A squeak escaped Deirdre, and I knew I had a handful of minutes before terror gave way to self-preservation. I’d been on my own for years, working hard to make my place in the family, so very little scared me. But for her? She was cosseted, not just by her family, but my position. By the position I gave her as my future bride.
She was terrified.
I had to take advantage of that.
“I-I don’t know, man,” Reggie rumbled, before he screamed, “Who the fuck are you?”
Before she could even say a word, Reggie’s drugged brain made the leap for her. And for me too.
His gun went off, and a scream escaped Deirdre just as she crumpled to the ground. Death rattle noises slipped from her lips, and I watched as blood blossomed over her heart.
I turned to Reggie, eyebrow cocked high, and murmured, “Good shot.”
He blinked a few times, licked his lips, and rasped, “I ain’t never seen her in my life, bro. You gotta believe me. I didn’t bring her here or nothing.”
“Who is she then?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, man. I don’t fucking know.”
I strode over to her, then, in a role that would see me win a goddamn Oscar if I was an actor, I released a shaky breath. “Sweet fuck.”
“What? What is it?” he demanded, grabbing my arm, but I jerked it from his grip.
“It’s Deirdre.”
“Who the fuck is Deirdre?” he bellowed.
I let out a scream as I dropped to my knees and hauled her dying, soon-to-be corpse into my arms. Rocking her against me like I gave a shit, like I wasn’t happy the cunt was dying, I rasped, “My fiancée.”
Pulling back so I could watch her take her final breath, I kept my eyes fixed on hers, hoping she saw my satisfaction, my malevolent pleasure in her death because, for the first time since I was a kid, I was free.
And not only did freedom taste mighty fucking fine, it came shaped like Aela O’Neill who, if I had my way, would soon be Aela goddamn O’Donnelly.
Fourteen
Cami
NOW
It seemed impossible to me, but Father hadn’t changed the safe combination since I’d left.
Maybe if he’d known I knew it by heart, then he’d have changed it, but as it was, I figured there was no better time than now to grab the necklace that Inessa coveted from Mama’s collection, one that her husband, Eoghan, had requested I steal for him.
Objects meant nothing to me. I’d given everything up the first time I’d run away from home, heading for New Jersey where I’d heard chatter of a biker who killed men who abused children.
In my father’s line of work, as the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva, violent chatter like that was constant, but gossip about such a killer had stayed with me.
When Father had hit me for the last time as I argued about the marriage he was arranging between me and his ancient Sovietnik, I’d decided enough was enough and though it seemed crazy and stupid now—because it most definitely was, especially as I was coming home with a broken heart—I’d run to the Satan’s Sinners’ MC compound and had found the man I’d thought was my soulmate.
But he wasn’t.
And here I was, home once more. My father was in the hospital, his knees shattered from a Famiglia sniper’s bullet. My stepmother was wandering around the house like the queen bee of Slutsville. My youngest sister was afraid to say boo to a goose. My middle sister was married to a Five Pointer.
My heart was broken because Nyx had chosen another. I’d done everything I possibly could to be perfect for him. To fit his particular mold. I’d gone to him a virgin, and that hadn’t mattered worth a damn.
Nothing had mattered to Nyx apart from reaping vengeance on his sister’s behalf. Apart from the killing of sick pedophiles who deserved to die.
Until Giulia.
Until she’d come along and wrecked my hopes of becoming his woman on a permanent basis.
The only consolation about returning home was seeing how happy Inessa was with her man. That was why I was here, sneaking into my father’s safe even though it might mean him chopping off one of my hands for thieving, but it was worth it.
Inessa wanted this. My stepmother didn’t deserve to have a piece that belonged to our mother. And my father, as always, was a bastard.
So steal her necklace I would.
I retrieved Mama’s jewelry box and pulled it from the safe. Knowing no one would barge in, because this was Father’s office and there was no reason, on pain of death, for being here, I took my time.
As I separated the tangled necklaces that were proof my bitch of a stepmother didn’t appreciate the fine pieces here, I happened to see a long, thin necklace that didn’t belong among the heavily set emeralds and rubies, the fine diamonds and sapphires that had once belonged to a Tsarina.
It was delicate. The chain frail. But I peered at it and recognized it was platinum, so it was expensive in its own small way. Suspended from the center was a tiny star. Each of the five points were dotted with an emerald as green as Mama’s eyes.
I rubbed my fingers over it, feeling a connection with the woman I’d lost too many years ago, too soon, and too violently. Tears pricked my eyes, because Mama and I shared the similar fate of falling for the wrong man…
Knowing Father would never remember buying such a simple chain for his Mariska, who was nothing more than a distant memory for him now, I draped it around my neck and tightened the clasp so it hung between my breasts. I realized that it was too long for anything else, which meant it was supposed to be hidden.
The thought had my brows drawing in, but before I could ponder it, I heard a noise in this side of the house. Though most of the men should be in bed, it wasn’t like the foot soldiers worked nine-to-five jobs. Gathering the chain Inessa coveted, I tucked it in my pocket, quickly replaced all the chains back into the jewelry box, and shoved it inside the safe.
Closing it up, I moved the painting that covered it back into place and quickly dashed over to the other side of the room.
Moving behind the door, I waited, my heart in my ears, my fingers nervously fingering the star pendant, for someone to come inside, but no one did. The sound of footsteps faded away, and with it, my panic.
I waited another five minutes, staring at an office that had been the headquarters for far too much bloodshed, and slipped out into the hall.
No one caught me.
But then, no one ever did…
DECLAN
Over the next few days, I watched her.
And Seamus watched me watch her.
I didn’t know if the kid had some kind of radar, but I thought he knew that something had changed between the pair of us.
Was that good or bad?
I guessed it depended on whether he liked me or not. But either way, I had no intention of us not being a family. Hell, we were still young. Maybe we’d have more kids in a couple years’ time.
You read that right—that was my thinking.
I was in the future. Flying forward. Thinking shit I didn’t have a right to think yet considering Aela was a prickly pain in the ass who had my cock aching like a SOB.
Everything about her got to me.
Every-fucking-thing.
Watching her cook, make coffee for us. Watching her paint, hearing her on the phone. Watching her sigh, following the strokes of her pencil over a notepad.
She was beautiful.
I was a man destined to appreciate the arts, but never fated to have the talents that would let me be a part of that world. To me, she was a masterpiece. A living, breathing one.
For fourteen days, my family left us alone.
Two whole weeks of blissful radio silence unless a Pointer came by with a wad of documents for me to peruse.
With each passing day, I grew stronger. With each passing day, I got reacquainted with Aela’s body.
Every night, she’d sneak into my bedroom, and every night, she’d bitch when she had to roll off my futon and scamper ba
ck to her own so that it didn’t upset Seamus.
Because he was protective, I let him be. I was proud that he was looking after his ma’s best interest. Wasn’t that what a son should do? But I was waiting for a sign to take things up a notch. Either that, or I was just waiting on the all clear.
My life had changed.
Before, I’d have flipped any doctor the bird if they told me I had to wait to have sex. If I wanted it, I’d have it. But now, I had a son. I had Aela.
I had a future.
I wanted to matter to them. I wanted to be important to them. And I couldn’t do that if I was a corpse.
Patience, never my strong suit, was something I was having to learn. Because ever since Seamus had sensed me and his ma were getting closer, he’d pulled back.
It was why Aela had made the suggestion to sneak into my room. She didn’t want anything to get in the way of us growing closer, and I appreciated that as much as I appreciated that pussy of hers that was always wet around me, as much as I appreciated her adoration of the artwork on my wall, her understanding of the past. Her acceptance of it.
Because, crazy though it might be, she did accept it.
Maybe she registered I was telling her the truth, because I was.
One hundred percent.
There was no need to lie to her, not now. Not with so much time having passed.
I had a lot of regrets. So did she. That was the biggest win. She’d felt no guilt before, but I could tell she did now when she saw how hard I was trying.
I didn’t want her to feel shitty, but that she did meant her opinion of me had changed.
Of course, that would come to an end soon. The second I went back to work. Every day that I grew stronger, healthier, was a day that put me closer to the front line.
A sniff from the other side of the breakfast table, followed by, “Such an asshole,” had me blinking in surprise. Seamus was quiet in the morning, but he had his AirPods in and was watching something on his phone.
I was used to it by now. Quite liked it, if I was being honest. Aela ate a yogurt and drank tea then made a to-do list for the day, and I caught up with my emails as I ate the omelet she made for Seamus and me.
Breakfast was quiet. Reflective. Proof that the three of us were meant to be a family because none of us were morning people.
“What is it?” Aela asked, her head tipped to the side.
She didn’t mind if he cursed, and though I didn’t, I knew I’d have to warn him about Da. Da would mind until he was eighteen and then it was a free for all. Except in front of the women.
Christ. That reminded me.
I’d have to take them to church soon. And for the family Sunday roast.
Fuck.
“I can’t believe that prick won.”
“Which prick?”
“Alan Davidson. God help us now he’s President.”
I shrugged. “He’s good for business.”
“Shit for the environment. I’m the one who’s going to have to deal with him destroying the ozone layer,” he grumbled. “I’m the one who’ll have to live with zero ice caps while he rolls back laws that destroy nature so that fat cats like you can get richer.”
My brows rose at the vitriol in that statement, but though I could have grown angry, I didn’t. My lips twitched instead, which I knew pissed him off further. “Hate to break it to you, kid, but you’re not exactly living like a pauper. With your brand-new iPhone, and your brand-new iWatch, and those fancy AirPods, you’re as much of a capitalist as anyone. So before you start throwing stones around, acting like I’m the only fat cat in the room, bear in mind that your ma is richer than me.”
Aela’s nose wrinkled at that, but Seamus’s mouth dropped open as he swung around to gape at her. “What?” he boomed.
Didn’t take a miracle worker to figure out that Seamus hadn’t known that.
She evaded his gaze by blowing on her tea. “Your father’s right,” she murmured, and her backup was appreciated even if I’d thought she’d take things a different way. “You can’t sit and cast judgment on people when you’re sitting in a penthouse in one of the most expensive cities in the world. You’re privileged, kiddo. But… that doesn’t mean you have to be a schmuck about it. You’re going to change things, aren’t you? Well, you’re in a position to do it.”
His brow furrowed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because what’s in my bank account isn’t yours,” she said wryly, but she reached over and swiped away the messy locks that had tumbled onto his forehead. “Look, you’re about to go to a school where you’re going to rub shoulders with the best of the best. You can take that one of two ways. Be a jerk, make no friends, stand out because you’re the anarchist. Or you make friends with everyone, get into their pockets, and when you’re older” —she tapped her nose— “remember every little thing they did wrong, and use it as leverage to get them on your side.”
“That’s not honorable.”
“Neither is rolling back environmental laws, is it?” She shrugged. “You want to trigger change? Now’s the time to do it. You schmooze, and you approach every day in class like it’s your first day in court.”
“Court’s only the beginning,” my kid muttered.
“He wants to be a politician,” she clarified, “but he thinks becoming a DA is the smartest way to hit the Senate running.”
There was amusement in her words as she spoke, and I knew why.
A DA in the family?
Sweet mother of Jesus.
I rubbed a hand over my face, but when I thought about it, when I really calculated how badly that could go awry… I knew I could play it to my advantage.
Da would try to drag Seamus into things soon. He’d try to recruit him. If I hit preemptively, then I could make him see that Seamus was in a unique position to do what Da had been wanting for a long time—get a politician in the ranks.
He wasn’t to know that Seamus was an idealist.
Shay, still processing his mom’s words, murmured, “You think that will work?”
“What? Schmoozing?”
I snorted. “You mean licking ass.”
Aela pulled a face. “Really, Dec?”
“Tell the boy how it is. He wants to get into the world of politics, he needs to get used to the taste of shit.”
Seamus groaned. “Ew.”
“Yeah. Ew.” I wasn’t about to treat him like he was five. He wanted to be treated like a man, so I would.
Even if that meant talking about things she didn’t approve of.
I shot her a look, saw her disapproval, and smiled at her, before I asked my son, “Do you know what a PAC is?”
He blinked. “Isn’t it, like, where you get a group of people together and they donate money for your campaigns and stuff? To get you into seats of power?”
“Yeah. When you meet your grandda, you talk to him about it.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “It interests him.” He’d been planning this for years, and didn’t he just have the luck of the Irish that Shay was going to fall into his lap?
If he played his cards right, of course.
I’d need to warn him… Wasn’t that going to be a barrel of laughs?
Aela returned to her to-do list, I went back to my emails, and Shay carried on grumbling at some political show he was watching on YouTube. I didn’t even know kids watched that stuff, but you lived and learned.
When, twenty minutes later, I got an email from Da, I got to my feet and said, “I’m going out today—”
“It’s too soon,” was Aela’s immediate reply, and her concern was the best balm imaginable to the tears in my soul.
“No. I’m fine. I won’t push it. I just have to see a few people.”
She frowned at me, and silently, I knew she was asking me if I was ready for it. I replied with a nod and a soft smile. “I can’t keep the front door locked forever,” was all I said, and I did it softly so Shay wouldn’t overhear and misinterpret my
meaning.
Biting her lip, Aela mumbled, “I don’t want to open it.”
“I know. It’s been really nice, hasn’t it? But my folks care, babe. Despite whatever mistakes they make along the way, they really do give a damn. They might be good for him.”
“Can you imagine how he’ll respond to your father?” She shook her head. “It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
“I think it’ll be quite funny.” I grinned at her. “You’re forgetting he’ll be on his best behavior.”
Her eyes rounded. “You really think?”
“I really think.” Casting a look at my grumpy kid, seeing his attention was elsewhere, I stared straight at her, telling her silently what I wanted to do to her. What she made me feel.
When her cheeks started burning, I grinned again, happy that the message had been received. “I’ll see you later.”
She bit her lip. “If you’re going out, then don’t be worried if, when you get back, we’re not here.”
Tension hit me. “There’s a war, Aela. You can’t just go—”
“Shay needs to get back to school, Dec,” she retorted immediately. “He can’t stay around here forever. He needs space. He needs a normal routine. He’s getting antsy because he’s bored. He’s not used to having so much free time on his hands.”
“I thought he’d like it.”
She shrugged. “He isn’t like you or me.”
“Truants?” I teased, happy when she laughed.
“Yeah. Straight as an arrow. I’m not sure how it happened.”
“I am. You did a good job.”
Her nose crinkled. “You won’t be saying that when he’s DA.”
I blinked. “Fuck. It’s going to happen, isn’t it?”
Her lips twisted. “It’s messed up enough for it to be a possibility.”
“I can hear you, you know,” Shay grumbled, making me snort.
Filthy Dark: A SECOND CHANCE/SECRET BABY, MAFIA ROMANCE (THE FIVE POINTS' MOB COLLECTION Book 3) Page 21