Exhaling: A Mafia Romance (The O'Keefe Family Collection Book 3)

by Tuesday Embers

  Fallyn’s eyes widened. “You? You’ve been going to church? Like, a church? Like a real church?”

  Carrigan rolled his eyes. “No, the fake kind. Yes, a real church. She’s a Lutheran, and those guys are no joke. They’re all about helping the community without violence. She’s even got me volunteering at a soup kitchen twice a month.” Carrigan shook his head in frustration with himself. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”

  Fallyn covered her mouth with her hand. “I can’t even picture that. Sincerely? Like, you in a hairnet with a ladle?”

  He hung his head. “Yes. I can’t believe you guessed the hairnet part. It’s weird, I know. Go ahead. Say what you’re thinking.”

  “When can I meet her?”

  “Never. Like, actually never.”

  Fallyn’s face soured. “What? Why? I’m nice! I’ll be cool to her, I promise. Seriously, Carrigan. I want to meet this girl who could get you to go to a church. You haven’t set foot in a church since…”

  “Not since Mom died, I know. And no, you can’t meet her. None of you can. Not for a while, at least. She’s too sweet to be exposed to our world. I don’t want her near it.”

  Rolling her eyes, Fallyn huffed. “Well, I won’t wave my gun around in front of her. And the guys don’t talk shop in front of strangers. You don’t have to worry about that. Please, Carri! Please?” Her attention shifted when Vince came into the living room. “Hey, baby.”

  “Hey, babies,” Vince echoed. “Can I kick him out yet?”

  “No. Carrigan’s staying for dinner. Is that okay?”

  “No, but I don’t guess I have much of a choice in it. Cute that you’re pretending I do.” Vince jerked his head toward the dining room. “Dinner’s ready. Dogs eat on the floor if they act up,” he warned Carrigan. Vince batted Carrigan out of the way and reached for Fallyn, lifting her up from the couch with hands that only ever touched her gently. He led her to the dinner table and sat her down, noticing that she actually let him help her, which meant she was too weak for a decent stubborn protest. “You alright?”

  Her stomach started to panic for food when she smelled the savory meal Joey was putting on the table. “Yeah. I just need to eat, like, now.”

  “Go for it.” Vince slid a plate over to her as he sat down next to her, leaving Joey and Carrigan to subtly glare at each other on the other side of the table. “Whoa, slow down, Fal.” Vince watched as she shoved three chunks of sausage in her mouth, moaning at the taste she’d been longing for.

  “Can’t,” she murmured around her food, inhaling deeply with relief that the food was staying down. Such strong emotion welled up in her at the elation she felt. Finally getting the thing she craved forced tears to moisten her eyes. She finished her plate and scooped another portion on, devouring it with such enthusiasm and passion that the men abandoned their modest appetites to gawk at hers. “This is so amazing. It’s the best sausage I’ve ever had. Did you cook this, Joey?”

  “Um, yeah. It’s just sausage and peppers, Fal. Nothing special.”

  The more Fallyn ate, the higher her emotions swung. The relief at finally being able to keep down a meal overwhelmed her as she hunched over her plate and devoured bite after bite with gratuitous groans. Tears fell onto her dinner, though she knew it was from her overactive hormones.

  Carrigan watched his sister as if she was an alien sitting across from him at the cherry wood table. “Uh, Fally? You okay, kiddo?”

  “Yeah. It’s just so good,” she said, crying as she ate. “Thanks for making dinner, Joey. I can’t even tell you how nice this is.” At swallowing the next bite, she sobbed openly, unable to hold back the weeping anymore. “You’re just so nice now!”

  Joey gaped at Fallyn. “Uh-huh. Vince? I think she’s hitting that crazy pregnant lady point in the evening again.”

  Carrigan pointed to his sister with his fork. “This happens every night?”

  “Like clockwork.” Vince shot a glare at Carrigan. “But you would’ve known that if this wasn’t the first time seeing your sister since you found out she was pregnant.”

  Carrigan bit his lower lip and stood. “Vince, can I talk to you in the other room?”

  Fallyn paused her feeding frenzy to stare up at her brother, making sure he wasn’t gearing up for a fight. His shoulders were slumped and his posture was humble, so she hoped he was taking her up on her edict that he should apologize to Vince for everything he’d done. Fallyn expected to hear shouts when the men walked into the next room, as did Joey, judging by his tensed body language, but no yelling ever came.

  Joey jerked his thumb toward the living room. “Grownup talk.”

  Fallyn nodded, wiping away her tears and hoping no more came. She cleared her throat and sat up straighter, attempting to control her relief at being able to keep down an entire meal. “Funny that we’re not the kids anymore. We could have our very own grownup talk, and it would be totally normal, because we’re adults.”

  Joey nodded, considering this. “I’m worried about Vince,” he admitted, lowering his voice. “Salvatore’s people are causing problems, so sure, handle it. But he used to handle it with a warning or a broken window or two. He’s got the one strike rule now that Kill uses. I’m not sure what to make of it. It’s either really good, or it’ll go south real fast.”

  “I know what you mean. I heard him ordering one of their guys to be offed today, and not the humane way.”

  Joey leaned back in his chair, trying to look like Vince. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, they deserve what they get. It’ll get handled. I just don’t want you going out on your own until Salvatore’s people are settled. Might take a week or two before the city learns that no more illegal enterprises are welcome in Fairfield anymore.”

  Tilting her head to the side, Fallyn sniffled through a grin. “Look at you, caring about me. You’re the best, Jo-Jo. You staying to play poker tonight?”

  “Sure. Vince is going out to take care of some ‘stuff’ later.” He used air quotes to indicate that more deaths would occur that night. “Asked me to stay with you while he was out. We can play poker as long as you like.”

  Fallyn scooped more of the sausage onto her plate. The bite that reached her mouth felt like the first one all over again. Emotion gripped her and shook her up when it combined with her husband going out to partake in dangerous and dark deeds. In the next bite, the dam couldn’t be held back any longer. Fallyn wept openly over her food, abandoning her quiet tears to hiccups that slowed down her sausage massacre.

  “Jeez, Fal! What’s wrong? Come on, now. We can play a different game if you want.” Joey walked over to her and sat in Vince’s chair, patting her back awkwardly. “Vince!” Joey shouted, hating it when Fallyn fell apart on his watch. “You should know better than to leave me in a room with a crying woman. Get in here!”

  Fallyn gulped down water through her sobs. “I know it’s his job, and I don’t get involved in that stuff, but it’s dangerous! It’s like, any time he leaves to take care of ‘stuff’, I’m afraid he’s not coming home to me. I’m afraid he’ll disappear at the bottom of the river, and I’ll have this baby all by myself. I don’t want him to die!” Fallyn tried to spear her sausage, but her tears clouded her vision too badly to see what she was doing. “And Carrigan’s in there, and who knows what he’s doing to him!”

  “Vince!” Joey barked when Fallyn leaned on him, resting her head on his shoulder as she often did these days in the evenings when her hormones were at their most unpredictable. Joey patted her back again. “Vince won’t die, Little Keefer. And you’ve got an army of brothers plus me, Tony and Angelo to help you out if anything ever did happen someday.” He took the fork from her hand and set it on the table. “I think poker’s not your game tonight. How about we just watch a movie or something? I’m guessing something not violent and not emotional. A comedy, yeah?”

  Fallyn nodded, blubbering into his shirt. “Okay. Just a few more bites of sausage first.” She tried to hold her crying back whe
n Vince came into the room with Carrigan – both men in two unbruised pieces – but the floodgates burst all over again. “I thought you were dead!” she wailed.

  Vince softened, extracting his distraught wife from Joey, who couldn’t get away fast enough. “You thought your brother was going to kill me in my own house? Honey, Carrigan’s not going to kill me.” He jabbed his finger at Carrigan, who looked floored at the mess Fallyn had devolved into that quickly. “See what you did?” Vince stood, bringing her up out of her chair so he could wrap his arms around her and sway from side to side. “How about you to take a break. You’re exhausted.”

  Fallyn nodded, letting Vince lead her up the stairs. He helped her into red pajama pants and a tank top that showed the slope of her burgeoning belly, expecting the change of scenery to shift her mood a little. “I’m afraid when you go out at night like this. I’m afraid you won’t come back, Vince.” The loud crying she’d done downstairs was now a quiet trickle of never-ending tears. “I know it’s what you have to do. I know Daddy and Papa D did it, and now you and Kill have to keep the city from getting out of hand, but does it have to be you? Can’t you send other people? I love you!”

  Vince chuckled, despite her urgent fears. He lowered her onto the bed and tucked a pillow under her legs. “I’ll be back before the sun comes up. It’s just a few loudmouths that need to be taught to shut up. I’ll have Tony and Angelo with me. It’ll be a scary thing for them, sure, but not for us.”

  When he wiped a tear from her face, she caught his hand to pull him close. “Be safe, Vince. Like, wear two seatbelts, look seven times before crossing the street and come home untouched. I love you.” She moved his hand to her belly. “We need you, so don’t be reckless.”

  Vince watched her, gauging her sincerity and the devotion she radiated toward him. His thumb traced a line over her stomach as he leaned down to kiss his wife. “I love you, too. I’m doing this to make sure our baby has a safe place to play. Salvatore’s out of line, and his people need to be put in their place. I won’t let them run my streets like they’re trying to. I’ll make sure to keep you safe, and I’ll come home to you by morning.” He kissed her again before pulling away and moving to the closet where he kept a few automatic weapons. He tucked two into his belt and grabbed a few extra clips. “I’ll send Joey up to keep you company in a few.”

  “No,” Fallyn ruled. “Take Joey. I can tell you’re lying to me about how easy it’ll be. Take him with you. I’ll ask Carrigan to stay here with me instead. It’ll be better that way.”

  Vince’s mouth drew in a tight line. “I trust Joey. I don’t trust Carrigan.”

  “You don’t have to trust him.” Fallyn pointed to her purse that hung in the closet. “My gun works just fine. Carri and I can hold down the fort. Please, Vince. I need you safe.”

  Vince sighed. “Fine. I could use Joey’s help, actually. But don’t open the door for anything. I mean it. I’ll make sure everything’s locked up for you, but don’t let anyone in.”

  Fallyn nodded. “Of course.” Her heart was racing as she took in the worry Vince had been trying to conceal from her. “Come home safe.”

  Vince kissed his wife once more before going out into the night.

  15

  Wounded Warriors

  Fallyn awoke to the sound of the shower turning on in the bathroom that was attached to their bedroom. She rolled over to find the spot next to her that Carrigan had been lying on was empty. She glanced at the clock and saw that it wasn’t even four in the morning yet. Her face pulled to a frown as she turned the lamp on and swung her toes over the side of the bed. She walked soundlessly on the plush carpet to the bathroom, knocking lightly on the door. “Vince? Honey, are you alright?” When no answer came, Fallyn grew worried. She turned the handle, her fingers touching on something slick. When she pulled back to examine her hand in the dim lamplight, she realized the wetness was blood. “Vince!” She pushed open the door and gasped at the sight of her husband with too much blood on his clothes for some of it not to be his own. He had his sleeve rolled and was washing his arm in the sink.

  “Go on back to bed, honey. It’s fine. It’s all fine.”

  Fallyn gaped at the blood covering the front of his shirt, his pants and coating his hands. “Where are you hurt?” She kneeled down and reached beneath the sink to pull out one of their many first aid kits.

  “Get off your knees,” he insisted. “I don’t want my wife crawling around on the floor.”

  “Oh yeah? Well I don’t want my husband to bleed to death.”

  “It’s nothing.” His hands were shaking with nerves, but he still forced out a smile. “Just a little ketchup.”

  Fallyn softened at the sweet lie he’d told her when she’d been a little girl peeking behind the curtain to see too many adult things when she was still in pigtails. She helped him remove his ruined white shirt and undershirt, and then worked off his pants and socks, throwing everything in the “to be burned” pile. She sat him down on the closed toilet lid and set to work cleaning out his scrapes and putting pressure on the deeper gashes that just kept oozing more and more red. Each bit of her husband was precious, so she tried to keep as much of him in one piece as possible. “How’d this happen?” she asked quietly, pointing to two thick slices on his forearm that crossed diagonally over the skin.

  “I cut myself shaving,” he answered with a hint of a tease. “I’m fine. I told you I’d be back before morning, and here I am. Might want to take that kit down to Angelo and Tony, though. They’re downstairs. I can fix myself up just fine. Doctor Henderson’s on his way.”

  Fallyn’s eyebrows rose. “Okay.” She kissed Vince before running down the stairs to the full bath on the first floor. She gasped at the macabre sight of the two men covered in blood. She knew better than to ask what happened. Instead she set to work cleaning them up, as she had her brothers for so many years. “Shirts off,” she commanded, pulling out a stack of washcloths from under the sink. She bit her lip at the seeping wound on Tony’s side, trying to keep a pleasant demeanor despite the depth of the gouge. She helped Tony remove his shirt, knowing his pride was just as wounded as his side. “Vince said you gave them everything they deserved,” she said quietly, wetting the rag and putting gentle pressure to the bloody gash just above his right hip. “Looks like they only got lucky once on you. Good for you.”

  Tony glanced down his pointed nose at her, nodding once. “I know what you’re doing.”

  Looking up into his blue eyes that were almost as piercing as Vince’s, Fallyn shrugged. “Then let me. Let me be good to you. Stop being so stubborn.” A small smile bloomed on her lips when Tony’s shoulders slumped and he nodded his compliance. “Good boy. Now this one’s going to have to wait for Doctor Henderson, but I can at least clean up the other cuts.” She sat him down on the edge of the tub, holding the rag to his right side and wiping down his shoulder with another wet cloth. She was almost hugging him, and the fact that he didn’t pull away spoke volumes of how much he was beginning to accept her as part of his family. “How’s Joey? Where’s he cleaning up at?”

  “He just took a few punches and hurt his knee a little, but he’s fine. His knee goes out all the time. Doctor Henderson can set it back in place so he can walk again.”

  “He can’t even walk?!” Fallyn exclaimed.

  “Carrigan’s helping him in the other bathroom down the hall.”

  Angelo was silent as he moved into the bathroom doorway. When he let out a low groan, Fallyn whipped around to see the source of the problem. The tall, muscular man was gripping the sink with his eyes closed, looking like he was using it to keep himself upright. “Angelo! Sit down. Here.” She closed the lid on the toilet and lowered him slowly to sit down. “Honey, what happened?” she cooed, wincing at the gash above his eyebrow that was dripping down into his black eyelashes.

  “Nothing. I’m fine. Whoa, it’s tilting,” he mumbled. Angelo was dizzy, and reached out several times for Fallyn with bear-like paws until
they finally found her hips. His breathing evened out when his head came to rest on her belly, his eyes closing that finally someone was there to shoulder his burdens. He made a noise that almost sounded like a whimper when she ran her fingers through his blood-streaked hair to comfort him in his rare moment of vulnerability.

  She was gentle to the bear, coddling him as he cuddled her. The washrag helped in getting to the source of his many wounds. Angelo had been slashed across the back by that same instrument that had left two gouge marks on Vince’s forearm. He was nursing his left side, and Fallyn could tell by the red marks that would soon turn blue that Angelo had been the human shield for Vince, as he always was.

  The blow to the head was most troubling. Angelo seemed unable to maintain an upright position, his balance and depth perception off. She supported his weight as she bent down to look him in the eye. “Sweetheart, look at me.” When he looked to a spot two inches to the left of her face, Fallyn knew no amount of patching him up would do anything. She tilted his chin toward the light, biting her lip when his pupils did not react. She turned her head to Tony, who was still holding the rag to his side, though now the rag was completely soaked in crimson. “I have to take him to the hospital. He’s got a concussion or maybe something worse. There’s nothing Doctor Henderson can do for him.”

  Tony cursed loudly. “It’s not safe for us to go out right now. The few left standing on Salvatore’s side weren’t too happy. They’re bound to be circling for another round.”

  “Vince said everything was fine! He said you guys took care of it,” she hissed, bringing Angelo’s temple to rest on her belly again, his blood soaking through her tank top.

  “We did. But if there are any sore losers, tonight’s the night they’ll strike.”

  Fallyn thought through all her options, coming up with only one. “Carrigan can drive us in his car. Salvatore’s people don’t care about the O’Keefes. If I stay hidden with Angelo in the backseat, they won’t see us.”