by KB Winters
Most of my classmates attributed it to my short skirts and attractive appearance, but Aidan never looked at me that way. As much as I wanted him to look at me as desirable, as a sexual being, he was always platonic and business-like. We were co-workers, nothing more, in his mind. The fact that he respected me for my mind and talents meant a lot to me, sure, but part of me yearned for him to bend me over and take me on his desk. Talk about hot.
Apparently, it wasn’t meant to be. No matter how hard I tried to catch his eye, he kept things professional. I had to give the man some credit—nothing distracted him from his work. And I mean nothing. Believe me, I’d tried.
The phone rang in Aidan’s office. I tried hard not to listen, but it was difficult not to eavesdrop at times especially when he paced the room and came close to the thin wall that separated us. Every word was crisp and clear as if he was speaking directly to me. Except, of course, he wasn’t. He’d probably prefer I didn’t hear most of the conversations that happened behind that closed door. But I looked the other way and pretended as if I’d never heard a peep.
This time would be no different.
“Aye, I spoke to Emmett,” Aidan said in that thick, sexy Irish accent of his. “I told him I would.”
Emmett was a name I’d heard a few times. From what I gathered, he was an old family friend who was closely associated with Aiden’s father. And yes, I knew who his father was. Everyone did—even though Aidan tried to keep himself separated from that. It didn’t matter, though, his family and connections seemed to follow him wherever he went—including here.
“Listen, I can’t talk now,” he said, lowering his voice. “I’ll stop by after work. We can make the formal announcement then, all right?”
“Yes, the brotherhood lives on. I can promise you that.”
The last part sent chills down my spine. The entire town knew about the disappearance of Flynn O’Brien, the famed leader of the O’Brien syndicate, the man thought to be a traitor to his men but was never proven to be. The police were after him. His enemies were after him. Hell, even his own brothers were after him. Except for Aidan, of course. His real brother defended him every time his name came up. No matter who spoke against Flynn—even if it made him look bad to anybody listening—Aidan defended his brother and said it was all dirty lies. Flynn had been framed, and Aidan vowed to prove it.
His loyalty was touching and very sexy. I never had a bond with my siblings like Aidan had with Flynn. My siblings lived on opposite coasts, and we only saw one another at holidays. Even then, we hardly spoke. Would I go to bat for one of them like he did for Flynn? Most likely not. Because I knew they wouldn’t do the same for me.
But Aidan and Flynn had something unique. Something special. And I loved that about my boss. He was a family man, even putting those ties above his career. And in these times, that kind of loyalty was hard to find in a successful man. Someone who put family above work. Most paid lip service to the idea, but Aidan lived it.
Just thinking about Aidan and all the things I loved about him caused my skin to flush with warmth. He was so hot and sexy, he had that kind of power over me. Turn me on in an instant, with just a simple thought. I both loved and hated him for it—especially since I knew I didn’t evoke the same feelings in him that he did in me.
Aidan’s office fell silent, and I assumed he was off the phone. I didn’t hear any more talking, which meant my eavesdropping came to an abrupt end. What had he meant by the brotherhood lives on? With Flynn gone and his father dying, rumor had it that there was no one else to keep it going. Was he going to run the family? Would Aidan O’Brien step into Flynn’s shoes and lead the infamous O’Brien syndicate just as his birthright had intended? My mind was spinning with questions—questions I didn’t have the answer to, and I didn’t think I should ask.
Aidan’s office door opened, and I jumped in my seat, startled as if I’d been caught in the act. His eyes turned toward me, but if he noticed my fake typing or deer in the headlights expression, he didn’t say anything. Not a peep. His eyes were a dark gray and always looked as if they could see right through me. He stared at me, but he wasn’t really looking at me. He was looking past me, I could tell. Still, he smiled as he spoke.
“I’m going to take the rest of the afternoon off and work from home,” he said. “I need to deal with some family stuff.”
“Oh, of course, Mr. O’Brien,” I said with my friendly receptionist smile. “I can hold things down here. I’ll transfer any messages that come your way.”
“Thank you, Mags,” he said, using the nickname he created for me. I hated to admit it, but I loved that he had a special nickname just for me. It made me feel important to him. In some small way. “I knew I could count on you.”
“Is your father okay?” I asked, stopping him before he turned away. “I mean, you did say family stuff, and I know he’s in poor health. So, I just wanted to...”
My voice trailed off, but his smile grew wider, warmer, almost like he appreciated my question. It wasn’t a question he got often from outsiders. There were many in Chicago who’d love to see Donal O’Brien burn for all the crime, corruption, and murder he’d caused all over the city, but he was still Aidan’s father. And I knew how strong Aidan’s loyalty was to his family, and what it meant to him.
“He is, ya. I mean, he’s doing about as well as you can expect for a man who’s dying,” he said with a soft tone.
“I’m sorry if that was a thoughtless or stupid question,” I stammered. “I’ll definitely keep him in my prayers.”
“It wasn’t thoughtless at all. I appreciate that you care enough to ask. Thank you, Mags,” Aidan said with a gentle laugh. “Always appreciate the good thoughts.”
Aidan turned and left, and I strained my neck as I watched him go. It was sad to see him leave, but it was nice to watch him walk away from that angle. If only he knew how turned on he got me, maybe then he’d help make my fantasies a reality. Maybe he’d give in to the lust I saw flash through his eyes every now and then and we could be together. I knew I could make him happy. Hell, I knew more about making him happy than he thought. Sometimes, I even thought he might want me as much as I wanted him, but he never acknowledged it—or me—in anything but a professional manner.
So for now, all I could do was look—not touch—and dream and do my best to learn from him. I had so much to learn if I wanted to be as successful as him one day.
Chapter Three
Aidan
Family business. I guess you could call it that. It was all in the name of helping my brother. But first, I had to find him. I hadn’t heard a word from him since he left town, and I couldn’t say that I blamed him. He knew any enemies he’d made would be keeping an eye on his family, looking for a way to find him.
Which was why I had to be extra careful and make sure my search for Flynn wasn’t going to look suspicious to anyone. I went about my day like normal, pretending to be distant from the syndicate, though I was sure the Russians watched Emmett leave my office. No doubt they knew what the visit was about. Which meant I had to watch my back—which was not uncommon in my line of work.
My BMW was in a secured parking garage—one that was gated and only allowed the people occupying the building to park. Since this was a newer development and one that had failed to fill out completely thanks to the country’s economic struggles, there were only a handful of cars present at any given time. All of them familiar to me.
Yes, I’d picked this place for a reason, and it wasn’t just about the discount in rent I got due to them having more unoccupied offices than tenants. I knew it would take some time to lease out the entire office building, even with the modern amenities and incredible views. Most of the mid-sized offices were looking at more affordable locations, not high-end, brand new buildings like this one.
It just so happened to work in my favor. It allowed me to be discreet, come and go as I pleased, and with less fear of doing so. Sure, people could always sneak past the security, but that was why I always
carried a little extra protection under my suit jacket.
I scanned the parking garage, and content that I was alone, I got in my car and pulled the burner phone I’d bought earlier that day, out from underneath the seat. I pulled the phone number out of my wallet and dialed. I listened as the phone rang once, twice, and on the third ring, he picked up.
“Bell,” he answered.
Jason Bell was the finest private detective in the city of Chicago, and I trusted him to be discreet. We’d worked together on a number of cases, and I paid him well—well enough that I’d gained some measure of loyalty from him.
“Jason, it’s Aidan,” I said, glancing out my tinted windows. I watched as a woman walked to her car. She was the owner of a small business down the hall from my office. Event planning or some shite. “Wondered if you have any news yet?”
“None yet,” he said. “But I’m working on it. You know your brother, he’s not going to be found easily if he doesn’t want to be found.”
“I trust you’ll find him, though,” I said.
“I know I will. It’s what I do.”
If Flynn was alive out there somewhere, Bell’d track him down. Hell, even if Flynn turned up dead, Jason would find out where he was buried. Not only was he looking for my brother, he was also working on clearing his name—harder to do with Flynn MIA.
“The syndicate has asked me to step in and lead for the moment,” I said quietly. “But I can’t keep living this double life. Representing members of the brotherhood for their crimes is one thing, but acting as the leader of the syndicate is on an entirely different level, so I have to tread lightly. I have to be mindful of tipping off the Feds since they’re looking for Flynn, too. I’m sure I’m on their feckin’ radar by now. The sooner we find Flynn, the better. But that stays between us, you hear?”
“Aye Aye, sir,” he said sarcastically. “You should know me better than that, Aidan. My entire field is about being private. If it weren’t, I wouldn’t be a private eye, now would I?”
“Aye,” I laughed.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a figure come out of the building and into the garage. Their face was hidden by a hoodie, so I couldn’t make out who it was. Likely just someone from the building, since an access code was needed to get out here in the first place—but one could never be too cautious. Especially not with the people lining up to take me out.
“Listen, Jason, I have to go. Talk later.”
Before Jason could answer me, I hung up and started my car. I kept my eye on the person in the hoodie, just in case, as I left the parking garage. I noticed whoever it was, was talking on a cell phone, but they kept to the side. Out of the way. They didn’t even appear to be looking my way, though that didn’t necessarily stop my nerves from jangling.
Damn. The last thing I needed today was paranoia. But I didn’t need to be followed, either. Especially not to where I needed to go. Plans would have to change. I picked up the phone and called Emmett. He picked up on the first ring with a gruff greeting.
“We need to be discreet. I’m feeling a little heat here, so I’m going to hang low for a few days,” I said.
Emmett didn’t argue with me. No one would argue with me now. Sure, I needed to meet up with the brothers, let them know what my plans were, but every instinct told me I was being watched, and my instincts never led me astray. Until I was confident that there was no cause for concern, I’d play it safe.
Besides, staying off the grid for a little while would give me some time to come up with a plan. My brother was a natural leader, the man born to run the family. I was merely backup, the one behind the glass meant to be broken in case of emergency. And apparently, that emergency had just hit. This shite wasn’t supposed to happen, and if Flynn was here, alive, I really wanted to kill him right fuckin’ now for putting me in this situation.
As I left the parking structure and drove down Lakeshore Drive, no one seemed to be tailing me. Either they were good or I was imagining things all along. This was why I didn’t want to get involved with the syndicate. This was why I’d worked so hard to keep my nose clean. Because, if they started to dig beneath the surface of things, all hell would break loose.
Yes, I was Aidan O’Brien, member of the famed crime family that had terrorized Chicago for decades. Yes, I was one of the most well-known defense attorneys in the city. But there was more to me than all of that.
So much more. And I couldn’t afford for anyone—friend or foe—to dig up the dirt on me.
Not now. Not ever.
Chapter Four
Maggie
The office was usually quiet, even when Aidan was in. That was the perk of it just being the two of us. And when he stepped out, it was even quieter. The phone would ring, but no one came in without an appointment. Once in a while people would walk in, hoping to meet with Aidan without setting up a meeting, but I’d just smile and ask that they make an appointment. Aidan was very strict about that.
He was very careful with who he’d see and when, and his schedule was always tight and controlled. It took a lot of the gray area and guesswork out of things, which made my job easier and gave me time to study at the office.
So when a new face waltzed through the door, I assumed it was another rich, entitled jackass who thought Aidan should stop everything he was doing to meet with him. I smiled politely and greeted him the standard way I greeted everybody who came through that door.
“Welcome to the office of O’Brien Law,” I said, flashing him a perfunctory smile. “I’m sorry, but Mr. O’Brien is currently out of the office, but I’d be happy to set up an appointment for you.”
I’d memorized the whole spiel, down to the fake friendliness and peppy tone. I’d found they took the news less offensively if I was polite from the start and said it with a smile on my face.
“Do ya know when he’ll return?” the man asked.
The man had a thick Irish accent, just like Aidan, which caused me to raise an eyebrow. But I didn’t say anything. It was likely one of his brothers—which was unusual. He usually took great pains to keep me—or anybody else—from seeing any of them come into the office.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not at liberty to share Mr. O’Brien’s schedule, but like I said, if you’d want to make an—”
“No thank ya,” the man growled.
He was tall with dark hair and gray eyes that stared holes right through me. His presence was intimidating and made me nervous—which again, made me think perhaps he was part of the infamous syndicate. I’d heard they could have that effect on a person.
“May I ask your name, sir?” I tried a different approach. “I can let Mr. O’Brien know you’ve stopped by, at least.”
The man’s lips curled back into a sneer as if my question amused him.
“Aye, please do. Tell him Amon Flannigan stopped by,” he said. “And make sure ya tell him I’ll be back.”
Amon Flannigan turned and walked out of the office without offering a goodbye or anything. He just left. And truth be told, I was relieved to watch him walk out that door because something about him freaked me out, big time. I’d only met a few guys from the syndicate, had seen them once or twice—not that I’d always know them when I saw them of course, but I’d met Flynn right after I’d started, and he gave me the creeps, too. There was an ominous presence that cloaked those types of men that advertised they weren’t misguided intentions.
Not that Aidan was Mr. Goody Two Shoes. Not by any means. But it was different. He was different. When I stared into his eyes, I at least saw some semblance of a law-abiding citizen and decent human being. I saw a soul—a beautiful soul, at that. But with Flynn, and now this Amon, I got no sense of that from looking into their eyes. They just seemed wild, malicious, and downright terrifying. Their aura just exuded the threat of violence.
I considered calling Aidan right away, but then remembered why he’d left in the first place. Family stuff. If he was visiting his father, it would be rude of me to call. Amon Flannigan
could contact Aidan himself—or better yet—wait until he was back in the office to talk to him.
Syndicate or not, I wasn’t about to be bossed around by some asshole. I may be small, but I wasn’t a wimp.
Just in case—and to make myself feel a little better and more in control—I checked my purse for my pepper spray. Still there. Also tucked inside was a stun gun. Again, just in case. I’d never had to use it before, but when working in this field, it never hurt to be prepared for anything.
Especially when Aidan O’Brien was my boss.
Chapter Five
Maggie
I heard Aidan’s voice before I saw him come through the door. He was talking to someone on the phone, and from the sound of it, it was one of our current clients. He had a court case the next day to prepare for, so there was a lot of back and forth with his client—Tyler Dickinson.
Tyler was being charged with manslaughter because of a bar fight that had gotten out of control one night. Tyler was drunk and killed a man with a lead pipe. He was guilty, for sure, there was no denying that. But his father was a wealthy CEO, and there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell Tyler would see a day behind bars.
“Listen, Tyler. There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve got it handled. You’ll be fine. I’ll see you in court tomorrow, okay?”
Aidan sighed loudly. I wondered if Tyler heard it because I sure did. “Yes, I’m sure, Tyler. It’s going to be fine.” Aidan rolled his eyes at me and pointed at the phone melodramatically.
Tyler was one of our more needier clients. He needed his hand held every step of the way. His father was wealthy and had paid for Aidan’s services and that wasn’t cheap—but other than that—Tyler was on his own. After the bar fight, his daddy disowned him, even wrote him out of his will—at least—until his name was cleared. Even then, there was a chance he might not be put back in. Don’t soil daddy’s good name with your drunken shenanigans was the message we all took from this case.