95. CHAPTER NINETY-ONE
Sitting with six O’Rourke mobsters and one Italian don, I feel small.
Stupid.
The idea that I could take the Borgias down was a reckless obsession that got me assaulted and nearly trafficked.
Before I let Kieran and Nico clink whiskies on this ‘understanding’ and consider doing further business together, I get to my feet.
“I need to speak to my brother first.”
All eyes turn to me.
Clearing my throat, I say, “I’d like Daniel to hear it from me, I’m no longer working for Las Vegas D.A.’s office so he can’t throw my name around.”
Eoghan grows tense, until Nico smiles and says, “Of course, little gem.”
“Call her that one more time,” Eoghan warns.
Nico brings his hands up. “Poor taste, I guess given that Gemma7 was your handle on the app, my brother hacked.”
My throat goes tight with embarrassment. If Lazaro hacked into my app, he saw all my messages with Johnny B. Goode and no doubt shared them. He also may have known the original was actually Eoghan.
I glance at him. God, I’m so in love with him. Look what he did for me. How he stood up to his family for me.
I love that he was my first, and that despite our differences, he understands me. He’s put everything on the line for me. I can’t ignore that. Sure, there’s more we need to know about each other, but I have a feeling, Eoghan isn’t that deep of a well.
Men like him don’t need to be. They’re too proud to hide who they really are.
Power… Like Nico said.
It’s intoxicating.
Eoghan takes my hand and says to Nico, “We will be returning to Las Vegas in a few days. We need to settle things there, sell her condo and move her out. Plus, her mother lives in Reno. We’ll be back periodically.”
“You have my word, you are safe, Jillian.” Nico leans in, his face harsh. “Only because I will make it known that Lazaro betrayed me by his reckless actions, actions that brought the Las Vegas Courts after us.”
“The next time you see her, her name will be Mrs. O’Rourke, I expect you to call her that.”
“Sì.”
We need to sell my condo.
We need to move me out.
The man is all-in.
With a girl from Vegas.
From the purse I managed to hold on to, I reach for my phone.
Seven missed calls.
Mom
Mom
Mom
Daniel
Mom
Mom
Daniel
“Excuse me.” Stepping away, I call my brother first.
Eoghan follows like my shadow.
“Christ, are you okay?” Daniel’s never sounded this concerned for me.
“I am. Considering I was assaulted, chased, nearly gunned down, and had to hop on a moving plane. All in the last six hours.”
“Son of a bitch…” He grunts. “You’re with the O’Rourkes in New York?”
“I am.”
“And Nico Scava is there?”
“Yes.”
Daniel waits a few beats. “He called a little while ago and requested a meeting with me on Monday.”
“That’s your business, because I quit. I’ll email you a letter of resignation within the hour.” If my hands stop shaking.
“Well, we tried, Jilly.” He exhales. “The money laundering statute runs out in a few days.”
The we softens the blow.
“You know you can hand off the …” Mentioning the dead witnesses dies in my throat. I glance at Eoghan, realizing I have to give up the fight if I want to be with the man I love. “Never mind. The dead witnesses staying buried is what’s keeping me alive.”
“When are you coming home?” Daniel says.
“Eoghan and I…” I don’t know for sure if I’m pregnant, but Eoghan’s made it clear to Nico I am. “We’re together.”
“Is he marrying you?”
I smile up at the gorgeous man next to me. “I hope so.”
“Then you’re moving to New York?”
“Looks that way,” I say with a smile.
Eoghan presses lips to my forehead. “It’s fast, I know, sparkles. I’ll make everything wonderful for you. For us. I promise.”
“Nico assured me I’m safe to return.” I sink into him. “And I have to see Mom.”
“Who I can’t get ahold of. There’s a bodyguard answering her phone.”
I glance at Eoghan. “Let’s meet there in a day or two. I’ll update her on what’s going on.”
“Jillian, always remember, I am your brother. I am your blood.”
Overhearing Daniel getting forceful with me, Eoghan rips the phone from my hand.
“You listen to me, Vance. Your sister is going to be my wife, that means she is loyal to me first as I will be to her. Your office is bugged. You have a mole. You assigned her a case that put a bounty on her head.” Eoghan’s whole body tightens with anger. “You and I are going to have to figure out a way to get along for Jillian’s and your mother’s sake. She’s got these delusions about what a good guy you are.”
“You’re one to talk, O’Rourke,” Daniel yells so loud I hear it.
“Her safety is up to me. Don’t think for one minute that you are safe in that city. You go make your deal with Nico Scava, but we’ve proven today, empires can change crowns in a manner of seconds. Whatever Scava’s price on your soul, just remember, the Cosa Nostra will put a bullet in your head without a second thought. And they have the cyber capabilities to cover it up. Lazaro was sloppy. Nico isn’t, and will clean up his brother’s mess. Enjoy the life Nico wants to give you every day. Because every day could be the last. And if you ever want any kind of help from me, my family, you treat me and my wife with respect. And you know what?” Eoghan smiles at me. “You better start figuring out how to grovel when you see me and Jillian. I’m giving her back the phone. You better be there when we go to Reno to see your mother.”
Eoghan puts the phone back in my hands.
“It’s me again. You’re clear on where we stand now?” I say coolly and don’t wait for a response. “When I get myself together from the day I had, I’ll call you back to schedule a visit with Mom.”
I end the call and squeeze the cell in my fist.
“I’m proud of you, sparkles.” Eoghan holds me tight.
I catch a whiff of cologne and sense a hulking man a few feet away. His brother, Darragh, in a sharp suit is six-foot with golden blond hair, and is stupidly handsome watching us.
The twin doctors…
After digging into Cormac’s barbaric violations to prosecute him, the sight of Darragh unsettles me. Despite his lack of visible tattoos, the twins still look so much alike.
“Darragh?” I address him despite my unease. “Can I call you Darragh? Seeing as calling you Mr. O’Rourke will just cause confusion.”
He grins. “Of course.”
“How is your wife? She had her baby?”
“We had our baby,” he says firmly. “And she’s great. Thank you for asking.”
“I look forward to meeting her, hopefully under better circumstances.”
“You’ll meet her, since she’ll be your sister. And everyone else, too.” Eoghan puts his arm around me and then lays a gentle kiss on my lips. “If it’s okay with you, Riordan, I’d like to show Jillian my apartment and let her get some rest. We had some fucking horrific day.”
“To say the least,” Lachlan says. “I’ll drive you. Then I’m heading to the black site to let everyone know we’re safe.”
His words cut through me. They weren’t safe because of me.
But now because of Eoghan and his family, I’ll be safe for the rest of my life.