Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MIA
It’s dead in here tonight. Grady has been at his post all night looking both bored and on edge. He also looks like he needs a nap, if I’m being honest. I heard from Aiden that they had a call out this weekend to go help someone and it didn’t go down as smoothly as they were hoping. I know what they do, and it’s dangerous. Unstable people always are. I can only imagine how Brett would have reacted if a gang of bulked up guys had shown up to move me away from him. Someone would have ended up dead.
I’m counting inventory when Demitri comes in, looking a little stressed himself. He doesn’t say anything to me, which is our normal. Hiding in plain sight, but not flaunting it. I pour him a coke and open a beer bottle for him before he even makes it to the bar.
“Thanks.” No emotion, and he’s not meeting my eyes.
“Long day?” Same question I’d ask any of my patrons.
“Yup.”
He grabs the glass and bottle and nods before turning and going to the booth where Grady is. Something’s wrong. I feel it in the pit of my stomach, but I can’t get answers right now. It’s dead in here tonight, but not empty. There’re a few couples out for an after-dinner drink and a group of friends playing pool.
I distract myself by going back to inventory and shooting the shit with Brodie through the window to the kitchen. I’m not sure how much time has passed, but when I see quick movement out of the corner of my eye, I turn around in time to watch Demitri and Grady rush across the bar and out the door, their faces set in stone. As soon as they exit, Aiden walks in, calm as a cucumber, like nothing odd is going on.
“What the hell?” I ask as he takes a seat at the bar.
“Don’t know. But I’ll take a beer.”
“I’m not sure you deserve a beer with no answers.” I grin at him.
“Story of my life, Mia.”
“What is the story of your life, Aiden?” I grab a mug, moving to the taps and pulling a beer for him. “Actually, that can wait. Pull your phone out and figure out what the hell is going on first. Then story time.”
He shakes his head but does just that, typing out a message and staring at the screen, waiting for the reply. Both of us are getting antsy when it finally comes through.
“Someone tried to break into the garage, and the guys want to talk to them.”
“What? Where? Who?”
“If I knew that, I would have told you.”
“We need to go to him.”
“No, Mia, we don’t. You don’t need to be anywhere near what’s going on. That’s the whole point of us being here. To keep you out of whatever shit is happening. And you’re going to stay out of it.”
“I don’t like you very much right now.”
“That’s fine. I’ll take your anger and dislike over you being in danger any day of the week.”
“Ugh.” I toss my hands up. “Stop throwing logic in my face.”
“Nope.”
“Fine. Then tell me your story.”
“The long, drawn-out version or the down and dirty?”
“Down and dirty, of course. I’ll ask questions if I need more.”
He takes a gulp of his beer. “Can I get cheese sticks with my story and maybe an Irish Old Fashioned?”
“I guess,” I sigh. Turning, I shout through the window. “Order of mozz sticks!”
“You got it, Boss!” Brodie yells back, probably thankful to be doing something. Or pissed off that I’m interrupting his study time. I turn back to Aiden, grabbing a glass to make his drink. “Start talking.”
“I’m from South Boston. Most of my family are either Southies or from Dorchester.”
“That’s where the accent comes from. I didn’t think it was New York.”
“Nah, never liked that city much. Boston all the way. My dad and mom are still together, married forty years. Ma had six kids.”
“Six? She’s a superhuman!”
“Eh, it’s what she signed up for. Stay out of the way, stay out of business, and keep having babies to carry on the legacy.”
“Legacy?”
He takes another swig of his beer and looks at me with a stoic face. “My family’s Irish Mob. My daid runs the fucking thing with his brother.”
I look at him, noticing his accent coming out even more than usual. It’s a mix of Boston and Irish.
“How did you end up here if that’s what you grew up in?”
“I got out. The old man wasn’t happy, but he couldn’t exactly fight the government, could he?”
“You joined the service.”
“I did. Army. Went into basic with no clue what I was going to do. Figured I’d let them tell me when I got there.”
“What happened with your family?”
“He cut me off. Stopped talking to me, stopped acknowledging that I was his son, removed me from everything in his life. Ma would call when she could get away with it, but my daid is a real fucking bastard, you know? She quit calling when he started hitting her for calling me.”
“Why did he care if she gave him so many kids? Aren’t there others who want to be there?”
“I have four sisters and one brother. Younger. He’s a fucking twat. And you know girls aren’t allowed to do anything but spread their legs for whoever their father determines is the right guy.”
“So you miss the place, then?”
“Would it be bad to say that I do sometimes miss it? I haven’t been back in twenty years. Went home at twenty on leave to tell them I’d been selected for Special Ops and couldn’t even get in the front door. He refused to see me, said no son of his would have abandoned the family and he hoped I landed in some desert and didn’t come back.”
“Fuck. Aiden. He sounds like a monster.”
“Sounds a lot like Dem’s dad, honestly. They probably would have gotten along really great if they weren’t mortal enemies. Irish, Russian, Italian—they all hate each other. It would really piss the fucker off if he knew Dem and I were friendly.”
He says this with some self-satisfied smile, like he’s getting away with something. Owning the man for being a decent human.
“If your sisters aren’t allowed to have a say in their lives and your brother’s incompetent, what’s happening with your family?”
“My cousin Declan wasn’t given the same chance to get out I was. He’s the heir apparent, and he’s also the one who keeps me informed when something might be happening around here.”
“He doesn’t hold it against you? That you left?”
“Yeah nah. He’s wicked cool. He knows that life isn’t for everyone, and that I had higher aspirations. He doesn’t want to keep anyone in that doesn’t want to be there. He’s also secretly trying to go a little more legit than the old man. He’s tired of burying cousins.”
“He knows what you do with ANON?”
“He does. And he helps out sometimes. In his own way. He’s not cool with the human shit that is the darker side of everything these families do.”
“Are you afraid your dad is going to call you one day and demand you come home?”
“Every single day of my life.”
I’m trying to think of what to say next when Brodie calls the sticks are done and Aiden’s phone buzzes on the bar in front of him. I grab his food and slide it to him while he taps on his screen. He won’t look at me, and he’s practically gnawing on the inside of his mouth, a stress action I noticed the first time I met him.
“Demitri isn’t going to make it home tonight, is he?” I ask, trying to stay calm.
“No. He’s alright, though.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I turn away from him and busy myself rearranging the bottles I was trying to count earlier. I don’t want him to see my face and worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’ve had many nights alone. What’s one more?
“You aren’t going to be alone,” Aiden says. “You won’t be left unprotected.”
I nod but don’t say anything, biting my lip to hold back the sob I want to let loose. I look up and meet Brodie’s eyes in the window, and he turns to leave the kitchen. When he gets behind the bar, I walk away, feeling Aiden’s eyes bore into my back. I stop in the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face and taking deep breaths.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and look at the time. It’s still earlyish.
Mia: Could use some friends if you’re still up.
Grace: Be there in ten.
Nola: On my way
Sofie: Walking out the door.
I put my phone in my back pocket and sigh in relief. There are friends and then there’s my girls. All of us would drop whatever we’re doing for each other. I wash my hands and walk out from the bathroom, not looking at Aiden as I take my spot behind the bar again, thanking Brodie.
I stare at the door, willing my girls to come in, but when it opens, it’s not them. Aunt Linda walks through, finding me immediately and giving me a reassuring smile.
“How about something fun to drink tonight?” she asks, hoisting herself up onto a stool.
“I think we can probably do that. What brings you in?”
“I can’t just stop in for a drink?”
“Barlowe’s is closer.”
“Ahh, Pat’s great and all, but his ass doesn’t look as good as yours.”
I laugh, shaking my head while pulling a glass out and placing it on the bar. I grab the bottles of gin and vermouth from the display and a bottle of bitters. I fill the mixing cup with ice, add the liquid, and shake it up, pouring it into the glass and grabbing an orange twist for the garnish. I slide it across the bar to Aunt Linda with a dare in my eyes.
She narrows her eyes at me before lifting the glass and taking a sip. Her eyes widen and she licks her lips. “What the hell is that?” she asks.
“It’s called a Hanky-Panky.”
She laughs, slapping her hand on the bar. “I love it. I’ll have to remember this. I bet old Pat couldn’t make this one.”
“Who do you think told me about it?” I challenge.
“Touché, girl.”
She continues to sip her drink, and I check on the few other people in the place. On my way back to the bar, the door opens and Sofie and Nola walk through, grins on their faces.
“We’re here. The fun can begin now.” Nola smiles at me.
I roll my eyes and keep walking until I’m back behind the bar. I pull out two glasses, filling both with ice. I grab the coconut rum and a bottle of pineapple juice, mixing both and sliding them to their usual spots. Aiden stiffens at the sight of the women, and Nola almost trips before she sits down hard, holding onto the bar. Sofie looks around the room, and if I’m not mistaken, she sits down with a look of disappointment on her face.
I open my mouth to ask what’s wrong with them when the door opens, and Grace comes in with two bags in her hands. I recognize the logo immediately and can’t help my smile.
“Chips and salsa make everything better.” She grins at me.
I grab a wine glass and fill it with Moscato, placing it in front of her. “Agreed. Thanks.”
“Oh, good, all of you are here. We can get this all done in one conversation,” Aunt Linda says before taking another sip of her drink.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m here to make sure you know your boy is okay, and he’s helping an old friend. You have nothing to worry about.”
“If I have nothing to worry about, you could have just texted me.”
She smiles behind the rim of her glass. “Could have but didn’t.”
“There’s something you aren’t telling us,” Grace observes.
“Possible. But we can get into that later. Tonight, all of us are having a sleepover at my place.”
“Where do you live?” Nola asks.
“Over behind the community center in Briar Mountain.”
Sofie starts shaking her head while Grace goes pale. Nola freezes.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I tell her.
“Bullshit. It’s a fantastic idea.”
“I can’t do that.” Grace, quiet and calm, but with an edge of panic in her voice, looks at Aunt Linda.
“You can. You will,” she assures her.
“We don’t…” Sofie fades, not even finishing her thought.
I turn to Aunt Linda. “None of us are particularly comfortable in Briar Mountain, Aunt Linda. I’m the only one who regularly goes over there, and I only stay as long as I have to.”
“I understand that, dear, I really do. But it’s been a long time since that man was allowed to hurt you, and he’s dead now. He can’t ever do it again.”
“His father—” Grace starts.
“Is also dead and gone. His mother is in therapy in a different state, living with her sister, and his cousin is never going to be a problem for anyone ever again. The whole fucking clan was removed from the face of our town.”
“What about the other cops? The ones who helped them?” Nola asks.
“Cleaned out, kicked out, and not given glowing recommendations. None of them will ever be in a position to aid a monster again.”
“Nate will also be close to you all night. I’ll be with him,” Aiden speaks up.
“Both of you need to be there? You can’t go home and get some sleep?” I ask, looking at him for the first time since he told me Demitri wasn’t coming home for the night.
“I’ll be there.” There’s no room for argument in his tone or words. Just the calm assurance that he’ll be watching over us, no matter where we are.
“Seems like a done deal.” Aunt Linda pats the bar. “Let Brodie close up tonight, Mia. I think he can handle it.”
“You seem to know a lot about Brodie.”
“I’ll fill you in later. At my place.”
Oh, that woman knows exactly what she’s doing. Dangling information like that over our heads, knowing we can’t resist.
“I have to be back for work in the morning,” Grace tries one more time.
“James is going to be late tomorrow, Grace, dear. He’s helping out tonight.”
That causes all of us to pause and stare at the older lady. She really does know everything, doesn’t she?
“We don’t have any clothes with us,” Sofie tries.
“Bullshit. I happen to know that each of you carries an emergency bag in the trunks of your vehicles. Inside that bag are enough clothes for a week and all of your toiletries. Next excuse?”
“I have to feed my neighbor’s dog?” Nola doesn’t even look like she believes her own lie.
“Nope. Neighbor doesn’t have any pets other than a goldfish. She also isn’t out of town this week, she just got back from a business trip three days ago, and her company won’t send her out for another three weeks.”
All of them are looking defeated, when Aunt Linda adds in the pièce de résistance. “Waffles are on me at Sandy’s in the morning.”
The collective gasp from my friends makes her smile. She knows she’s got us.
“I don’t think I like you very much,” Grace calmly tells her. “You don’t play fair.”
“Never have, never will. And I can teach you my ways. At my place. Go tell Brodie you’re leaving. Bring the chips and salsa.”
I hang my head and turn to the window. How does she do this? How does she always get her way? And, really, how the fuck does she know so much? I hear Demitri’s voice in my head saying, ‘ Aunt Linda knows all’ .
Guess we’re having a sleepover. In Briar Mountain.