Page 18 of Big Beefy Kingpin

“Maeve,” I whisper, lifting her hand to my lips. “You did nothing wrong. I pursued you, promised to protect you and that is what I will do.”

“But…”

“Whatever happens with your uncle, I want you to know that I will do everything to protect you.”

She nods but I can tell she is still nervous and when I pull over at the Casino, her breathing grows labored and I worry that she is panicking.

I spy Antonio waiting but I don’t get out, turning instead to Maeve. “Hey, I can’t let you meet them. My cousin, Antonio, he’ll…”

“No, please,” she whispers, reaching blindly for me, hugging me close. “I’m okay. I’ll… please don’t leave me. Please take me with you.”

I wrap my arms around her, running my hands soothingly over her back, fighting the need to not give in and leave her behind, hidden and surrounded by my most trusted men.

“Fine,” I say, against my better judgment. “But stay with me and you don’t have to speak to them if you don’t want to.”

I feel her nod, before drawing back and I study her for a few seconds. Satisfied by the determined glint in her eyes, I exit the car and walk to her side. Opening it, she reaches for my hand and I tuck her protectively against my side.

“Don,” Antonio says rushing to me. “They wouldn’t leave. O’Malley threatened to storm your home if you didn’t bring his niece over.”

“I’ll take care of it, Antonio, thank you,” I say, facing my cousin. “Please stay back and make sure none of their lackeys cause a problem for the casino. You know what to do if they do.”

Antonio nods once before disappearing to alert security. I head for the elevator, my men in tow, blindly trusting me. They’re fiercely loyal and whether or not Antonio has briefed them, they don’t hesitate to follow me.

I find O’Malley pacing the lounge like a caged animal. He’d left but had been called back by his son, Liam, when the boy had spotted Maeve in the lobby.

“Mae!” the old man gasps when we get into the room. I half expect him to explode with anger when he sees Maeve but his eyes turn glassy. “It’s you. Oh, God, you look just like my sister, Mae. God rest her soul.”

Maeve presses into my back, her fingers tightening hard against mine at the sight of her uncle and his men.

“We thought you were dead,” O’Malley says, clearly confused by his niece’s behavior. “We looked all over for you but it’s like you’d disappeared in the air.”

“You were going to sell her to the Mexican Cartel,” I say, calmly. Way more calmly than I feel.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” the old man spits out, his Irish accent growing deeper and eyes darkening at me. “After we heard he’d died, I was so happy that the sick bastard was gone. We went to get you from your house but you were gone. Why didn’t you come to me,Agra?”

“I didn’t trust you. When he killed mom you didn’t do anything,” Maeve speaks for the first time. “He said you were the one who made my marriage bargain. I didn’t think you would help me.”

“That sickfuckingbastard. Hemurderedher? He told us she had an accident.” O’Malley’s eyes darken and his fists clench by his side. “And I would never sell my sister’s child. I should have taken you from him sooner but I was waiting for you to turn eighteen first.”

The man takes a step forward, and my men draw out their weapons, triggering his men to draw out theirs. O’Malley lets out a sigh, stepping back and signaling his men to lower their guns.

“Your mother would be disappointed in me,” he whispers, dropping his eyes to our joined hands. “But she’d want you to be happy.”

“She won’t be leaving here with you,” I say harshly. “You don’t deserve her. You had the chance to protect her but failed and now I will cherish her every day for the rest of my life.”

“I’m not going to take her. I just needed to see for myself that she was safe.” Something close to regret crosses the old man’s face before it turns stoic. “If you hurt her, Battista, I will hunt you down and wipe out the entire Italian Mafia.”

I don’t bother responding. I have no intention of hurting Maeve but I don’t owe this man any promises. Any words of assurance belong to Maeve.

The man must read it in my eyes because he nods once in understanding. He stares at his niece, the devastation clear on his face, for a few seconds before signaling to his men and they exit. My men follow shortly behind, leaving me alone with Maeve.

“Hey,” I whisper, cupping her jaw so she’s looking at me. “You don’t need to be scared anymore, okay? You have me.”

Her tired eyes meet mine briefly before she falls into my arms, wrapping her small hand around my neck and drawing me flush against her.

“I know,” she whispers. “I’m so tired, Roman.”

“Do you want to take a short nap before…”

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