Chapter 4
Kerry
So, my little princess is trying to get rid of me already.
I chuckle to myself as I relisten to the tape of Amy talking to her friend for the third time since my men sent it to me.
I’ve had her phone tapped for almost a year now, not that she makes calls very often.
But it’s worthwhile, even just for that one phone call.
She isn’t quite as innocent as I first thought. Hearing the word prick in that sweet voice is enough to make my prick stir. She’s barely learned of my existence, and she doesn’t know what she does to me.
Nor does she even know what I look like. It makes me laugh just thinking about how they were guessing about my age and appearance. If she really thinks I’m bald, then she’s in for quite the surprise. I’ve been using my good looks to my advantage since I was a teenager.
I have no doubts that my little leannán will be satisfied with my appearance. I have no doubt I can satisfy her in every way that matters, in bed and out of it.
I close my eyes as I replay her voice in my head, blocking out the whirring of the plane and Jack’s snores. I want to get her comfortable enough to speak with me like that, free and uninhibited.
Before hearing that recording of their phone call, I thought she’d be purely sweet and submissive, which I wouldn’t have minded. But hearing her discuss ways to escape me with her friend is thrilling, even if they both knew it’s impossible. I could tell from their voices.
Sweet little Amy is already scared of me. But that’s good. She needs to be. She seems to already understand what I am. How did they put it? A psycho. So American.
She’s nuanced. Complicated. Not only submissive, but also fiery and determined. She’s kind and gentle, but it doesn’t make her harmless. I can see it in her, even if she doesn’t see it in herself. Yet. But she will soon.
I stand from my seat to look over the pictures that are spread out over the table in the cabin of the plane. There were pictures of the mansion that the Astero’s owned. Amy arriving at their place several days ago. Pictures of her parents, of her at her shite university campus…
I wonder if she’ll want to continue her studies in Ireland.
I’ll let her, of course. Trinity College is a beautiful school, full of history and brilliant professors.
She’ll love it there. I’ll pull whatever strings I need to if she wants to attend there, and obviously cost won’t be a factor.
She’s currently getting her degree in Communications.
I wonder why, and what her plans are for her career.
Seems like an interesting choice for a degree.
I’m not sure if Trinity has similar degrees, but those are all things that Amy and I can figure out together when the time comes.
Granted, she’s almost done with her degree, even if it’s taken her longer than the usual four years to finish it.
She may want to just get it done with. Whatever she decides, I’ll support her.
As if she has a choice about it. She’ll accept my help whether she wants it or not.
But, after five years of watching her, I’m sure she’ll take it like a good girl.
I trace a finger over a picture of her. What started out as a simple arrangement purely for business had evolved far beyond that. I wonder how darling Amy will react when she discovers the big bad psycho is obsessed with her, and has been for years now.
I remember what she looked like when I first saw pictures of her.
She was in her early twenties then, just having started university after taking a couple of years off after graduating secondary schoo—, or high school, as the Americans call it.
So innocent, so full of life. And now that she’s in her mid-twenties, she’s matured into an angel.
Some of that excitement for life has died down, but I’m determined to bring it back.
I sigh and sit down in one of the chairs around the table this time, still looking over the photos.
What’s happening to me? I haven’t felt this way since I became obsessed with becoming the most powerful man in Ireland.
I gave my everything to achieve that. My blood, sweat, and tears.
And it’s been almost ten years since I succeeded in doing that.
I thought I’d just float along for the rest of my life, having achieved the impossible, but apparently my mind, as well as other parts of me, have other plans.
She’s my new obsession, the next thing I need to achieve.
What achieving her looks like, I’m not sure yet. But I know that, just like with my dream of becoming the most powerful man in Ireland, I’ll give it my all until I’m completely successful.
Liam sits down in the chair across from me. He’s quiet for a moment, which is never good. I prepare myself for whatever stubborn nonsense he’s about to spew. “I wanted to apologize for my jokin’ in the car, boss.”
The man is like a brother to me, and in many ways, is a brother, since that’s how we do things in my world.
He’s also a friend. But, at the end of the day, I’m still his boss, and it’s good to hear him acknowledge it, especially since he had crossed a line.
“Good. Make sure it doesn’t happen again. ”
Liam nods, having expected such an answer from me. He sits up and looks at the pictures. He’s still unusually quiet, which meant that his apology wasn’t the only thing weighing on his mind. “Did ya read her file?”
My eyes narrow at him. “Yes. Why?”
He drums his fingers on the edge of the table. “She’s diagnosed with autism. Our doc agreed from researchin’ things. Quite interesting. You’re aware of that, I assume.”
“Yes,” I say lowly, wishing he’d get to the point.
“It doesn’t bother ya?”
My jaw clenches slightly. “No. Why would it?”
Liam shrugs. “I don’t know anyone with it. Aren’t they like…mute or something? Rock back and forth and all that?”
My friend’s ignorance makes me laugh. I think back to the recording of the phone call I just listened to. “Trust me, she isn’t mute. I’d advise you to do your research before you say such stupid things, but I know that won’t happen.”
Liam snickers. “Yeah, I’d deny it, but I know there’s no point. I ain’t goin’ to research a damn thing. But have you?”
“Yes,” I answer, without missing a beat.
Liam’s eyebrows raise. “Ah, you’re determined to get along with the missus, hm?”
More than he knows. “Might as well understand what I’m getting myself into.”
Liam nods. “Makes sense.”
Despite my closeness with both Jack and Liam, I haven’t shared my newfound passion for Amy. I’m not sure I ever will. I need to protect myself, and if word gets out that I have taken such an interest in her, then the world will consider her a weakness. My weakness.
And Kerry Alasdair has no weaknesses. I can’t afford to.
I know I’ll be satisfied once I have her under my roof.
Then I can rest and go back to focusing on my business, and this obsession will die out.
Just like with my aim of becoming the most powerful man in Ireland, my interest will ease once I achieve my goal.
It didn’t die out completely, but it certainly wasn’t a fixation anymore.
I stare out the window, watching the sun slowly rising in the sky, coloring the clouds in an array of orange hues as we pass by them. “Liam, I want you to look into the girl we have on file for the Astero girl’s best friend, by the name of Lily.”
Liam’s eyebrows shoot up. “Lily Morin? We did some minor digging, she looks clean. Normal. Other than her own autism diagnosis. They met in 6th year and have been friends ever since. Single mother who was a school teacher. Unknown father.”
I snap my fingers and sit forward in my seat. “Exactly. Unknown father. Find out who it is.”
“All right… Anything in particular you want me looking for?”
My eyebrows lower. “Mafia connections.”
“Mafia…?” Liam seems surprised by this, but I’m not sure why. It wasn’t crazy for an Astero to be friends with someone else with mafia connections, even if she wasn’t raised in the underworld like the rest of us. “Really?”
I laugh and nod. “Really. I just listened to an interesting call between the Astero girl and Ms. Morin. They were trying to find a way out of this arrangement with me.”
Liam lets out a low whistle. “Want me to warn Astero to keep her in line?”
That suggestion makes me want to snap at Liam.
No, the only person that will be keeping Amy in line from now on is me.
Her grandfather can stay far away from her, too.
“No. That’s all right, they can make their pretend plans.
They’re trying to cling to hope, but I could tell they knew it wasn’t realistic.
But they discussed Ms. Morin’s mother fleeing and starting a new life with a new identity.
Apparently she ran from someone just as powerful and terrible as me.
The girls didn’t seem to know much beyond that, and Ms. Morin’s mother is dead. ”
Liam nods. “Yeah. Read that in the info we dug up on her. Well, that’s interesting, I’ll be sure to send off my hounds to sniff around that.”
I nod, looking back out the window of the plane. “Good.” My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I shift in my seat to bring it out. I look at the caller ID and sigh as I answer it. “Marjorie.”
My aunt’s voice chirps in through my phone, as full of youthful vigor as ever, despite her elderly age.
“Kerry! You fly away without even tellin’ me where you’re off to?
I bring you supper and now it’s going to spoil, and if I’d have known, it wouldn’t have been made!
A waste of time, food, your auntie’s goodwill… ”
“Marjorie.” I sigh and press the bridge of my nose between two fingers. “I’m a grown man, or have you forgotten? And in my line of work, I’m always traveling about. Now, I thought you didn’t want to be involved anymore?”
My aunt grumbles under her breath. “I don’t. But a note or a quick dial or something would be appreciated.”
A grin spreads across my face. “You sure you aren’t itching to get back in the game? I know how much you like it. And that gun collection is just sitting there, gathering dust…an awful shame, really.”
“Keep my guns out of that filthy mind, they aren’t yours. And what I do with ‘em are none of your business, nephew.” Marjorie huffs. “Is it a long flight?”
I recognize this as a bit of code. She’s asking if this was a serious trip, something dangerous or monumental. “Yeah. It’s a long flight. The States.”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “The States? Visiting a friend?”
I chuckle. More code. She’s asking if I’m orchestrating a deal or building a new business connection. “I’m visiting my fiancée.”
“Your what?” She practically shrieks through the phone, and it makes me laugh.
“Mm. Asteros.”
“Asteros?” Her tone is one of disgust, and it only prolongs my amusement. “What in the feck are you doing getting in the marriage bed with one of them?”
Ah, leave it to my aunt to always make me laugh. “She’s a pretty little thing. You’ll like her, I’m sure.”
“An American, in my family…” she grumbles. “Your uncle is rolling in his grave.”
I grin. She isn’t wrong about that, he probably is. But he’d agree with me eventually, once he saw the practicality of it. “Mm. You’re probably right. But he’d also understand the business side of things.”
Marjorie made a hmph sound. “Business? So you didn’t just get bored and decide to marry an American one day?”
I chuckle. “No. I didn’t. The Asteros are powerful, it’ll be a good union. That, and their family has exclusive access to those docks that Da had his eyes on for two decades. I’m just doing what needs to be done.”
My aunt is quiet for a minute. “I see. Just doing what needs to be done… You sound like your father.”
My chest grows tight with that. I try not to let my anger come out in my tone. “Well, I am his son.”
“Is that who you want to be, Kerry?” Her voice is quiet, gentle. It irks me.
I sigh yet again and lean back in my seat, forcing my body language to look more relaxed and at ease than I feel inside. “Did you call just to give me life advice, Marjorie? Or was there a point to this beyond you just criticizing?”
“Ah. I’ve hit a sore spot. Listen, Kerry, I’m not trying to bitch and moan about things.
Well, maybe a little about the supper I made you.
But you and I both know you don’t want to end up like your father.
You may be pretending to forget about the conversation we had in Cobh, but I’m not.
You vowed to yourself to not be like him.
And, yet, you changed and became hellbent to become the most powerful man in Ireland, or however the feck you say it.
You’re determined to be king, just like he was. ”
I clench my jaw. Her words stir up a storm in my chest. “I am king. And I’m not tryin’ to be like him, I’m trying to finally get the better of him, to prove him wrong. To show him what I can be, that I beat him.”
Marjorie is quiet for another moment, and that bothers me more. Liam, who had been sitting there, looking over the files and pretending like he wasn’t listening, gets up and heads to the front of the plane to give me some privacy. Somehow, his respect soothes me just a bit.
“Kerry. Your father didn’t even recognize you before he died. Why are you living for someone who wasn’t present in his mind by the end? And what will it take for you to ‘beat him’? What does proving yourself to him entail? What will ever be enough?”
I don’t want to admit that my aunt is right. I typically always rely on clear and measurable goals. It was something my men had to learn quickly when working under me. No vague or intangible goals, or else, they’d get an earful from me.
I’m a hypocrite. Which means that I deserve the earful from my aunt that I’m currently getting.
I put my head in my hand. “I’ll think about what you said.”
“Good. That’s good enough for me.” Marjorie sounds almost chipper that she got at least somewhat through to me. “Now, tell me more about this girl. I need to know about who is joining my family.”
I’m all too happy to tell my aunt about the other most important woman in my life. I haven’t even met Amy yet, but she already eases the tension in my chest.
I can’t wait to see her in person.