by KB Winters
One focused on love, not hate.
Epilogue
Ava
Staring out at the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, I still couldn’t believe we were there. A small island in Greece was where we decided to settle. At least, for now. We’d decided to get away from it all and hid away in the majestic beauty of a small village surrounded by one of the most beautiful bodies of water I’d ever seen.
Our little island paradise was free from tourists, for the most part. We could just live out our lives—me at my computer, writing my novel, just as I always dreamed of doing, and Flynn taking on odd jobs here and there just to stave off his own boredom. But we were living on money from his old life—money he’d hidden away in various offshore accounts. No matter what we did or where we decided to go, we were going to be set for life. His old life had been that profitable.
For now, home was a Mediterranean villa. Tomorrow, who knew?
Flynn came up behind me, placing his arms around my waist and kissing the back of my neck. It sent shivers down my spine every bit as much as the first time he’d ever done it. Flynn still wielded enormous power over me—power I was willing to give him. At least in small doses.
As far as anybody else knew, we were Paul and Lisa Winchester, husband and wife. Our official wedding took place privately, just the two of us, on a bluff overlooking the Mediterranean. We’d gotten married since technically speaking, according to our passports, we were already legally married. But we wanted it to be truly official, so we’d exchanged rings and vows privately in a romantic ceremony overlooking the sea at sunset. It was one of the most romantic days of my life. Something I’d never forget.
He rubbed my belly as he kissed me, the life inside of me growing every day. When Flynn first said he’d always wanted children, I didn’t believe him. With the life he’d led, who would have thought he’d want a family of his own? I would have thought a wife and children would have cramped the outlaw lifestyle he seemed to enjoy—at least, at one time. But as I was coming to learn, things often changed. And there we were, a few months away from having a son or daughter, and Flynn couldn’t be happier.
And honestly, neither could I.
This wasn’t the life I’d dreamed for myself once upon a time, but only because I would have never dared dream of such an amazing future. I’d always wanted to be a cop, to do some good and find answers to those questions that had long plagued me. And now that I had answers, I could move on from that life and into this new one. I could focus on doing what I loved, in peace, with the man I loved against all odds.
Life was a funny thing. It could also be a son of a bitch. But if you opened yourself up and allowed it to happen, it could also be an exquisitely beautiful thing.
* * * *
~ T H E E N D ~
W00t! I hope you loved Flynn and Ave as much as I do! Turn the page for more Irish mobsters!
Dirty Truth
By KB Winters
Copyright © 2017 BookBoyfriends Publishing LLC
Published By: BookBoyfriends Publishing LLC
Copyright and Disclaimer
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 BookBoyfriends Publishing LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Chapter One
Aidan
“Ya know what I’m gonna ask of you, brother,” Emmett said, scratching the scraggly beard he’d had for as long as I’d known him. “The brotherhood needs you.”
We were sitting in my office in downtown Chicago, overlooking Lake Michigan and the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. The view was amazing, one I’d worked hard for. Over the years, I’d carved out a solid reputation as one of the most prestigious defense attorneys in the city—a reputation I feared was always in jeopardy because of my ties to the syndicate. While I’d been working my way up, I felt like I’d been living a double life, thanks to my brother and the syndicate—which, if I were blunt, I’d simply call it the Irish Mob.
Now that I had my own law practice, I didn’t have to worry so much about who came in and out of my office. Though, I still cringed whenever my brother or one of his thugs came through the door. Usually the only people in my office were me and my assistant, but she was a law student herself and had a few morning classes.
Which meant it was just me and Emmett.
I sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to stave off the headache that was coming on. There was a dull throb in my head threatening to explode. Ever since I’d heard Flynn had skipped town, I figured someone was going to come by. It was inevitable being that I was the only surviving O’Brien left to run the brotherhood—the syndicate me da’ had started.
“Flynn will be back, lad,” I said after a few moments. “He won’t be gone for long. Once he knows his name has been cleared—”
“It hasn’t been cleared yet—”
“I understand that, but I know he will be cleared, because I know my brother better than anyone else. He’s a lot of things, but he’s no snitch,” I said. “After all, he’s the one who made the deal with the Russians in the first place. Why would he blow it like that?”
Emmett shrugged. “I dunno. I find it hard to believe myself, lad, but that’s all we have to go on. What else are we supposed to think?”
I tapped my fingers on the desk in front of me—it had a dark, cherry wood finish that complimented the rest of the room and had cost me a pretty penny—and stared over at Emmett. His tired eyes were the same eyes that used to watch my brother and me when we were kids. Besides Red—God rest his soul—Emmett was one of the oldest and most loyal members of the brotherhood. He’d been there in the early days, had worked alongside my father, and watched us grow up.
Now the old man sat across from me, saying there was nothing he could do to help clear Flynn’s name?
Bullshite.
Something had to be done, and I was the right person to see that it was. However, it meant wading into deep waters I had no real interest in wading into. I’d helped my brother and his goons out from time to time—had gotten them off on some lighter charges, had heavier ones reduced—but I’d always done my best to avoid getting too deeply entangled with the syndicate.
And after years of resisting it, now I was getting pulled into it.
Great. Just fucking great.
“When Flynn returns—and you better believe he will—we’ll hear his side, clear his name, and allow him to take the reins of the brotherhood once more. Are we clear?”
Emmett nodded. “I’d love nothing more, Aidan. Flynn was a natural leader,” he said. “No offense or anything.”
“None taken.”
Yes, Flynn was a natural leader. Always had been. It was one of the reasons the brothers all respected him. Or had, anyway. It was his leadership that had taken the syndicate to new heights. He just had it. That charm, charisma, and ruthlessness a great leader had to have. Not that I didn’t have it, but the brotherhood wasn’t in my blood the way it was in Flynn’s. He’d cared about it from a young age—the loyalty and comradery—and all the while, I wanted more. Different. I wanted to be recognized as something more than just a member of one of the most feared families in all of Chicago. I wanted to make a name for myself in my own way. And I had—as one of the best defense attorneys in the c
ity—hell—the state.
“But until then, Mr. O’Brien…” Emmett trailed off, expectant of my response.
“Let the guys know that they’re leaderless no more,” I said with a sigh. “I’ll take the reins—at least until Flynn returns.”
“And if your brother doesn’t return?” Emmett asked, his voice low. “It’s a possibility we gotta give serious consideration to.”
I scoffed to myself. At one time, I used to fear this man—broad shoulders, long, raggedy red hair, and hands that could crush the life out of a man in seconds flat. But sitting across from him now, not only did he not scare me—it appeared he might actually fear me. It was a nice reversal of roles. It was also an important one because if I were to lead the syndicate, I needed the men to both fear and respect me, otherwise all hell would break loose. It would be chaos and anarchy.
“Oh, he will return,” I said, narrowing my gaze on Emmett. “He will return, even if I have to fuckin’ find him and drag him back here myself, aye.” My tone turned malicious. I tried to keep the façade of professionalism in place at all times, but that’s all it was—a fuckin’ façade. Deep down, no matter how hard I tried to hide it—a daily battle of wills from the life I ran from for too long—I was still a feckin’ O’Brien.
Emmett nodded, averted his eyes, and didn’t say another word. I had to admit, this whole being the one in charge and the one the men looked up to was a little intoxicating.
“Is there anything else we need to discuss?” I asked, checking my watch. My assistant would be coming in soon, couldn’t have her running into the likes of Emmett. Not that she didn’t know who I was, or who my family was. She did. But she—like many others—thought I kept my distance from them.
“No, boss,” Emmett asserted, falling into line of protocol when speaking to his authority in the syndicate. “Nothing I can think of at the moment,” Emmett said. “Except—well, never mind.”
“Except what?”
“Your father—how is he these days?”
I stared out the window and watched as the waves of the lake rolled onto Lakeshore Drive. My father was dying, sitting on death’s door and could go at any time. It would’ve been a stupid question, except, of course for one thing.
“Are you really asking me how he responded to Red’s death?”
“Well—yeah.”
Red was my father’s best friend. Up until he broke into the house and Flynn took care of the lying back-stabbing scumbag.
“He’s in and out of consciousness,” I said. “I doubt he even remembers Red. Hell, he doesn’t even remember me. Great man, my father was.”
“Yes, yes he was. If this would’ve happened when he was in charge—”
“It wouldn’t have fuckin’ happened with him in charge,” I scolded, clenching my jaw tightly.
Emmett nodded. “Very true.”
“And take my word for it, Emmett, it will not happen again,” I said, steadying my temper. I couldn’t lose control here in my office when I still had so much shite to figure out. Too many irons in the fuckin’ fire now that I was the leader of the O’Brien fuckin’ syndicate. “Not on my watch, ya hear? Tell the brothers that when you see them, as well.”
“Of course,” Emmett said.
Another glance at my Rolex. “If you don’t mind, I have some work to do,” I politely suggested, though the edged tone to my voice may as well have said— “Get the fuck out!”
Emmett took the hint, standing up and walking over to the door. He turned and looked back at me as if he had something more to say. He was a big man, and I felt that familiar old feeling of intimidation sweep over me. But I stuffed it down, and even though he towered over my six foot frame—his hard eyes staring at me from over his shoulder—I lifted my chin defiantly and returned his gaze.
“Your brother may have been a born leader, Aidan, but I think you’re going to do a damn fine job yourself,” he said. “I got a feeling you’re gonna clean up the riffraff once and for all.”
He didn’t wait for an answer—not that I had one to give. He stepped out of my office, closing the door softly behind him.
Emmett might believe in me, but did the other men? I knew I could do the job and do it well. For all my brother’s gifts, he was impulsive. He didn’t have the analytical mind I did. As an attorney, I’d learned patience and honed my ability to play the long game. I may not have his charm or charisma, but I brought a lot to the table.
I knew I could fill his shoes—in a different way of course, but the question I kept asking myself was—did I really want to?
It seemed like more trouble than it was worth right now—trouble I didn’t want or need. If it wasn’t a family affair—and if I wasn’t loyal to my family to the bitter end—I might as well step aside and let the whole syndicate implode because of everything that had happened. Because of everything they’d done and stood for.
But Emmett was right. I could get in there and take out the garbage.
It was a nice thought, at least.
***
“Mr. O’Brien?”
“Aye, Maggie,” I said, not looking up from the file in front of me. “Come in.”
My door opened and my assistant, Maggie Burke, stepped inside.
“I brought you lunch. Sandwiches from that diner you like down the street. Figured you hadn’t stepped out all day.”
“And you’d be right,” I laughed. I glanced up as she placed the sandwich in front of me. “You never cease to amaze me, Mags. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
Maggie’s face lit up and her cheeks flushed as I spoke. She was like a little girl on Christmas morn when I praised her—her admiration for me was all too obvious. I wasn’t sure, but I had the idea that she had feelings for me, but I managed to keep my distance. It was better for her. She was a sweet, innocent girl, and I didn’t have it in my heart to dirty her up with the likes of the O’Brien charm—a stain she wouldn’t be able to remove once I’d marked her. Not that it wasn’t incredibly difficult. She was sexy as hell with her long, blonde hair, baby blue eyes, and girl-next-door smile. And today, just like every day, her skirt was a tad too short, but not so short that it looked slutty. No, just enough to make my cock stir with interest for what secrets held beneath the skimpy fabric. Her flowery skirt and pink button-up top only added to the schoolgirl look. Sometimes I forgot she wasn’t a kid but an actual grown woman—a woman in law school nonetheless.
“Thanks, Mr. O’Brien. I’m always here to help in any way I can.” She bit her lip, and her baby blues peered back at me with a lustful intent—though that could have just been wishful thinking. I was a man after all.
The way she’d said it, though, made me think she was insinuating more than just helping around the office, but Maggie seemed too sweet and innocent for my taste.
Maggie stood there in front of my desk, almost like she wanted to ask me something. Or perhaps she was waiting for me to say something.
Small talk wasn’t my forte by any means—I wasn’t exactly a social butterfly—but I tried. “How were your classes today?”
“They were good,” she said, sounding slightly bored. “I just—well, I don’t feel like I get as much from them as I do from working here, you know? It’s kind of more beneficial to see these theories applied to real life situations.”
“Of course, you’ll always learn more from working in the field than you will in a classroom. But your classes are very important, as well,” I said.
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I guess... Well, I guess I could just spend more time here and still get my degree.”
“In time, Maggie,” I said with a laugh. “Get that degree and after that, I’ll put you to work.”
She grinned from ear-to-ear as if I’d just made her entire day. Oh, sweet Mags. I loved her innocence, and I prayed that this field wouldn’t do her in or break her. It had a way of doing that to even the most kindhearted people, those who went into it for all the right reasons.
Of course, I
wasn’t one of those people. But I’d met a lot of them on my journey to the top. People who became defense attorneys to help keep the innocent from being thrown into cages unjustly. They all had dreams and ideas about how the law should work. In reality, though, it wasn’t anything like you saw on TV. It wasn’t some stirring argument or last minute confession that saved you and your client. No, we spent most of our time on a case looking for loopholes and technicalities to keep the guilty from ever seeing a day in prison. Not all my cases were like that, though most were.
That may have something to do with my clientele. The thugs of the brotherhood.
Maggie, on the other hand, would have been better suited for family court or something where she might help good hard-working people. Working for me was the last thing she needed.
And whether she cared to admit it or not, dating me would be even worse for her. She might not believe it, which was why I had to protect her from herself—and from me and the family.
Chapter Two
Maggie
I slipped out of Aidan’s office with a smile on my face and went to my desk. The office was nicer than most, and the views it afforded me were astounding. And no, I wasn’t talking about Lake Michigan or downtown Chicago. I was talking about Aidan O’Brien himself.
Tall, sexy, and handsome—he was every woman’s dream. And that was before you actually got to know him. He was quiet most of the time, but when he did talk he spoke with an authoritative tone that meant business. He was never patronizing—which was unusual for a male lawyer of his caliber—but he spoke confidently and believed in his words. I found that Aidan never spoke unless he knew he was right, and that was something I admired about him more than anything.
Well, that and his nice ass.
My desk was located right outside of his office. He eventually planned to bring on more partners, but for now, it was just us—and I had to admit—I enjoyed it.