Page 62 of Mob Star

“How do you know about him?”

“I’ve known Corey for years. I put two-and-two together about an hour ago. Whoever attacked your dad wasn’t Corey because I saw him this morning. It was one of his thugs. He’s headed back to the city in a couple days. I want you to stay with my parents. If it’s really dire, then your parents, brothers, and their families go there too.”

“Your parents can’t accommodate that many strangers. They don’t run a hotel.”

“Little one, my family is large and rich. My parents have an eight-bedroom home plus a three-bedroom pool house. You’ll all fit.”

I stop with my hand on the door handle. That’s a fucking mansion, not a house. I can’t imagine that. There are only three brothers and their parents. Four bedrooms for them and a guest room. That would be enough.

“Thea, they bought the house after my brothers were born. By then, there were seven cousins. We each have a room, plus my parents. Colleen’s bedroom is a guest room now. When my aunts and uncles stay over, they either stay in the pool house, or two of us give up our rooms, and we stay out there. No one in our family uses Colleen’s room. Since none of us live at home, there are plenty of places for your family to stay.”

“Thank you, Daddy. I pray it doesn’t come to that, but I’m relieved to know we have that option. Simon and Fallon are arranging for my parents and me to have guards tomorrow. He said Dillan would take care of my brothers and their families. Finn, Corey won’t show up alone. He goes nowhere without at least five guys with him. I don’t want to insult your men, but two of them won’t even be a speed bump.”

“Cailín, I need you to have faith that my guys can handle this. Joey and his brothers volunteered to watch out for you while I’m gone. If I had to choose men for the job, they’re the first ones I’d go to. They’re the ones who guard my mom and aunts. Fallon is usually with Mair these days.”

“Hold on a second.” I slip back into the house and down the hallway. I put my phone next to my thigh as I check on my dad. He’s passed out and snoring lightly. I spin around and head to the stairs. “I’m almost to my room.”

When I get there, I shut the door and sit on the bed I’ve slept in since I was five. I kick off my shoes and lie down.

“My dad’s knocked out with the pain meds. He’s sleeping on the sofa downstairs. There’s no way he’s making it up the stairs to my parents’ bedroom.”

“How serious are his injuries?”

“Bruises and road rash all over his face and body, sprained wrist, and a concussion. They suspected broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder, but that was from the bruising. That’s with a helmet on. He probably would’ve died without it. At the very least, he’d have a serious TBI.”

“Thea, I can’t leave until at least tomorrow. I’m sorry.”

“No. I didn’t ask Simon to have you call me, so I could ask you to come home. I—I—Finn, you know the man Corey is. I don’t want him to come near my family ever again. I can’t make that happen, and neither can my dad.” But you can.

Those three words are silently dangling in the air. I pretty much just asked him to put a hit on a family member. But Corey’s never felt like an uncle, and he sure as fuck isn’t family if he could do this. I’m certain he was behind this, even if he wasn’t there when it happened.

“Leanbh, I’ll make sure you and your family are safe.”

“What does that mean?”

“Baby.”

I close my eyes and breathe easier. I’m certain Finn needs to go. He’s not wherever he is for shits and giggles. But hearing his voice is calming me down.

“Thank you, Daddy. I’ll see you when you’re done.”

There’s a moment of silence, then his voice is practically a whisper. But it’s not quiet enough for me not to hear the hurt.

“That’s it?”

“Finn, you’re not on vacation. I know you have stuff to do.”

My mind flashes to the place he told me about. My head tilts to look at my bedroom door. Finn told me his phone will be off whenever he’s there. Simon said he would text him. He said Finn might not get it right away, but he called me a few minutes later. He’s not at that place.

“Thea, there will be times when I might have to go more than a few days without talking to you. I’m thankful that it hasn’t even been a full day. Do you have to go? If not, I’d like to hear your voice a little longer.”

“You say the sweetest things. I’d like to hear yours too.”

“Did you take today off? I know you’re supposed to be at the hospital right now.”

“I got someone to swap with me, but I’m not sure I’ll be so lucky tomorrow. I’ll call around in a little while. If I get someone to cover me, then I’ll probably spend the night here. If I can’t, then I need to go back to my place because my shift’ll start at six. I have scrubs and my clogs in the car just in case.”

“Thinking about you in scrubs with your white coat and stethoscope around your neck is hot. Do you wear one of those things on your head? Like a bonnet?”

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