Chapter 20
Cillian
Chapter Twenty
Chloe is asleep in my bed now.
I got her to tell me everything that’s happening with her mother.
When I relieved her of the debt I didn’t know she still needed the loan.
I knew the restaurant still had debts, which I thought they might be able to take care of now that Harlan wasn’t stealing money.
That was the extent of the problems I thought Chloe’s mother had. I never imagined she needed live-saving surgery.
Chloe was so worked up and upset that it wasn’t until we reached my place that she told me what was happening.
I placed her in a bath and cleaned her off from that fucking dive, then we lay together as she opened up to me.
Minutes later she was asleep.
I’m outside now on the terrace. I needed to smoke a roll-up and get some air to help me wrap my head around everything that happened tonight.
Weeks ago I was in a void of nothingness, now it’s like everything has downloaded on me at once. But I’m mostly thinking about Chloe.
I wish she’d come to me. I wish she’d told me what was going on. But I know why she didn’t.
She doesn’t know me and I just relieved her of the debt.
Still, it grates on my nerves that she was going to sell her soul to Marcus.
That lecherous motherfucker is one of those people you don’t want to cross.
Chloe would never have gotten whatever she thought she signed up for.
Marcus would have used her up until there was nothing left of her. And that’s worst-case scenario. There are whispers of him having links to the flesh trade.
No one in the Creed or our alliance deals with that, so they don’t deal with him.
I saw the way he looked at Chloe. He was probably going to sell her, then I’d never see her again.
I felt like I should have killed him just for looking at her in that piece-of-shit getup he put her in. God knows what he would have had her doing tonight. There are sex clubs, and then there are establishments like his that fuck you up for life.
I’m glad I’m twisted enough to have put that tracker on her phone.
I don’t want to think about what could have happened to her tonight had I not.
When I’ve had enough of outside, I head back in and plan.
I have a bad idea, but it’s part of the plan. A plan I need to run past Chloe.
She’s still asleep when morning comes, so I allow her to rest.
At eight I find Roxanne’s number in Chloe’s phone and call her. Of course, she’s shocked to hear from me. And even more shocked by the conversation we have.
I grab all the details about Rosaline’s doctor and call him next. Then I make the payment for whatever she needs and get him to book her surgery. He promised that if he could make it happen today, he would, but it would be tomorrow morning at the latest.
As soon as I get off the call, Jaxon stops by and I have to switch my mind back to Lance, the shipment, and the showdown last night.
“I’m just quickly checking in,” he says, walking into the living room.
“Do you want a drink?”
“Nah. I won’t be here long.”
“Sorry we couldn’t get the whole shipment back for you. That really pissed me off.”
“Hey, at least we have half back.” He dips his head and I’m grateful he sees things that way. “Now to get the rest. I think I might have a lead in New Jersey.”
“Really?” My interest spikes.
“Yeah. My men stayed behind at the factory to check out the place in case we missed anything. Since Lance had to leave in a hurry, he dropped breadcrumbs he shouldn’t have left behind.” Jaxon pulls out what looks like a receipt and hands it to me.
It’s a receipt for a hotel in New Jersey. The dates of the booking are for two months. “Well, hell.”
“Someone is staying in town for a while. Or not exactly leaving.”
“This could be Harlan or Lance.”
“Exactly.”
“What are your thoughts? I was going to raid the place but I know Lance is a sneaky bastard who could give us the slip. I also know this is not just about me getting my guns back. Now that we have an idea of what Lance looks like, this might be an opportunity to get him. Or catch Harlan.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” I mean it. It’s only since we started working together that Jaxon and I have become better friends.
We’ve known each other for over twenty years and, yes, I was always hanging with Dante and Virgo, but Jaxon’s father is an entitled bastard who doesn’t like that the Irish—my family—have a position above him in the Creed.
He’d loathe the fact that Jaxon is here now asking me what to do when half his gun shipment is still missing.
“If it’s okay, I’d like to watch them. First, make sure who’s staying in that room, then strike. They might not always go back there.”
“But it’s a base, and if someone tips them off, they’ll never go back there,” he fills in.
“Exactly.”
“I’m good with that plan. I know a maid who does flexi-shifts at a temp agency. I can get her into the hotel. No one would suspect her and she’s discreet.”
“Then she sounds perfect for the job.” I look him over. He seems to have more on his mind. I’m also aware that he’s helping me find Lance when he doesn’t need to. “You’re helping me a lot.”
He nods. “Your old man helped me once a long time ago.”
“How?”
“I got myself hooked on drugs before my brother died. I went to this underground dive to buy shit from a dealer. Your father came in after me and stopped me. Literally stopped me as I was about to inhale whatever the fuck concoction the dealer was giving me. Then he beat the crap out of him.”
I sit straighter. “No one ever told me that.”
“No. We kept it between us. He’d found out that the dealer was trying to kill me. The stuff was comprised shit that would have killed me within seconds. My father set that up.”
I stare back at him, shocked to my core. I knew his father was a bastard, but fuck.
“Your father?”
“Yeah. Imagine his surprise and deep disappointment when my brother died before me and I took over.”
“Why is he like that with you?”
“Because I exist.” Jaxon’s face hardens. “My mother died after giving birth to me. But she knew that was going to happen. She chose to have me and be my mom for one minute. My father has hated me ever since.”
I don’t believe what the hell I’m hearing. “He blames you for that?”
“Always. Anyway, I always owed your father for my life. He helped get me clean and here I am, at your service.”
I extend my hand to shake his. “Thanks, man.”
“No worries. I’ll let you know when I have everything set up.”
I’m about to say something more when the creak of the floorboards interrupts me.
Jaxon and I look around just as Chloe enters the room.
She freezes mid-stride when she sees Jaxon, and her eyes widen. She’s only wearing my shirt again, so it’s obvious she’s not visiting. It would be obvious anyway because she’s here.
“I’m so sorry… I’ll come back later.” She excuses herself and whirls around to go back the way she came.
Jaxon snaps his gaze back to me and frowns. “Not pussy-whipped? Is that the same girl from the house? The stepdaughter?”
“Yes. And no… I’m not pussy-whipped. She’s with me.”
At first he continues staring, then the light of understanding flashes in his eyes and he nods. “Alright. You’re going to have to tell me that story sometime.”
I sigh. “Don’t worry, I will.”
“See you later.” He stands, glances over at the door where Chloe stood, then heads out.
I didn’t lie when I said I’m not pussy-whipped. Pussy-whipped is to lose your head and be under the control of a woman.
I haven’t lost my head. I knew what I was doing all along. And I know what I’m doing now. One of the things I’ve never done is lie to myself. I won’t start now by backpedaling on my feelings for Chloe.
I hear the front door open and close. Moments later Chloe pads back in, looking like a little mouse.
Her eyes are still red from crying so much last night and her face is still puffy.
“Hi. I’m sorry I disturbed you and your friend. I didn’t know what time it was.”
I stare at her as I think of this plan of mine. The good parts and the bad parts.
I’m going to ask her to be my wife.
I’ve had worse plans. This is the only one that feels right.
But all I can give her is six months.
I can’t be with her any longer than that. I’m not that guy anymore who wanted forever.
My parents never got it, and they practically had to watch each other die.
Love is a weakness I can’t afford if I’m to be the leader I was born to be.
But I can love her for six months.
“C’mere.” I reach my hand out to her and she moves toward me.