Page 114 of Mob Star

I ease the preemie back into her incubator and smile. This little one is going to be all right. She had a rough entry into the world, but she’s already proven she’s stubborn. I leave the NICU and wave to Seamus, who’s my guard today. I still wouldn’t have guessed he was once the same size as the baby I held a few minutes ago. And from his size and his brother’s, you’d never guess Seamus and Cormac are the politest and shyest of the men in the O’Rourke family. But they are.

“You ready to go?”

“So ready. Let me grab my stuff.”

“Does Finn have any idea what you’re planning?”

I stop dead. “He better not.”

He throws his hands up in the air. “I didn’t say anything.”

We keep walking until we get to the doctors on call room. I slip inside and grab my bag. I fold my lab coat and push that in along with my stethoscope and pager. I don’t know what Finn did to Tony, but it’s been three months, and he hasn’t been back to work. I asked around. He’s on medical leave. Finn came home in the middle of the night after he dealt with Pablo and Corey. Those are the only two I know about. We caught a couple hours of sleep, then we headed to Maks and Laura’s house.

I thought I was going to be Finn’s human shield when Maks came out to see him. I’m pretty sure he had plenty more to say, but he bit his tongue when he saw me in the car, too. I wish I could be Laura’s new best friend. She reminds me of Mair. It’s a shame they can’t be friends either, since their husbands run their syndicates. What keeps them apart is what makes me wish they could be. They’re in the same position and must have the same fears and duties.

Laura took one look at Pablo, who showed up with his uncle and went back in the house. She got a butter knife and came back outside. They didn’t invite us past the driveway. I didn’t understand the full reference when she waved the knife in Enrique’s direction and told him to roll up his sleeve. Something about her initial and her sister’s on a cross with Pablo’s initial that’s on Enrique’s forearm. She warned him about something, and that if any women were involved, she’d dig her and her sister’s initial out of his flesh. Nothing about her anger made me think she was kidding. It made me wonder if she really runs the bratva, and Maks is there for intimidation.

It was the opposite when we got to Pablo’s parents’ house. His mom is still super frail, and Pablo looked like shite as he explained as much as he could in front of women. I stepped in at one point and made Pablo stop. Margherita looked like she was having chest pains. I checked her out, made her put her oxygen mask on, and told Pablo he had three more sentences before I stopped him for good.

I join Seamus in the hallway, and we head to the SUV waiting for us. It’s not long until we get to the house Finn and I just bought in Queens. It’s not as big as his parents’, but it’s big enough to have plenty of house guests. I love it. We knew the moment we pulled up. We barely made it through the tour before Finn made a cash offer. We signed the paperwork two hours later.

I run up to our bedroom and take the fastest shower I probably ever have. I put on my makeup and hurry to my closet. I’ve just slipped on my heels when I hear Finn come in from the garage.

“Thea?”

“Upstairs. Hang on. I’ll come down to you.”

He’s waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. His smile could light up Long Island. He offers me his hand as I take the last step. I’m wearing the dress I had on at our wedding rehearsal a month ago. I didn’t expect all Four Families— apparently, that’s what they go by these days. One of the Mancinelli wives coined it— to be there. At least, they were only at the reception. It was the most perfect day thanks to Finn, even if the reception was more about showing off than us. I didn’t care because Finn warned me.

But I only had the next two days off. I had to cover for two doctors who both had deaths in their families. We found out the day before the rehearsal, so that was a bummer. Finn still made everything perfect. I can’t believe he’s real sometimes. Our wedding night was— holy fuck-a-moly. Every fantasy we’ve talked about, we enacted as best we could in the hotel suite. We slept in, which neither of us does. Then we spent the two days at the beach in the Hamptons. Shane has a mansion out there. Not exactly the bachelor pad you’d expect.

“You look gorgeous, cailín.”

“Thank you, Daddy. I have plans for you.”

“For me?”

“Mmhmm. Come on.”

I lead him to the French doors leading to the backyard. It’s dusk, and the sunset is beautiful.

“What’s all this?”

“The beginning of our honeymoon. I have the next eight weeks off, Finn. I cashed in every day off I have. Stop staring at me. We’ll be late for our dinner reservation.”

I tug his hand as I lead us to the bottom of our garden where the helicopter waits. That took some serious negotiating to convince Cormac there was enough clearance for him to land and takeoff. I swear he came out here with a tape measure. It came out in conversation one day that he and Shane are both pilots. He flies helicopters, and Shane flies small planes. I stored that nugget away, and now it’s come in handy.

“Reservation?”

“Yes. And you need to put that fine arse in gear, so we aren’t late.”

I lean back and spank it. Full granite back there. He pinches me in return.

“Cheeky, little one.”

“You can see my cheeks later. Come on.”

I playfully tug him as we walk along the path with pavers. He helps me in, and Cormac hands me headphones. We’re off the ground a moment later, and the view is breathtaking. Cormac takes us for a scenic tour over the city, which is wonderful but confusing for Finn. Perfect. It’s dark— unfortunately —as we fly over DC and when we land in Northern Virginia. There’s a car waiting for us with two SUVs, one in front and one behind.

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