Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 104802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
“Do you?” Cillian counters. When his father doesn’t speak, Cillian adds, “Figures. You can fuck off with your family bullshit.”
Cillian walks up the stairs, me beside him. Before we can pass, Rian’s arm shoots out, his hand wrapping around Cillian’s bicep. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“He’s not my friend. He’s mine. Nothing anyone says will change that.”
Wait. What? Change that? Is that a thing they would try to do?
“Agreed,” Tiernan adds from behind us.
“I think the two of you are mistaken about who’s in charge here. You chose to give up that role, Tiernan. You don’t get to play pretend now.”
I stiffen beside Cillian, my heart punching against my chest.
Rian turns his attention to us…and while Cillian has blue eyes, Rian’s are green like Tiernan’s.
“And do you agree? You’re not going anywhere?” he asks me.
“Fuck you. Don’t talk to him,” Cillian seethes.
“Can he not speak for himself?” Rian asks.
“I can, and no. I’m not going anywhere. No one can take me away from Cillian…because he’s mine too.” I’m prouder than I’ve ever been that my voice doesn’t shake. I won’t let him intimidate me, which I think he’s trying to do. Maybe this is a game, some kind of test, and if it is, I damn sure plan to pass it. If not, I’m still going to let him know that when it comes to Cillian, I will always choose him and I will always protect him.
I’m surprised when Rian gives me a small smile. “Well, then, if you’re my son’s and he’s yours, maybe we should at least be properly introduced. I’m Rian.” He holds his hand out for me.
I stare at it a moment, unsure what to do. Is it a betrayal to Cillian to shake it? I don’t think so, because my goal is to help build a bridge.
Cillian has ahold of my left hand, so I lift my right and clasp it with his. “Ollie.”
“The future lawyer from Michigan,” he says.
“Jesus, you fucking looked into him!” Cillian shouts.
“It’s my job to protect this family,” Rian answers simply.
“I don’t have anything to hide. Yes, that’s my goal. It’s always been my dream, but we’ll make it work. I would never betray Cillian or any of you.”
Rian watches me for a moment, the wheels clearly spinning in his head. I have no doubt he knows I’m afraid, that he can see it, smell it, but I do my best to stand my ground.
“Good. Now, should we do normal family shit or what?” Rian smirks.
I have no idea what to think of this man. In some ways, I hate him, but in others, I see there’s more to him than he wants to show. That he’s hurting and hiding in similar ways as his son.
“Normal family shit? Jesus, Uncle Rian, you’re an idiot.” Aislin works her way through us and gives him a hug.
“Be nice, brat.” He presses the tip of his finger to her nose in this loving way that he has yet to show his own son. Fear of rejection, maybe?
“Let’s go inside,” Aislin says, and we follow. She gives Cillian a small smile, then takes his free hand and squeezes it in support.
It’s not long before Fia—Tiernan and Aislin’s mom—shows up. A man named Conan too. I’ve heard Cillian and the guys mention him often. More come and go—Flynn, Blain, Finan, Torin, and a few others whose names I won’t remember.
The house is busy, and if I thought the mini mob said fuck every other word, it’s quadrupled here. These violent, murderous, drug-and-arms-dealing men who laugh and joke with each other. Who tease each other and trip over furniture and talk about people they love. They’re human, just like the rest of us.
Cillian talks a lot with Conan, with his aunt and the others, his body less tense and his heart more open with them than it is with his dad.
There are eyes on me often. I’m the outsider, the one they aren’t sure of, but no one watches me more than Rian. He watches both me and Cillian almost constantly. Even when he has discussions with others, his gaze often darts toward us, studying, curious…sad. Rian O’Shea is an asshole, yes, one who hasn’t been a good father to Cillian, but he’s living with a broken heart.
I pull my gaze away from Rian and give it back to Cillian, Rory, Tiernan, Conan, and Finan as they speak.
“How are things going at Paradise?” Tiernan asks.
“Good as always. Sex will always sell.” Conan takes a drink of his bourbon, watching me over the glass, judging, testing.
They’re into the business of prostitution? It makes sense, I guess. That’s what organizations like this do, I assume, but…is everything consensual? Do the people who sell their bodies choose that? I have to believe they do. Cillian wouldn’t be involved in trafficking humans against their will, would he?