Page 107 of The Apprentice
“That bastard.” He tugged out his phone and began to type furiously on it. “We’re going to have to inform the men. I’ll get Rowen and Fallon here and call Jamie to bring back Aspen and Cillian. It’s no good to have my best men in another state when Reyes ishere.”
Fionn swayed toward me again, and I caught him before patting his hand. “That’s enough to drink for a little while, Fifi.”
“Why?” He pouted. “You said I could celebrate.”
“You can, but you’re drunk.”
He was a lightweight, and as adorable as it was, now that we knew Reyeswasin the city, we needed to be extra careful.
Sloan made a sound I ignored. In the hours we’d been here, Fionn had dominated the conversation, but I hadn’t missed the glares Sloan shot at me whenever I opened my mouth. His anger was palpable.
“I’m going to step outside and make some calls. This place is too fucking loud.” Sloan narrowed his eyes around the pub and shot to his feet, stalking toward one of the side doors. I watched him for a moment and rose to follow.
I placed a kiss on Fionn’s cheek. “Stay here, boy. I need to speak to your uncle.”
He grinned up at me. “Yes, Daddy Daire.”
I smiled, my insides warming at how carefree he appeared like this. Stopping beside one of our men on the way out, I pointed at Fionn. “Watch him. He’s drunk.”
The Company man gave me a firm nod in agreement before I followed Sloan. He was on his phone when I got outside, and I shivered, regretting that I hadn’t taken my jacket with me. It was too fucking cold, but I didn’t plan on staying out here for long.
The alleyway outside was dank and the stench unbearable. It smelled like old trash, and while it was mostly dark, the flood of lights from the street lit up the area so I could see Sloan well enough.
He had his phone pressed to his ear, and he hummed in acknowledgement to whoever he was talking to. “Make it happen.” He jabbed his thumb on the screen and turned, pausing when I walked toward him. “If you’re here to offer excuses, Daire, I don’t want them.”
“You’re pissed at me.”
“Yes, I am.” He stepped in closer. “I’m fine with you being with my nephew. I was more than okay with it when I realized it was first happening because I trusted you to take care of him. Fionn’s an adult, and he can have sex with whoever he wants, even you. What I didn’t expect was you using him and making him feel like a waste.” He held up a hand when I went to talk. “I don’t care about your excuses. I won’t have anyone treating him less than what he’s worth, which is a lot. He is a Killough.” He shoved himself in my face in averyunSloan-like way that had real fear pouring through me and leaving me paralyzed. “And I would die before I let anyone hurt him because he’s more than my nephew, he ismy son. I raised him, and I’ll rip you limb from limb before I let you break his heart again.” His voice took on a deep growl.
“I won’t, Sloan.” I sighed and tipped my chin down. “I love him.”
“You better take care of him or I’ll make you regret ever looking in his direction.” His nostrils flared. “Rowen and Fallon will be here soon.” He strode past me, leaving me in the cold of the early morning to think about the threat in his words. I didn’t know how to prove to him how much I loved Fionn, but I had a long time to make up for the hurt I’d caused.
I followed him inside, and we happily stayed silent with each other. Sloan talked to Fionn and so did I, but when it came to each other, we didn’t say a word. Sloan and I drank in moderation, and Fionn slowed down, too, because while we weren’t going to let Reyes ruin the night completely, we couldn’t be smashed. Though, Fionn was past that point.
Sloan rose to make a call to Conall, and I sighed when he left the loud bar again.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?” Fionn snuggled against my side and laid a gentle kiss on my neck, right above where the collar of my dress shirt started.
I turned toward him and cupped his face, cradling him like the precious boy he was to me, and laid my mouth over his, kissing him gently. The pub around us disappeared because Fionnwasmy world right now.
“There’s never anything wrong when you’re here, boy.” With a final press of my lips against his, I smiled. “You deserve everything, and I’m going to make sure you get it. I promise.”
The corner of his mouth ticked up in response. “I’m going to remember that.”
I laughed right as his phone rang. A deep mournful sound erupted from the Samsung and he scrunched up his nose as he picked it up from next to his half-empty beer. I raised my eyebrows when he glanced at me, gaze thoughtful before he grinned widely.
He answered the call. “Mom. It’s too fucking early in the morning. Why are you calling me?” I didn’t hear what she said,but Fionn rolled his eyes in response to whatever it was. A few moments later he made a face at me, moving his mouth in silent words that mocked whatever she was saying, and I shook my head with a chuckle. Fionn was past the point of drunk. I needed to take him home soon. “Mom, stop. I don’t give a flying fuck if Deer’s out drinking and can’t afford a taxi home. Get one of his friends to pick him up, yeah? Fuuuuuck. You’re so annoying. It’s all about Deer and Bell. You fucking know you have another son, right? Me. My name’s Fionn, in case you fucking forgot. I’m your oldest, the one you sent to Sloan because youcouldn’t handle me.”
I widened my eyes. Sober Fionn would never have said any of this, and I liked the brazenness with Annabelle. She deserved the snarky attitude.
“Uh uh uh, don’t use the tears on me. I’m done. You can stop calling me now,Mother. You’re not getting any more money. Goodbye.” He ended the call and slammed the phone on the table before flipping the bird at it. “Kiss my ass, woman.” He burst into giggles and flopped against me. “Tell me you’re proud of me, Daddy.”
“So proud, boy.” I pressed a kiss to his head and breathed in the scent of his sweat-soaked hair. He could smell like a dumpster, and I’d still want to get a good whiff. “You did good.”
He hummed in pleasure. “Thanks, Daddy.”
The side door opened, and Sloan walked back in with Rowen and Fallon at his side, looking as elegant as they usually did. Rowen was easy to spot in the crowd with his reddish-blond hair and clean-cut beard, while Fallon stood out as well, but mostly because he was attractive. He had long blond hair and an innocent smile, one that didn’t match someone who belonged to a mob.
