Never More by Dana Marie Bell Read Free Book Online Page B

laughter died as Aileen took hold of Michaela’s arm and, ignoring Robin’s sudden growl, put her with the other women. Aileen had ushered the women inside without a word, mom-guilt hanging heavy in the air. She led them into the kitchen silently, lining them up execution-style.
    “Well, well, well.” Aileen tapped her wooden spoon in her hand with all the precise, cool contempt of an army general facing a group of soldiers who’d fucked up their mission beyond all hope. “Did you enjoy your evening out, ladies?”
    Sean Dunne coughed, earning a glare from the petite redhead and matriarch of the clan. “I said nothing, my love.”
    “Good.” That piercing glare returned to the people who’d earned her ire, namely Moira, Ruby and Amanda. Amanda tried not to squirm too much. “Now. You wound up in jail , an hour away from home—” Aileen held up the spoon when Moira tried to speak up, “—yes, I know you don’t live here anymore. That’s not the point.” The spoon hammered down on the kitchen table and Moira jumped at least a foot. “The point is,” Aileen continued in a sweetly reasonable tone, “you, Michaela, are still learning. You can’t defend yourself yet.”
    Michaela nodded with wide-eyed silence. If she was as terrified as Ruby she was doing a good job of hiding it. If anything, she seemed almost amused.
    “Ruby.”
    Ruby whimpered in fear and tried to duck behind Amanda.
    “You are pregnant . You shouldn’t be anywhere near alcohol, let alone jail, while carrying my grandchild.”
    “Yes’m.”
    Ruby ducked even further, her chin almost on Amanda’s butt, when Aileen frowned.
    “Moira,” Aileen cooed, her brow smoothing out once more.
    “Ma,” Moira whined.
    “How long have you lived in this area?”
    Moira darted a glance toward Amanda. “Most of my life.”
    “All of your life. And how many times have you been arrested?”
    “Never.” Moira grinned cheekily at Aileen. “The charges were—”
    “Moira.” The spoon hit the table again.
    “Once.” Moira’s shoulders slumped.
    “And just why did you wind up there, hmm?” Tap tap tap went the spoon on the table.
    Amanda stumbled forward from Ruby’s push just as Michaela and Moira pointed at her. “She did it!”
    Amanda bit her lip to keep from laughing. “It was worth it.”
    Aileen’s eyes flitted over her, her expression neutral. “Was it?”
    Amanda crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. No one steals from my friends.”
    Aileen’s gaze softened slightly. “Oh?”
    “Someone tried to snatch my purse.” Ruby actually straightened up. “Amanda saw it and tried to stop her.”
    “But the bouncers thought Amanda was the one who started it,” Michaela added.
    “She kind of did.” Moira shrugged when Amanda rolled her eyes. “You did throw the first punch, after all.”
    “I did not!” Amanda scowled at Moira. “That makeup tutorial dropout did.”
    “She wasn’t that bad,” Ruby laughed.
    “Please.” Amanda rolled her eyes. “No wonder blush seeps out of her pores like that. She probably mainlines Sephora.”
    Aileen huffed, the spoon still tapping on the table. “I can’t let you out of my sight, can I?”
    Amanda pointed to her chest. “Me? I’m just the defender of the innocent.”
    That earned another cough from Sean, who wisely ducked out of the room just before Aileen’s gaze fell on him again.
    “You—” the spoon lashed out, stopping just short of Moira’s nose, “—tell your mates to come and collect you.”
    “But, Ma—”
    “Now.”
    Moira grumbled and left the room.
    “You—” the spoon tapped Michaela on the shoulder, “—find Robin.”
    “Aye aye!” Michaela saluted and walked much more calmly toward the front of the house where no doubt Robin still waited for her.
    “Ruby.”
    Ruby clung to Amanda’s arm like she was waiting for a death sentence.
    “Do you have your purse?”
    “Yes’m.”
    Aileen nodded