Chapter 31
Declan
“I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Malone.” Jonathan’s mother is a thin woman with short hair and deeply red-lined eyes. She looks like she’s crumbling into herself as she tries to smile back.
“I appreciate you coming, Mr. Whelan. I know how busy you’ve been lately. We all know it’s been hard since your father passed, may God rest his soul.”
“Jonathan was a good man. His passing is terrible, but he died a hero. I know that’s thin comfort.”
“My boy was always too kind for his own good.”
“You don’t have to worry about anything. We’ll take care of it all, you know that. I’m sorry again. I wish I could do more.”
“I know, Mr. Whelan. I know. But there’s nothing to be done.” She gives me another tight smile, and the receiving line moves along. Casey murmurs her respects, and soon we find ourselves on the other end of the crowd.
Men and women approach me. Most pay quiet respects. They speak kindly about my father and the family.
Right now, nothing feels right.
Casey holds my hand the whole time. If that’s unseemly or if it looks weak, I don’t give a damn. She’s shaken by how close Senesi got to her aunt, and she needs comfort right now. The dead are dead. She’s my priority.
“Terrible thing when we lose a young one.” Donnell appears in a quiet lull before the service begins in earnest. “Never did like seeing them that way.”
“Part of the job. Boy saved a life.”
“Shame he had to pay with his own.” Donnell’s smile is dark and empty.
“Come this way, Declan. Let’s have a chat for a moment.
” He leads me toward the vestibule in the back as most of the other people begin filling in the pews.
Casey follows, and if Donnell minds, he doesn’t say so, but she does stand off to the side and gives us some space to speak.
Donnell turns, and that plastered-on smirk vanishes into dust.
“Finbar’s making more demands,” he says softly, coming in close. I can smell his cologne. It’s an ugly scent and too sharp.
“Tell him to fuck off then. We had an agreement.” I keep myself steady.
Even if nobody’s in earshot and this church is as friendly to my family as they get, I’m still aware that someone might see me and get the wrong impression.
I have to be composed at all times. That’s what it means to be a leader.
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple.” Donnell almost sounds apologetic. “He wants more territory and better clients. And you know, I’ve been thinking that maybe I can help him with that. It’s a lucrative idea.”
I let that sink in and say nothing. Donnell’s watching me carefully. We both know what he’s doing and a sick twist fills my guts.
How long was he planning this? Since that first meeting? Since my father was on his deathbed?
“You’re already getting the southern expansion.”
He only shrugs. “Can’t have too much, is what I say.”
“You have enough.”
“Come on now, Declan. No need to feel defensive. This isn’t what you think.”
I lean in close, lowering my voice. “I think it’s a slimy fuck trying to shake me down at a goddamn funeral. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“It’s business.” He spreads his hands. “That’s all.”
“All right, it’s business. And here’s my answer—” I grab him by the belt and yank him close. He stumbles as I ram my forehead straight into his cheek, but pull up just short of truly bashing him hard. “Fuck off.”
I let him go. He steps back, rattled, touching his face, his eyes wide. I bet the bastard hasn’t been hit in years. I shouldn’t have held back, but making the old shit bleed would be counterproductive.
“Not smart,” he mutters, putting more space between us. “Your father never treated me with so much disrespect. You think you can put hands on me, you little shit?”
“I think you don’t know the meaning of that word respect.
I think you’ll do whatever you can to come out of this transition with as much territory and muscle as you can, and to hell with everyone else.
You got concessions already. Finbar got the deal he needs.
Either bend the fucking knee or taste glass. ”
This isn’t the smartest play. I’m aware of that. I know Casey’s probably staring at me in horror right now wondering why I’m ruining this so badly.
I’m sick of fucking politics. I’m exhausted and done with kissing ass. I tried to play the game and Donnell is still trying to stab me in the back anyway. He’s using Finbar as an excuse to pry more power away from me. If I give him that territory, he’ll never stop making his demands.
It ends here. I need a line, and this is it.
“You know your life is going to be miserable if I decide you’re not such a great boss after all.” His lips curl into a snarl. “You fucking need me.”
“You’re useful until you’re not. And right now, you’re right on that line. Which way do you want to tip, Donnell? You want to be a Whelan man? Shut your mouth and do what you’re told. You want to start a war? Walk out of here and start causing trouble. See how long you last.”
“Petty threats.”
“No worse than what you’ve said.”
“Be smart here. This is drug-dealing territory I’m after. That’s not even the biggest piece of our business. You’re torching our relationship for nothing.”
I stare at him and he glares back. There’s no turning back from this. Not for him and not for me. We both know it and there’s nothing else to say.
I stare him down and don’t blink.
Finally, Donnell turns away.
“Bad choice,” he murmurs as he walks to the back door and exits to the parking lot. I watch him leave, hands balled into fists with rage.
I should’ve killed him, but the fucker’s smart. He knew I wouldn’t draw blood on holy ground at a goddamn funeral. Even if I nearly did anyway.
“Are you okay?” Casey comes to my side. She grabs my arm and looks up at me.
“I’m fine.” I take a moment to compose myself, but inside I’m burning with pure black fire.
It’s bad enough Senesi nearly got Sheila and the crazy bastard’s still out there somewhere. But now Donnell’s going to turn on me, and that means my succession just got complicated.
“What can I do?” she whispers.
I take her hand tightly. “Come with me.” I lead her away and out to the waiting town car. The driver nods as I roll up the divider. The black tinted windows make it feel like we’re all alone in the back as I drag Casey into my lap, twining my fingers through her thick hair and grabbing on tight.
“You’re going to take your frustration out on me, aren’t you?” she whimpers, as I pull her down into a rough kiss.
“Yes, you’re damn right I am. Any complaints?”
“None. Sir.”
“Good girl, Mrs. Whelan.”
I bury her mouth with mine. It’s a blistering, angry, dominating kiss. I can lose myself in Casey. There’s a strange safety when we’re back here together. I don’t have to worry about politics, about business, about anything but how good it feels to be with her.
Casey is my calm. She’s the quiet in all the mess. I should’ve seen it sooner, how she grounds me. I’ve been better ever since I hired her as my personal assistant. It’s like I’ve found a silence in my head I never knew was there.
“What are you going to do now, Mr. Whelan?” She shimmies in my lap as the car starts driving.
I roughly spread her legs and turn until she’s sitting and I’m between her knees. Her mouth is open as I kiss up her thigh, loving every inch of her skin.
“I’m going to remember why you’re my favorite employee.”
She gasps lightly as I peel off her tights. “This is the only reason you value me?”
“You’re important for a lot of reasons.” I tug at her panties next, impatience killing me. I kiss the top of her pussy as soon as I can, tongue sliding down along her slit. “Your taste is perfect. Your moans are divine. Everything about you drives me wild, Ms. Brennan.”
“Here I was thinking you hired me for my brains.”
“Brains, body, taste, what’s it matter?”
“I want to know it’s more than just—” She tugs at my hair and makes me look up at her. There’s a strange pleading in her eyes. “More than just this.”
“You think I’ve been obsessing over you for years because of sex?”
“I don’t know.” Her cheeks turn pink. “Make me feel like it’s more.”
“You’re everything, Casey. You’re clever, funny, and sharp. I’m a better man when I’m with you.”
“That’s pretty good.”
“You need more?”
“I wouldn’t turn you down.”
I kiss her pussy again. This time, I slip my tongue inside, lapping back out to lick and suck her clit.
Her groans turn low and insistent and I don’t stop.
There’s nothing else to say. Casey’s perfection in a way I’ve never experienced before.
She’s clean and she’s right. I go faster, licking and sucking her, and slowly slide two fingers deep into her pussy.
To hell with the family and to hell with funerals.
I’m tired of it all, except for my wife.
“Oh, god, Declan,” she says, arching her back and grinding into me. “Don’t stop.”
When she breaks, it’s like coming up for air after weeks holding my breath.
It’s everything and more. I feel myself calming strangely, even though I have a thousand reasons to stress.
She gives me a glassy smile and pulls me into an intense kiss, and when she curls up against me after tugging on her clothes again, I know I made the right choice.
I’d burn it all to the ground to marry her a thousand times over.
“You can’t just use me and ignore your problems, you know,” she whispers as the town car gets closer to the house.
“Probably not, but you’re much more fun.”
“What are you going to do about Donnell?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Can I do anything to help?”
“Not right now. Just be here. That’s all I need.”
She kisses my neck gently. “Whatever you want.”