Please review? Let me know what I can do better, what you love, what you hate? Etc?
Usual Disclaimer: Blah blah, don't own Boondock Saint, blah.
"Just gotta grab a few things really quick." Nidra flashed Murphy a smile as she stuck her key in the lock of her apartment door, turning it. But she stopped when she didn't feel the click of the lock. "That's weird… I always lock it when I leave."
Murphy gently ushered her aside with his left arm, right hand reaching into his coat and unholstering one of his guns.
"Jesus, Murphy!"
"Shh!" He silenced her before clicking off the safety and slowly opening the door. "Ye shoulda known I'd have it on me." Stepping into the apartment, he raised the barrel, scanning the entry hallway. He silently motioned for her to enter, and she felt the exhilarating rush of excitement, just like the old days.
The two moved through the hallway, and into the living room. There was nothing at first, until someone on the couch sat up and their head became visible over the back of the furniture. Murphy's barrel was pointed directly at them, and a female screamed.
"What the-" Nidra took two steps to her right, turning on the light and dropping her jaw. "Nora?! What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Me?!" The red-headed female quickly jumped up, terror written across her features as Murphy lowered his gun and turned the safety back on. "Wha the hell is he doin' here?! And wit dat ting in his hand?!"
"Jesus, Nora…" Pinching the bridge of her nose, she figured some sort of explanation was in order. "Look, in Murphy's line of business, things can get a bit nasty. So, he has to have protection. I didn't realize he kept it on him at all times."
"Oh, right? Because a gun the size of me car is really necessary for a stroll down the street?!" She eyed Murphy for a moment, which earned a shift in stature from him as he returned her suspicious gaze. "Da tattoo on yer neck… I've seen dat before."
Murphy reached up, touching the left side of his neck for a moment before shaking his head. "Is religious, probly seen it in church."
"No… No." Nora pointed at him, a look of awe in her eyes. "I knew it when I saw the latin on yer hand, too. Yer one o' dem, ain't ya?"
Nidra wasn't sure what was happening, but she definitely didn't want Nora dragged into any of this. "Nora, whatever it is that you're thinking, I need you to stop, and just go home."
"Yer fuckin mental, lass! I know exactly who 'e is. Taught dey'd be taller, though." Crossing her arms, she nodded in approval. "Yer a minx, ye are! Hookin' one of da Saints! How did ye manage dat?"
"I hooked her." Murphy winked and chuckled, but when he looked at Nidra and saw that she was unamused, he cleared his throat and dropped the smile.
"Nora, please, I am trying to get out of here so can you-"
"Road trip?!" Nora's eyes lit up. "Great! I've got some o' me clothes here, we can take my car."
A moment of silence passed. "No." Nidra shook her head. "We are going, you are staying."
"Like Hell!" She walked around the couch, a sly grin on her lips. "If ye leave me here, I'll go ta da police. Come on, Nidra! I want an adventure, too! Why should you get all da fun? Besides, der are two o' dem." She chucked her friend under the chin before skipping off to the spare bedroom where she kept a stash of clothes in case they had a late night partying.
Nidra turned to the MacManus behind her, raising a brow. "What do I do?"
"I s'pose she's coming wit us. Unless ye want her callin' da police."
"Fuck." This was going to be an interesting trip. And no doubt Aiden would be upset the next morning when two of his workers didn't show up…
Hours went by, Nora was asking all sorts of questions about their past: what it had been like in Boston, how they'd met, what Nidra's first impressions of them were and vice versa. It wasn't until they were standing outside of the little farmhouse out on a sheep farm that Nidra really started to think about what was about to happen.
"I don't know if I want to go in there." Nidra glanced at Murphy as she stopped just short of the door, Nora behind her with a giddy, yet exhausted, look in her eye. Murphy turned to her furrowing a brow. "It's just… The last time I saw Romeo I ran, and the last time I saw Connor I was a bitch. Not to mention they probably hate me because of what I said to you-"
He interrupted her with a laugh, to which she in turn raised her eyebrows. "Ye don' 'ave ta werry abou' tha. Dey love ya, yer family." He took her hand and gave it gentle kiss before he reached for the door to the house with his free hand.
Forcing a small smile, Nidra gave him the best nod she could and took a deep breath as he pushed the door open.
Upon entering the house, Nidra looked around. It certainly wasn't the old speakeasy above McGinty's, there was no Doc. But there was a quaint cottage kitchen, a couch and some recliners by a blackened fireplace. To the right was a dark wooden door, presumably to a bedroom. And to the left of that a dark hallway that led to another two doors.
"Das Romeo's room, Connor's is down da hall, along wit da bathroom."
Nidra nodded as she looked up at Murphy. She was definitely nervous to see the others, but she felt more at home than she had in years, and having Nora with her made her feel especially at ease. "They're still sleeping at this hour, right?"
Murphy opened his mouth to respond, but Romeo's voice sounded first.
"You wish, don't ya mija?" He strode across the room, enveloping Nidra in a hug before she could react.
She released Murphy's hand and returned the hug. "Hi Romeo."
"Where you been, mami?" He stepped back, crossing his arms in a fake attempt to be intimidating. "Don't you know we've been worried sick about you?"
"Oh, she knows." Green eyes turned, and caught sight of Connor standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall. He was still in his pajama pants, arms crossed over his shirtless chest.
"Connor."
"Lass. Didn' tink yed be comin' round."
She flinched under his stair as Murphy looked between the two of them, taking a step closer to Nidra and placing his hand on her lower back.
"Yeah, well, turns out that I was sort of wrong about family." There was a moment of high tension as the two stared each other down. She felt her breath catch in her throat as Connor pushed off the wall and started over to her. Still giving her the stare down, he reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Welcome home lass."
Nidra let out a sigh of relief, and Murphy chuckled before he patted her on the back, nodding towards their other guest. "Tis here is Nora, a fellow Irishwoman and huge fan of our work."
"Bringing in strays, are we?" Romeo gave her a once over before nodding in approval.
"She threatened to go to the police, so we had no choice. Besides," Nidra wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulder and pulled her into her, "she's been taking care of me in your guys' absence."
Connor took Nora's hand in his own, kissing it before bowing. "Lovely ta meet ye. We have a spare bedroom down tha hall if ye'd like ta rest up."
Nidra watched the two of them closely, and could already tell that Nora was going to take a liking to Connor, and he was definitely going to take a liking to her.
"Connor," Murphy began, "start on da breakfast, I need ta get washed up."
"Eh," Connor smacked his brother's chest and wagged a finger in his face, "ye take care o' her." With a wink he shooed the two away, wrapping his own arm around Nora and guiding her towards the hallway opposite the kitchen.
Murphy took Nidra's hand and tugged her to the back door, pushing it open and exiting outside. The sun was already rising, casting orange and pink rays through the clouds. Pausing, Nidra took in the sight of the rolling green pastures sprinkled with large rocks and hills stretching as far as her eye could see.
"Beautiful."
She nodded in agreement, turning to look at Murphy, only to blush when she realized that he was staring directly at her. "Stop… Please. I haven't had any sleep and I'm a mess from last night."
"A gorgeous mess!" He began walking away, tugging her along with him. "Come on, show ye ta tha best room on the farm." He was taking her straight for the barn.
"Murphy… That's a barn, not a bedroom."
"Just wait, love. Ye'll see." He silently led her to the side door of the barn, opening it with a childish grin as he pulled Nidra inside. Along the wall to the left was a set of stairs, leading a lost which Murphy has refurbished into a nicely sized bedroom. Obviously it looked more like a bed set inside of a barn's loft, but it was cozy, and private, and perfect for him.
Nidra smiled as she looked over the furniture, nodding her approval. "So I suppose this is your room, huh?"
"Our room, love." He moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her tightly.
"I quite like the sound of that."
It was difficult to sleep during the day, but Nidra had managed to get a few hours of rest before waking up. Murphy wasn't in bed, so she got up and headed back to the house where she found him sitting at the table with Connor, Romeo, and Nora.
"Ah, it lives!" Connor flashed her a smile and a wink as he stood up and headed over to the iron stove, stirring something in a cast-iron skillet.
"Don't suppose anyone has any service out here, huh?"
"Why?" Nora furrowed her brow suspiciously. "Yeh are'no waiten for someone ta call, are yeh?"
Shaking her head, she took a seat next to Murphy, leaning her head onto his shoulder. "Nope, just wanted to make a call." What Nidra wanted to do was leave a message on Aiden's machine letting him know that she officially quit, and would not be coming back. Ever. If she just up and disappeared there was a small chance that he would eventually turn to the police to find her.
"Ye'll be fine love. We've more important things ta talk about."
"Like what?" Looking at Murphy curiously, she caught him flash Romeo an unsure glance. "What is it?"
"We got word from an old connection in Boston." Romeo leaned forward, arms crossed on the table as he sighed. "There's been some movement, some of the old Irish Mafia boys who disappeared after we took out Abrahm."
"Okay?" Nidra scoffed as she sat up. "So, we didn't kill everyone, so what?"
Nora's jaw nearly hit the floor, but Romeo continued before she could say anything.
"It seemed like they were having a meeting, some sort of rendezvous, and then they all just up and disappeared again. Took off and left the country. Looked like they were coming here."
"To Ireland?" He nodded, and Nidra looked between the others. "So… Are we thinking that they are coming here for a specific reason?"
There was a long, ominous silence before Connor interjected.
"We tink der comin' for you."
Insert ominous music! Okay, there it is! Please review. Reviewing keeps me motivated, and helps me know what I can do better or differently.