Page 70 of The Apprentice
Walking in on scenes like this wasn’t uncommon, especially when it came to Sloan and Conall. Sloan’d had pets in the past, but they’d never beenrightfor him, at least, not until Conall came along. I’d been Sloan’s friend for a long time, and I’d never seen him happier than when he was with Conall. Not that I’d ever tell him that. It was easier to let him work on his own timeline. The man wore armor as thick as steel around himself and for good reason. Being a mob boss came with duties and danger.
I ignored what Conall was doing and took a seat in the chair on the opposite side of Sloan’s desk. I settled in, throwing a leg over my knee while I waited for Sloan and Conall to finish. Judging by Sloan’s quiet hums, he wouldn’t be much longer.
A few moments later, Sloan tensed and groaned low in his throat. His hips jutted forward. Sounds of Conall choking on Sloan’s cock filled the room, followed by a breathy inhale as Conall pulled off the boss.
“Such a pretty mouth, pet.” Sloan stroked his thumb over Conall’s bottom lip and smirked. “Now, go upstairs and wash up. We have some work to do today, and I want you with me.”
Conall hummed and shoved to his feet. He leaned down to kiss Sloan gently before he sent me a wink and left the office.
Once the door closed, Sloan turned his full attention to me.
I cleared my throat. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
He raised an eyebrow and linked his fingers together. “Talk.”
I cursed Aodhan for making me do this. I should’ve told Sloan from the beginning, but I’d thought Aodhan would get bored of New York City and disappear again.
“My brother’s in town.” As soon as my words hit air, I lowered my eyes and head in respect.
“Aodhan?” His tone dropped dangerously, and even though it sounded like a question, it wasn’t. I only had one brother. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” I said with sigh. “He won’t tell me. He turned up at my penthouse and hasn’t left.”
“Hasn’t left?” The creak of Sloan’s chair told me he rose and was probably making his way toward me, but I didn’t need to see him to feel the space of the room disappear and become hard to breathe in. His presence on a good day was menacing; on a bad day, like now, it was downright terrifying. Fear coiled in my chest. “Whendid he get here, Daire?”
“Before Christmas, sir.” I held back the urge to flinch. I dropped my leg and sat with both feet flat against the wooden floorboards, hands clasped in my lap like the soldier I was. In the end, being boss came first to Sloan. In a situation like this, I wasn’t his best friend or second-in-command. I was his employee, one who’d fucked up by not telling him about Aodhan as soon as I’d become aware that he was in Sloan’s territory.
“And you’re only coming to me now?” His voice grew closer, and then he was right beside me, nudging my shoulder.
This time I winced. “I was trying to convince him to leave before it became an issue, sir.”
He laughed, and it wasn’t pleasant—the coldness of the sound seeping through to my bones. “You should’ve come to me immediately.That’syour job.”
I finally raised my gaze to meet his. “Sloan, he’s my brother.”
“And I’m your boss,” he snarled, baring his teeth with anger that had a spike of fear shooting through me. Only one personcould draw that reaction from me, and he was towering over me. “You made a commitment to me—to my company. Stand up. Now.”
I swallowed and stood as ordered. I turned toward Sloan, keeping my shoulders squared. Now that I was facing the boss, I kept my eyes on him. “My loyalty is to you, but Aodhan is blood. I gave him a chance to leave.”
“Jesus fuck, Daire!”
I flinched. Sloan didn’t swear...ever. This had taken a deadly turn, and I had to tread carefully if I wanted to leave this room alive.
“You’re the one Ineedto trust. You’re my right-hand man. And you do this?” He surged forward, his fist connecting with my jaw.
I tumbled backward into the chair and over the top of it, landing on the hard floor on the other side. Agony exploded through my jaw, ricocheting through my head, and my shoulder ached where I landed on it. I groaned, touching my fingers to the spot he’d connected with, then rose slowly. I didn’t attempt to retaliate. He was my boss, and I deserved it. I’d fucked up. But I didn’t regret it. Aodhan was mybrother, and as much as he drove me crazy, I also had a commitment to him.
“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” Sloan’s eyes sparked with fury, the ocean blue darkening to resemble a storm rather than the calm sea. His chest heaved and his jaw tightened, the muscles bunching. “You should’ve told me the moment you saw him.”
“I’m aware, sir, but he’s my brother. If you knew immediately, you would’ve killed him.”
“What makes you think I won’t now?” Sloan sneered, stalking close so our faces nearly touched. I was taller and wider than him but not by much. “What makes you think I won’ttorture him until he’s inches from death as a consequence for your lies?”
“Because I’m your friend and I’ve been nothing but loyal to you.”
“Until now?” His anger radiated off him in waves, deadly and toxic, and it made it hard for me to breathe. I knew what he was capable of, and if I didn’t talk him down off a ledge, I might not be around for much longer. Sloan wasn’t the kind of person to easily show anger, but Aodhan was a sore subject. He was the only person who could get a rise like this out of Sloan. I could usually handle Sloan’s outbursts, but a new fear stirred to life in my chest. I’d just gotten Fionn back in my arms. I couldn’t leave him yet—especially not this way.
“Sloan—”
