by KB Winters
“It’s good to hear your voice too, Flynn,” he said. “I’ve been worried sick about ya.”
I took hold of Aidan’s other hand and gave it a squeeze. I could tell he was nervous, though I wasn’t sure why.
“No need to worry, mate,” he said. “I’m living a good life out here.”
“So I’ve heard,” Aidan said.
“You and Maggie need to come out for a visit soon,” he said. “Stay for a little while, and we can catch up.”
Aidan looked over at me, and I saw the questions in his eyes. How did Flynn know about us?
“How did you—”
Flynn’s laughter cut him off. “I’ve been keeping tabs on ya, brother,” he said, “and from what I understand, you’re developing into a fine leader of men.”
Aidan smiled and shook his head. “I’m just keeping your seat warm,” he said.
“No, brother,” Flynn replied, “you’re carving out your own niche. You’re making the syndicate your own, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
“But I have the proof that you’re innocent,” Aidan said. “You can come back and take your rightful spot at the head of the table.”
Flynn laughed softly. “I’m afraid that time has passed, brother,” he said. “I appreciate you working so hard on my behalf, but I don’t intend to come back. I’ve built something new out here, and I’m happy.”
Aidan leaned back on the couch, a look of stunned disbelief on his face. He looked as if his every waking nightmare was becoming a reality—and yet, I could see a small sliver of relief in his eyes. Maybe not every piece of him wanted to give up leadership.
“So, what are you saying, Flynn?” Aidan asked.
“I’m saying that you are the head of the whole organization. I’m never setting foot in Chicago again if I can help it. The job and the city are yours, brother. Treat it well.”
I squeezed Aidan’s hand a little harder and kissed the back of it. He looked at me with an expression that was inscrutable. I couldn’t tell if he was happy or terrified by the news.
“I also meant it when I said I want you and Maggie to come out and spend a little time with me,” he said. “I want to get to know this wonderful woman who puts up with you and spend some time with my little brother, of course. We need to make that happen very soon, brother.”
“We will,” Aidan said, sounding almost numb.
“Brilliant,” Flynn replied. “Listen, I have to run, but call me soon. Let’s get something set up. I want to catch up with you. It really has been too long.”
“Aye. It has,” Aidan said. “And I will.”
“Then we’ll speak again soon.”
“Aye. Love you, little brother.”
The call was disconnected, and Aidan sat there staring at the phone in his hand for a few minutes. Finally, he tossed the phone onto the couch next to him and stared off into the distance.
“You okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “I’m fine,” he said. “I’m just trying to wrap my head around all of this. I can’t believe he’s not coming back.”
“It doesn’t have to be a bad thing,” I said.
He sighed. “I don’t know how I’m going to balance being a lawyer—an officer of the court—with the things the syndicate is engaged in.”
I shrugged. “You learn to delegate,” I said, “and maybe you start steering the brotherhood in a different direction. Maybe in time, find a way to take them legit.”
He laughed. “I don’t know if I can ever pull that off. I don’t know if the syndicate is built to ever be legit.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I said. “One way or another, we’ll find a way to balance these two halves of your life. We’ll figure it out…together.”
Aidan looked at me and smiled. “With all this uncertainty and how terrified I am to face it, I’m glad I’m not facing it alone,” he said. “You are my rock and that beacon of light in the darkness for me, Mags. I don’t know how I ever got by without you before, but I’m glad I don’t have to do any of this alone.”
We sat there for a few minutes, marveling in being together. My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my purse. It was a text from Maya.
Where’s my man, girl?
I’d forgotten she approved of Gary, and I needed to get him her phone number. “Baby?”
“Mmm-hmm?”
“Is Gary outside? I have a phone number I need to give to him.” I giggled, remembering the conversation we’d had about Maya.
He picked up his phone and slid his finger across the screen. “Here, text it to him.”
I took the phone and sent him a message. She said yes, have fun and you owe me one! 555-0123
“Done!” I gave him a soft, chaste kiss and smiled at him. “I love you, Aidan O’Brien.”
“And I love you. Margaret Burke.”
We stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment and everything around us seemed to fall away—Amon, the syndicate, Flynn, everything. All that mattered was us. The life we were going to build together. No matter what we had to do, no matter how this all played out, I had hope. I was optimistic. Because I knew that whatever happened—good or bad—we’d do it together.
* * * *
~ T H E E N D ~
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Acknowledgements
Thank you! I love you all and thank you for making my books a success!! I appreciate each and every one of you.
Thanks to all of my beta readers, street teamers, ARC readers and Facebook fans. Y’all are THE BEST!
And a huge very special thanks to my wonderful PA, Silla. Without you, I’d be a *hot mess! I’m still a hot mess, but without your keen sense of organization and skills, I’d be a burny fiery inferno of hot mess!! Thank you!
Copyright © 2017 BookBoyfriends Publishing LLC
About The Author
KB Winters has an addiction to caffeine, tattoos and hard-bodied alpha males. The men in her books are very sexy, protective and sometimes bossy, her ladies are…well…bossier!
Living in sunny Southern California, the embarrassingly hopeless romantic writes every chance she gets!
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Or stop by her website at KBWinters.com!
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