Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“Shut up before I cut out your eyeballs,” Rian tells him, the man laughing.
He holds up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m not going to do anything about it. I’m just saying.” He holds out his hand to me. “I’m Finan.” We shake, and he points to the other man with him. “Torin.”
“Abbott,” I reply.
“We know,” Torin says. “Everyone knows. Governor’s son. Dangerous.”
Before I even realize what’s going on, Rian has his hand around the man’s throat, and Torin is pressed against the wall.
My heart lurches. “Jesus, Rian. What are you doing?” I go to step forward, but Finan puts a hand on my bicep.
“Let him do what he needs to do. They’re fine,” he says in a low voice.
I rip my arm out of his hold just as Rian says, voice gravelly with what must be anger, “His father has nothing to do with who he is or why he’s here.”
“I didn’t…mean anything by it, Rian.” Torin’s words fight to get around Rian’s hold.
“Rian, let him go.” When he doesn’t respond, doesn’t even turn to look at me, I add, “Now.”
I have no idea why he’s so angry about what Torin said, but I’m not going to let him hurt one of his friends over it…kill him? Would Rian do that?
Rian’s hold on Torin’s throat loosens, and then a moment later, he steps back.
Torin pulls deep breaths into his lungs, not taking his gaze away from Rian, who isn’t turning away from him either.
“That wasn’t me taking a shot at him, Rian, and you know it. Being close to him and the eyes it can put on us is dangerous…but that’s never made me run before, and it’s not now.” He rubs his throat. “I definitely see you’re serious about him, though.” Half of his mouth kicks up slightly. I have no idea how a smile can tease his lips after what just happened.
But he’s right. I hadn’t really thought of that. When the two of us step out together, as people find out…will it be a big deal that one of Boston’s wealthiest businessmen, who everyone knows is the head of a crime family, is dating Governor Abbott’s son? I think the answer to that question is fairly obvious.
“You should have known from the start, man.” Finan chuckles as if none of this is a big deal. As if Rian wasn’t violent with him, and my existence in their world won’t draw more attention to them.
“You’ve never been one not to acknowledge the truth, Rian,” Torin continues. “I have your back tonight and always, but it’s much easier for us to do our jobs if we’re honest about the situation.”
“You’re right,” Rian finally replies. “I…lost my head.”
“Yeah, guys like us tend to do that when we find someone worth losing it for.” The guy chuckles like none of this is a big deal, while I’m still trying to wrap my mind around any of it happening.
“I apologize. You can—”
“No,” Torin cuts him off. “I don’t need it. We’re good,” he says.
Tired of his macho display, I cut in. “Don’t do that again, Rian. Not to someone you care about and not for something as small as what just happened. I can take care of myself when I need to. I’m not someone you have to protect from everything, and Torin is right. People are going to notice—maybe not tonight, but eventually. And they’re going to look into you. My father’s people are going to look into you.”
It feels like it’s one thing after another, and as soon as I have a moment when everything feels like it’s going to be okay, another obstacle throws itself in our way.
“People look into us every day, all of the time, Abbott. That’s going to happen with or without you. We’ll deal with it like we always do.” He holds out his hand. “Now, come on. Let’s go.”
I look down at his hand but don’t take it. Not yet. It’s one thing when Rian and I have been in his house together, or the cabin together, but it’s different out there…where we’re not safe.
“They’re here to protect us tonight,” I say softly, the reality just sinking in. I was too excited to go on a date with him that I didn’t consider the repercussions. “Because someone wants to kill me…which means they could hurt you…or them. And if they don’t, then all it takes is the wrong people noticing us together before they start talking about what Governor Abbott’s son is doing with the leader of the Irish fucking Mafia.”
“Not the whole Mafia…just our family,” Finan cuts in.
“Not now, Fin,” Rian tells him, his attention still firmly on me. “Yes,” he adds. “Yes, you’re in danger. Yes, we all are…but we always are. You know that, pretty thing. Every time I leave this house, I’m in danger…and you will be too, even when we deal with this threat, because you’re mine. There will always be something to handle—often more than one thing at a time—business, enemies, danger, law enforcement. That’s my life. It’s our life unless you walk away. I’ve known that. I’m here. I’m in it. Are you?”