The Apprentice (The Killough Company #4)

Chapter 15

15

FIONN

I traced my finger down the middle of Daire’s chest, nail scraping through the tuft of hair between his pecs. As I dragged my digit over the ridges of his abs, I studied every microexpression that passed over his face. Although Daire was still asleep, it was clear he felt everything and enjoyed my touch.

It was hard to believe I was here again, in his bed, and finally, in his heart. His resolve had shattered, and the only thing that mattered was us.

And Sloan.

The thought made me wince. What I walked in on this morning was my worst nightmare. I’d expected Sloan to pull the trigger because when my uncle threatened something, he followed through with it. I’d never seen him point a gun in Daire’s direction, and the sight had nearly made me vomit. I’d reacted on an impulse, getting between the gun and Daire before offering Sloan an ultimatum. If he was going to shoot Daire for keeping Aodhan’s visit a secret, then he should do the same to me. Sloan would relent. It wasn’t that I thought Sloan wouldn’t shoot his own blood, because he would if he had a damned good reason, but not over this.

At least, that’s what I had told myself.

Now, I truly wondered what Aodhan had done to Sloan to make him so furious. Sloan was calm and collected. He didn’t get angry, yet Aodhan had brought out a reaction in him that I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen in the past.

I frowned.

“I can hear you thinking, boy,” Daire murmured softly without opening his eyes. His mouth curled into a smile, and after a few moments, his inky lashes fluttered and he turned his head to stare at me.

We’d spent the day fucking before having a small afternoon nap. Aodhan hadn’t come home to the penthouse yet, and Daire had tried to call him, only to get sent to voicemail every time. I saw the irritation rise with every call Daire made. I tried to soothe him the best way I could—by giving him one amazing orgasm after another. Well, at least as many as his dick could take.

Now I lay with my head on Daire’s shoulder, cuddled close to his side.

“Why does Sloan hate Aodhan so much?” I asked.

He exhaled loudly and closed his eyes again, tilting his chin back as though he’d fallen into a memory. I waited, fingers dancing across the many lines of his tattoos, the Celtic symbolism distinct and proudly inked into his skin. “He slept with one of Sloan’s pets.”

I blinked, stilled, then blinked rapidly again. “ How is he still alive?”

Daire laughed. “It’s only because by that point, Sloan didn’t care for Adrian.”

“Adrian?” I scrunched up my nose in distaste. I’d never really met Adrian prior to Sloan shipping him off to Mexico. Adrian had only been around for a couple of months, but the few interactions I did have with him had ended with Adrian looking down on me as though I was nothing more than a fly to swat. It might have been around that time that I started to hate the idea of Sloan having a pet. “He was an asshole.”

Daire hummed in agreement. “Can’t argue with that. Part of me thinks Aodhan knew that Sloan was done with Adrian and he wanted to make a point.”

“What point is that? How to get his brains blown out?” I drawled with a snort. There were no words for how lucky Aodhan was. I honestly didn’t expect Sloan to let anyone get away with something like that.

“He enjoys playing with fire, choosing the riskiest plans and seeing where it gets him.” He nuzzled my hair and inhaled deeply, dragging me in closer. His grip on my shoulder tightened. “He’s always been like that, and it’s what makes him a good hit man, but it also put him in a lot of danger. Can’t tell you how many times he’s had someone try to kill him for something stupid he’s done.”

I kissed Daire’s shoulder, the warmth of his skin a sensation I never wanted to forget. “It’s not like Sloan to let Aodhan go for something like that.”

“Aodhan got lucky.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “It helped that he was your dad’s friend. Eoin and Aodhan grew up commiserating over being the oldest sons.” The corner of his mouth quirked into half a smile. “It used to be Sloan and me against them in a lot of the games we played growing up.” His eyes slipped open again and his expression hardened, mouth pressed into a thin line. “When Eoin died, Aodhan never went to his funeral. Never checked in on you or your family. It was almost as though he didn’t know Eoin.”

I frowned. “Yeah, well, I’d never met him until last month.”

“Your mom knows him.” Daire reached up to rub his eyes. “I guess Sloan always had an attachment to Aodhan. When he fucked Adrian and Sloan found out, I begged your uncle not to kill him. Other than me and Sloan being friends since we were young, he owed me for all the things I’ve done for him. That was the only time in our relationship I asked for anything, and I only did it for my parents.”

“Your parents?” I shifted until I could rest my chin on his chest and wrap an arm around his waist.

Daire’s teeth clenched, a tic working through the muscles in his jaw. He focused on the ceiling. I’d hit a sore point. “They have so many dreams for Aodhan. They think he’ll make them proud, even though they know he’s trouble.”

I studied his face carefully, taking in the tension lines and the way his eyes hardened. “And what about you?” I whispered, finger stroking down the middle of his chest again. “Are they proud of you , Daddy?”

“Don’t be silly, boy,” he drawled, the tic in his jaw pulsing. “I’m the one who’s supposed to fix all their golden boy’s mistakes.”

I didn’t know exactly how that felt, but I understood Daire’s need to please his parents. I’d been doing the same thing with Sloan, hadn’t I? I was so desperate for his approval that I would do anything for him.

“ I’m proud of you,” I whispered, placing featherlight kisses over his pecs. “I’m proud to have you as my Daddy.”

The blinding smile he gave me made my words all worth it.

“Will I ever meet them?” I asked timidly. I held my breath and waited for his answer. We’d played this game of ignoring the feelings between us for so long that I wondered if he thought I was worth introducing to his family.

“If you want.” He smoothed his thumb over my chin and smiled. “Despite their flaws when it comes to Aodhan, they are good people. They’d love you.”

“Really?” I couldn’t stop the wide grin from spreading across my face.

He laughed. “How would you like to go somewhere tonight, boy?”

“Where?” I stared, mouth parted. His offer took me off guard. Like a date? No, that wasn’t possible. Right? “To see your parents?”

He made a wounded sound. “No, let’s not do that yet. I’d rather have you to myself for a little longer before Mom decides to take you from me. No, I was thinking we could go for a drive, do something together.”

“On your bike?” I fluttered my lashes at him hopefully, and his laughter was back.

“No.” He played with my lower lip when I pouted at him. “It’s too dangerous on the bike right now. The roads are too icy, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I trust your driving skills,” I whispered, settling tighter against him. “You’re good on the bike.”

“I know.” It wasn’t arrogance in his voice, but confidence, and that was so fucking hot. “But I’d never risk your life like that. I promise when it gets warmer, I’ll take you out on it.”

“Really?” My excitement bubbled up and I had to hold back from wriggling. I’d asked Daire to take me on his motorcycle for as long as I’d known he had one, and each time he’d refused. He’d never once showed an inkling that he’d consider it, but now he was agreeing. Finally .

“Only if you hold on to me very tightly.” He cupped my cheek and slanted his mouth over mine in a soft kiss that had my toes curling. “We have to trust each other. You need to hug my back and move with me. Give me complete control. Only my special person is allowed on my bike.”

I stared at him with wide eyes. Was he admitting that I was that person? Damn it, he was. Excitement churned in my stomach and I kissed him hard. He rolled us over so he was on top of me, and I melted into his strong body.

“I love you, Daddy Daire,” I whispered against his lips.

He froze, and my stomach dropped. Panic welled behind my eyes. Had I gotten this all wrong? Did I fuck this up before it even began? Before I could spiral out of control, he stunned me with another brilliant smile. Somehow, he looked younger like this, even as his eyes crinkled in the corners. “I love you, too. For longer than I knew.”

The words blasted happiness through me until I thought my heart would burst from my chest. He loved me. He fucking loved me, too. I’d waited for this moment for too long and it was finally happening.

“So, you don’t have any guilt about the whole loving my dad thing anymore?” I didn’t care that he had feelings for a man I never really knew, as long as what he felt for me was real.

“You know....” He stroked the length of my face as he stared down at me. “I think I stopped feeling that way a long time ago. I held on to Eoin’s memory because he was the first person I loved.”

“But not the last,” I murmured with a grin.

“No, you get that honor.”

I bit my lip to hold in a gasp of joy. My body was floating and I had tingles all the way to my toes.

“Till the day I die, you have me, Fionn. My loyalty, my love, my everything. I am yours.” He cleared his throat and sat up on the bed. I followed him, head cocked curiously as he touched one of the many weaving tattoos with Celtic knots. He touched a spot and smiled at me. “Look closely.”

Frowning, I shuffled forward and leaned in to stare at where he was pointing. At first, I didn’t see what he was getting at, then I saw it. He grasped my hand and guided me to the tattoo before tracing my finger over the letters. The word blended in with the lines of the tattoo, and if one wasn’t familiar with where to look, they wouldn’t see it, but it was there. Cursive black ink was interwoven with the knots.

Fionn .

My name.

Mine.

“What ...?” My gaze shot up to him. “That’s me!”

He chuckled. “You are special. You always have been, even all those years ago when I got these tattoos. You’re Fionn, the future of the Company. My boy. My... Fifi.”

“Fifi?” I laughed, but it came out wet. Something like joy prickled behind my eyes. I tried to swipe at the moisture threatening to spill down my cheeks, but Daire caught my wrists to stop me. His lips chased away every tear and something settled in my chest.

“You’re beautiful, boy. You’re mine as much as I’m yours. When you need to be strong for the Company, I will have your back. When it feels like too much, lean on me. Let it out in front of me—I can take it. Let me be your strength. I will catch every tear, push you past any outburst, and I’ll remind you of the incredible, strong, good boy you are.” He cradled my face between his large hands and kissed me roughly, and I returned it with fervor.

“Why did you fight this for so long?” Desperation bled into my words as I whispered against his lips.

“I was an idiot, Fifi. A complete fucking idiot.”

I couldn’t agree more, but he was here now.

As much as I wanted to spend the rest of the day in bed, Daire dragged me out to shower. We got ready as quickly as we could.

He had a few of my suits here from when the boys dropped them off after the club incident, so I chose a dark maroon one. Daire went with a dark navy gray with a subtle plaid, and he looked as delicious as always. I couldn’t help but drag him in for a kiss.

“If you start this, boy, we won’t be leaving this bedroom,” he growled out against my lips.

“Is that a bad thing, Deedee?”

“Deedee?” He pulled back to stare incredulously at me.

“What? You called me Fifi,” I said with a laugh. “Deedee stands for Daddy Daire.”

“No, I’m Daddy Daire and nothing else.” He nipped my bottom lip, and I moaned. “Say it.”

“What’s wrong with Deedee? I’ll let you keep calling me Fifi.”

He chuckled. “Deedee and Fifi sound like a couple of poodles.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” I whispered.

He laughed harder and pinched my ass before I could twist away from him.

“You can call me Fifo, then,” I offered with a grin.

He gave me the look— the one I’d come to know as his Daddy stare. Unimpressed, yet amused, but I’d hear about it later. “Now that definitely sounds like a dog’s name.”

I curled my hands in front of my chest like paws. “Woof. Woof.”

He rolled his eyes and dragged me closer, dropping a quick peck on my forehead this time. “You are my boy, not my puppy. I’m not into pet play.”

“A shame,” I teased, and it earned me an ass smack.

The sound of the door opening downstairs interrupted us, and almost immediately the playfulness on Daire’s face disappeared, leaving behind a clenched jaw and hard eyes. He swept past me, and I followed him as closely as I could. He took the steel black stairs two at a time with his long legs to race to the bottom.

Aodhan was sitting at the kitchen island, playing on his phone, when we reached him.

“You.” Daire slapped his hand down on the marble counter next to Aodhan. His brother glanced up lazily, as though he wasn’t surprised that me and Daire put in an appearance.

The dogs came out from the laundry room, eyeing us carefully, but all it took was one flick of Daire’s hand and they retreated.

“Can I help you, little brother?” Aodhan drawled, first glancing at Daire, then me. He raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Well, hello there, little kitty. Looks like you finally got Daire where you want him, huh? Did he declaw you?”

I glared. “You are a piece of work.”

He laid a hand on his chest and pouted. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me. Are you sure you don’t have a thing for me? ”

“Aodhan,” Daire snapped. “Sloan knows you’re here.”

Aodhan shrugged. “How is that my problem?”

“He wants you to come see him tomorrow.”

Aodhan barked out a laugh.

Daire crossed his arms and glowered at his brother.

“And you think I’m going to listen to him? Funny.” He shook his head. “Sloan’s not my boss, and I’m not doing jack shit. Why should I?”

I swallowed and opened my mouth, ready to argue, but Daire beat me to it.

“Because I asked you to.” Daire didn’t need to raise his voice to get his point across. He was always firm yet calm—a quiet strength. He clenched his jaw. “Because I’m your brother, and I’ve done everything I can to protect you. I have put my life on the line for you more times than I can count. I’m asking you to do one thing for me, Aodhan. One thing.”

Aodhan stared at him with a frown for a long moment before something shifted in his eyes. The teasing was gone and a steeliness overtook his expression. He nodded. “What time?”

Daire straightened, clearly surprised, before clearing his throat. “We’ll go together. We’ll leave here at eight.”

Aodhan stood. “Will do. Eight sharp.” He pointed between us. “Going on a date?”

“We are, actually,” I said, raising my chin to dare him to say anything rude.

He laughed. “About fucking time. Have fun, kids.” He winked as he sashayed his way past us and up the steps.

I watched him go until he’d disappeared, then sighed. “At least he agreed to see Sloan, right?”

Daire’s eyebrows furrowed and he pursed his lips. “Yeah, he did, but that’s not like him to agree so fast. I thought I’d have to knock his ass out and drag him there.”

“You think he’s up to no good?” I asked, unease slithering through me.

“I don’t know.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Maybe he decided to do something for me for once. God knows, I’ve risked a lot for him in the past.”

“So, it was about time he gave back to you.” I shifted closer to him and curled my arms around his neck.

He smiled and leaned in for a soft, sweet kiss. “Come on, boy, let me take you out for the night.”

He guided me out of the penthouse and to the elevator. I couldn’t keep my hands off him but had to when an older couple walked in. They gave me a pointed stare after they caught me with my lips on Daire’s.

I nearly raced out of the doors when we reached the garage, and Daire laughed, letting me drag him out and toward his SUV.

“Oooh, Daddy. This car’s as manly as you are,” I teased, earning a laugh from Daire.

He paused beside me and stroked a line down my back thoughtfully. “It’s time you get your license, Fifi.”

“Me?” I scrunched my nose. “I have people to drive me around.”

He tapped me on the nose, and my mouth dropped open. “You can’t rely on others all the time, Fionn. You should’ve gone for your license when you were eighteen, at least, so this is me putting my foot down. You’re going to get it.”

I hesitated. “I... don’t know how to, Daddy Daire.” Heat spread across my cheeks and I groaned. “I never asked Uncle to teach me. He’s always so busy.”

“Then, I will.” He caressed my cheek. “Because there may come a time when you need to know, boy, and I won’t have that be the reason something happens to you.” He kissed my forehead. “You’ll be a good boy and do what I say. Now in you go.”

Warmth spread over my cheeks and I did as he’d instructed, eager to please him by following orders. We both got into his spotless SUV.

“So, where are we going?” I asked.

Daire leaned over and grabbed my hand, linking our fingers together. I enjoyed the feel of his strong, rough hold. “You’ll see.” He sent me a wink.

I settled in as he began to drive. The afternoon sun was close to being swallowed by the darkness of the night.

Every so often Daire peeked over at me with a smile so sweet I could only offer one of my own in return. His home was in a busy part of the city and there were cars everywhere, so I wasn’t sure how long we were going to travel, but I didn’t mind the drive. I relished the chance to finally be out on a date with Daire. It was a situation I’d never expected to experience, but here we were. Fuck . We were together. It was surreal.

We drove for thirty minutes before he pulled into a parking lot. The moment I realized where we were, I quirked a brow back toward Daire.

High Tech Laser Tag.

“Laser tag?” I chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever played.”

He raised our hands so he could kiss the back of mine. “Then, your first time will be with me.”

“It already was,” I teased, earning a laugh from him. “Why are we dressed in suits for laser tag?”

“Well, to be honest, I was going to take you somewhere nice for dinner, but I thought this would be a good idea.” He released my hand to stroke my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. “You’ve been trained to be Sloan’s apprentice all your life, boy, but you never had the chance to be young and have fun. We can kick ass and look good doing it.”

“By shooting a bunch of teenagers?”

He laughed again. “Don’t underestimate them. They’re good.”

“Ah, you’ve been here?” I shifted in the seat so my body was facing him. “The truth comes out, Daddy Daire.”

He shrugged—unashamed. “It’s good to let off steam and have fun. Remember that, Fifi.”

I stared at him for a second before I burst into laughter. “Every time you call me that, I can’t take you seriously. You’re a grown-assed man in your forties calling me Fifi.”

“Hey!” He pinched my arm playfully, and I twisted away from him, too amused to do anything but curl up and laugh until it hurt. His smile said he wasn’t upset with me, but I forced myself to stop and wipe the tears from my eyes.

“Sorry. I like you calling me Fifi, I do. It’s just funny.”

“I know,” he murmured, running his fingers through my hair. “But it’s worth it just to hear you laugh. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen you this happy, Fionn?”

I paused, ruminating on his words. How long had it been since I’d laughed like that? Too long. The pressure and stress of being Sloan’s apprentice had taken its toll on me. Daire was right, I never really had fun growing up. It wasn’t Sloan’s fault, but rather my own desire to make my uncle proud. Sloan had offered to send me to college, but I’d turned him down, eager to start learning everything. Fun hadn’t been in my vocabulary.

“Come on.” Daire tugged my hand gently before letting it go and stepping from the SUV. I followed him out, and he met me as soon as I closed the door. Once he locked the vehicle, we walked into the boxy brown brick building with flashing LED lights illuminating the business name.

Inside was dark and foggy, smoke machines giving it an eerie atmosphere. The lights blinked red, blue, yellow, and green, while loud music pounded from big wall speakers. The large room was crowded with people of all ages, and to the right was a bar and tall tables and stools. I’d never been to a place like this. I felt like you needed friends to play laser tag, and I never had anyone. All my life, I grew up around men older than me or just as interested in the mob as me. We never had time for games.

“Food first or laser tag?” Daire asked.

I glanced at him with a wide grin. “Tag.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Prepare to lose, boy.”

I rolled my eyes with a chuckle. “Whatever, old man.”

His eyes widened. “Did you just .... Never mind. We’ll handle this inside.”

He drew me in for a hard kiss, and I relaxed into his embrace before he broke away and strode toward the cashier. I watched, a little starstruck over my boyfriend, because that’s what he was, wasn’t he? Boyfriend. Partner. Either way, he was mine, and I didn’t know how I’d become so lucky. As much as I’d wanted this to happen, I hadn’t actually expected that it ever would. But here I was, on a date with Daire.

He came back with some tickets and linked his fingers with mine again before dragging me toward a door to the right. A man stood out front and he took the tickets from Daire, gesturing for us to go inside.

“The next game is about to start. Gear up with the rest, and we’ll let you into the arena soon.”

Daire thanked him, and he led me through the door and into another room, this one with bright overhead lights on to help us see. There was already a group of people dressed in vests and helmets with lights attached. They all held obviously fake lime green automatic rifles. Daire led me to two lockers that still had vests, helmets, and a laser gun, then slipped off his suit jacket.

“Come on, boy, let’s show these amateurs how it’s done.”

A young man no older than me turned toward us. His shaggy blond hair stuck out from under his helmet and his grin stretched across his entire face. “Hey, Daire! Brought us some prey this time, huh?”

Daire rolled his eyes and huffed. “Fionn, this is Zed. He’s a bit of a professional.”

Zed barked out a laugh and stepped up to us. He held out his hand, and I took it in a firm shake. “Professional in laser tag and in real life. You’re Fionn Killough. Pleasure to meet you, man.”

I cocked my head. “Do I know you?”

“Nah, but I know you. Everyone in my occupation does.”

Daire cleared his throat and leaned in closer to me. “He works in the same society as Ardan, sir. He’s an associate of ours,” he whispered.

It was funny how quickly Daire slid back into his role of second-in-command, but it made sense when we were around someone who’d done work for us.

Zed certainly wasn’t someone I’d suspect as a Society associate. He had a baby face and an innocent look. Though, I supposed he used that to his advantage.

“What is someone like you doing in a place like this, Zed?” I asked.

He threw his thumb over his shoulder at a younger man who couldn’t have been older than eighteen. Probably closer to fifteen. They appeared to be related, with the same floppy blond hair and big blue eyes. “My younger bro, here, loves laser tag.”

I frowned. “You’re brave to be admitting he’s family.”

Zed snorted out a laugh. “I have faith in my abilities, sir, and I know how to protect my own.”

I simply nodded, and he took that as a signal to go back to his brother. Once he was gone, I whispered to Daire, “Is he trustworthy?”

Daire smiled as he pulled out the vest from my locker and yanked at the sides to undo the Velcro keeping it together. He slid the vest over my head and pressed the sides together again. “I wouldn’t put your life in danger, boy. I didn’t expect Zed to be here tonight, but he’s been loyal to the Company, and he’s building up his portfolio.”

“What if he could add our names to that list?” I trusted Daire, but I had an inherent suspicion of hit men.

“He’d make the biggest enemy in America. Hisaffiliation has a special relationship with your uncle. They wouldn’t risk it.” He placed the helmet on my head and plopped a kiss on my mouth. “Now come on, Mr. Killough, let’s show these guys how it’s done in the real mob.”

I laughed quietly. “In the words of true Irishmen, feck yeah.”

He shook his head, and while I grabbed my laser gun, Daire suited up in his own vest and helmet.

An employee walked through the door and clapped his hands, gaining the attention of the crowd. He went through the basic safety rules and the dos and don’ts, before he waved at an entrance on the opposite side of where we’d entered.

“Through that door is the arena. It’ll be mostly dark with some dim lights to guide you around. When the timer counts down, your vests will light up in the middle with a color to show what team you’re on. You do not want to shoot your own teammates, since that will take points off you. When you get shot, your vest will go dark for five seconds before you’re able to shoot again. It’s a point system. There are two teams. In case of an emergency, there are glowing buttons on the walls under a hard casing. Open the cover and hit the button. The lights will automatically come on and we will find you.” He waved at a large screen above his head. “You have twenty minutes to succeed. There will be TVs like this around the arena to show you how much time you have left. You have two minutes after the door is opened where no shots are allowed. We will be opening the door in five seconds.”

A countdown of five came on the screen, and the employee moved to the side of the wall near the entrance.

“Good luck, you’re going to need it. Start the countdown!”

I watched the clock on the TV intently, clutching my laser gun tightly in my hands as the time began to tick downward.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

All our vests lit up and mine turned green, while Daire’s went red.

“Looks like we’re enemies, boy,” Daire murmured right as the door to the arena opened. “Run, because when I catch you, I won’t be lenient.” He slapped me on the ass as the crowd of laser taggers filed out.

I winked at Daire before I followed everyone else. As soon as they were through the door, they began to run, so I did, too. I went left and found myself in a huge room with all kinds of obstacles, from small wooden fortresses to foam ball pits, but to get to these kinds of locations, we had to go through a maze of walls.

I turned right, then left through the labyrinth, doing my best to avoid any of the other players. As I made another left, I froze when I came face-to-face with a young boy, but he showed me his green vest. We laughed before we went on our way.

I moved as swiftly as I could, ducking behind a half wall as a young woman passed on the other side. Once she had her back to me, I rose and rested my elbows on the half wall before I whistled. She spun and her red vest was all I needed to see before I shot at her chest. Her vest beeped and went dark, and she groaned.

“Damn it.” She pouted.

“Better luck next time.” I laughed as I crouched again and snuck forward.

I rounded a corner and shot another guy, and he cursed me, then grinned.

“Good job, man.”

I winked at him, a bolt of pride firing through me. The atmosphere was intoxicating, the dimmed lights and thrumming rock music working its way into my system. For the first time in forever, I felt free. There wasn’t any pressure bearing down on me and no fear of failure.

I managed to get three more people before I rounded the corner to a little girl, no older than eight, sitting on the ground with her face in her hands. She hiccupped with a small sob. The vest she wore was lit up red and it reflected around her, almost like a warning sign.

I hesitated, a primal part of my brain whispering it was a trap, before my empathy won out. I walked over to her and crouched. “Are you okay? Do you want me to find someone for you, sweetheart?”

She glanced up, and I immediately zeroed in on her smile.

“Damn it.” I stood and turned but was met with Daire, who raised his gun and shot. My vest beeped and it went dark. “What the hell, Daddy?”

The little girl giggled and jumped to her feet. She clapped her hands. “That was awesome.” Then, she held out her palm to Daire. “Pay up, mister.”

I gaped at him. “You paid a little girl to trap me?”

Daire’s grin took up his entire face as he tugged out a couple fifties from his pocket and passed them over to her. She skipped away, clearly happy with her score. What a little terror. I bet she would succeed in her future.

He booped me on the nose when I glared at him. “Always be prepared for the unexpected, boy. Just because she’s a little girl doesn’t mean she won’t be the end of you.”

“This was a lesson?” I paused as my vest lit up again, and Daire raised his gun. “Wait!”

He shot me again and the vest went dark. “And don’t stick around to BS with your enemy.” Cupping my cheek, he stroked a thumb across my lips before he leaned in to steal a kiss. “Run because I’m going to chase you.”

My instincts kicked in before my brain did, and I spun on my heel, running as fast as I could. I passed a few of my teammates, but I ignored them as my heart hammered so fast it felt like my whole chest was rattling.

I turned a corner and froze as I came face-to-face with Zed—his gun pointed at me. I swallowed before he winked and nodded down at his vest, and relief washed through me when I realized he was a teammate. It wasn’t even a real game, yet tension swarmed me like a hive of bees, and I couldn’t stand still. I needed to keep going and return the favor to Daire.

I gave him a sharp nod before I was off again. Goose bumps prickled on the back of my neck, and I could tell he was watching me, yet I didn’t stop.

I managed to shoot three more people before I glanced at the timer on the screen above us, the countdown finally reaching a minute left. Fuck. At this rate, I wasn’t going to find Daire again.

If Sloan had been here, he would’ve told me that was plenty of time. With that in mind, I took a deep breath and raised the gun, focusing on the path ahead of me. I kept close to the walls, sneaking around corners and shooting anyone on the opposing team before they could get me in return. As thirty seconds flashed on the screen, I finally found Daire.

He had his back to me, pointing his laser gun at Zed, who grinned in return at him. Zed glanced over Daire’s shoulder at me, and even though it was difficult to see in the dark, he raised his palm to Daire as if he was giving up, but something about the way he flicked a glance in my direction told me what he was doing. He was sacrificing himself. It was almost as if he knew I wanted to shoot Daire at least once.

I gave him a small nod in thanks before I snuck up behind Daire. “Hey, Daddy.”

Daire spun around, gun raised, but I was faster, shooting him straight in the chest. His vest went dark, and I whooped as a loud buzzer echoed around the arena, signaling the end of the game.

“You’re not the only one who can use a distraction.” I stuck my tongue out at him, and Zed laughed, slapping Daire on the back.

“You’ve got a lot to teach him,” Zed said.

Daire snorted. “You’re telling me something I already know.”

I gazed between them. “What? I did exactly what you did. I used a distraction to kill my prey.”

“You were already dead. Twice.” He held up two fingers to me, lips pursed, though amusement flickered in his eyes. “Can’t kill me if you’re already six feet under, boy.”

I huffed. “That doesn’t count.”

He winked. “Let’s argue over some greasy food.”

He grasped my elbow as my belly chose that moment to growl in appreciation at the thought of burgers. Straightening, I pointed at him. “We’re still going to discuss this.”

We didn’t. The conversation was firmly over as we enjoyed all the greasy food from the bar that Daire had promised me. I shouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did, but it’d been a long time since I’d had something that wasn’t prepared by five-star chefs.

On the car ride home, I shot Daire a grin. “We should take Sloan there.”

He laughed. “Yeah, he might enjoy it.”

“I’m serious. He needs to relax sometimes.” I stared out the window as the streetlights rushed by, a reminder of how quickly the world passed. It was hard to believe it’d been eight years since Daire and I had begun fucking, and it had taken us this long to be something more.

“Are you going to tell your uncle that?” Daire laughed as he turned his SUV in to the driveway that led to the garage under his building.

“Fuck no. I was hoping you could.” I nudged him with my elbow when his laughter grew louder.

“He’s already mad at me about the Aodhan thing. I’d rather not push my luck, boy. You like my cock, and if he decides to kill me, you won’t be able to enjoy it anymore,” he teased with a wink.

“Good point. Maybe I should tell Conall to talk to him about it.”

“He’d be the only one who’d survive that conversation.” Daire pulled the vehicle into his parking spot and put it in Park.

“The only one who Sloan might actually listen to.” I chuckled.

“Careful, it sounds almost like you respect him,” he said, clearly amused.

I shrugged. “Conall’s not too bad.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, I slipped from the SUV and unbuttoned my suit jacket to make me feel more relaxed as I waited for Daire. When he reached me, I laced my fingers with his and tugged him.

“Come on, Daddy Daire. You’re going to give me a real tour of your penthouse now. There are some rooms I haven’t seen yet.”

He yanked me back and wrapped his arm around my shoulder as he led me into the elevator. “There’s only one important place you haven’t seen. My office. The other door is just the bathroom for the guest room,” he said while we rode upward.

The doors opened, revealing the entrance to the penthouse. Once we were inside, he hooked his hand into the lapel of my jacket and yanked me toward the stairs.

“Oooh, Daddy, you’re getting rough with me. Are you trying to turn me on?”

He chuckled and guided me up the black steps to the second floor of his home. He slapped me on the ass playfully, and I gasped at the pleasant sting, even through the layer of my pants and underwear.

He led me to the door I’d seen but never entered and opened it, then stepped aside so I could move into the room. I paused as soon as I passed the threshold, gazing at the orderly office. In the center, toward the back, was a black steel desk with a black office chair. A laptop was open in the center of the desk. Other than that, there was nothing else except for three walls of black shelves stuffed full of books. The right wall had floor- to-ceiling windows, looking out toward the Manhattan skyline. Lights sprinkled across the horizon, glittering like a thousand diamonds.

I took one step after another, moving toward the shelves, and picked up a book randomly. Red in color, it was plain except for the gold font on the front. The Truth About the Mayans . Each title that I came across was related to history.

I replaced the original book and turned to Daire, who leaned against the front of the desk with his arms crossed. “You like reading?”

He smiled, soft and sweet—in a way I hadn’t seen before. “I do. I enjoy reading about history. We as humans should always be aware of the mistakes we made in the past, but unfortunately, we don’t learn from them.”

“Why—” I shook away the tiny prickle of hurt and tried again. “Why didn’t I know this?”

He made an amused sound in the back of his throat. “Because it wasn’t important to the job. You didn’t need to know.”

“And now?” I asked, hesitant but hopeful.

He stared at me for a long moment before he shoved off the desk and ate up the distance between us. He cradled my face, and I pushed up on my tiptoes to get closer. “You wanted to learn about the real me. Here I am, opening up to you, boy.”

I dislodged one of his hands to nuzzle his jaw and inhaled his spicy masculine scent. My dick twitched and I ground my hips against his. “Tell me more, Daddy. Fuck. Please.”

“This doing it for you?” The amusement in his voice tickled my insides. The serious Daddy Daire was hot, but this one? The carefree Daire—the one I made happy? Fucking stunning.

“What can I say? I get hard when there’s feelings involved,” I teased.

He laughed. “Okay, boy, get ready to come in your pants.” He carded his fingers through my hair and tugged my head back. “My first history book was given to me when I was eight as a birthday present. From Sloan.”

I cocked my head to the side in surprise. “Uncle gave it to you?”

“Yeah.” He turned his head to the bookshelf with a sentimental gleam in his eye. “We’d known each other for a few weeks by then. My father had already joined the Killough Company. I was a quiet, shy boy. Sloan thought I was odd. He told me that, too. Then, he found me watching a documentary on TV when he came to visit our house with his father. He asked me why I wanted to watch something about dead people. I told him I enjoyed history. I liked to consume information about it whenever I could. My birthday was a week later, and he showed up with this.”

Daire walked over to his desk and opened the first drawer. He pulled out a thick book and held it toward me. I took it and cradled it like the treasure it was. The cover was old and frail, brown in color with a drawn image of two Roman-type figures fighting on the front. The title History of the Peloponnesian War spread across the cover.

“It’s an account written by Thucydides, an Athenian historian. He served as a general in the war between the Peloponnesian League and the Delian League.” He stared down at the book warmly, and I brushed my hand over the cover. I could feel Daire’s connection to the work, despite not fully understanding his love for history.

I had absolutely no interest in ancient history, but hearing Daire speak about it was something else entirely. Need clenched at my insides. Daire wasn’t just giving me information about his past, he was sharing these soft, tender parts of himself that many would never know. There wasn’t anything hotter.

I placed the book on the desk carefully and took in the sharp lines of my Daddy’s cheekbones and his dark eyes—soul searching for a glimpse of the man underneath the somber mask.

Daire. The good son. The reliable one.

He was the best friend and second-in-command who never questioned Sloan’s orders.

He was the history lover who enjoyed reading and had walls of books.

He was the skilled strategist who built the impenetrable fortress to protect our illegal crimes behind the facade of a hospital for the rich.

But the most important part was that he was my Daddy, and I had all of him now.

I brushed my hand over his chest, my breathing growing more rapid. “Thank you.”

“For what?” He leaned down, lips ghosting over mine.

“For sharing this side of you. That’s all I wanted.”

He chuckled. “There’s a lot more about me to know, boy.”

“I can’t wait to find out.” I surged up into his mouth and grasped his face between my hands, melting into his kiss as he hauled me closer by my hips. With our bodies pressed together like this, everything was perfect and where it needed to be. Everything else in the world could go to hell because I had Daire kissing me. My Daddy.

He slammed me against the nearest bookshelf. Books went toppling around me, but he didn’t seem to care as he picked me up under the ass. I wrapped my legs around his waist and grappled at his shoulders. His kiss was scalding, and I sank into the burn. Our passion was aflame, and I would gladly turn to ash—as long as I could have him for the rest of my life. Happy. Content. With Daire.

Nothing else mattered in this moment—the apprenticeship, the Company. I would let it all crumble as long as Daire was pressed against me.

“Daddy.” He drank down my moan as his tongue brushed against mine. “Please.”

“What do you need, boy?” He nibbled my bottom lip and tugged. “Tell me.”

I inhaled deeply, taking in the aroma of his cologne and storing it in my memories so I’d never forget what he smelled like. “I need your dick.”

He grinned, flashing me straight white teeth. “Yeah?” He nuzzled my cheek and licked a stripe over it. “Want me balls deep inside you? Fill you up with my cum until you’re leaking?”

I whimpered. My hole clenched in anticipation and my stomach fluttered.

“Have you been a good boy?”

“The best. I’ve been the best.” I tightened my legs around his waist, ignoring the twinge of pain from something sharp digging into my shoulder. “Please, give it to me.”

“One day, boy, I’m going to fill you up with so much cum that it’ll pool in your underwear. We’ll be in a meeting with all the men, and all you’ll be able to focus on is the mess in your briefs. You’ll always be reminded you’re mine, won’t you?” He bit along my jaw, claiming his territory. “Fuck, boy.”

“Use your dick on me,” I begged with no shame. When it came to Daire, I was his—body and soul. He could do whatever he wanted.

He dropped me back to my feet, and I wailed in disappointment, which quickly warped into a moan when he spun me around and slammed my chest against the shelf again. More books wobbled and tumbled from their spots, clattering against the wooden floor.

A shiver swept down my spine, and I trembled as he yanked at my pants. I wriggled my hips to show off my ass.

He gripped my hands and slammed them against the shelf. “Hands stay there. Do not move them. Understand, boy?”

I whined in answer and received a sharp slap to my underwear-covered ass for it.

“Words. Daddy needs to hear the words, boy.” His tongue traced the shell of my ear, chest pressed firmly against my back. The familiar outline of his bulge rubbed the cleft of my ass, and I trembled harder. Fuck.

“I understand, Daddy. I won’t move my hands.”

“Good boy.” He nibbled the top of my ear before he was gone. The weight of his body against my back lifted, and I held in the urge to whimper in disappointment. The sound of a drawer opening met my ears, but I was too scared to turn around in case I was punished for it.

Then, he returned. He shifted the collar of my suit jacket and dress shirt so he could kiss the back of my neck, and the feel of his lips sent a wave of desire crashing through me, landing straight in my balls. My dick twitched where it was stuck in my underwear. We hadn’t even started, and I was already on edge, ready to fall over the cliff of pleasure.

He yanked down my underwear to join my pants, and I shivered as the cool air hit my heated skin. “I’m going to fuck you nice and deep, boy. You’ll feel me in your ass tomorrow when we go see Sloan.”

I groaned. “Yes, please, Daddy Daire.”

“Will you be good for me?” He bit the back of my neck, and I crowed.

“So good, Daddy. I swear.”

“Who do you belong to?” He slapped my ass, and the blow stung, but also had a spike of pleasure heading straight for my dick.

“You. Only you, Daddy Daire.”

He smoothed a hand over my right asscheek, and I gasped. “Good boy. You own me, too. I’m so proud of you.”

My dick bobbed and precum dripped down to the hardwood below. His words wove around to embrace my heart, healing the cuts from all the hurtful words he’d thrown at me over the years. Daire was my protector. My Daddy.

I bit my lip to stop a moan at the familiar sound of the lube bottle opening. Then, his fingers were at my hole. I kicked my pants and underwear lower until they fell around my ankles so I could spread my knees wider.

“You desperate for it, boy?” Daire nuzzled the side of my neck.

I whimpered. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Will you be good for me?” His finger slipped between my cheeks and teased my entrance, petting across my hole.

“So good. Only for you, Daddy.” I turned my head, and he planted a kiss on my mouth as he pushed his finger past the tight ring of muscle. “Please. I like the stretch. I don’t need your fingers, I want your dick.”

“Hmm.” He pressed his nose to my cheek and breathed me in. “Do you deserve my cock, boy?”

“I’m good,” I whined. “I’m so good for you.”

“You are very good. A boy that any Daddy would be proud of.”

I cried out and brought my fist to my mouth to bite down on my knuckles—forgetting about his rule. Embarrassment burned my cheeks at the shameful sound that left me. His praise alone almost had me coming. How fucking pathetic was that?

“No, no, boy. I told you not to move.” Daire curled his fingers around my wrist, gently pulled my hand away from my face, and guided it back to the shelf. “I want to hear all the noises you make. Let Daddy hear you.”

He added a second finger, and I pouted over my shoulder at him. “Please use your dick. I need you.”

He grunted and removed his fingers.

I sighed in relief as the slick tip of his dick nudged my entrance. I arched my back, giving him the right angle to just slip on in.

He laughed deep in his throat. “You’re desperate for it, boy.”

“Yes, Daddy. For you? Always.”

“To think, I nearly let another man steal you. I’m an idiot.” He pressed into me.

I gasped, fingernails scratching at the shelf, and half chuckled, half moaned. “You said it, not me, Daddy Daire.”

He slapped my right asscheek and surged into me so forcefully that my nails dug even deeper into the wood.

“Look at you.” Daire groaned. “Sucking me in like a good boy. All the way to my balls.” As if to make a point, he slammed balls deep into me. I keened, throwing my head back when he struck my prostate. Desire pummeled through me, and the sounds that ripped from my throat would’ve been embarrassing if I was in my right mind, but all I could think about was Daire’s dick in my ass, his fingers digging into the skin of my waist, and his mouth sweeping across my cheek with a warm breath, teasing my skin into goose bumps.

My grip slipped with his next hard thrust, and before I could catch myself, I’d knocked books to the floor. My dick throbbed, and despite the urge to reach down and stroke my length, I couldn’t. Daddy Daire had told me to keep my hands in front of me. I was his good boy so that was exactly what I would do.

“Fuck, you feel so good, boy. Do you know what you’re doing to my cock right now? You’re so tight you’re strangling me. You’re drawing me in, like you want me to live here....”

I shivered as his fingers stroked over my cheek—his soft touch a delicious contrast to the way he ravaged my hole.

“Do you want me to sleep with my dick in your ass, boy? Will you drain my balls dry and beg me to stay inside you?”

I tightened my grip on the shelf so forcefully that the wood dug into my palm. My head dropped forward. Daire tugged on the collar of my shirt and attacked the back of my neck with his teeth. He could litter me with his marks until it hurt to move, and I’d say “Yes, please. Thank you, Daddy.”

He nuzzled my neck, a soft brush of his nose where his teeth had just been. “What do you think, boy? Would you like my dick in you all the time?”

I whimpered. “Yes, Daddy. You’re so wide, Daddy. I can feel you here.” I shoved my hand under my shirt and jacket and laid my palm on my stomach. “You’re rearranging my guts, Daddy Daire.”

“Fuck, boy.” He planted his hands on my hips in a brutal grip and began to hammer into me. His dick slid out, then back home with the kind of force against my prostate that had me screaming. I wanted him to stay inside me forever. Just me and him. Together. “Didn’t I tell you hands in front? I should spank you for breaking the rules.”

I squeezed the shelf again and held on as he slammed into me. While his thrusts were unrelenting, they were controlled. My Daddy knew exactly what he was doing.

Pleasure built at the base of my spine and my stomach tingled. My balls tightened closer to my body, desperate for release.

“Please, Daddy.” I wiped my cheeks and the back of my hand returned with traces of tears. I felt so fucking needy for everything he was willing to give me. “Let me touch myself. Please. I’ve been so good, Daddy.”

I hadn’t. I’d broken the rules a few times already, but I knew my Daddy. He was forgiving.

He growled into my ear, and I cried out as he punched my prostate with another roll of his hips. “You’re such a good boy. My good boy. Jerk yourself off, Fifi. Show Daddy how much you love his cock inside your tight little hole.”

I trembled, a wave of desperation flooding me. Finally —the permission I needed. I spat in my palm and jerked my dick fast and hard. My need to come barreled through me as rough as Daire’s dick was fucking me. “So good, Daddy Daire. I love it so much.”

He seized my chin and dragged my face toward him before slamming his mouth against mine. His thrusts were relentless against my prostate and felt so fucking good. I was drowning and burning in pleasure—a desperate shivering mess. My arms wobbled, knees buckled, but before I could fall, my Daddy’s strong arms curled around me to keep me steady.

“Be a good boy and listen to Daddy. Come for me.” He clamped down at the back of my neck, and that was all it took for my world to crash around me in a mind-blowing orgasm. My balls nearly withdrew completely into my body as my release hit me with the force of a semitruck.

Cum splattered across the spines of books and over the shelves.

Daire wasn’t far behind me. His arms squeezed me tighter while he groaned sweet praises into my ear that had my dick twitching before warmth filled my insides.

He rested his forehead on the junction between my neck and shoulder, chest heaving. “Fuck.”

“Did that feel good, Daddy Daire?” I asked.

He laughed and leaned over to kiss me, and I whined into his mouth. “Perfect, boy. You are perfect.”

“Only for you. You’re the one who gets this side of me.” I cuddled back into him, and he hummed.

“Good boy,” he purred. “Now how about we clean up, hmm?”

“Sounds amazing.”

He slid out of me. I quickly turned to grab him by the lapels of his jacket before he could back away. His cock curved up and was shiny from lube and cum.

“Thank you for the date and for sharing this with me.” I waved at the books, then frowned at the pile scattered across the wooden floor. I bent to pick them up, but he grabbed my elbow and drew me into his strong embrace.

“We’ll handle it tomorrow, boy. I only want you in my arms right now and for always.”

I shivered. That’s exactly what I’d wanted to hear for the last eight years.