Page 96 of Mob Star

I glance up at Finn, and he nods.

“I know Uncle Corey hasn’t left town. Did you?”

“Yes, he did. He told me he had to get back to Boston because something came up.”

“He was supposed to, but he didn’t.”

“How do you know, squirt?”

I look at Finn again. He points to his chest then the phone. I hand it to him.

“Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher, I’m Finn O’Rourke. I’m Ally’s boyfriend.”

There’s dead silence. I guess they both know who the O’Rourkes are. My dad clears his throat before he responds.

“How long have you been together?”

I chime in. “A few weeks.”

Fuck that sounds so ridiculously short for the conversation we just had. We cannot tell my parents we’re talking about moving in together. Especially not when they find out how much of those few weeks I’ve been at work. They will shit a brick.

“Mr. O’Rourke, how did you meet our daughter?” My dad’s voice could chill an ice cube.

“Please, it’s Finn. I come from a large family with a lot of men. It gets confusing. Ally came into my bar with friends a couple times. I approached her the second time.”

“Sweet pea, haven’t you been working a lot lately?” I know what my mom’s hinting at.

“I have, but I see Finn between shifts whenever I can. Mom, that’s not why we called. We want you both to meet Finn. From your silence earlier, I guess you recognize Finn’s last name. We need to talk about Uncle Corey. I don’t want to do that over the phone, and I don’t want you to remain strangers with Finn because Uncle Corey has involved Finn’s family, too.”

“My guess is the involvement isn’t new.” My dad is pissed.

Finn might not be able to tell, but just like I sensed something bad happened before we called my parents, I know my dad’s distinct tones.

“Mr. Gallagher, it isn’t. Ally’s told me about your family’s past with Corey and his club. When he arrived in town, Ally?—”

“Hold on. Finn calls me Thea, and I prefer it. It sounds weird to hear him call me Ally. I don’t like it.”

Finn is shooting me a look, saying this isn’t the right time to poke an angry bear. I shrug.

“When he arrived in town, Thea and I had just started dating. Corey didn’t know. He does now. He knows I expected him to leave New York and to leave you alone. He knows exactly what he’s risking, and he’s done it, anyway. Even if he comes nowhere near your family, I perceive his presence in the city as a threat to you. That’s not okay with me. Like Thea said, we’d rather have this conversation in person. There’s more to discuss, but a phone is not a good choice.”

I was thinking I want my parents to see us together and that we’re a normal couple. I think Finn means someone might be listening. My eyes widen as I stare at my phone, watching the seconds tick by. He squeezes my hand. When I look up, he shakes his head. He shoots me a reassuring smile. Does that mean no one’s tapped my phone? Could it have been?

“I think that’s a good idea. But this conversation will be better done in private. You two should come over.” My mom’s tone is as even as my dad’s, but I know it, and I know we’re entering a shitstorm.

“Okay. We can be there in forty-five minutes. Love you.”

“Love you too.” My parents speak at the same time.

When I hit the end call button, I realize I have no clothes here. I just have the jeans and shirt. I look toward Finn’s closet, and I can picture the million dollars’ worth of suits he must have in there. There’s not a chance in hell I can convince him to wear jeans and a T shirt to meet them. I’m going to look so underdressed.

“If you don’t want me to wear a suit, I’ll just wear trousers and a button down. I’ll leave off the tie if you prefer.”

“I like the mind-reading right now, but it’s disconcerting. I might not like it when we have an argument.”

He kisses me, and I turn to straddle him. We’re going to be late. But I slide down his cock, which has been hard since he put me on his lap. We just sit together, connected as one.

“Your thoughts are your own, and I can’t guess them all the time. Only when you’re probably thinking what I’m thinking, too. I don’t want to appear overdressed when you only have casual clothes. It’ll look pretentious.”

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