Enzo (Jinx Tattoos Book 1) (18 page)

“My girl, there are few things more dangerous than a man whose pride has been wounded,” her father said.

“Why’s that, Da?” she asked, watching as he replaced a paper target.

“Because we like to dominate and control. You’ve got a smart mouth like your father. Which is why we’re out here once a week making sure your aim is true. When you get old enough, my love, you are going to break hearts. And if I’m not there to break their faces, and put my boot up their ass when they need it…you need to be able to take care of yourself.”

She smiled, unsure of what he saw when he looked at her. Certainly not the same image she saw in the mirror. At fifteen, she was all bones, with no arse or breasts to speak of. She looked more like a bloke than a bird and the boys didn’t let her forget it. She’d grown up with them and now, she seemed perpetually stuck in the ‘one of the guys’ zone.

“Aibhlinn.” His tone was terse.

She focused her attention on him.

“I need you to pay attention, yes?”

“Sure, Da,” she said, confused. She knew how to shoot, they’d been priming her since she was twelve.

“I need to know you can hold your own. Things are picking up around here.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

He walked toward her and placed hand on her shoulder. “One day, it may just be you and your ma. I want to be sure you two can fend for yourselves.”

The finality in his tone frightened her. “Is something wrong?”

“No, no. Just looking out for my family. Life here can be hazardous to one’s health. So pay close attention now for me, my girl, yeah?”

She nodded her head, feeling stunned. The thought of life without her da was a foreign concept. Sobered, she focused in on his words, and directions.

“I want you to unload this entire clip without hesitation.”

“Then how will I know if I’m accurate?”

“You don’t always have time to brace yourself and aim,” he said. His words were clipped and his voice was gruff. It was the attitude he usually reserved for his men in arms.

She stood straighter and nodded.

“Good girl. Aim. Fire. Again. Again.”

She’d built a pile of brass in the field as she shot targets full of holes. The whole thing smacked of a desperation she didn’t understand. The Army took care of their own. What was he so afraid of?

She hadn’t understood then that shit was about to go to hell in a handbasket. A power play was in motion. Which meant cleaning house and taking out those who would protest the upheaval. He’d been killed by the very people he’d trusted most. It’d been a harsh life lesson. Not everyone who makes nice and smiles in your face is your friend. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she got into the car, overwhelmed by the events piling up on top of her.

’ve officially turned into a fucking pussy,” he muttered, watching the telephone. He hadn’t heard a word from Aibhlinn since yesterday.

Aoife peered up at him as if to say, ‘
What are you talking about?’

“Girls, they’ll drive a man insane, Aoife. Let’s hope you’re easier to read.”

The phone rang, but the name that popped up was Snake.

“Hello,” he said, trying to keep the worry from his voice.

“Hey, man, Pres says we’re good to go on this. You been good to us, and what you’re trying to do here is a good thing.”

He released a sigh of relief. “Thank you. If you need something after this, I’m your man.”

“Just keep inking us. I’m on my way to your place if you’re available. I got some information on that situation you mentioned the other day,” Snake said.

“Yeah, I’m here. Just come on by.”

“Be there in ten.” Snake disconnected.

Enzo then peered over at the little girl, entranced with the baby gym she was toying with. This would be the defining moment. He scooted down onto the floor beside her. “Maybe you can be my payment for wading through ankle-high sewage growing up. What do you think about that?” he asked softly. She was spotless. A pure soul that seemed to be offered up to him. “I just know that taking care of you is what I’m supposed to do.” He ran the tip of his index finger over her tiny digits.

A knock came at the door.
Showtime.
He hurried to the door, ready to hear the verdict. “Hey, man, thanks for coming over,” Enzo said.

“Didn’t want to talk over the phone. Cops always have a hard on for us. We never know when the lines are clear.”

“Hell of a way to live,” Enzo said.

Snake shrugged. “You get used to it.” He glanced down. “Look at her. She’s doing well.”

“Yeah, man, she’s a trooper,” Enzo replied, unable to hide the pride he felt.

“We found the mom. She was discovered in the forest last night. They said she’d been dead for two hours.”

“Shit. What was the cause?”

“H, man.”

“Shit, heroine?” Enzo asked.

“Yeah, it’s rampant. Cops didn’t give a shit when it was just homeless, thieving junkies, but it’s moving into the middle class, and rich kids. Motherfuckers are shooting up and crashing their cars with their kids in the back.” Snake shook his head. “I don’t get what would possess someone to even try the shit. It’s bad news.”

He blinked, trying to process. They’d both lost their mother to heroine in the same woods. “Are they looking for Aoife?”

“No. They suspect she’d given birth less than three months ago, but they have no records. All this shit must’ve been under the table. Maybe it was a john’s or she went to a free clinic and used a false name. Can’t say. Junkies don’t think rationally.”

“Understatement,” Enzo said.

“It’s sad, but good for you. We can move ahead with the paperwork if your mind is still set.”

“One hundred percent committed,” Enzo stated without hesitation.

“I’ll get it worked out. Here.” He handed Enzo a few pages of paper. “This is all the info you’ll need on Margaret Simpson, aka Maggie. She’s claiming Aoife. It’s her rights that’ve been signed away, and we’ve backed it up with a midwife who’s a friend of the club. The paper trail is tight as a drum. I’ll be sending you a manila envelope full of shit, such as Aoife’s date of birth, but first we need to get her to the doctor and test her for blood types, and all that other good shit.”

“When?” he asked.

“Now…if you want this wrapped up this weekend. We have a clinic that turns a blind eye.”

The power the club had to wield stunned him. “Let me, uh, get her ready to go.”

“Fuckin’ Mr. Dad over here. Where’s the old lady?” Snake inquired.

“Still deciding.”

“She going to be a problem?”

“No. She can keep her mouth shut. It’s being involved firsthand that has her questioning things.”

He nodded his head. “She has to be all in or all out. No half stepping in this.”

“She knows,” he said, hell bent on defending her. The club didn’t do loose ends.

“Make sure.”

“She grew up in Belfast. Her father had ties. She knows the life.”

Snake visually relaxed. “Good. Get your things and we’ll drive out. You can follow me in your car.”

Pure joy washed over him.
She’s mine.