Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
I…I saw his point, but I was undeterred.
“Look at him,” I said, still keeping my voice low. “He’s sixteen years old. He’s shaking like a leaf, he’s crying, he’s remorseful, and he’s pissed himself. I’m with you, Finn—I swear I am—and I will keep proving myself. But he’s been warned enough.”
He didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he glanced over at Colby, and Finn appeared to be considering my words at least. So that meant I had to keep pushing. I had to sweeten the deal somehow to win him over.
“He’s already scared, and now, he won’t be anywhere near his brother anymore,” I went on. “Tony won’t drag him down with his bullshit.”
Kellan cleared his throat. “Eric got back to me. Said the kid had a promising online presence under his username as a hacker.”
“So he might have a prosperous future with the Sons. He has potential,” I finished.
Finn shifted his gaze and narrowed his eyes at me. “Congratulations, Alfie. He just became your responsibility. If he fucks up a single time in the next six months, it’s on you.”
Uh…fine. So fucking be it.
“All right.” My stomach tightened, and I suddenly had warning bells going off in my head, but fuck it.
Finn took a step closer and jabbed his finger at my chest. “That means full responsibility, cousin. You make sure he gets to work on time, that he becomes an earner, and that he cleans himself up. Six months. You got it?”
I nodded. “Loud and clear. I’ll keep him with me. He’ll work hard to earn my trust.” I swallowed and felt the need to say something else too. “Also, I love it when you call me cousin. It gives me the warm fuzzies.”
He stared at me with an intense expression, kinda blank, yet full of no-nonsense attitude and gravity, the one that said he was either one second away from killing me or cracking a smirk, and it was very confusing.
In the end, he looked to Kellan and said, “He’s as batshit fucking crazy as you are.”
Kellan grinned. “And you love me.”
I smiled, even though I wasn’t ready to relax yet.
Finn shook his head and tossed his bloodied handkerchief on the floor. “Get T here.”
“He’s on his way already,” Kellan replied. “You go home and take a walk to the fridge. Let Emilia calm you down. Shan and I will deal with Tony.”
“I’m fucking calm,” he bitched. “Christ.” He turned away and aimed for the door, but he spoke to Colm first. “You stick around until cleanup’s finished.”
“Aye, boss.”
Finn walked out after that, taking his personal security guard and driver with him.
“Did I pass the test, cousin?” I hollered.
No response.
Right.
I’d get it another time.
I released a heavy breath, and— “Ouch!” I received a smack upside the head from Kellan. Real fucking nice.
“You’re crazy,” he told me. “Do you realize how this changes things? Tony and Colby have been staying at a motel because they drink up most of their money, and JJ won’t take them in when he’s got a baby at home and another on the way.”
I scratched the side of my head. It wasn’t like I’d been allowed time to think things through.
Not that I regretted my decision.
“So I’ll have him work for room and board,” I said.
I’d figure something out. Maybe he could—
“He’s not staying in the condo,” Kellan told me.
Well, fuck.
“That’s not what I was thinking.” I scowled and left his ass there. Now I had to take a sixteen-year-old kid somewhere.
I wasn’t precisely strapped for cash, so I could put him up in a nicer hotel while I made better arrangements. I walked behind Colby and brought out my pocketknife upon seeing he’d been restrained with zip ties.
“You’re comin’ with me, kid,” I said.
“Wh-where are we going?” he stammered. “Are you g-going to kill me?”
For fuck’s sake! I understood Finn and the others had to be hard-asses, but how could they look at a kid and consider punching him to pieces?
“Nobody’s killing you, Colby.” I removed the zip ties and helped him up to his feet.
The kid winced and sniffled, and he cast a brief glance at his brother on the floor.
“I told him to be more respectful,” he croaked. “I didn’t wanna be late for work.”
That was good news. “And what about the drinking? Do you have a problem?”
He swallowed and hesitated, though I suspected he was more overwhelmed by everything else tonight than unsure about his response.
“I-I don’t think so.” He sniffled again. “I just… It’s easier to handle things when I’m wasted. And he’s all I have.”
I nodded with a dip of my chin. “I buy that. But he’s not all you have anymore. Are you gonna be okay knowing he’s getting his final shot in Ireland?”
He let out an unsteady breath. “Yessir. I’m honestly surprised Mr. O’Shea let him live.”
“So am I,” Kellan said as he walked past.