Chapter Thirty-One
Abbott
“Do you think the sale is going to happen?” I ask Rian, standing in the doorway of his office at the house.
He found a building he wanted for his concert hall, but it wasn’t on the market.
I assumed that meant we needed to keep looking—something I’ve been helping him with—but not being on the market didn’t deter Rian.
He cocks a brow, half-smile on his handsome face as though my question is ridiculous.
“Sorry. I’m not used to talking to someone who is in the Mafia, and they never have to worry about being told no,” I tease before walking farther into the room.
I don’t know if he did anything illegal to get what he wanted, and I’d like to keep it that way.
He doesn’t need my help on this, but I’ve taken a lot of it on as my project over the last week.
I know Rian’s let me help to give me something to do…
and to take my mind off the fact that they’ve been scouring the city, questioning anyone who might have information on who put a hit out on me.
I’m trying not to think about that, not to imagine what they might be doing to people because of me.
If I don’t think about it, none of it is happening, right?
“Come here,” Rian says, and I go, standing between where he’s sitting in his chair and the desk. “What’s wrong?”
“None of this feels right…what you’re doing for me. That someone would want me dead. I can’t stop feeling like we’re on the wrong track, and all that’s going to happen is someone is going to hurt you.”
He chuckles as if that’s the most ridiculous idea. “No one is going to hurt me.”
“You got shot the day I met you. Don’t annoy me, or I’ll poke your wound.” Which reminds me, I need to check it. He acts like he doesn’t need it, but I like keeping an eye on how he’s healing.
“No, you won’t.” Rian puts his hands on my hips and tugs me closer. “I’m going to protect you.”
“I’m not worried about me.”
“That’s why I am.” He looks up at me. “Let’s go out tonight.”
“What?” Where did that come from, and how will it help with anything?
“Let me take you out. It’ll be good for people to see you with me anyway…then they’ll know you’re protected, know that if they move on you, they’re moving on me.”
My brain spins with that thought. There’s the quiet voice in my head, one I’m not proud of, that feels…
worthier because of that, more important in this way I’ve never felt, except when I was saving someone’s life.
It’s wild, really. That’s not why I do what I do.
It’s not why I save lives, and I don’t feel like I deserve praise for it, like I’m doing anything special.
I often get uncomfortable with the attention from doing my job, if I’m being honest, but it’s the only purpose I’ve ever known, and the only thing that has brought me joy since losing my mother.
But being Rian’s…that brings me joy too and makes me feel like more than I am. I’m not proud of that truth, but it’s a truth all the same.
“Still…I don’t want you to take me out just to prove something.”
“That’s not why…it’s just another result.
” He stands, easing closer to my body. “I’m taking you out because you deserve it.
Because you’ve been working tirelessly all week to help me figure out the logistics of putting this whole music thing in motion…
and because I want everyone to know how fucking lucky I am that you’re mine.
” Rian cups my face in his hand, tilting my head so I’m looking at him.
“My partner…mine to fuck…mine to love…mine to protect.”
Damned if my knees don’t go weak. This man has got me feeling shit I never thought was possible, wanting things I never would have believed I could have…like exactly what he said—for everyone to know that he could have chosen anyone, but he chose me.
“If you’d like to take me on a date, I’m not going to argue.” I smile, and a laugh pushes out of Rian’s throat.
“Oh, you won’t, huh? You don’t want to go, you just won’t argue.” He chuckles again, then buries his face in my throat. “I forgot what it was like to feel this way…for even the smallest things to be fun…and to share it with another person.”
“I never knew.” I might have dated and been in relationships with other men, but none of them made me feel the way Rian does.
None of them cared for me the way he does, either.
Being the center of his attention is a heady drug, and one I’ve quickly become addicted to.
“We’ll shower first, and then I want you to come on me.
I want to smell like you when you take me out. ”
He growls in response and takes my mouth.
We don’t quite make it upstairs. Rian blows me right there in his office, then it’s time for the shower, and for him to jerk off on my chest.
“Will you wear something for me?” he asks when I’m still on my knees, his cum on my skin.
“Yes.” I stand, and he rubs it in, before the two of us go to the closet. He pulls out a small black box. I frown, but take it from him, opening it to find a gorgeous two-tone—white and yellow—gold watch. I don’t know a lot about watches, but there’s no doubt in my mind that this one is expensive.
“Rian…this is too much.”
“No. Nothing is too much for you.” He takes the box from me, pulling out the beautiful watch with the blue face, before sliding it onto my wrist.
I have to admit, it looks incredible there—bold and strong, a reminder of him. “Thank you. I love it,” I reply.
“Good, and you’re welcome.”
Whoever took care of things at my house brought over more of my stuff. I wear black slacks and a gray button-up.
Rian goes for all black himself, and when I look at us both in the mirror, the epitome of dapper—Rian with a side of dark and dangerous—I say, “Damn, we look good.”
“Yes,” Rian replies, voice deep and husky. “We do.”
When we get downstairs, I stiffen when I see two men that I don’t recognize in the living room—one with dark hair and the other with red.
“Damn, Boss. You clean up nice,” the ginger says, and I relax, realizing that someone didn’t break in, and they know Rian. The guy looks me up and down, and I recognize that, whether the others know it or not, this man is queer too. “You got good taste.”
“Shut up before I cut out your eyeballs,” Rian tells him, the man laughing.
He holds up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m not going to do anything about it. I’m just saying.” He holds out his hand to me. “I’m Finan.” We shake, and he points to the other man with him. “Torin.”
“Abbott,” I reply.
“We know,” Torin says. “Everyone knows. Governor’s son. Dangerous.”
Before I even realize what’s going on, Rian has his hand around the man’s throat, and Torin is pressed against the wall.
My heart lurches. “Jesus, Rian. What are you doing?” I go to step forward, but Finan puts a hand on my bicep.
“Let him do what he needs to do. They’re fine,” he says in a low voice.
I rip my arm out of his hold just as Rian says, voice gravelly with what must be anger, “His father has nothing to do with who he is or why he’s here.”
“I didn’t…mean anything by it, Rian.” Torin’s words fight to get around Rian’s hold.
“Rian, let him go.” When he doesn’t respond, doesn’t even turn to look at me, I add, “Now.”
I have no idea why he’s so angry about what Torin said, but I’m not going to let him hurt one of his friends over it…kill him? Would Rian do that?
Rian’s hold on Torin’s throat loosens, and then a moment later, he steps back.
Torin pulls deep breaths into his lungs, not taking his gaze away from Rian, who isn’t turning away from him either.
“That wasn’t me taking a shot at him, Rian, and you know it.
Being close to him and the eyes it can put on us is dangerous…
but that’s never made me run before, and it’s not now.
” He rubs his throat. “I definitely see you’re serious about him, though.
” Half of his mouth kicks up slightly. I have no idea how a smile can tease his lips after what just happened.
But he’s right. I hadn’t really thought of that.
When the two of us step out together, as people find out…
will it be a big deal that one of Boston’s wealthiest businessmen, who everyone knows is the head of a crime family, is dating Governor Abbott’s son?
I think the answer to that question is fairly obvious.
“You should have known from the start, man.” Finan chuckles as if none of this is a big deal. As if Rian wasn’t violent with him, and my existence in their world won’t draw more attention to them.
“You’ve never been one not to acknowledge the truth, Rian,” Torin continues. “I have your back tonight and always, but it’s much easier for us to do our jobs if we’re honest about the situation.”
“You’re right,” Rian finally replies. “I…lost my head.”
“Yeah, guys like us tend to do that when we find someone worth losing it for.” The guy chuckles like none of this is a big deal, while I’m still trying to wrap my mind around any of it happening.
“I apologize. You can—”
“No,” Torin cuts him off. “I don’t need it. We’re good,” he says.
Tired of his macho display, I cut in. “Don’t do that again, Rian.
Not to someone you care about and not for something as small as what just happened.
I can take care of myself when I need to.
I’m not someone you have to protect from everything, and Torin is right.
People are going to notice—maybe not tonight, but eventually.
And they’re going to look into you. My father’s people are going to look into you. ”
It feels like it’s one thing after another, and as soon as I have a moment when everything feels like it’s going to be okay, another obstacle throws itself in our way.
“People look into us every day, all of the time, Abbott. That’s going to happen with or without you. We’ll deal with it like we always do.” He holds out his hand. “Now, come on. Let’s go.”
I look down at his hand but don’t take it. Not yet. It’s one thing when Rian and I have been in his house together, or the cabin together, but it’s different out there…where we’re not safe.
“They’re here to protect us tonight,” I say softly, the reality just sinking in.
I was too excited to go on a date with him that I didn’t consider the repercussions.
“Because someone wants to kill me…which means they could hurt you…or them. And if they don’t, then all it takes is the wrong people noticing us together before they start talking about what Governor Abbott’s son is doing with the leader of the Irish fucking Mafia. ”
“Not the whole Mafia…just our family,” Finan cuts in.
“Not now, Fin,” Rian tells him, his attention still firmly on me.
“Yes,” he adds. “Yes, you’re in danger. Yes, we all are…
but we always are. You know that, pretty thing.
Every time I leave this house, I’m in danger…
and you will be too, even when we deal with this threat, because you’re mine.
There will always be something to handle—often more than one thing at a time—business, enemies, danger, law enforcement.
That’s my life. It’s our life unless you walk away.
I’ve known that. I’m here. I’m in it. Are you? ”
I look down at the hand he’s holding out—in this room, with the men who work under him, who need to see him as this strong, formidable figure all the time—and he’s holding his hand out, waiting for me.
Did the way he reacted with Torin just now bother me?
Yes, but not because I’m afraid of him. Because I don’t want him to fight the people he loves for me.
Because I don’t want to be helpless to him.
But Rian is in it. He has been from the start.
He let me live when he shouldn’t have. He’s crossed his best friend for me.
Finan and Torin are risking their lives for me tonight.
They’re risking more eyes on them because they love Rian, and Rian loves me.
And there’s nothing I wouldn’t risk for him as well.
We have a lot to figure out, and some boundaries to set, but… “I’m in.” I take his hand and see the relief wash over his face.
“Fuck yes. That’s what we want to hear,” Finan says.
“You’re a dumbass.” Torin wraps an arm around his shoulder and says, “Think I might have to file a workers’ comp case for that shit.”
Rian threads his fingers through mine. “Denied, you bastard.”
They all laugh as the four of us walk out of the house…Rian and his family, a family I’m now a part of too.