Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
He doesn’t respond. I storm off to the elevator, jab the button, and stand to wait. He lingers a few feet behind, giving me space. I want to whirl around and keep on shouting at him, but what will that solve?
I’m not even that mad at him.
The grocery store was immature and annoying, but I don’t think he was doing any of that to upset me.
The elevator shows up and we get on. He hefts the bags, leaning against the railing. I focus on the numbers and do my best to pretend like he isn’t there. I’m in frustrated agony until we reach our floor, but he jams his thumb against the door close button.
“What are you doing? Let go of that.”
He doesn’t look at me. His eyes stay on the door. “I know I haven’t been around much. I want you to know that I’ve been out dealing with business.”
Butterflies fill my stomach. “I don’t need to know.”
“Maybe you do. Maybe Finn’s right and my place is at home with you.”
“No Liam, seriously, it’s fine.”
“I’m doing what I can. I want you to understand that.”
“Okay. Really, it’s fine.” My face is hot. He looks back at me and the hungry intensity in his stare sets my body alight.
He releases the button and the door slides open.
But none of the tension eases.
CHAPTER 18
LIAM
The bar’s smoky and packed. The doors are guarded and all the tables are filled with men quietly talking. Saint Stephen’s isn’t the nicest joint in Brooklyn, but tonight, it might be the most powerful.
Seamus holds court in the back corner. The Whelan brother enforcer laughs loudly, drinks plenty, and is generous to everyone who comes through the door. Declan’s the polar opposite: he’s quiet, serious, and talks with a few other Whelan upper-level members in dour tones. Regan’s father is at the main table along with her brother Luke.
I stay off to the side wishing Finn weren’t busy with several family lieutenants. There are no wives tonight, no girlfriends. The only woman is Cathy manning the bar. She brings over a second bourbon and slides it into my waiting hand.
“Isn’t this supposed to be a celebration?” She leans toward me, lined face giving me a curious smile. I’ve always liked her. No bullshit in that woman. I watched her brain a patron one time for reaching over and trying to steal a single beer from the ice chest. She smashed a glass over his head like it was no big deal and went back to filling drinks like nothing happened. She’s good people.
“Not for me.”
“Seems strange, since you’re the one who got married.”
“My marriage isn’t for me.” I spin the drink in a slow circle before sipping it. My eyebrows raise. “You got me the good stuff?”
“Like I said, it’s a celebration, hun.” She winks and goes off to cover another order.
The Whelan organization rarely gets together like this. I can think of a very small handful of times when the entire upper-rank of the family was in a single room all at the same time. Tonight though, they’re all here: Declan, the boss, Seamus and Finn, even the creepy murder-bot Cormac. The brothers drift around each other, amiably talking before breaking apart, running the world like they were born to it.
Guess they were. I can’t pretend like I hold it against them. I’ve been through some shit, but they’ve suffered as much if not more. I couldn’t follow them if they hadn’t. What’s the point of a man if he doesn’t know pain? Can’t be a real adult without loss and suffering, not in my mind at least.
A young man slumps down into the stool beside me. He grunts and looks over, scratching the back of his head. “Well, look at you, about as depressed as I’ve ever seen.”
“Connor. You good?”
“I’m alright.” He asks for a Guinness when Cathy pops over. “You ever take control of a crime family before?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“It’s a fucking pain in the ass.” He grunts a thanks when his beer appears and drinks down half in one chug. “Always more shit to do.”
“Must be nice. You know, you’re your own boss.”
“Yeah, brother, and I work from fucking home. Spend all day on Zoom calls.”
“I think they use Teams now.”
“I don’t even know what that shit is, and I hope to the good lord Jesus Christ I never do.”
“Here’s to that.” I tap my glass against his.
“Seriously, what’s with you?”
“Cathy was giving me shit for it too. Am I being that bad?”
“You look like you want to fucking kill someone.” He flinches and holds up a hand. “Moreso than usual, my friend.”
“Thinking about the way things are trending right now, is all.”
Connor nods grimly. He’s the head of a relatively minor but growing group within the Whelan umbrella. The young man only took control after his uncle and his cousin were both unceremoniously killed in action, and now he’s doing his best to find his footing. I like him and I don’t envy him.