Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“And your biological father agreed?”
“He must’ve.”
He hummed and folded his arms over his chest. “So the million-dollar question, Alfie. Who’s your daddy?”
I snorted, unable to help it, even though the thought of answering put a noose around my throat.
“Don’t tell me it’s Shannon. He’d never go the mistress route.”
“Fuck no!” The notion was laughable. Even outsiders knew the image that the O’Sheas had projected all those years ago. Before Shannon and Kellan got together in a fucking mess I didn’t even understand or have the details of, Shannon had been married to Grace. They’d had two sons. Finnegan and Patrick. And Grace had been a big part of our church community. To the point where I could remember her from when I’d been four or five.
Grace had been murdered several years ago, though.
“It’s not an O’Shea,” I said. “Can that be enough?”
“An O’Shea associate?” he guessed. “There are countless old crew bosses who could fit the bill.”
I shook my head. I really had to spell it out? For the record, my biological father probably had countless bastards out there. According to my mom, she hadn’t been his only side piece.
“I would prefer if we left it at that,” I said. “I’m not the eldest son or anything, so I don’t pose a threat to anyone whatsoever. And I swear, I have no interest in making a name for myself in the syndicate. I wanna make more money and see some action. That’s all.”
Kellan closed his eyes and began rubbing at his temples. “You’d be surprised at what threat younger sons can pose too, mate. You gotta tell me who it is.”
It was official. I had regrets.
I shouldn’t have come here tonight.
I should’ve stayed home and cried into my ice cream.
Here goes.
“John Murray,” I said.
He stared at me for a beat, maybe two or three seconds, before he closed his eyes again and scrubbed his hands over his face.
I’d known it wasn’t going to be great news, but it was better than someone who was close to the O’Sheas, wasn’t it? The Murrays lived in Chicago, for chrissakes. John had kept a mistress around for the times he’d visited; that was all. Besides, he’d retired. That was the last I’d heard. A lot of shit had gone down a few years ago, and it’d ended John’s reign. Finn had taken over, and John was no longer active in the syndicate.
“Of course it’s John.” Kellan’s voice had dropped, so I barely heard him over the music. “When is it not him causing problems?”
I frowned. “I don’t see why this is an issue. I’m not looking to expand my family or nothin’. We’ll keep this to ourselves—and you know you can trust me, Ford.”
“I can, but…” He sighed heavily and threw a tired glare at a couple who danced too close to our table. “This is one of those things I gotta tell Finn.”
“Why?” Why the fuck?
“Because it’s blood, Alfie,” he snapped. He wasn’t mad per se, but this was definitely a short-fuse situation. “Do you realize Finn is your actual cousin? Grace—his mom—was John’s baby sister.”
I—
I mean, sure, kind of, but I’d never thought of Finnegan that way.
“For fuck’s sake, my husband is your uncle,” he laughed through a groan. “In all the years we’ve known each other, man…!”
“It doesn’t make us family, and it doesn’t give me any claim,” I replied firmly. “Look, if this is gonna turn into some big thing, I’ll just back down. Forget I said anything. Either I’ll stick to what I’ve been doing all along, or I walk away. Your choice.”
I’d really hate to walk away. No other job would allow me to afford a rowhouse in central Philly.
“It’s not my choice.” He shook his head and pocketed his pack of smokes. “I take it you don’t have the kids this week?”
“No, I dropped them off at West’s today.”
He nodded and rose to his feet. “I’mma head home. You can expect a call from me in a day or two. Work continues as usual until I’ve talked to Finn. He’ll likely wanna meet you and make sure you’re not a threat.”
I sat back, shock coursing through me. “Do you think I’m a threat?”
“No.” At least he was firm on that. “Not for a second. And I’ll convince him too. But this changes shit whether you like it or not. You have a big brother who’s the boss in Chicago right this second. You’re very close to the top.”
I’d heard of him too, of course. Liam Murray.
“Furthermore, we need fresh blood,” Kellan said. He gestured for me to follow him, so I took another swig of my beer and assumed I was leaving. “I’d actually like to have you by my side at work.” He raised his voice so the music didn’t drown it out. “We have too many youngsters making snap decisions that land them in prison.”