32

Mandy's Pov

I nervously ran ahead of Rian from the villa and at the moment I had no idea why he wanted to drive me. I thought maybe he knew something was going on behind his back, but what made him think I was going to tell him something?

"Get in," he instructed me in a cold voice, holding the passenger door of his BMW open for me while I wanted to vanish into thin air.

I walked towards him with slow steps and then took a seat in the car, slightly overwhelmed, to be exposed to the smell of mint or something. It wasn't obtrusive, but I didn't like that smell.

"So," he said as he sat down next to me in his suit and gave me a fleeting look. "So you're Senan's therapist."

Aha! So he thought he could tease something out of me through casual conversations. But he was wrong about that. Sure, his aura alone frightened you and if you only glanced into his gray-blue eyes, you immediately felt inferior, but no matter what he was up to, my lips would remain sealed.

"Yes," I said in a calm voice, staring stubbornly out of the windscreen as he pulled the car out of the driveway and headed towards Dublin.

"And what's he like?" he asked politely and I answered him just as politely.

"I don't talk about my patients. Even if I wanted to, I would be forbidden to," I smiled superiorly in his direction, but when I suddenly saw how coldly he was staring at me, I quickly avoided his gaze and wanted to nervously play with my fingers, but a man like Rian recognized any sign of weakness immediately, so I let it go.

"But you also know him privately. After all, you're suddenly constantly walking through my house."

I chewed my bottom lip nervously, eyes wide, looking down at the dark street ahead.

"He's a friend," I answered truthfully, then took a deep breath. "A friend who has the flu."

"Yes, yes, this nasty flu, where you suddenly have lifeless eyes and panic attacks," he replied, slightly irritated, and slowly I really felt as if I had to make a confession, which also made me slightly irritable.

"I don't want to seem rude, but if you're worried about Senan, please ask him directly," I replied, looking over at him, which he suddenly did the same. His gaze was beyond arrogant and just as he was about to say something again, I unbuckled my seat belt and just pointed to a house to the right.

"That's where I live. You can let me out of here," I said and he immediately parked the car on the side of the road.

"Are you sure?" he asked with an irritated expression and without checking what he meant I looked around more closely out of my window.

The houses looked more like ruins while windows were smashed and junkies and homeless people ran and sat everywhere.

Oh Gott!!!

"Yes, I'm sure," I babbled awkwardly, swallowing hard for fear of catching an infection just getting out. Better that than being riddled with holes.

"Well, thanks," I said quietly and was about to get out, but Rian held me back by my arm.

"There's either something wrong with Senan or with you and I'll find out what it is," he said coldly, and immediately let go of me, so I jumped out of the car, my heart racing, and the door slammed quickly.

Watching the BMW slowly round the next corner, I tried to catch my breath and dug my phone out of my purse to hurry to call my sister.

"Tinchen? You absolutely have to pick me up!", I begged and looked around in panic in this junkie district, which smelled like urine.

"Where are you, then?"

"I'll send you the location via WhatsApp!" I replied and with slightly shaking hands I hung up and sent her the location, before wrapping my hands tightly around my chest and padding nervously from one leg to the other.

After a while, one of the filthy guys standing behind me came close and seemed to be eyeing me kind of curiously while I turned my back and almost had a heart attack.

"You're a horny slut...and such a pretty getup! Do you like roleplaying?" he slurred and I could smell his alcoholic breath from here, even though he was still standing behind me.

"Just waiting for someone," I let him know, but the guy suddenly grabbed my arm.

"Don't be so shy," he whispered in my ear and thank God I saw a car coming towards us at that moment.

"Hey you motherfucker!" Padraig yelled, jumping out of his convertible to run straight towards us.

"Who are you?" he asked Junkie amusedly in Padraig's direction, who then got a really crazy look.

"Who am I?" he repeated, then turned to me. "Wait in the car."

I immediately freed myself from the grip of this pushy guy and ran to the convertible, but when I heard a pain-filled scream that went through my marrow and leg, I turned around again in panic, holding my breath.

I watched in horror as Padraig used a knife to carve a capital P into the junkie's forehead, who just begged for mercy.

"So you don't forget me you fucking bastard," he yelled at the prostrate man and spat in his face again, wiping the blood from his knife on his white tank top with a grin.

"Oh God," I breathed, completely beside myself, covering my mouth with both hands because I thought I would just scream out loud.

Did my sister actually know who she was with?!

"Shall we?" Padraig snapped me out of my stillness and I nodded groggily as I watched several other guys help the junkie up and disappear around the next corner.

"What... So you can't..."

I didn't know what to say anymore and Padraig carefully put his hand on my back to slowly push me to his car.

"He didn't deserve anything else. What do you think he would have done to you if I hadn't come?" Padraig said dryly and after I sat down in the convertible, I suddenly saw Rian coming towards us again, the one without what to say Padraig punched a fist in the face.

"You lousy asshole!" he yelled at the gypsy and grabbed his collar to smash him against the convertible several times, causing me to scramble backwards for fear of getting hurt.

"Are you crazy?!" Padraig yelled and pushed Rian away.

"Me?! Do you realize that Senan has feelings for her! How can you do that to him!?"

I gaped at the scenario and had to grin briefly when he said that Senan felt something for me.

"What are you talking about!?" Padraig wanted to know angrily and wiped away the blood from under his nose, only to glare at Rian afterwards.

"Well, you guys have something together! Or who meets at 3 a.m. in such a neighborhood?!"

"That's my girlfriend's sister, you fucking control freak!" Padraig defended himself against the accusations and Rian looked back and forth between me and the gypsy completely perplexed. "I should pick her up here, that's all!"

"Fuck," Rian said and took a handkerchief out of his jacket to hand it to Padraig, who angrily snatched it from his hand.

"Maybe talk before you strike!"

"Says the right one you dirty gypsy."

I was still totally upset and it was even stranger when the two suddenly grinned stupidly at each other and seemed to understand each other again.

What a strange friendship that was!

"My God, Rian. First I have to look for a living corpse because my girlfriend thinks she's being followed and then I get hit for no reason. Welcome to Dublin," Padraig laughed and Rian immediately looked at him questioningly, what I want him to say did the same

"Living corpse?"

"Mandy's husband."

When both of them suddenly stared at me, I turned bright red and widened my eyes in confusion.

"Why corpse? I saw him before?" I acted ignorant and shrugged my shoulders. I knew from Keeva what had happened, but they didn't have to know that.

"Wo?"

"Well at my house! Where else?"

"Did he still live there?" Padraig asked and I frowned at him.

"Well, he was breathing and walking around, so yeah, I assume he was alive."

"I think we should go to your girlfriend's and talk quietly," Rian interjected and after Padraig nodded in agreement, he jumped into the driver's seat in front of me and started the engine.