Page 109 of Mob Star

He chuckles again and says it slowly for me. “Moh wur-neen.”

I can say it, but it’s butchered. “It’s going to take me a while to get the accent right.”

“I think it’s cute how you say them. And I appreciate you wanting to learn.”

“I want you to know your feelings are never one-sided, mo stór.”

“Very good.”

He puts his index finger beneath my chin and lifts it. His kiss leaves me all gooey inside. It’s interrupted by a phone call. I didn’t see who it was, and I can’t hear anything. Finn’s watching me until he hangs up.

“I have to go out tonight.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Finn

That was Brandon. Corey and the Albanians moved up their meeting. It’s happening tonight. When Thea and I get back to the condo, I’m rattling off instructions as I get dressed in all black. I have on cargo pants, a black turtleneck, and black boots. She’s listening and nodding, but I’m not convinced she’ll remember it all. I pray she never needs to remember it all.

“Give me your hand. Do you feel that ridge? Press it.”

I slid all my suits aside, so I could run her hand over the back wall of the closet. She finds the little latch and presses it. We hear a soft click before I push the door with my hand over hers. I reach inside and down, grabbing the flashlight. I hand it to her. She looks over her shoulder at me then flicks on the light.

“If anyone ever breaks in, or our guards tell you someone’s on their way, you come straight here. Go inside.”

She steps forward, and I follow her. This isn’t some magic The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe shite. This is a fully stocked panic room. I watch her as her gaze sweeps the small enclosure. It’s big enough for about four people— normal size people, not the men in my family sized people.

“There are nonperishable foods over here. There’s a case of water I switch out once a year. Have you shot a gun before?”

She shakes her head. That’s something we’re unfortunately going to remedy. She may need to carry one sometimes.

“This is a gun safe even though it doesn’t look like one. It’s biometric just like our front door. There’s not much that can get through our door, but it’s not completely impenetrable. Don’t worry about what’s in here. If anyone in my family is with you, they know how to get into it, and they know how to use what you’ll find.”

“Like your mom and Mair?”

“Yes. Mair isn’t that experienced yet, but Dillan’s taught her enough that she can protect herself and others. She’s still learning.”

“Will I to have to learn?”

“At least the basics. Thea, I know this might be contrary to what you believe as a doctor, but I won’t bend on you at least knowing how to use them. You don’t have to become an expert marksman. I just need you to stay alive until I can get to you.”

“I understand, Daddy.”

She’s scared, and I don’t blame her. Scared, tired, or playful are what she’s feeling when she calls me that. Otherwise, it’s Finn and hopefully now some Gaelic terms of endearment.

“If you come in here, make sure you push the door all the way closed and hit this button. Do you see how it snaps these reinforcements around the door? They only unlatch from in here. Never open this for anyone who isn’t in our immediate family. Not even Joey. Not even his brothers or Ted. No one, Thea. If they don’t share my DNA or gave me DNA, you do not ever open this door unless they give you our code word. We need to come up with something I can tell the others to use if they ever need you to come out of hiding. If they don’t use the code word, you remain silent and hidden. It means it’s either not safe because they aren’t alone or because it’s someone pretending.”

“What’s the code word?”

“We need to come up with that. It has to be something easy enough to remember under stress, but not obvious.”

“Gavage. It’s a medical term for feeding with a tube that passes through the mouth to the stomach. It’s easy to say, but who would use it except a doctor or nurse? Even then, it’s not common in most specialties.”

“All right. I’ll tell the others.”

I lead her out of the panic room and into the living room. I grab my go bag out of the hall closet and put it by the door. She stands quietly and watches. I open my arms, and she falls into them.

“I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone. If it’s more than two days, my dad or uncles will come and get you. I want you to stay with my parents. If all goes to plan, this won’t take long. If I call you on the way home or from the lobby and tell you to go to the guest bedroom, I need you to do that without question. I need you to stay there until I come to you. Don’t offer to help me. Please.”

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