she seemed to be in charge—and asked, “What happened to him?”
“He tripped.”
Keran smirked. “Into your ass?”
Keeley stood beside her now. “What are you talking about?”
“This one is a bit of a grabber,” Keran told her cousin with a shrug, “and I think he was rude to one of your friends here.”
“If you knew that about him before this, why haven’t you dealt with it?”
“I did,” she said, rubbing her nose. “I twisted his arm and shoulder until they splintered like kindling; once he healed up, he came back to work. I thought he’d learned his lesson.”
Keeley let out a long sigh, her gaze locked on Keran. “Why did I put you in charge when I’m away?” she finally asked.
“I have no idea,” Keran admitted.
* * *
Keeley knew what she’d seen over her sister’s shoulder. Even though they were arguing, there was no way to miss how Laila’s lower half had changed just before she sent Rob flying through a wall.
Thankfully, though, Gemma hadn’t seen it. Who knew what her religious fervor would make of what Keeley had seen? Keeley already knew what the Amichai were and she didn’t care. Her sister, though . . . she was no longer the girl Keeley had once known. She knew she couldn’t trust Gemma. Not with her new friends. But she knew who could be trusted with their safety.
“I’m going home,” Keeley abruptly announced, motioning to her workers to toss the grabby idiot out of her establishment. He could find work somewhere else. She turned to the Amichais. “And you lot are coming with me. You’ll get some rest and figure out what you want to do in the morning.”
Laila nodded. “That would be—”
Gemma caught Keeley’s upper arm and yanked her toward the door.
“Give us a moment,” she politely asked the Amichais before dragging Keeley into the street.
“What are you doing?” her sister demanded once they were outside.
“Remembering how I was raised,” Keeley spit back. “I see people who need help . . . and I’m helping them. That’s what we do.”
“You’re spouting Da’s goat shit right now? In this moment?”
Keeley shook her head. “What the fuck are you talking about? What moment?”
“We can’t bring strangers home.”
“I’m assuming you’re coming home. You’re practically a stranger.”
“You are such a—” Gemma clenched her jaw and closed her eyes. “Can’t you see the danger all around you?”
Daniel the shoemaker walked up to them and abruptly put a baby lamb in Keeley’s arms. “For your mum. Tell her I’ll get her the baby goat in another week or two.”
They stared at the lamb bleating in Keeley’s arms as Daniel returned to his shop.
“Yes, Sister, the danger is everywhere.”
“Keeley—”
“The Amichais saved my life and the life of that boy you scared away. They didn’t have to. They could have left me to fend for meself, but they didn’t. So the least I can do is offer them supper and a safe place to stay for the night.”
“You can put them up in the pub.”
“Old Stump isn’t going to let Amichais into his pub and you know it.”
Keeley could tell her sister was attempting to think of more arguments to dissuade her but she didn’t want to hear them. She didn’t want to hear anything. So she used her elbow to push open the door to the shop and leaned in.
“You, lot!” she bellowed. “Let’s go!”
The Amichais walked out and Keeley motioned to her cousin. “You too.”
“Why me?”
“Because you’re family,” she lied. Not that Keran wasn’t family. She was. But that wasn’t why she was bringing her home this night. No, it was because she was the best fighter Keeley knew and if her sister turned out to be right, she wanted the extra defense. But she wouldn’t say any of that in front of Gemma. Not now. Not ever.
Keran walked out of the shop and closed the door behind her. The three kin stared at one another for a long few seconds before Keeley lifted the baby lamb a bit and said, “By the way, we’re not sacrificing this one for your gods. In case you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t wondering actually, but feel free to fuck off,” Gemma shot back before stomping off after their guests.
Keran glanced at her. “You know, I could be wrong but . . . it seems that nuns have changed since my day.”
CHAPTER 4
“It’s like she expects me to forget what she’s done! But I’ll not forget. I’ll never forget!”
It took some time, but Caid was starting to think that this woman was