3. The Conference Room

RONAN

One minute I was just shooting the shit with the guys, going over security plans for my little sister's engagement party, and the next thing I saw, there was a girl on the floor of my private conference room kicking the shit out of some guy.

It was obvious that he was the reason for the blood on her face and the panicked look in her eyes.

My guys being my guys, jumped into action pulling the guy off of her. Brennan and Sean threw him in the opposite corner, giving Oisin and Tadgh the chance to fuck him up as well.

We may be criminals, but the line is drawn at hurting women and children.

Even from my seat at the head of the table I can see this girl is a beauty. I’m instantly hit with the need to care and protect this girl at all costs.

I don’t know why but before I can put much thought into my actions, I’m kneeling on the floor in front of her.

I take back everything I said about her being a beauty. Those words aren’t enough to describe this little redhead at my feet.

She’s fucking stunning.

Her long hair was in a ponytail high on her head. Her hair was the perfect color of red that makes my dick twitch in my pants. Her skin was covered in freckles, proving she spent time outdoors.

And God save me, those eyes…sapphire blue with flecks of gold around the pupils.

The first thought that comes to mind when I look at this girl is MINE. I feel it in the very depths of my soul that this girl belongs to me and I belong to her.

A stór. My treasure.

I’ve never been a believer in love at first sight, but with this girl, I may actually think it was a real thing.

Nothing will keep me from claiming her.

I look over her body for injuries other than the gash on her head. She’s cradling her wrist and immediately all I see is red.

I scooped her up as gently as I could, being mindful of her wrist. I carried her over to the table in the middle of the conference room and placed her carefully on the edge.

Connor is beside me in seconds with his med kit. Being a medic in the army has saved more than one of our asses in a pinch.

“I called Doc. He’s on his way. Her head is bleeding pretty bad. I need to take a look at it.” He said. “Hey there love, my name is Connor. You got banged up pretty bad. Do you mind if I take a look?” His hands gently took her hair out of her ponytail and his expert fingers moved around probing here and there asking her questions.

He took out a flashlight and shined it in her eyes checking for a concussion. She winced and pulled back slightly.

“Can you tell me your name, love?”

“It’s Everleigh Logan. And I’m not your love.” She's feisty.

Connor gave a little chuckle and held his hands out for her to let him see her wrist. When she moved her hand away from her chest and I saw the logo on her t-shirt, it hit me.

Everleigh… Logan… Eden Logan’s granddaughter. Fuck.

I could see Rannon standing in the corner leaning over the dickhead that did this to her. My brother was a sick fuck. That’s why he takes care of the dark side of the business and I take care of the legit side.

He enjoys inflicting pain on others. But it was decided long ago that I would be the face of the family while he skulks in the shadows he loves so much. Even as a kid he was a little unhinged. He and Connor served time overseas, because if you’re going to be in the family business you may as well be trained for it, right?

“Ran, we need to get Eden Logan up here. Like now.” He straightened to his full height and met me halfway to the opened doors.

“That’s her granddaughter." I said, trying to keep my voice low. "The one that Granddad keeps trying to set me up with.”

“Boy is he gonna be pissed. That was a Silvestro she beat the shit out of. Tattoo on his forearm confirmed it.” Rannon walked out of the room, making his way down to the end of the hall to the event center.

I walked back over to the table where Connor was cleaning Everleigh’s cuts.

They were quietly talking to one another, he said something to make her smile and my heart almost stopped.

I stood there staring at her, like I was a fucking teenage boy with his first crush. Lost in my daydreams, it took me a minute to register that Connor was trying to talk to me.

“Hey!” He snapped his fingers in my face. “Doc just texted me. He’s caught up across town. From what I can tell her wrist is broken. She needs to go to the hospital.”

I looked over his shoulder to see her staring at me. She shifted her focus on taking in her surroundings. She was fidgeting where she sat like she was nervous. I walked over to her and took a seat next to her.

“Hi. I’m Ronan Callaghan. We’ve sent for your grandmother. I know you are busy with the engagement party but we need to get you to the hospital so they can take care of your wrist.”

“You’re Ronan Callaghan?”

“That’s right.” I flashed her a million dollar smile.

And then she hit me.

She balled up her uninjured hand and knocked the absolute shit out of me. For such a small girl she sure could pack a punch.

She hopped off the table, took a few steps forward before Connor stopped her.

“Hey there little hell cat, where do you think you’re going?”

She turned back to me as I stood from the chair I was sitting in. She couldn’t be more than a few inches over five feet tall. She was a short little thing.

“I’ve never been punched for helping someone before.” I stopped in front of her, putting my hands in my pockets.

I had to put them somewhere other than in her hair. God it was beautiful. It was so long that the ends touched the top of her ass. And what a fine ass it was too. Nice and thick, just like her thighs. She has curves in all the right places.

“That was for all of the women that you have stolen from their families!” She was practically screaming in my face at this point. She lunged at me again only for Connor to grab her around the waist and pulled her back. “You motherfu…”

“Everleigh Dawn Logan! Watch your mouth young lady!” Eden Logan walked through the conference room doors, her green eyes blazing with fire.

“But Gran…”

“No buts. You were raised better than that. Now I suggest you let these young men help in any way they can.” She turned and looked at me with a cheshire cat grin on her face. This sly lady knows what she is doing. “Now Ronan dear, if you don’t mind, I would like to commandeer this fine young lad as Everleigh’s replacement for the afternoon.” She grinned, linking her arm through my twins' offered elbow.

She always did like Rannon better.