AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey—” Diggs began, alarm crossing his expression as he took in my own, and then his head whipped around. Immediately searching for what could’ve had me wanting to run. “Fuck, Kieran, stop.”
“She shouldn’t be in here,” the man with the chilling green eyes said.
“She should. She is,” Diggs said firmly as I breathed, “I’ll leave.”
“No,” Diggs whispered, though I was sure the rest of his family heard. “You’re in this with me. Not only that, you have information we probably need.”
“What information?” a girl asked, then lifted her head from a laptop long enough for me to realize it was the same woman I’d seen at the café with Maverick—his wife.
“Once Kieran stops Nightshade-ing out on Tree, I’ll explain,” Diggs said meaningfully, then turned to me, pointing at people as he spoke about them. “Kieran. He’s scary as shit but harmless to you. He’s married to Jess—you’ve heard about her. She’s Rorie’s sister-in-law.”
My eyes widened as I took in the woman who had just relaxed into Kieran’s arms. Her smile was provocative and teasing, but somehow wholly welcoming and approving, as she waved at me.
And as I took in the wildness in her eyes, I absently wondered what Rorie’s husband was like if this was his sister. Because Rorie was sweet and wholesome, and the girl standing half a dozen feet away looked like she fit there, in her terrifying husband’s arms.
She looked like she fit in this room, with its heavy darkness.
“You met my brother,” Diggs went on. “Behind the many laptops is my sister-in-law, Einstein.”
“Still waiting on info,” Einstein muttered irritably. “You can do intros later.”
Diggs drew in a slow breath and gave me a look as if to say not to worry about Einstein. “And that’s Dare,” he finished, gesturing to the other man who’d been standing behind Einstein. Meeting my stare, Diggs dropped his tone low to make sure I understood the significance when he said, “He’s our boss.”
My attention slowly shifted to the man in question, taking him in again with the new information I had.
He’d been in the same position since I’d entered: Arms folded over his chest, watching me with subtle contemplation. But there was nothing about him that shouted he was a mafia boss.
I could pass him on a street and never think twice.
When everyone seemed to be waiting for my reaction, I softly asked Diggs, “So, this is your ‘family?’”
“Most of them.”
“The others are with the kids, and I’m still waiting,” Einstein added, her tone leaking exasperation.
“You’re sure about this?”
My head shifted back at Dare’s question because his eyes had been locked on me, and I didn’t know how to answer him. I didn’t even know what he was talking about.
But before I could ask, Diggs answered, “I’m sure about her.”
Electricity danced up my spine and sent tingling sensations of warmth through me when I realized the question hadn’t been directed at me at all. When I realized Diggs was, once again, claiming me.
“You know what this means,” Dare said meaningfully.
“Heard you before,” Diggs acknowledged. “But she needs to be ready for us because what’s happening directly involves her. I’m sure of it.”
At that, Dare spared a glance at Diggs before focusing on me again for long moments. “Then, let’s hear it,” he said with a dip of his head. “Why do you think Keane Street’s involved?”
“It’s their way. Brutal and with no concern about the public fallout,” Diggs said as he sat on the table and shifted one of the chairs for me to sit in. Once I was seated, he pulled me close and made soothing passes down my back as the conversation continued around me.
Dare’s head slanted, but his voice was filled with doubt when he argued, “They’re Irish.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time Irish and Italians got together,” Kieran said pointedly from where he was now leaning up against the wall, with Jess still in his arms.
Dare turned his hardened stare on Kieran before focusing on Diggs again, and I knew I’d been so wrong in my earlier assessment of him because Dare absolutely gave mafia boss vibes.
There was an energy that rippled out and made you feel infinitely inferior to him when he spoke. When he wasn’t letting others control the conversation, there was a commanding air that was undeniably noticeable.
