2. Rory
It’s only nine-thirty in the morning, and I already want to go home.
I sigh, looking up from my desk at my secretary, who is slowly closing my office door.
“What do you want, Cassidy?”
“You know what I want,” she purrs, all but crawling over the desk to get to me.
What the fuck?
I stand up.
It’s not that Cassidy isn’t my type. She very much is, in fact, with her slim waist and round hips.
But I don’t fuck people at the office. I never have. I’m the professional, by-the-book type–which is unusual given who my family is.
Not that I’ve talked to any of them in months. Years.
Not even with my sister, Bree. Though that’s my fault. She reaches out here and there to check up on me, but I tend to never return the favor.
It’s not that I don’t love her, I do, it’s that she is too close to my father for comfort, and I will not be pulled back into that life.
It doesn’t help that my father and I clash a lot.
My father is a hard man to love.
Maybe I am, too.
I stand up, huffing out a breath. “We’ve been over this, Cassidy.”
“I love the way you say my name.” She presses her breasts together, and my eyes flicker down.
I’m still a man, after all, and even though they’re likely fake, they’re impressive.
“I know you want me too, Rory.”
I shake my head. “Even if I did, which I don’t , I wouldn’t do this. You know that there’s a strict no-fraternization policy.”
She groans. “God, isn’t there anything you do that’s exciting?”
I thin my lips. “I do plenty that’s exciting. But none of that is your business.”
She does crawl over the desk, perching on the edge of it.
Her eyes travel down my chest all the way to my crotch, and I will myself from allowing the blood to rush there.
I’m not made of stone, but I’m also not going to do this.
When her hands touch my waistband, I back away, against the window.
“Get out of my office.”
Cassidy rolls her eyes and stands up, clearly irritated. “Come on. As if you don’t know why I took this crappy job.”
“What?”
She’s been working here for two months, and she’s been all over me the whole time, but honestly, some women are more pushy than other. I thought it was just a matter of time until she gave up and focused on her job.
I’m handsome enough, I guess, but work is work, and I never ever let my wires cross bringing personal anything here.
I like women enough, but my focus is my career. Not saying I don’t occasionally hook up as a way to let out some frustration, but never here.
This work is important to me, and I’d never put it at risk for a piece of ass and a fleeting moment of pleasure.
“You’re a Murphy , for God’s sake,” she sneers. “I thought this whole thing was a front. I mean, a non-profit? It’s not like you don’t have billions.”
“You said in your interview that you loved to give back to the community.”
“Of course, I did! How else would I get access to you?” Her hands fly to the air. “You know what? It’s not worth it. I quit.”
She storms out of my office, and I let out a long breath, rubbing a hand across my face.
Wonderful .
I hired her because I needed a secretary or a personal assistant, or else I’d never figure out all my appointments. I’m the head accountant at Waste Not, Want Not. The company was founded as a non-profit, and although I didn’t make a crazy wage, we do all right for ourselves. And we offer full benefits for all employees.
The office manager, Sheila, sticks her head in.
“Did Cassidy finally get fired?”
“She quit.” I plop down in my chair.
“Good. Now you can hire someone who’s after more than what’s in your pants.”
I can’t believe it. I’ve hidden the fact that my father is in the Irish mob for my whole life. I work hours away from Chicago, where everything goes down, and I didn’t know anyone knew my father here.
I have to keep that life away from here. So, it’s really for the best that Cassidy quit, I suppose. Even though now I’ll need to hire someone else.
“Anyway, while she was in here, you got a phone call. They’re on line two.”
“Let them leave a message,”
Sheila shakes her head. “I offered that. They said it’s urgent, and they’d wait.”
I frown. Who can possibly be calling?
“Shit. Fine.”
Sheila walks out, closing the door behind her, and I sit down at my desk, taking a deep breath before picking up the phone and hitting the button for line two.
“Yes?”
“ Rory ,” my aunt breathes. “Thank God. We’ve been trying to talk to you for weeks now. You have to come home.”
I blink. “Come home?”
My family members always understood why I couldn’t go back to Chicago.
“It’s Bree. Something’s happened.”
Aunt Brina has always been a bit dramatic, but this seems serious.
“She’s been taken.”
“Taken? What are you talking about?”
“She was kidnapped. Oh, Rory…”
“How did this happen? When? Who did it?”
“Rory, please! You need to come back. Your father will explain everything. I have to leave the city for a while, and I can’t leave him alone like this.”
I pinch the flesh between my index finger and thumb to relieve some pressure in my head, and it works for a brief moment.
“I’m on my way.” I hang up the phone.
I book the first flight out to Chicago, which is in three hours.
I rush back to my one-bedroom apartment, a simple, inexpensive place that I rarely spend time at.
I hurry to pack a bag, not even bothering to shower or change clothes. If my sister is in trouble, I have to do the one thing I said I would never do.
Go home.
I arrive at the airport within the hour, and it’s just waiting after that.
I let my mind race, wondering what’s going on with Bree.
My sister has never been the wild, rebellious type. I was more of a pain when I was a teenager than she was.
For a while, I’d thought I wanted to be exactly like my father. I thought I’d want to follow in his footsteps. But then…
I shake myself out of it, not wanting my mind to get lost in that time.
I hope Bree is all right.
I’ve always wanted Bree to get out, to get away from that godforsaken city, but...
She’s always been stubborn, that’s for sure.
As I sit and wait to board, memories of my time with my sister won’t stop washing over me.
I left the city and my family behind years ago, vouching never to come back, seeking work as far away as I could get.
It was the last time I’d ever seen my father face-to-face.
And now, I have no choice but to run back to the place and the person I want to furthest away from.