Page 206 of Callan

“You wouldn’t know. Your great grandparents were still young. And your grandfather himself was a young man. Rory didn’t grow up in your family. He was the product of an extramarital affair and sort of blackmailed his way into your family. His father––your great grandfather––imposed his will when he found out he’d fathered another child. The old man always wanted more boys. And Rory living in the same house with your grandfather, his father and his stepmother worked for a little while. But soon after, things went off the rails. The stepbrother had a temper…”

“As if my grandfather hadn’t.”

Smiling faintly, he nods.

“I can’t argue that. At any rate, your great grandmother, as the stubborn woman that she was, ultimately had the final say, and when everything unraveled, Rory threatened to kill her and got shot by your great grandfather, who then took him out of his will and never wanted to hear from him again.”

I pull my mouth closed.

“Is this him?” I ask eventually.

He shrugs, his gaze trailing down.

“That’s the thing. I don’t know. Word was that he was killed in a mafia war in Sicily. He was a hitman when he worked for the Italians. There was also word he had a son. And his son had a son.”

I sink my teeth into my lip, knowing what he’d say next.

“So it’s either him. Or his son. Or his nephew, the man who is about your age. And they know exactly who they’re messing with,” he says, his eyes drilling deep into mine.

33

MACKENZIE

“It looks great on you,”Kayla says, beaming with a smile. “Girl, you’re ready to start a new chapter in your life,” she adds, her eyes moving over my skirt suit.

I so didn’t want to wear a skirt suit at my job interview.

First off, despite all the positive signs, including Mrs. Goodman’s verbal encouragement, I’m not sure I’ll get this job.

And I so don’t want to jinx it by walking into the hiring manager’s office wearing heels, a pencil skirt, and a fitted jacket.

What if the person I’ll be doing the job interview with––which is not Mrs. Goodman––dislikes my outfit?

What if the CEO I’m supposed to work for has a jealous wife and doesn’t need the snarky remarks of their spouse triggered by a sexy secretary?

But Kayla insisted.

She said it would boost my confidence and kill my insecurities.

I don’t know about that.

I mean, the suit looks good on me. I bought it yesterday after scouring a few stores in Manhattan and conversing with Kayla during her lunch break.

I wanted her opinion. I tried it out for her.

She said, ‘Yes, yes. Do it, girl.’

So now I’mdoingit.

She was kind enough to come to my place this morning, help me get ready, and share a cab with me afterward.

I didn’t say no to her, so here she is, dressed for work, giving me her opinion on my outfit.

Her help is much appreciated as my mind is all over the place.

The last few days have been tense for me.

All this time, I haven’t heard from Callan.

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