Page 36 of Sweet Vengeance
“Hey. You find anything out yet?”
“Impatient little shit, aren’t you?”
I chuckle. “It’s important.”
“Getting closer. I should have some info for you soon. Trying to find out where these bastards are running their business.”
I nod as if he can see me.
“This is personal,” Conan says, not phrasing it like a question.
“Yeah. They hurt a friend, so I need to hurt them.”
“You’re not supposed to get your emotions involved in shit like this.”
I appreciate his concern. It’s not as if my own father ever shows me any, but I’ve also learned to take care of myself a long time ago. I don’t need him or anyone else telling me what’s best. “I know what I’m doing. We have it under control. Did you say this same shit to Tiernan last year when you helped with our problem?” Some fucking loser had slipped drugs in Aislin’s drink. Dean had seen him do it, so the guy didn’t get what he wanted, but that didn’t mean we weren’t going to kill him for it. When Tiernan called, Conan jumped in to get rid of the body for us, no questions asked. Not only that, but he helped when everything went down with Sloan. Besides me, Tiernan, Rory, Dean, and Aislin, the only ones who know the truth of what went down that day are Conan and Fia.
“Just trying to help, kid.”
“I know.” I rub a hand over my face. “Thank you.”
“No problem. This boy, the one you’re helping out, hegonna be an issue for you? We gonna have another Dean on our hands?”
I get an annoying pinch in my chest. “Nah, nothing like that. I’ll hopefully have some fun with him, but that’s that. I’ll leave that settling-down shit to Tiernan. I think I’ll be more like you.” Conan hasn’t ever been in a serious relationship. Things are a lot safer that way. The difference being, as far as I know, Conan doesn’t even have sex. If he does, he keeps that shit on the super down-low.
“And like your father,” he says.
“No.” Because he fell in love, and when Mom died, he never recovered.
“It’s not as fun as you think…being alone. It wears on you, no matter the reason you’re doing it.”
I don’t move, maybe don’t even breathe. Conan has never spoken to me like this before. Is he talking about himself? I think so, but I also think he’s talking about my father, and maybe saying he doesn’t want me to be like them. “I know what I’m doing,” I say again.
“Okay. I’ll be in touch soon. We’re having a gun issue here, shipments keep getting fucked up, but I’ll let you know when I find anything out about your marks.”
“Thanks, Conan. I appreciate it.” I end the call, then fuck around on my phone for a few minutes. I feel like shit not being home in case Tiernan or Rory need me. I’ve spent my whole life being right there with Tiernan, always there to take care of whatever has to be done. Rory is our guy, but Tiernan is my cousin, and I’m always the one he goes to. Yeah, I’m only five fucking minutes away, but in this strange way I’m not familiar with, it feels like I’m abandoning T and even Rory for Ollie…and I’d make that decision again. Ollie needs me right now. They can take care of themselves.
I look up and see this fucking dude bro with brown hairwatching me. It’s clear he wants to come over and talk but isn’t sure if he should.
I give him a nod, and he comes over. “Do you have any…” He looks from left to right as if someone magically popped up beside me. There are people around, walking across the greenery, but no one close enough to hear what we’re saying, and they know better than to pay too much attention when it comes to me anyway.
“Any what?” I ask, bored with him already. “Actually, you know what? Never mind. Get the fuck out of here. You’re annoying me.”
“I…okay.”
He turns, and I let him get five feet away before I say, “I changed my mind. Come back.”
Dude bro stops. The frustration on his face is clear, his jaw tight, but he does as I say. It’s impossible not to enjoy this power.
“Now, spit it out. What would you like?”
“Coke.”
“How much?”
He tells me, and I give him a price, then stare at him while I wait for him to hand me the money.
“What? Right here?”
