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“I know, but I don’t care. I already have approval from my bosses. I want people to know that the Leone Family takes care of its own, even those that hate us. Point Breeze is our neighborhood now, and all these people are my responsibility.”
Her father sat back and crossed his arms. He watched me then let out a breath.
“All right,” he said. “People will like that. It won’t bring back the dead, but I think most folks understand how these things work.”
“And the trouble makers?”
“They won’t ever let it go,” he said.
“I hear you.” I sipped my beer and tilted my head. “It would be useful if I knew their names. You know, so I could have a chat with them.”
“You follow through with that plan to take care of people, and I promise you’ll find a list of every name that wants to do you harm, especially the ones that might really do it.”
“Okay then.” I looked at Colleen. “That sound fair to you?”
“Very fair,” she said.
“Good.” I turned back to her father and extended my hand. “I want to take care of these people, Finn,” I said. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m not here to exploit the families of the dead.”
He took my hand and shook it. “I can see why she likes you,” he said.
I grinned and looked at Colleen. Her cheeks were red and she looked away.
“I have a charming personality,” I said.
Her father released my hand and laughed. I pushed the chair back and stood.
“You kids should go spend some time together,” her father said. “I’m feeling a little tired.”
“You sure, Dad?” Colleen asked.
He waved us away. “Go ahead, go sit out back or something.” He got himself up from the chair with a grunt then shuffled into the living room. “I got some TV to catch up on.”
I turned to Colleen and she sighed. I could see the concern in her eyes. I stood and walked over, putting my hands on her hips. She looked up at me and I kissed her. “You heard the man,” I said.
She laughed a little and I led her to the back door. The back yard was a small concrete slab with a tiny two-person metal table and a little umbrella to block the sun. We sat down next to each other and looked at the high wooden fence with thick weeds growing at the base.
“I’ve missed you,” I said.
She gave me a look. “Come on. I bet you love having your house to yourself.”
I shook my head. “The last few nights have been boring. I kind of got used to having you around.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know how to treat a girl.”
I grinned and took her hand in mine. I held it tight and looked at her for a long moment, and felt my heart begin to beat faster.
“I meant what I said to your father in there,” I said, my voice low.
“What’s that? About paying the Club families? I know you did. I was there when you asked Don Leone about it.”
I shook my head. “No, about treating you like a princess.”
She grinned and squeezed my hand. “I don’t need that.”
“But you want it.” I leaned closer. “Ever since you came into my life, I’ve been changing. A little bit here, a little bit there, and I didn’t know what it meant until now.’
“What’s it mean?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
“I’m in love with you,” I said. “Have been since that moment I saw you on the ground in that bodega. I think I’ve been doing all this to try and make that mistake up to you, and I want to keep making it up. I want to give you everything, Colleen. I want to give you the whole city, if that’s what you want.”
She leaned toward me, put a hand on my cheek, and kissed me.
“I love you, too,” she said. “And how about you just take care of this neighborhood first, okay?”
“I can do that.”
I held her hand and smiled like an idiot.
I’d never said those words to a woman before in my life. And I’d never come close to meaning them before.
But now I had Colleen, and I felt like my entire existence just flipped on its head. She made me a better man, or at least made me want to be a better man. I’d take care of her, give her whatever she needed, and make sure that the people she cared about were looked after.
She was mine, my Colleen, my princess. And I was her dark prince, come to sweep her off her feet and change her life.
It was a long, bloody road, but I felt like we were home.27ColleenTwo Years LaterI felt a bead of sweat drip down my back as I stood next to Steven at the grill. He flipped the burgers one more time then dished them out.
