AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, so Lia’s embarrassed, and you’re the one airing her business at dinner?” Pasquale demanded and elbowed Artie. “Statazit!” Shut up.“Tell Ty later.”
Artie heaved a sigh and threw up his hands, then went back to his rigatoni and veal. At that moment, Lia’s hands found my forearms. When I looked back at her, she looked sad and serious, her smile a little wry.
“You can tell me,” I said.
“I think he’s talking about the bigger reason I had to seek out Ryan White,” Lia said, and she looked over at Artie, who nodded. “Um, I guess I’ll cut to the chase. My father is in debt to the Sons of Celt.”
I let out a bark of laughter. “No shit? Why am I not surprised that Lou Goldin got in over his head with the last people he should? Dumb fuck.”
“You know who my father is?” Lia asked quietly.
“Yeah,” I said, and her gaze fell. I caught her chin and forced her eyes back up. “Hey… I’m the last person to judge you for where you came from. Glass houses and all that.”
“So, Lou didn’t just skip town on his kid. He left the damn continent,” Artie said with real venom in his voice. “And left poor Lia here to pick up the tab.”
“Oh, fuck,” I said and dragged a hand around my jaw. Goddamn, the Sons of Celt and their blood debts — that more than explained how Lia got into this mess. Even as my blood boiled at Lia’s selfish scumbag father; part of me was also relieved. Thank God she’d somehow wound up with us, or she’d be more messed up than she realized.
“I’m sorry,” Lia said quietly.
“Stop that,” I said and leaned in. “Listen, you’re not him, and it’s fucked that you’ve had to deal with his fallout.” I paused and wished I could banish that bitter look in her eyes, the one I recognized all too well. All I could do was offer up a little bit of myself. “Believe me when I tell you I know about paying for the sins of the father, Lia.”
Then I glanced around at my guys. “Does anyone besides us know that she’s here?”
“No,” Heavy said, and his brows creased. “But it’s only a matter of time.”
“I’ve said this before,” I said in a low and deadly tone, “But I’m going to say it again — no one touches one fucking hair on her head, got it? She’s under Michaelson protection for life.”
“Of course,” Artie said in a carrying voice while the other guys rumbled their agreement and picked up their glasses, saluting the two of us.
“Don’t worry, kid,” Heavy said in a reassuring tone. “We got you.”
“Thank you,” Lia said, and she set her chin on my shoulder. “And I know.”
The beginning of a headache had started to pound against my temples, so as much as I wanted to take Lia upstairs and discuss this, I knew it wasn’t the time. Besides, the guys and I had a meeting soon about what needed to get done this week.
Between Volksov’s murder, Hendrix’s possible fuckery, Ryan White’s contract, and now the Sons of Celton top of all our other business, it wasn’t looking like a good week.
Stepping closer to Lia, I looped an arm around her waist, tugging her in closer. Pressing a kiss to her temple, I murmured in her ear, “Why don’t you go to bed? I’ll be a while. We have a meeting, and it’s a bunch of boring logistical shit.”
“Sure,” Lia said and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Your room or—”
I put my fingers to her lips. “Don’t finish that sentence. Get your ass upstairs.”
With a laugh, Lia kissed my fingertips then my cheek and slipped off the counter, bidding goodnight to the guys before hurrying out of the kitchen. I watched her go and heaved a sigh, then turned back to the table of my guys, all wearing a variation of the same shit-eating grin.
I raised an eyebrow. “Floor’s open if you have something to get off your mind.”
“Nah,” Pasquale said and leaned back, the chair creaking a little ominously under his muscled girth. “Just that we’re happy for you, boss.” He lifted his glass. “Auguri.”
“Best wishes? Hilarious,” I said without heat and tried to fight a grin. “Let’s go have this meeting.” Then I put a hand to my head. “Damn, all of a sudden I got a headache.”
“Probably this stupid sugary sauce,” Heavy said. “I ain’t feelin’ too hot either.”
“Suck it up,” Pasquale said, and then he burped. “Excuse me.”
“Nah, I’m with Heavy. Let’s just at least go over main shit we gotta get done,” Artie said. “And let Ty get back to his woman.”
Shaking my head, I went and got a glass of water, throwing back some aspirin as we went into my office. I handed the bottle over to Heavy, who accepted it with gratitude and noticed a tremor go through his fingers.
