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VIVIAN
Cillian came running through the front door with about ten minutes to spare before they needed to head out to the diner. She had felt like shit and had spent most of the morning bowing to the porcelain god. Luckily, the trick her doctor told her finally started to work and she was able to keep the crackers and ginger ale down.
“Sorry,” he said. “I met with Havoc and then had my ass reamed out by Savage.”
“You can’t blame the guy. You would be just as upset if it was your kid,” Viv said.
“I’d kill every fecking one of the Dragons if they took our kid,” he said, cupping her belly. “How are you feeling today?”
“Same,” she said. “But, better now. I foolishly got out of bed when I should have eaten my Saltines before my feet hit the floor. I think that might help. I just need to remember to put them on my nightstand before I go to sleep from now on.”
“I think I can handle that chore,” he said. “You already do too much, Viv. You need to let me pick up some of the slack both here and at the diner, Love,” he offered. Viv smiled at the way he called her ‘Love’. Cillian had been doing that a lot lately and she had to admit, each time made her feel like a giddy schoolgirl.
“So, did Savage agree to meet with Hart?” she asked. Changing the subject was her safest bet. She and Cillian hadn’t professed their undying love towards each other, even though she just wanted to blurt it out so many times. They had other pressing matters to worry about and then, she’d find a way to tell Cillian she was in love with him. He had asked her to marry him and she had agreed but a part of Viv worried that was just for the baby's sake. At least on his part. She was in love with him, baby or no, and marrying Cillian just felt right.
“Yep,” he said. “I called Hart on my way home and we’ll meet at Savage Hell at noon.”
“What about your parole?” Viv asked.
“Hart said that I would be considered working and cooperating with an undercover operation and all of my parole rules would be overlooked,” Cillian said.
“Wow,” Viv breathed. “Is this safe?” Cillian rummaged around the refrigerator, looking for something to eat and she could tell he was avoiding having to look at her. He made a humming noise in the back of his throat that told Viv all she needed to know—it wasn’t safe. “Shit, Cillian,” she shouted. “If you are walking into a dangerous situation, don’t you think I have a right to know about it? I am the mother of your child.”
He closed the fridge and crossed the small kitchen to pull her into his arms. “You’re right, Love,” he said. “And, don’t forget you’re going to be my wife.” Viv smiled up at him and nodded. That was something she couldn’t forget because she wanted to be Cillian James’ wife more than anything.
“Yes,” she murmured. “So, if you go off and do something stupid and get yourself killed, I won’t get that chance.” Viv buried her face in his jacket and snuggled into his arms. “Please don’t do anything stupid, Cillian,” she whispered.
“I promise,” he said, not missing a beat. “I have you and this baby now. I wouldn’t chance either of you for the world. Just give me a little trust here, Viv. You’ll see.” She knew she could trust him. He was honestly the first man she had trusted in a damn long time but his promises weren’t ones he could keep. Dealing with the Dragons was going to be dangerous whether she liked it or not. Cillian could make her every pretty promise he could come up with but that wouldn’t change the fact that he wasn’t in control of what the Dragons would do to him if they figured out what he was up to.
“I’m going in tonight,” he said.
“Tonight?” she sobbed. Cillian sighed and nodded.
“Please Viv,” he begged. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. I give you my word that I’ll come back to you.”
Viv pulled free from his arms and gathered her stuff for work. “Don’t make me promises you can’t keep, Cillian.”
“Where are you going?” Cillian questioned. Viv opened her front door, not bothering to look back at him She knew if she did, she’d stay. Seeing the hurt in Cillian’s eyes that she heard in his question would be her undoing and she’d cave. Viv knew that her only option for protecting her baby and her heart would be to walk out that door and not look back, no matter how hard that was to do.
_______
Viv watched the clock cursing under her breath each time she realized that only a minute or two had passed since the last time she looked at it. “You okay, Boss?” Tommy asked. New Kid was working out surprisingly well. Viv had stopped calling him that to his face since he had been with the diner as long as Cillian had and that felt like a lifetime. A lot had happened in just mere months, but she felt as though she had known Cillian her whole life.
“Yeah,” she lied and plastered on her smile. She’d keep the fact that she was worried that she’d never see the man she had fallen in love with—the man who held her whole life in his hands—again after tonight. She didn’t believe for one-second that Cillian walking into the Dragon’s bar and declaring he wanted to be a prospect was a good idea. Viv was certain it was a fucking awful idea but how could she stop him from going? She couldn’t. An innocent little girl’s life was at stake and she’d feel awful if she stood in the way of Chloe being safely rescued.
“Is Cillian coming in today?” Tommy asked.
“No,” she said. “He has some errands to run today,” she lied again. Viv looked up when the bell sounded over the front door, to find a big guy with dark hair and tattoos that ran up his arms, walking in. He reminded her of Cillian and her heart sank.
“You can sit anywhere,” she called to the guy and he nodded, taking a seat in the corner booth. Tommy grabbed a menu and a silverware bundle and Viv took, them both from him. “I’ve got this one,” she said. “You take the couple over there.” Tommy nodded and grabbed two more menus.
“Sure, Boss,” he said.
Viv looked the hot tattooed guy over, noting the way he watched her. “Today’s special is a BLT club with fries,” she said. “Can I get you something to drink?” What she wanted to ask the guy was why he had wandered into her little diner. She was beginning to get the feeling that it wasn’t a coincidence at all. Viv looked back at the clock that hung over the back counter and realized that it was about time for Cillian’s meeting with Savage and Hart.
“Coke,” he said, drawing her attention back to him. “Please.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be back in just a minute to take your order,” Viv said.
