you don't let us in—"

Killian throws a right hook at him, landing on his cheek. The other man whips a knife out of his pocket, and I go after him. Two guys lunge at Leo.

Customers scream. I get a left hook into the man's stomach. He gasps but still manages to flick his knife open. He slashes it toward me and cuts through my T-shirt. There's no time to think. I barely feel the pain and grab his neck with one hand then reach for his other arm. I push his neck up and yank his arm until it snaps.

He screams and drops the knife. I punch him in the face, break his nose, and he falls to the ground.

Leo smashes the other two guys' heads together, and they go down.

Killian is on the ground. He has blood on his lips, and he pounds his fists into the guy's face.

A police siren blares into the air and a cruiser pulls into the back alley. Two officers jump out of the vehicle with their guns pointed at us.

There are more screams from the patrons.

"Get on the ground. All of you," the police officer commands.

Killian punches the guy again.

"Now, or we'll shoot!" the officer yells.

I rip Killian off the man and bark, "Killian, get down!"

The seven of us lay on the cold asphalt. I gaze into my brother's crazed eyes.

"You're bleeding," he mutters and glances at my bicep.

"Shut up," the officer growls.

"What the fuck is going on?" Declan demands.

"Everyone stay back," the officer orders.

The next few minutes are a blur. The police handcuff us, read us our rights, and more police cars pull into the alley, along with two ambulances.

"Don't say a word," Declan advises as we get shoved into the police car.

"That goes for you as well," Maksim instructs Leo.

The door slams shut, and I glance out the window. Gemma is standing with her hand over her mouth and tears flowing down her cheeks. Hailee has her arm protectively around her. Liam is on the phone, his jaw clenched, and I'm assuming he's calling Darragh.

I tear my eyes away from them and look straight ahead. The three of us don't say a word, but it's like sardines stuffed in a can. We're all tall and built. When we get to the police station, I walk off the cramps settling in my legs.

We go through the booking process. Mugshots, fingerprints, and a full body search are all conducted. They confiscate our personal property. We get thrown into a cell.

It's crowded. Most of the men are drunk. Some of them have swollen faces or hands. Killian, Leo, and I go to the corner of the cell. Killian peels back my bloody sleeve. He studies it for a brief minute then says, "You're fine. That goon barely scratched you."

"Next time, don't let him hit your face," I reply, staring at his swollen, bloody lip.

He grunts.

Leo steps closer. He glances behind him then leans into us. "Were they Bruno's guys?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen them before. Have you?" I ask.

Leo's face hardens. "No. But his men have made themselves known outside the gym."

"Why would they surface around the Ivanovs?" I ask.

"They better not be coming after Nora or the baby," Killian fumes.

"Calm down." Leo glances behind him again. "Have you talked to Adrian or Obrecht about Dasha?"

Killian jerks his head back. "Adrian's ex-wife?"

"Yeah. She's back. And she got in bed with Kacper."

My gut drops. "Bruno's son?"

Leo nods.

"Jesus. That girl has always been nothing but trouble," Killian claims.

We spend several hours in the cell when a guard finally calls out, "Leo Ivanov. Killian O'Malley. Nolan O'Malley." He opens the cell and leads us down the hallway. When we step into the lobby, Darragh is waiting with his arms crossed. He says nothing, and we follow him to his SUV. We all get in the back seat.

"Were they Zielinskis?" Killian asks.

Darragh puts his tweed cap on his lap, takes his pipe out of his coat jacket, and lights it while deeply inhaling. He cracks the window, slowly releases it, then scowls. "You weren't sure if they were?"

My gut flips. "They had a knife, and who knows what else they were packing."

Darragh addresses each of us, "You broke the guy's arm, the two thugs you hurt have concussions, and the police said you were on the verge of killing the goon."

Leo crosses his arms and grunts. "Good. Next time, I'll do it harder so they don't wake up."

Darragh's eyes turn to slits. "Yeah? What if they weren't Zielinskis?"

"What are you saying, Uncle Darragh? You want us just to sit back next time and let a bunch of thugs enter Nora's pub? And maybe they're an enemy, but we should ID them to find out?" Killian barks.

Leo chuckles, and Darragh snaps, "This isn't funny, Leo."

Leo leans forward. His face turns dark. He licks his lips. "You're not my boss, Darragh. Don't lecture me about how to control thugs."

Darragh's face reddens with rage. "No, I'm not. But you were working for my niece, protecting the pub my mother built. Next time, restrain, but don't put men in the hospital. We have enough problems without creating more. As public as that was, now I owe the police chief. And I don't like owing anyone."

"No. I was working for the Ivanovs. Don't you forget it." The car stops, and Leo reaches for the door. "Thanks for the ride."

Darragh's anger continues to fester. Killian and I say nothing. Darragh is both right and wrong. There was nothing I would do differently if the situation happened again.

Darragh smokes the rest of the way to my place. When the car pulls into my driveway, he says, "You're Liam's advisors. I expect both of you to be smarter."

"Did you want us to be the ones who ended up in the ambulance?" Killian asks.

Darragh sighs. He takes another hit off his pipe, releases it, then says, "I was your age once. Both of you need to find more wisdom, and fast. You're trained fighters. You know how to defend without going overboard. Liam is going to need you. The O'Malleys need you. Remember that at all times."

I shake my head. I'm over Darragh's lecture. "Happy St. Paddy's Day, Uncle Darragh." I get out of the car, slam the door, then make my way past Liam's private black vehicle.

When I get inside, Gemma runs up to me. "Are you okay? You're bleeding."

I don't answer, brush past her, then pull Liam into my office. As soon as I close the door, I blurt out, "Your dad is pissed."

"About what?"

"How bad we beat up those Zielinskis."

Liam raises his eyebrows. "Why?"

"Says we shouldn't have been so rough on them."

Liam's face darkens. He stays quiet.

"Since your dad reminded me I'm your advisor, I thought I'd give you some advice."

Liam closes his eyes and crosses his arms. He sighs and meets my gaze.

"The O'Malleys don't let anyone, whether they're a crime family or not, threaten our family. If they don't listen to our warning, then they don't get our mercy. Your dad seems to have a different opinion. At some point, you're going to have to remind him of that. And let me be clear, as the leader of our clan, you better never hesitate," I warn.

Liam glances at the ceiling, sniffs hard, then nods and pats my back. "Clean up your arm. I'm glad you broke that fucker's bone." He leaves the room.

I stare out the window, watching him and Hailee leave, wondering how we're going to continue protecting the O'Malleys from all the different never-ending threats.