Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
While technically true, we all knew how that generation treated mistresses and their bastard offspring.
“Yeah, I think I’ll pass. I have a dad.” Alfie snorted softly and went back to eating. “As long as this doesn’t turn out to be one of those things where we swear off a meeting and then I get blindsided at a family shindig when he shows up.”
“Nah.” Liam shook his head. “If there’s one thing Finn and I have taught him the past several years, it’s boundaries. He doesn’t show up anywhere unless he’s invited.”
“Good.” Alfie stole a piece of roasted broccoli from my plate. It was his stipulation when I ordered my favorite dish—half the plate with something else, because anything with a cream base upset my stomach if I had too much of it. “To be honest, I never once felt the need to meet him. It was you and Finn and the other guys our age I was curious about.”
“I’ll drink to that, little brother.” Liam raised his beer and smirked a little. “On that note, Alec wants to meet you too.”
That made Alfie smile. “That can be arranged.” He tilted his head at me. “What do you say about visiting them in Chicago soon? We could fly out for a weekend.”
I smiled back. “Just say when. I assume it takes a minute to arrange visitation to see someone in prison…?”
Liam inclined his head. “I’ll talk to Alec and get that sorted.” He tipped his beer bottle at Alfie. “Can you do me a solid and talk to Finn? I’m just as pissed at Alec for what he did, but it’d do him good if Finn flew out too. They haven’t seen each other since before the arrest, and me brother was essentially Finn’s shadow.”
Alfie shrugged and spoke with his mouth full. “I don’t know it’ll do any good, but sure. The boss is kinda bitter about the whole thing, ain’t he?”
The boss.
See, I grew up with Bruce Springsteen being the Boss.
“You can say that,” Liam replied. “But we can fuck him up after the state of Illinois has had its turn. The lad needs family.”
Alfie nodded and was about to respond, but then he was more concerned with digging out his phone. Must’ve been on silent—
“Oi, Dad. Two calls in one day?” he answered. “I feel special— What?” He went rigid in his seat and flicked his stare to me. “What the fuck happened? What do you mean, she’s—”
I frowned, and the instant worry in his eyes put me on edge. Had something happened?
“Yeah, aight. I’m on my way. Send me the—yeah, okay.” He shot up from his seat, swallowed, and turned frazzled. “My mom’s in the hospital. I gotta go. Can you—”
“Of course.” I was already standing up. “What happened?”
He gnashed his teeth and kicked back his chair with force. “She was mugged and fucking assaulted.”
Anger tore through me, not to mention worry, and I patted my pockets, then remembered my keys were downstairs.
“You go—Colby and I will watch the little ones,” Liam urged. He met Alfie at the head of the table and squeezed his shoulder. “You get all the fuckin’ details you can, ye hear? I’ll make some calls too.”
Calls to who—oh. Because he knew people in law enforcement who might have information.
I swallowed dryly and turned to Colby, but he was one step ahead.
“Just go. I’ve watched them before,” he said. “We’ll tell ’em you had to run out quick.”
I nodded once, relieved. All I could think about was Giulia in a hospital bed, or worse, stuck in the ER waiting room, so there was no mental space left for child-friendly excuses.
I ushered Alfie toward the doors and took charge, and we strode straight through the bedroom.
“Daddy and I will be back soon, sweethearts,” I said in a hurry. “Uncle Liam and Colby will explain to you.”
We were out of the room and heading down the stairs when I heard Trip’s confusion about what was going on, though it was followed by Liam’s voice. They’d take things from here.
Alfie and I picked up the pace and were soon out of the house.
“Which hospital?” I asked.
“Jefferson.”
“West, I love you, but can you please drive like you’re actually from this city?”
Not with the streets backed up with traffic, unless he wanted me to run them over or terrify the pedestrians on the sidewalk.
I didn’t say that, though. Not when he was so tense and flip-flopping between rage and despair.
“You mean like I have tinted plates, drive an Altima, or just stole my first Kia?” I went with dry humor instead.
He huffed a chuckle through a whimper and squeezed my hand. “This is why you’re my soul mate. I’m sorry—I know you’re doing all you can.”
Thankfully, things eased up farther ahead, and I was able to break a speed limit or two the last bit.