Chapter 19
AOIFE
Ilean against the back of the ambulance, wrists treated with some light antiseptic and wrapped to help with the raw skin.
Other than that, I’m fine. Most of the scene scrolls by in slow motion.
Detectives crawl in and out of the hovel hole Reed concocted as his lair.
They emerge with evidence, tools, and eventually, the speaker shuffling through eerie Christmas music.
Grayson is one-track focused. Once he saw to it I was safe with the EMTs, I haven’t spoken with him since.
I watch him in a circle with Ace, the captain, and a few other officers.
His arms are folded at his side, brows furrowed, and blood is crusted under his nose.
I stare long enough that his attention gravitates toward mine, and the corner of his mouth lifts a sliver.
I look down at my boots and draw a snowman in the snow.
Two black SUVs plow into the mix. Several of my men pile out of the one, Mark leading the charge toward me. I wince, but roll my shoulders ready to tell them I’m fine and to get back to work, but then …
“Did he think he could hurt me daughter and get away with it!” My dad’s voice cuts through all the commotion as he steps out of the back seat.
Police officers flinch as he parts through them.
Ace straightens and leaves his group to fall in stride by Kieran O’Donnell.
When my dad’s eyes fall on me, they break from their stern glare and soften.
His pace picks up, and I leave my perch on the tailgate to meet him.
He doesn’t hesitate; he wraps me up immediately and presses me into himself. “Little love, aye, I’ve missed ya.”
His nickname for me. His unconditional love. It opens the floodgates, and though I try to be strong, tears flow. I pull back. “I’m so sorry about Finn and Ronan. I accept full responsibility for their deaths.”
“Don’t do that. Ye know it’s not yer fault.” He looks down at me, those piercing green eyes never any duller. “We’ll have their services after the holiday. We’ll sort it out.”
I nod.
“Summer is worried about ya. Are ye okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” I say.
Grayson and the captain creep closer, Grayson’s attention on the legendary Kieran O’Donnell. I smile, proud that the O’Donnell name has found its place with the Morozovs of the world.
“Chief Anderson, Reed has come to. Where should the officers transport him?” the captain asks.
Grayson’s eyes find mine, and I offer a sad smile. My dad tracks it.
“Kieran?” Ace asks. “What do you think? The media has been as invested in wrapping this up before Christmas as much as the department. When word gets out he’s the murderer, and it will, hell, he’ll be on every organization’s radar. Won’t last the night in my most secure cell.”
My dad ponders for a moment. “Aye, what if—”
“With all due respect, Aoife is the leader of the Irish now. We should ask her, Ace.” Grayson hisses his name.
Both my dad and Ace look at Grayson, who stares enraptured only at me. He dips his chin. “What do you think, Miss O’Donnell?”
The corner of my dad’s mouth twitches, but he stays quiet, and Ace follows his lead.
I inhale a deep breath and straighten. Then, holding those steely eyes I can’t get enough of, I say, “The Irish will handle him.”
Summer rushes me when I walk through the door to O’Brien’s. She throws her arms around me. “Jeez, Aoife. Thank God you’re all right!”
It’s quiet, nearly empty between the afternoon lunch rush and the run on dinner.
I hug her back, grateful she’s here in person and not through the phone.
“Kieran,” Summer says as my dad comes in behind me. “Everything okay?”
“Ye better ask Aoife. She’s the leader of the mob now.” His grin is wide; his tone mocking. I punch his shoulder.
“What?”
“I think our daughter has an admirer,” he says.
“Dad, stop. Grayson is just … he’s the detective who was on this case with Reed. Ace assigned him, and … ugh.”
He lets out a warm laugh. “I like him. And he’s right. Ye are the leader of the Irish, little love. I’m proud of yer decision this morning.”
My decision. I sigh. The one where I used my sway over Ace to have him hand Reed over?
Yeah, that one. It would’ve been an all-out war between the Yakuza and the Albanians to see who could get to Reed the fastest once his name was released to the public.
But I’d like to position the Irish to be owed a favor, particularly from the Albanians.
The Yakuza has been fickle in the past with their loyalty, and this time, I’d like to have us ahead.
So, I gave Reed to the Albanians as a gift from the Irish.
A debt they’ll have to repay, and that’s a better investment than revenge.
I made the best decision for the Irish and the city of Boston. I hope Grayson sees that.
I move to the bar, sitting and reaching over the counter to snag myself a bottle of whatever.
Preferably strong. His words play on a loop.
I don’t know how this works. I didn’t have the opportunity to speak with him before Ace rounded up his officers, cleared away the evidence, and made a statement to the press.
Summer slides onto the stool next to me.
Her black hair, kept short, is streaked with gray in the front, and it’s only another reminder of how short life is.
We get one, and while I want to carry on my dad’s legacy, I don’t want to do it alone.
“You know,” she says. “Seems like just yesterday I was here at this very seat with my friend Shelly trying to avoid your father.” She laughs, then nudges me with her elbow. “Who are you trying to avoid?”
I pop the top on the bottle, not caring enough to read the bottle’s label, and bring it to my mouth for a giant swig. “It’s not who, but what. I’m trying to avoid a broken heart.”
She pats my thigh. “Tell me, sweet girl.”
The tears well in my eyes before I can gulp another mouthful of liquor.
“I love him. It’s crazy, but there’s just something about him.
He makes me feel like I can be myself. I can be utterly and determinately myself with Grayson.
But I’m not sure he thinks it can work. I mean, how could it?
I don’t know if this life is for him. He deserves someone to be there for him, to love him, and create a family for him.
He’s been alone and outcast from his own—I couldn’t keep him from finding a true partner. ”
“Aoife … look around you,” Summer whispers.
I pause, the bottle halfway tipped back into my mouth, and scan the bar.
“Is this not the true definition of family? Loyalty? If he loves you, wants you, he won’t care about the life you live—only that you’re in it. Lizzy used to tell your father something: She used to tell him to prove me wrong. Well, prove to Grayson, this family, is enough.”