Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
When he was through, his brother’s gaze skated to Charlie. “Finch’s daughter.” He shook his head. “And you care about her. You wouldn’t be willing to trade in this favor otherwise.”
“I care about her.” He hesitated, but they were past the point of pride. “I also miss the fuck out of you. This will satisfy both debts.” Because he had no illusions about that—if he wanted Charlie to stay, he had to give her a reason beyond outstanding sex. Aiden was who he was, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t find some kind of compromise.
He just hoped like hell that it wasn’t as long a shot as he suspected.
Teague finished his beer. “I would have taken care of it just because you asked.”
The possibility of a future working together instead of fighting was enough to make Aiden smile. “Let me know when you have it lined up.”
“Will do.” Teague set his empty glass down. “I missed the fuck out of you, too. I’m glad we got this figured out.”
“Me too.” It was one less thing for him to carry around, and strangely enough, trusting his siblings made him feel stronger instead of like he was diluting his power base. Imagine that.
Carrigan stepped onto the stage. She looked perfectly at home as the center of attention, the head of a nonprofit that was doing actual good in the world. His sister was a goddamn inspiration, and it might be worthwhile for Aiden to take a page from her playbook and consider making his corner of the world less shitty for everyone who lived in it. Protecting them was all well and good, but why not take it a step further?
Slow down. Learn to walk before you run.
He had to deal with the threats posed by both Romanov and the Eldridges before he could do anything else. But maybe, just maybe, he’d find some time to talk to Charlie about what a future would look like if he was more than just a mob boss.
Would it be enough for her to consider staying?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Dmitri had allowed Aiden and James to agree upon a place to meet, mostly because he was the one holding all the cards. It made no difference if he was in New York or Boston, O’Malley territory or Halloran. They needed him, no matter how much they might hate him, and he would use that to his advantage.
It served a dual purpose, after all.
The anger, which had never quite left him upon receiving news of the attack, spiked. That fool Eldridge woman had no idea what she was unleashing when she went after one of his—after Keira. His skin crawled just thinking about her rushing back into that room and danger. He should have known she’d respond like that and approached the whole thing differently, but he hadn’t stopped to think and analyze. He’d discovered she was in danger and acted. She could have been killed or seriously injured—because of her connection with him.
Unacceptable.
If Mae Eldridge was going to act like a mad dog, he would put her down like one.
He was too close to finally having Keira. He wasn’t going to let some sadistic woman with a chip on her shoulder and a jealous streak a mile wide ruin his plans. He’d already planned on removing the Eldridge family, because their increasingly erratic violence was starting to gain federal attention that no one in New York could afford. It had been strictly business.
No longer.
Now it was personal.
He met Aiden and James at a dingy little bar on the line between their territories, one of those places that seemed to cater to both Hallorans and O’Malleys, depending on the day. Apt.
Dmitri left his man in the car, as previously agreed upon, and strode through the front door. Negotiation was a funny thing. It relied as much on the perception of power as actual power. Slinking through the door as if he was afraid would send a clear message that he was weak and start things off with him at a disadvantage.
It was always better to have enemies and allies alike overestimate his power. Reputation was everything. A man had a strong enough reputation and he’d never have to fight another day in his life. But the slightest scent of weakness, and enemies would come out of the woodwork to nip at his heels. That was what had happened with the Eldridges, and if he didn’t deal with them effectively, there would be someone lining up behind them to take a swing at the Romanovs.
Romanovs. I’m the only one left.
James burst into motion the second he caught sight of Dmitri. He pushed off the bar he’d been leaning on and drew a gun from his shoulder holster in a smooth move. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t shoot you and put us all out of our misery.”