Page 31 of The Boss
“Is that why you killed Harold’s sister? To make an example out of an innocent woman?”
“I didn’t think you’d be the type to care, pet.”
“If someone deserves it, kill them however you like, but this woman was innocent. She didn’t know what her brother was doing.” He didn’t know where the passion for it came from. He wasn’t the type of person to care about a stranger like this, but he felt like he had a hold over Killough, which was stupid because he was his pet, someone who had a collar around his neck and came when Killough called.
“Didn’t she? Then why did she accept the money that her brother received from the Italians for his information?”
Conall gaped at him. “What?”
“You’re pretty, pet, but don’t sit on your high horse and pretend you know everything about our business. Harold took money from the Italians for our secrets and gave it to his sister to hide for him. She knew he was betraying his heritage with that money. They never took her as prisoner.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.” That changed everything. He glanced out toward the ocean, suddenly feeling like the massive idiot he was.
Killough’s fingers touched his chin, guiding Conall’s face to look at him again. “Even if she hadn’t, I would have killed her. I expect loyalty from my men. They signed up for that the moment they joined my company. If they can’t keep to that promise, then they will accept the consequences, which includes the hurt that’ll come to the people they love the most. Would you ever betray me, pet?”
He shook his head fast because he wasn’t always a fool, and he actually wanted to survive this shitshow. “No. Never.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not an idiot.”
Killough leaned closer, his breath hot against Conall’s lips. “Exactly. You came here to protect your brother. You know that if you ever betrayed me, your brother would suffer the consequences. That’s what my men must understand. Harold and his sister suffered the consequences of his actions and are an example of what happens when you betray me.”
“Was the kill worth it?”
Killough peered at him carefully, lips pressed in a thin line. It was the answer Conall needed. She’d been dealt with, just like her brother had, or maybe worse. Now he knew she hid the money, he didn’t know if he felt as bad for her as he had before. Did that make him a bad person? Well, he hadn’t ever been a good person to begin with. He’d heard the stories of how Killough killed people.
“I’m very proud of you,” Killough said, startling Conall into looking at him directly in the eyes.
“I haven’t done anything,” he argued meekly, yet there was a minuscule part of him that wanted to puff out his chest and wag his imaginary tail like he really was a dog.
“You’ve done well, pet. You’re not foolish enough to reject my touch, and you are very obedient, even if you like the game of rebelling.” Killough smiled at him, and Conall’s breath caught in his chest. Was this the first time he’d seen arealsmile from the mob boss? “I want to reward you. Tell me how.”
“My brother.” It fell out of his mouth before he could stop it. “I’d like to talk to my brother and friends.”
Killough’s thumb stroked over his cheek, along his jaw, and stopped over Conall’s pulse point. He pressed it lightly, making Conall swallow deeply. Not in fear, but at the thrill of excitement that shot through him. “I won’t let you talk to that whore that shared your bed, pet, but you can call your brother.”
“That’s fine. I can handle that.”
“Good. Come.”
Killough left Conall in his room with a cell phone. He stared at it, suddenly unsure what to do. It was a Samsung Note, which was a surprise because he imagined Killough to be an iPhone sort of guy. It felt heavy in his hands, the weight of what he was about to do heavy on his heart. Terrance would be excited to hear from him, to know he hadn’t gotten himself killed, but something ached inside him, the reminder that he wouldn’t be able to go home to his brother. Who knew what kind of damage Terrance was doing to the Virtue without him there. They were partners.
He typed in Terrance’s number and brought the phone to his ear. Two shrills of the ringing sound felt like forever.
“Who’s this?”
Conall snorted. “That’s not how you answer the phone. I could have been a potential client.”
“You wouldn’t be calling me on this phone if you were.” Terrance paused, and Conall could almost see his brain processing who was on the other end. “Shit. What are you doing calling me? Does the boss know?”
“Of course he knows, I’m not an idiot. He gave me permission to call you.” He rolled his eyes even though Terrance couldn’t see it.
“Good. I don’t want him slitting our throats because you wanted to talk to me.”
“You’re notthatimportant to me.” Conall glanced around his room. The curtains had been thrown open and he could see out into the massive back lawn of the mansion. The bright green grass extended out for miles, so far that he couldn’t see the end to it. To the left was a wide pool, and to the right looked to be a garden of some type, with an outside table and chairs in the center of trees and flowers blooming in the warmth of spring.
“Where are you?” Terrance’s voice sounded small, something Conall wasn’t used to hearing.
