Belfast Child (eBook)

Elle MacNeil (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2019 | 1. Auflage
200 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-5439-6706-7 (ISBN)

Infos

Though both Ireland born, Mick O'Connell and Annamh Breen could not be more different. When the wealthy mercenary's plot for revenge becomes entangled with the innocent niece of a murdering drug runner, their world's are turned upside down. Emotions run high as a war looms over the couple, and both are faced with a choice. Can Annamh live the kind of lifestyle that O'Connell has created? Can Mick change come to grasps with choosing to remain in his violent life or accepting that Annamh represents everything he has been missing in his life? Their very survival balances on the edge of a knife...

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Against the backdrop of the well to do of Galway and Co. Armagh to the tough street life of Belfast, Ireland, two worlds collide when Mick O'Connell kidnaps the niece of a known Mexican drug runner in retaliation of his killing of O'Connell's younger and only brother. But things do not go as planned when O'Connell comes to find the niece is stunningly beautiful, Ireland born, and with some very special secrets that even he cannot believe nor deny. In this David & Goliath type story of love and war, the petite, unworldly, and innocent Annamh Breen disarms her captor, the alpha male, womanizing O'Connell. Touching him in ways he could not have imagined and putting him into a tailspin of emotions. Changing him from a testosterone driven street thug turned wealthy mercenary, to a man who realizes that love and family is what he has been truly missing in his life. From the colorful streets of Galway, to the rugged landscape of the Connemara National Park, to the lush green hills of the beautiful Deorg Didean estate, Annamh peels away O'Connell's layers, and placing before him, the choice of his life. Time begins to run out for him. Now he must choose...

Textauszug

Chapter 1

O’ heart of mine,

you have been through so much.

The thrills of love,

and the chills of loss.

You have been quiet of late,

Putting back the pieces

of when you were whole.

They do not fit the same,

as they once did.

I am sad for the memory,

Of that once clean and perfect beat.

For now, they are held together,

crudely patched,

With the lessons of the experiences

that broke them apart to begin with.

You are stronger, wiser and more wary,

than before.

With a fragile wall around you,

You hold up so desperately,

to keep the possibility of hurt away.

But today, the time has come.

I place my hand over you,

As you quietly wait

for the healing to finish.

To tell you it is time.

For someone new has once again,

asked for you of me.

To hold, to thrill you with new love.

To make you race,

like youth again.

And hopefully hold

with a more sincere reverence.

Do we dare take the leap?

Will your partially healed pieces hold?

Is it worth the danger, of history repeating?

Or could this time he be,

The true “One”

Maybe we should try,

Just one more time.

Because I think this time,

The dream might come true.

What say you?

~Aisling, “What Say You?”

 

Closing her book, Annamh sighed. She wondered if that were true of love. Was there really a terrible cost to giving all your love to someone? How could something so beautiful, be such a risk to give? She wondered if she would ever love someone enough to take that risk.

It was lunchtime, on a rare cool day in Laredo, TX. While the other students all clustered in groups to discuss their day, Annamh would find a secluded spot for lunch in the courtyard of Laredo University and sift through her poetry books, reading of far off lands, heroes and of love. Though her favorite poems were by the American author, Aisling, she also loved the great Irish authors. Their stories of Ireland, of love and loss, of the great battles that made Ireland what she is today, and of the great warriors who fought those battles. She sighed again, missing a place that she doesn’t even remember. So many years ago, her parents and her moved to the States to be nearer her father’s sister, Eileen. At her birth, her parents, had chosen Eileen and husband, Daniel, to be godparents. They were the only living relatives Annamh knew of.

Daniel Guerrero was of Mexican descent, and very proud of it. His body was covered in tattoos depicting things about Mexico and his rough background. His long hair only accentuated the scars on his face that he received from his multiple altercations in prison. He always had a rough appearance to him, was drunk often, and Annamh knew he also was a drug user. As a young girl, his looks scared her. Annamh would cringe whenever he pulled her near him. But all her senses told her he was not someone to cross.

Her father had not been happy with the union between Eileen and Daniel. He made life rough on Eileen. So much so it caused an uncomfortable relationship among the Breen clan. But Annamh’s father wanted to keep in contact with his only sister, despite her choice in a husband. There was always something that just didn’t seem right with Daniel and his behavior. And they were right. For, unknown to the Breen family, Daniel dealt in illegal endeavors. He had a roving eye, and only asked Annamh’s aunt to marry him so he could remain in the country. Sadly, Eileen thought it was for love. She stood by her husband, despite it all, till she passed away from cancer at the young age of 37.

Before Annamh’s parents could change the guardianship of Annamh, they too perished in a very mysterious car accident. She was only 16 years old when that happened. It was often thought that Daniel might have had a hand in it. For Daniel always had a strangely, strong interest in Annamh. He would shower her with toys as a child, proclaiming it was his right as her godfather, but it seemed like more than that. He would boast about her beautiful face and her amazing violet eyes. He would go on and on how rare she was, like a precious stone. And though it was, indeed, a mystery how she came to have this unusual eye color, Daniel’s attentions always made her parents uncomfortable. Their concern for Eileen and wanting to remain close to her, stayed their hand at changing their choice of guardianship before Eileen’s death. It has been long suspected that when Eileen died, Daniel would do anything to keep his place as guardian of Annamh.

She placed aside the book and started to eat the lunch she had prepared that morning when Padraic O’Connell, snuck up behind her, with his usual frivolity, and landed with a hard thud on the table next to her.

“Afternoon, my beautiful Irish rose,” Padraic said loudly.

Annamh jumped. She looked up at him wide eyed, with her beautiful violet eyes flashing in the bright sunlight. It was the best part of Padraic’s day. Annamh’s eyes took his breath away every time he saw them, and he knew he would never get tired drowning in them.

“Padraic! You’re back!” she cried, reaching up to give him a hug. “How was Ireland?”

“I’m sorry beautiful. Didn’t mean to scare you.” he replied, flashing his flirty smile. “I just can’t help myself!”

“I couldn’t expect anything different from you, Padraic!” she laughed.

Annamh could never remain mad at Padraic. She so adored this young Irishman. He was 6ft tall with the thickest crop of red brown curly hair. He spoke with a brogue, as she did and had the most beautiful, sparkling green eyes. Irresistible! He was a transfer student from County Armagh, Ireland. Annamh loved his love of life. He always found a way to bring her spirits up. Padraic was her one and only friend and confidante. She told him everything. Including the very personal issue of the offhand advances by her uncle. The holding of her hand when they walked beside each other, the pulling her down on his lap even at this age, and the fierce protectiveness, that was more like a jealous lover’s outbursts. Daniel particularly discouraged any communication with boys.

“How was your summer back home,” she asked. “Tell me all about it!”

“It was great! But I sure missed you, pretty Lady,” he replied, winking at her. “Got into a bad argument with my brother right before I left, though.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Padraic. What about?”

“Eh, stupid stuff. No worries though. I won the argument,” he replied, proudly. “He hates to lose.”

Padraic quickly found a seat beside her pulling out his typically huge lunch.

“You always amaze me where you manage to put all that food, Padraic!” she smiled.

“Not all of us can survive eating like a little bird as you do, my lovely Annamh,” he returned. “I would never survive the menu you make for yourself every day!”

Annamh smiled.

“It’s so good to have you back, Padraic,” she thought.

They both took a bite of their lunch, and it got quiet between them.

“How are things at home,” Padriac asked, softening his voice. “Any better at all?”

Annamh stopped, placing her sandwich down, and dropping her eyes to her lap.

“No,” she whispered, “It’s becoming unbearable. I can’t escape him, anymore.”

An anger rose up in Padraic. He knew what she was going through. Annamh had told him everything. Though Padraic had a name as being a lady’s man, he always had different feelings for Annamh. Of course, part of him would have loved to be more, after all who could resist her unusual violet eyes, to say nothing of her very shapely body. But she was somehow, special. There was something about her that he felt more like a big brother to her. It prevented him from forcing himself on her, especially with what she was going through in her life right now. And rather than lose her being forward, he settled for being a good friend. It was what Annamh needed most right now.

“What if I could help you get away from your uncle? Would you do it?” he asked.

Her eyes rose to meet his….

“What?” she asked. “How?”

Padraic moved in closer and whispered…

“I’ve been thinking about this for weeks. I can’t really tell you how, but I have contacts back home that could help you get away from here,” he said.

Annamh’s eyes widened.

“You mean, run away?” she asked.

“Yes, change your name, live where you always wanted to live. Home, where your parents are from. You are of age to live on your own. I...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 19.3.2019
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Lyrik / Dramatik ► Dramatik / Theater
• ISBN-10: 1-5439-6706-X / 154396706X
• ISBN-13: 978-1-5439-6706-7 / 9781543967067