“Not more than a dozen.”
“Not more than a dozen. Are you knackered! This is a threat.” Moira swings the letter around again and this time I grab it away.
I turn it so I can read it.
You’ll regret ignoring me.
“I didn’t think it was that bad.” I try to explain, but the letters have been getting worse and worse.
“Tomorrow we are going to see my father or one of my brothers. This needs to be taken care of. And no more secrets, okay?”
“Okay. I promise.”
We order dinner and watch a romantic comedy together until the other girls come home.
It’s been two weeks since the failed dinner with my parents and since I’ve seen Aidan or his father. The day after I got that letter, we went to see Moira’s brother, but he told us there was nothing he could do since I did not know who it was and it wasn’t a threat. I’ve ignored my parents’ calls and Patrick’s too. I spent Christmas at the flat with Giselle, who like me doesn’t really do much with her family. Today is New Year’s Eve and Brigid talked all of us into going out to a party at one of the clubs in town. She got all of us tickets along with her sister and friend too. I’m not sure going to a big party is something I want to do, especially since Brigid picked out my dress and like Mikayla won’t let me see it until tonight.
The bakery closed early and won’t be open tomorrow. I head home, walking in the crisp December air. A chill rolls through my body and the hair stands up on the back of my neck. I look around but don’t see anyone, and I know Kayla didn’t put a detail on me again. I haven’t seen Seamus in a long time, so I don’t think it’s him. I feel better when I step up to my door. As soon as I get inside, I bolt the door closed and set the alarm. I know Giselle and Brigid are around here somewhere, but Moira and Arianna both have to work until later. I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves from the scare.
“Hey, wait until you see what we picked out for you tonight,” Ronan says from behind me, causing me to jump and almost squeal in fear. I’ve been jumpier in the last few weeks. I can’t seem to get the fear from that last letter to leave me. I turn to see the petite redhead. Her hair is redder than her sister, Brigid’s, and she gets asked all the time if it’s natural. She’s already got her makeup on, her eyes very defined with liner pulled out to the corner of her eye in a cat-eye. Her lips are a bright red, and her hair is in loose waves down her body. She’s still dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Brigid said Deandra and I could get ready here because her da hates her dressing up too much.”
“It’s okay.” My lips tip up slightly as I move past her to head upstairs. “I’m going to lie down for a bit.”
“But we need to get started on your hair and makeup.”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes, trying to find that calm center I haven’t felt in a while. Even the gym isn’t helping me lately. When I open my eyes, I see the excitement in Ronan’s and know I’ll give in because I don’t want to hurt her feelings.
“Okay. Where do you want me?”
“Right here,” Brigid says from the kitchen, and I look to see our table covered in hair and makeup products.
It takes them over two hours to do my hair and makeup. I barely recognize myself. My hair has soft curls as it hangs down in waves around my shoulders to my breasts. My makeup is dark with my eyes defined in dark lines and my lashes are thick from the mascara. My lips look fuller with a touch of pink on them.
“Okay, let’s get you in your dress.” They all laugh, and I cringe because I know this is going to be just as bad as Kayla’s dress was for me. They all get upset that I don’t wear sexier clothes, but I just can’t. I don’t see myself as beautiful or sexy.
I was right. The maroon V-neck satin dress has a side split and spaghetti straps. The draped material sits over my breasts with a view of my cleavage. The skirt is similar to a wrap with a high split over my left leg. It’s not as high as the dress Kayla got me, so my tattoo doesn’t show. But if I take long strides, it could be seen. The dress won’t allow for a bra and I have to wear a skin toned thong for no lines. The empire waist shows how much I’ve been to the gym lately and the lack of food I’ve been eating, accentuating the weight I’ve lost. The other girls are all in sexy club wear too. They constantly challenge each other in who can wear the sexiest outfit, except for Giselle and me. Giselle is in a green single shoulder dress that is fitted to her. I know that Brigid picked it too, but it doesn’t show the cleavage that mine does. Giselle has some scars that she hides, so she won’t wear anything too revealing, no matter who tries to make her wear it.
We pull up to the busy club that you can only get into tonight with tickets. I’ve never been here before, but I’ve heard it’s the “it” club to be at lately. We show our tickets and get our hands stamped, then we step inside. The club is packed. The dance floor is filled with bodies moving close. Tables with wraparound booths ring the area on each level, making the dance floor the center focus. We make our way to a table, and I sit down, not really up to celebrating.
“Nope, no sitting. Drinks first, ladies, then dancing.” Brigid laughs as she waves a waitress over. She gives her our order and the shots are brought over quickly. We shoot them, the burn of the alcohol hits my system and my almost empty stomach. My body starts to loosen up and I’m on the dance floor before I know it. The shots keep coming. Ariana makes sure I’m alternating with water too.
Aidan
* * *
The SUV pulls up to the back of the club. I’d let Rory arrange tonight. Normally I run the club like any other night on New Year’s Eve, but Rory had this idea of tickets only. I have to admit, it appears to be working. When I step into my office, I see the club lights flashing and know the dance floor is packed.
My mobile vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out.
“Seamus, what’s up?” I hear lots of music in the background. “Aren’t you on Fiona tonight?”
“That’s why I’m calling. Look out the window.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know you just got here, so why don’t you take a look out onto the dance floor.” His words hit me like a sledgehammer to my chest. I walk over to the window and look down. I locate him at the bar and he points toward the dance floor. In the center amongst a group of girls surrounded by men is my beauty. She’s got her head thrown back, and her hair moves against her body as she moves to the music. Her arms are over her head. Her unrestrained knockers under her dress jiggle, making my cock instantly hard.
“Fuck,” I growl into the phone. “Why did you let her come here?”
