the pole dancers innocence

Making Heads Or Tails

     It was after two in the morning when Liam finally showed up at the club. They had already closed the doors and the only ones hanging around were some security guys and of coarse Damian and Dominic. Donavan was helping to restock the bar, because, yeah he was on payroll right now as a bartender. Saoirse was sitting in a booth close to the bar in sweats and a t-shirt. She was slowly stirring her coffee when there was a light tap on the back door. Security announced that it was Liam so they allowed him in. 

     He looked like hell. He looked around the room until he found his brother. With both his hands in the air he walked to the bar where Donavan was. "I'm sorry!" He started crying. Real tears. "I have been trying my damnedest to defuse this whole situation, but Shaun is crazy!"

     "Why don't you sit down and explain everything to us calmly." Damian approached him. "Donavan pour him a whiskey."

     Donavan grabbed a short glass and pour the amber liquid into it. Liam grabbed it and drank it down. Donavan topped it off and they all went and sat in the same booth Saoirse was sitting in. Damian slide in beside her. resting a hand on her thigh. Liam sat opposit her and Dominic stood leaning against the bar. Donavan set a glass of whiskey on the table and pulled a chair up between Liam and Damian. "Start explaining." Donavan growled.

     "Well you already know several years ago I got tangled up in the Irish mob. It was little s**t at first. Letting them know when shipments were coming in, and how security was on the docks. Crap like that. Then... well then Ciara was killed. I know you think I knew about that, but I swear I didn't." He pleaded into his brother's face. He gave a quick look at Saoirse. "You are the spitting image of your sainted mother girl." He crossed himself as the Catholics do. "When I began to realize that you may be right, I left. I came here. Joined the local group and started low. Over the last few years I've worked myself up. Then last year Thomas O'Rourke paid us a visit. Said he was looking for a safe place for his son to cut his teeth and earn his stripes. Said Boston was to dangerous and deadly. Since I was married to Mavis his daughter, he thought it would be a good idea for Shaun to stay with me. Learn. He's been here maybe a day longer than Saoirse. Not long, but this man is insane. He saw a picture I had on my desk of Saoirse. It was one of her in a ballet I attended just before I moved here to Chicago. She was still so very young. He...well he started asking questions about her. Commenting about how beautiful she is. How graceful she appears. He looked her up online and watched several of her ballets. He's become obsessed! I made an off hand comment about you coming to stay, and all of a sudden he's planning a wedding! He's convinced himself that I promised her to him! That's not true Saoirse! It's not my place! He started dating a girl that was working here. She came to work at a club that we run. He found out about Saoirse. That she was being billed as Irish here. He slipped in here one night to watch her. He came away furious that she was working here. She was Irish, she belonged with us! He ranted for days! I deliberately didn't pick you up because he would have insisted in going. I was hoping you'd go back home right away, but you stayed. Got a job. You're making a name for yourself and people are talking about you. He fancies himself in love with you Saoirse. His father seems to think it would be in the best interest of all concerned if I turned you over to him for marriage. That was why I told your friend to scare you into leaving. I would never hurt you,  but Shaun...If he can't have you...no one can." He met Damian's eyes. "He knows you've gone soft on her." He swallowed. "He had Lena ask the girls who work here about you two. She got jealous. She threatened to come here and tell Saoirse about him.  He flew into a rage. He beat her and she scratched him hard down the cheek. Then she ran off. I don't know how he found her, but I'm sure he's the one who killed her. Especially if it happened close to here. She was most likely on her way to warn you both." Liam then drank his drink.  "I've been avoiding him for days. I know he has gone off the reservation. I heard another body showed up. Someone else who works here at the club?"

     "Yes." Damian replied. "one of the stage hands who handles Saoirse's equipment. He substituted him with someone to sabotage the pole. If she wasn't such a stickler for checking the equipment herself it could have been costly! Caused death even." Damian said sternly. "We have a missing bartender as well."

     "Shite!" Liam cussed. "I'm not comfortable around him any more, and my wife is totally blind to the insanity of her brother. He's trying to call war between the families. It's not what the Saints want. I've been talking to them. We will do what we can to help contain Shaun. Even if it means going against Thomas O'Rourke!"