Chapter 19 #2
I go to ask Dylan if he remembers that day, but the picture on the next page catches my attention. It’s of my dad surrounded by three other men. I lean in closer and gasp.
“I know him, not from my memories, but from Seattle. He used to come around the gym,” I say as I point to the man.
Dylan reaches for the album and pulls it into his lap. He then pulls back the protective film and lifts the picture out. He squints at the picture then points to the man I mentioned.
“Him?”
“Yeah.” I lick my lips. “Do you know who he is?”
“I believe his name was Laki. He was a part of your da’s corner crew. I remember them being close; his whole team was. He’s like Polynesian or something; he would carve us these little figurines. I think I still have a few back at my parents’ place.”
“But why did he never say anything? I mean, he was always there in the shadows. When I would fight in those underground fights for Theo, he was there.
“He’s a big guy, like you. He would cling to the back of the crowd, but I always spotted him. He seemed harmless, like he was only watching, not a threat.”
“I doubt he would have threatened you. Your da’s entire team was protective of you. They treated you like their own daughter. Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you remember or know anything about what happened to your father?”
“No. To be honest, I didn’t know I had a dad before I decided to run and found his name on my birth certificate. Theo wouldn’t talk to me much about my mom. I’m positive he wouldn’t have given me much information about my dad.”
A pensive look comes to his face. “Do you mind if I try to find him? Laki, I mean. My family happens to be in the business of tracking people. I want to see if we can find him and maybe get some answers.”
“No. I don’t mind. I now have more questions I want answered.”
“Cool. Don’t worry about it. I’ll have my cousin look into him and we’ll see if we can get you those answers. If he can’t get us answers … I’ll go to one of my uncles. He’ll definitely be able to track him.”
“Thank you, Dylan. All of this means so much to me,” I choke out.
“Do you remember him now? Your da?”
“A little. Bits and pieces are starting to come.”
“Good. You can have this one,” he says, handing the album back.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime. Are you hungry? We can head up to the rooftop.”
“What about Taegan and Ciarán? Shouldn’t we wait for them?”
“Taegan will take care of him. She’s giving us some time. I sort of set up our first date.”
I bite my lip as I search his face with my eyes. It’s been thirteen years, and he’s waited that long for me. Suddenly, I realize my heart and mind have been waiting for him too. I’m just catching up.
Placing the album on the table, I then reach to cup his handsome face and lean in to kiss him again. He takes over the kiss almost instantly. I laugh when he pulls me into his lap so he can devour me more thoroughly.
“Too much?” he pants as he pulls back and looks into my eyes.
“No, you’re a really good kisser.”
My stomach growls before he can reply. I glance at him sheepishly. He chuckles and shakes his head.
“Come on, I’ll feed you.”
Dylan
“You never did tell me what you want to do for work,” I say as I look over my glass at Ciara.
I’m dying to kiss her again, but I don’t want to come off as thirsty. The date is going well so far. I’m not going to lie and say there isn’t a ton of sexual tension flowing around us.
I smile as I think of her words from earlier. My girl hasn’t allowed anyone to take what’s mine. I wasn’t sure I was going to tell her that I’m a virgin, but when she said it, I sort of blurted it without thinking.
I’m not ashamed of it. I’m not even worried about when the time comes or my performance. I haven’t had sex, but I know a thing or two.
You don’t grow up in the O’Brien family and not learn about sex and passion. Heck, my oldest brother is a silent partner of Club Desire. That place is a classroom of its own.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about that a lot since you asked,” she says, pulling me from my musings. “Ciarán was right, I once wanted to get into ink. I wouldn’t mind working at a tat shop. You know, as an apprentice for a while or something.
“Maybe even a receptionist to get me in the door. Then I can move into slinging ink later.”
“Do you have any ink of your own?”
“That you will have to find out for yourself,” she says with a little smile. “You?”
I bite my lip and look her face over as my mind goes to peeling her out of her clothes to find any ink that might be on her skin and then spending hours tracing it with my tongue.
“I guess we’ll both have to wait until we can play a game of ink and seek.”
She laughs and shakes her head. I grin back at her, loving that musical laugh. I want to keep that smile on her face forever.
“Corny?”
“A little.”
I shrug and change the subject. “I think I might be able to help you out.”
“Enough of you trying to fix my life. Tell me more about you,” she says with a bright smile.
“Not much to tell. I run a gym and fight.”
“This place says otherwise. Come on, I practically ran a gym for years, I know that’s not bringing in this kind of money. What else do you have going on?”
“That gym must have been ass. I earn pretty damn well with mine.”
“Come on. Even if you do earn well, look at this place. The rooftop space is out of a magazine.
“The floor-to-ceiling windows downstairs are breathtaking and the view. Really? Dylan, you have to have some other source of income for all this.”
I laugh and give her a smile. I’m not about to go into any of that. In time, she’s bound to learn my family is into a whole lot of shit, but I don’t want to send her running tonight.
“Yes, I do have other sources of income, but the gym isn’t hurting for anything.”
“Would one of those sources have anything to do with your busted knuckles? They aren’t like that from knocking that dude out last night.”
I snort and shrug. “Maybe.”
“Okay, so you have secrets. Fair enough. You’ve only just met me.”
“I’ve known you most of my life. This is just a topic … You know what, you’re not the only one to fight in those matches. I used to spend a lot of time in those rings.”
“Ugh, I would love to get a place like this for me and Ciarán, but that’s not the answer for me. The more I fight underground, the more I’m risking my future in the real ring as a pro.”
“This place isn’t as far out of your reach as you think,” I say.
She tilts her head and studies me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I wink at her and stand. Then I hold out my hand for hers. She places her small hand in mine, and I lift her from her seat.
Walking us to the putting green in the center of the roof, I pull my phone and turn on the sound system. “Dive” by Ed Sheeran begins to float through the speakers. Ciara smiles brightly at me as I tug her into my embrace and begin to sway with her in my arms.
“You didn’t answer my question, Dyl.”
I close my eyes as she calls me by the nickname she used when we were little. I still can’t believe she’s here. I have her in my arms, finally.
When I open my eyes, her green ones are locked on me. I cup her face in my palm and run my thumb across her full lower lip. She was a pretty little girl, but she’s grown into a gorgeous woman.
“Everything I have is yours from my heart to all the land and property in my name. There isn’t a thing I have that doesn’t belong to you.
“I know you’re still figuring things out for yourself, but you can move in whenever you’re ready. You don’t have to want for something that’s already yours,” I finally answer.
“What if I’m not what you expect? What if I’ve become someone you don’t like?”
“I doubt that,” I say and take her lips.
Sparks fly and my skin hums from her nearness. I devour her mouth and hold her close. Her mouth tastes of the sauce from dinner. It’s sweet and salty.
I groan and dive deeper into her mouth. She lifts onto her toes to get closer to me. I wrap both arms around her and lift her from her feet without breaking the kiss.
“Shit,” I bite out as my phone goes off.
I place her back on her feet. Taking my phone out, I find a text from Taegan. I’ve been so wrapped up in Ciara, I almost forgot about them.
Taegan: Ciarán has eaten and opened his gift. I need to go. Call you later.
“We should get downstairs. Taegan is leaving.”
“Oh my God. What was I thinking? It’s Ciarán’s birthday. I should be with him.”
“Relax, we’ll spend the rest of the night with him.”
She palms her forehead. “This is crazy.”
“Ciara, stop freaking out, baby. It’s going to be fine.”
She huffs and turns to rush downstairs. I push my hands into my hair and tug. I don’t think Ciarán has thought about us at all.
Taegan has my credit card, and she used it to get the kid anything he wanted. She’s been texting to let me know how much fun Ciarán has been having the whole time we’ve been up here.
I sigh and shut everything down before I head downstairs after Ciara. This is going to be harder than I thought.