Grey: Emerald Isle MC, #5

By Courtney Lynn Rose

I needed her to stay . . . not for her safety, not to piss off her family— but because I loved her more than life.

 

Eoin "Grey" O'Shea

For the last two years, I've focused on my club. As the Road Captain, it's my sole job to ensure we make it safely to and from our runs. Dealing with the Russian mob, we can't be too careful.

 

Aside from that, my family comes first. Well, them and a raven-haired beauty named Willow.

 

She might be a clubwhore, but she consumes me, even though she doesn't know it. So when her past comes to light, and I find out she's anything but a whore, I'm a little pissed. More so, I'm determined to protect her from anyone and everyone, even if that means defying my club and her father— the Pakhan.

 

With everything already on our plates, I don't know that I can ask my brothers to help me this time, and the truth is— Willow has a choice to make . . . and I'm not even sure she'll choose me.

 

She has no idea what I'd do to keep her in my life, my arms, and my bed— but I think it's about time she finds out.

 

And I'll kill anyone that tries to stand in my way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Croí na Tine Publishing
• Release date: May 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223088820

Book preview

Content Warning

This book contains content, situations, and themes that may be sensitive for some readers. This may include but is not limited to sexual abuse/harassment/rape, self-harm/suicide/suicidal thoughts, graphic violence/gun violence/weapon violence, criminal activity/organized crime, strong/vulgar language, mental health disorders/side effects/therapies/recovery/treatment, sexual acts/encounters, drug/alcohol use/abuse/addiction/recovery, & mental/emotional/physical abuse/torture. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

Chapter 1

Grey

It's strange celebrating Independence Day today with the club. Three months ago, we stood in the barn, torturing the assholes that tried to take out Claddagh's ol' lady, Clara, when the mercenaries showed up to tell us the cartel compound in Mexico exploded. At the time, Shamrock, Soundwave, Motormouth, and Preacher were inside. The police are still searching through that rubble for bodies, but our people haven't turned up yet. Everyone else, including my sister, is starting to resign to the fact they're dead. I'm not so sure, though. Until I get confirmation of bodies, I'm not letting go of hope. We did that on Faylinn, and she found her way back after fifteen years. Shamrock can find his way after one year— and I don't think an entire army could really take down Motormouth.

The men are at an all-time low regardless, though. Even the clubwhores aren't their normal selves these last three months. Life isn't all bad, though. Timber's ol' lady Trinity dropped a fucking bomb on us right after shit went down three months ago. Roughly fourteen years ago, she and Timber hooked up when she finally returned from Ireland after Faylinn's disappearance. I remembered her being here for a few months and then going back to Ireland for a few years before she returned the final time. The second time, Timber finally got his head out of his ass and made them exclusive. Turns out those few years she was in Ireland were because they had a daughter.

When I say Timber lost his shit when she told him— I do literally mean lost his shit. As in, they fought, she broke down, especially since she lost her memory and re-found out she was hiding a kid from him by reading her own journals, and then, of course, he felt bad for being mad at her and going off. Relationships around here are always a whirlwind of fiery tempers and chaos.

That's why I'm glad I have Willow. There's never been a woman this calm in the club outside Big Ma, and I'm thankful every day she's exclusive to me. Even when all hell is breaking loose, Willow doesn't panic— she just takes a deep breath, gets through it, and pushes that calm on me.

After Trinity and Timber got through their shit, they flew to Ireland, got their daughter, and now I have a thirteen-year-old niece that is the perfect blend of her parents sitting at a picnic table with me, kicking my ass at chess. Which never happens because I am the family chess champion.

Checkmate, Uncle Eoin, Caoimhe says, tossing her deep, brownish-red hair over her shoulder, her startling blue eyes bright to match her smile. She got those eyes from her father. Best three out of five?

Narrowing my eyes, I nod once, and she immediately starts resetting the board. I will beat you, kid. Don't get cocky.

Caoimhe laughs, shaking her head. I'm okay bruising your ego until you're willing to admit defeat.

My jaw drops in shock, and my niece cackles like a five-foot-six psychopath. Yeah, she's thirteen and already five-six. I won't be surprised if this kid ends up over six feet. She's got an athletic build like her mom, though, and a smart mouth to match, too. If Timber teaches this girl to fight, we might be looking at the first future female enforcer of the Emerald Isle. That would be something. As much as I hate to say it, Timber is the one brother we never pictured with kids. Well, him and myself. I'm not against kids, just haven't given much thought to it. The last few years have been busy, and despite Tasmin, Faylinn and Carrigan both adding kids, Clara being almost five months pregnant now . . . I still never considered adding to the mix.

Willow's never brought it up either, but if I was going to have kids, I’d want them with her. Technically, yes, she's a clubwhore. But she's been with us for almost five years and has only been with two brothers. Voltz and me. And I know she only hooked up with Voltz half a dozen times in the first three months because after that, I made her and I exclusive, and I don't doubt that Willow's remained faithful to me. She knows I've remained faithful to her, too. Hell, she has a room here at the clubhouse that she's hardly ever in because she lives at my house on the property. She has clothes there, belongings, things we've bought for the house over the last several years.

I've brought up her giving up the room at the clubhouse and just officially moving into my house. She always says she'll think about it, but then we don't talk about it again for months, sometimes years, and it's like a broken record. In over four years, we’ve never really fought, and I don't push her when she gets like that. Willow's life with us wasn't planned. Her family was killed, and she ran. When she got to Cascade Falls, she was looking for safety, and one of the townsfolk recommended us. The rest is history. She's told me a little bit about her parents. She had a brother, sister, and ex— they were all killed.

That's why I don't get upset about the engagement ring she wears on a chain. The man that gave it to her was her first everything, and he was murdered. I'd be an asshole to get jealous over something like that. It's kind of how Clara doesn't get upset about Tasmin's mother, Katie. Katie is dead, and she was taken from them in the worst way. It's natural that they never really got over it, and it's natural Willow never got over her first love. I'm the last of my brothers to officially put down roots, but I've known it would be Willow for a while.

This year, I'm planning to make it officially— the ring, the claiming, all that shit. As far as I'm concerned, we can figure out everything else afterward.

Uncle Eoin?

A soft voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I shake myself, bringing my eyes to a concerned Caoimhe across the table. Sorry, honey, what did you say?

Miss Willow is calling you across the yard, and everyone is staring, she whispers. You might want to answer before Dad comes over because he has that look on his face where he interrogates someone.

Glancing across the yard, Caoimhe is right. Willow is next to Timber at the grill, both staring at me with worried expressions, and several of the others are watching me from the area as well. Pushing up from the table, I tell my niece I'll be right back and head over to the others. As soon as I'm within arm's reach, Willow slides her arm around my waist and runs her hand up my chest.

You okay, babe? Her voice is soft, tight, and full of caring.

Looking down at her, considering she's almost an entire foot shorter than me, I smile and kiss her gently. Yeah. Just lost in my head, hon. I'm okay, though. Tired of getting my ass kicked by that little shit over there.

Timber and Willow both laugh as my woman pats my chest. She looks like she's waiting for you to come back.

I glance over my shoulder to find Caoimhe picking at the table, her body twisted toward us. It makes me smile that I've bonded with her so much in the two months she's been here. Timber signs next to me, catching my attention.

I keep wondering if I did the right thing bringing her here in a rush like I did, he says as he turns to the grill to flip the steaks. She was happy with Uncle Seamus, her grandmother, and all the extended family in Galway. I just couldn't stop to consider if ripping her from that to be with me would do more harm than good.

Willow touches Timber's arm lightly, and he looks at her. She'll be okay. Maybe it was harsh to do things how you did, but I think she understands why. She just needs some time to adjust. Coming into this ragtag bunch and finding your niche among everyone isn't the easiest thing.

You speak like you know from experience, I say softly, squeezing her to my side and kissing the top of her head.

Willow chuckles, putting her hand under my shirt and resting her cold as fuck fingers against my skin. My niche found me, but yeah, I feel for her. I found my way here, and she will too. Just like Clara has. Just be patient.

Digging her nails playfully into my stomach for attention, Willow reaches up and wraps her hand around the back of my neck, pulling my lips to hers. When she lets go, she leans up, kisses Timber on the cheek, and heads off across the yard to settle in with Faylinn and the other women. I'm not surprised at all when she grabs one of the triplets and a bottle and sits down to help my sister without anyone needing to ask her to do a thing. Willow is a caregiver in every way. She finds happiness helping— whether it's the kids, ol' ladies, the brothers, or just cleaning and shit around the clubhouse or our house— she's always helping someone.

It's just one of the many reasons I fell in love with her and want to make her my ol' lady— she's the perfect love for me.

Chapter 2

Willow

If any other clubwhores were exclusive with a brother for as long as me, they'd be throwing a tantrum for an engagement ring and the official ol' lady title. Eoin and I have almost five years together exclusively, and part of me wishes he'd claim me. There's a bigger part that hopes he doesn't, though. It's not that I don't love him. I do and have for a while now. I've never told him, and he's never said those words, either. I'm not sure he feels that strongly, but I know he cares about me. The me he knows, at least.

Sitting by the bonfire, feeding Padraic, Faylinn's youngest triplet, I can't help but reflect on the fact everything these people know about me is a lie. I've cared for these people for five years, and only two know the truth. Shamrock, since he's the one that made the agreement with my father that brought me here, and Voltz— because Shamrock trusted him to make sure I didn't slip up since he monitors everything for the club. The biggest problem is that Shamrock's been missing for almost nine months. The last three are the worst since the mercenaries told the guys about the compound in Mexico.

Grey doesn't believe any of our people are dead, though, and I agree with him. I don't talk much here except with Grey, Voltz, and Caelen, but I pay attention to everything. If my previous life taught me anything, it was the importance of listening more than speaking. That, and staying calm in all situations. My papa taught me that. I remember him panicking twice in my life. The first time when my mother died. The second . . . the day my brother ambushed him and my late fíance Viktor. Papa barely got away. Viktor wasn't so lucky.

Padraic makes a gurgle, and I glance down to find the little brown-haired boy fast asleep in my arms, his bottle pushed to the side of his mouth. Carefully, I move the bottle away and set it on the little fold-out table next to my chair, swapping it for the burp cloth. After draping it over my shoulder, I move Padraic to lay against my chest, his head on the burp cloth. Even though he didn't wake up, I gently pat and rub his back. I've fed this kid enough since he was born to know he'll burp even in his sleep.

When Viktor and I got engaged when I was eighteen, having kids was a given. I was a virgin when we got together, and the first time he made love to me, he said he wanted a family as soon as possible. Even as young as I was, I was all for it. A month after being sent here for my safety, I found out I was pregnant and had a miscarriage a few days later. To say I was heartbroken is an understatement.