wheezing, and Tiernan steps back. I can tell from here Tiernan’s modified his strength. He could hurt a younger lad.
“I’ll give him a minute,” Tiernan says. The spectators watch, fascinated. “If this were a normal fight, I wouldn’t do that but because this is a demonstration—oof.”
The boy is up and he caught Tiernan off guard. Tiernan’s focus swings back to the boy. His jaw clenches, and I cringe. That boy is going down. Tiernan dodges, weaves, and lands another blow to the boy’s belly. He falls the ground with a loud cry and before I know what’s happening, Tiernan’s got him pinned beneath him.
“That was a low blow,” Tiernan says in a sharp, corrective tone that gets everyone’s attention. “Only an arse hits an opponent who’s not ready to fight.”
The boy holds up his hands, and he looks as if he’s about to cry. “Uncle,” he hollers.
Tiernan lets him up, and the other boys cheer.
“You’re done,” Tiernan says. He beckons to the second boy.
I watch him for hours, first one class, then the next. I’m tired and thirsty, as the sun beats down, but he’s hardly winded. Lachlan gets him water, and Malachy offers to do a few small lessons to give him a break, but Tiernan refuses. He’s in his element. He loves this. And every time I see him take the ring, a little bit of my heart goes with him.
Finally, the last class is dismissed. I hear whispers among the boys. The earlier classes told the later classes who their teacher was today, and the boys showed up excited. Finally, Tiernan pulls on his t-shirt.
“Christ, look at the time,” he says, grimacing at the clock when we arrive back at Malachy’s classroom. “You alright, Ai—” He closes his eyes and pinches his lips together. “You alright, Ruby?”
I roll my eyes. “Oh, aye, I’m fine,” I tell him. “Why on earth wouldn’t I be? I fucking loved watching you fight out there.”
“Did you?”
“Oh, aye. It’s damn hot, Tiernan.”
His eyes twinkle and he smiles at me.
I playfully smack his arm. “Aye, but I’m famished.” I lean in closer. “And Keenan gave us a job, didn’t he?”
“That was part of my job,” Tiernan says, jerking his head to where we just left. “See if anyone takes advantage while I’m fighting. Let them think I’m not on to anything.”
“Ah, I see. It’s all part of your grand plan, then, is it?”
He snorts. “Aye. Could use some grub and a cup of tea, no?”
I nod, feeling a bit faint.
We head back to the main dining hall, but this time we’re looking for the headmaster, no one else. But he isn’t there.
I eat a large, hearty bowl of chicken curry and rice, and drink two full cups of hot, strong tea.
“Where the bloody hell is he?” Tiernan mutters.
He signals to his brothers and points to his phone. He lets me see as he types.
Need to meet with you after dinner. My room.
They nod, one by one.
Back in his room, Tiernan’s sober as he delivers the news.
“Bloody hell,” Lachlan says. “Never liked the son of a bitch. Y’alright, Ais?”
“Of course.” I shrug. “Tiernan wouldn’t let me get hurt.”
Tully grins, just as Keenan joins us, as well as Cormac. Most of the inner circle of the Clan’s right here in this room. They make themselves at home around the small room, arms and legs hanging off chairs, sitting on the little sofa and the bed. Tiernan stands in the middle of the room, his arms crossed on his chest.
“Fill us in, please,” Keenan says. Tiernan tells them everything.
“We should use her as bait,” Cormac says, looking at me apologetically. “So sorry, Aisling.”
I snort. “Don’t be. I want this all over as soon as possible, just like the lot of you.”
Nods all around.
“I want her safe,” Tiernan says. “I’m not comfortable putting her in any compromising position at all.”
“Of course not,” Keenan says. “We’ll be sure of it. We just have to make sure she isn’t alone, at any time.”
I nod. “Aye. I can agree to that.” I sigh.
Tiernan drapes his arm around me. “You’ve done well, lass. Soon, this will be behind us.”
The others leave, and Tiernan lays me out on the bed. He kisses me until my back arches and I reach for him, and we make slow, languid love until my worries have fled for the time being.
Tiernan’s phone rings. We both look at it in surprise.
“Guess you have service?”
He answers, and a moment later, frowns. “It’s for you.”
I take the phone.
“Hello?”
“Oh, Aisling,