After work, I first went to buy a couple of outfits before taking the bus to Dad’s neighborhood. Even though it’s almost nine o’clock, I need to check in on Dad before heading home.
When I walk into the house, it’s to find Dad in front of the TV. “Hey, Dad,” I say as I go to press a kiss on his forehead. “Did Kristine go home?”
“Yeah, but what are you doin’ out so late? You should be home,” he chastises me.
I set the bags down next to the couch and take a seat. “I just wanted to stop by and check in on you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, lass.” Dad’s eyes scan over my face. “You look worn. Still workin’ at that damned place?”
My shoulders sag a little. “I’ve applied at other companies. As soon as I find something else, I’ll resign.”
Relief flickers in Dad’s eyes. “That’s good.”
A knock at the door has Dad’s head snapping toward it, then he gets up, his features turning grim. “Go hide, lass,” he whispers. “Hurry!”
“What?” I stand up, confused by Dad’s reaction.
He quickly gestures toward the kitchen. “Go hide! Go. Go. Go.”
I hurry to the kitchen, then shake my head, not understanding why I have to hide.
Then I hear Dad open the front door. “Liam? Somethin’ wrong?”
“No. I just wanted to check in on you.” Hearing Liam’s voice, surprise shudders through me, followed by the burst of warmth in my chest I’ve been doing my best to ignore since our conversation in the elevator.
How do Liam and my dad know each other?
“It’s late,” Dad mentions, his voice tight.
“You telling me to leave, old man?” There’s a familiarity to his tone you only have with close friends.
Frowning, I press against the wall next to the doorway, listening closely.
“Of course not.”
I hear them move into the living room, then Liam asks, “How are you feeling?”
“Better. Doc just needs to clear me for work.”
“Did you get the money?”
“Aye, but it’s too much.”
Liam lets out a chuckle. “Shut up and take it. And don’t fucking drink and gamble it away.”
“Aye.”
Money?
What’s going on here?
Liam clears his throat, then says, “The warehouse was hit by Sicilians.”
“What?” Dad gasps. “I thought we took care of them in Vancouver.”
“Not all of them. The remainder of them are trying to rebuild the Sicilian mafia.”
Mafia?
“Jesus H. Christ,” Dad grumbles.
“You still have that contact?” Liam asks.
“Tony? Yeah. You want me to check with him?”
“Yes. See what he can find out about the Sicilians. I need to take care of the problem before it gets out of hand.”
“Aye, boss.”
Boss?
“Thanks.” I hear movement then Liam asks, “You’re shopping for women’s clothes?”
“Oh… shit.” I hear the bags I left in the living room rustling. “Kristine must’ve forgotten them.”
Only then does it hit – Dad’s hiding me from Liam.
“I’m going to head out. You get some rest and get better. I need you back at work.”
“Aye-aye,” Dad mumbles.
I listen as Dad lets Liam out, and when the door shuts, I step out of my hiding place. Dad’s on the other side of the living room, his eyes closed and shaking his head.
Uncertainty fills my voice as I whisper, “Dad?”
He opens his eyes, but it takes a moment before he looks at me. He seems exhausted, as if all life has been drained from him. “This is why I didn’t want you comin’ by. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”
Taking a couple of steps forward, I ask, “You know Liam? Why are you hiding me from him? What were you talking about? Mafia?”
Dad slumps down in the nearest chair, and it has me walking closer and taking a seat on the couch. My worried and confused gaze rests on him.
Dad shakes his head again before lifting his eyes to meet mine. “Ahh, lass, you were never supposed to find out.”
The frown on my forehead deepens. “Find out what?”
Dad’s shoulders sag, and he lifts his hand to rub over his forehead. Finally, he explains, “I work for Liam Byrne.”
“Is that why you didn’t want me at Byrne Enterprises? Because we’d both be working there?”
Shaking his head, he says, “No.” He lets out a heavy breath. “I work for the Irish mafia.”
I blink a couple of times, the words not fully getting through to me. “You what?”
Then it starts to sink in, and my eyes widen with shock. “You work for the Irish mafia? Liam?” Another wave of shock shudders through me. “Oh my God.”
Is the mafia even still a thing?
“Your old man’s a criminal,” Dad admits outright. He lifts his chin, pride darkening his gaze. “But I won’t apologize for it. The mafia’s in my blood.”
I take a moment to process what Dad’s telling me, then ask, “Why did you hide it from me?”
He lets out another heavy breath. “I didn’t want the mafia knowin’ about you. I wanted to keep you safe and away from that part of my life.”
Nodding, I absorb the answer, then look at my dad with fresh eyes. All the traveling. Not seeing him for months at a time. Him not wanting me to come over to his house. His anger when he found out I got a job at Byrne Enterprises.
I think to ask, “Is Byrne Enterprises run by the mafia? Do Liam and Finn also work for them?”
Dad shakes his head, but then he says, “Liam’s the head of the mafia. I work for him.”
Oh. My. God.
The shock rockets through me, making me gasp, “I work for the mafia?”
“No, lass. Byrne Enterprises is a real company. I just didn’t want you anywhere near Liam and the mafia.”
Lifting my hands, I cover my mouth, a million thoughts racing through my mind.
“Just resign and don’t let Liam find out who you are,” Dad mutters.
“Why?” My eyes lock with Dad’s. “Do you think he’d hurt me?”
I can’t wrap my head around the fact that the man who’s been gentle and patient with me, even offering to help me, is a bad man.
God, it would kill Dad if he found out what Finn’s been doing to me.
Dad shakes his head, his mouth pulling down at the corners. “Liam would never hurt you.” He takes a deep breath, shifting in the chair. “But if he found out I have a daughter, he’d… Lass, you’re beautiful, and I’m one of his best men. He might get it in his head to claim you.”
“Claim me?” I parrot like an idiot.
“Liam owns everythin’. Chicago. Every man workin’ for him. Our families.” Worry darkens Dad’s eyes even more. “You’ll belong to the mafia. If he decides to take you, there’s nothin’ I can do. No one dares go against Liam Byrne. Aye, lass, you need to get away from Byrne Enterprises now. Don’t go back tomorrow. Ye hear me?”
Liam would take me?
No one dares go against him.
Staring at my father, the thoughts run through my mind. “What about Finn?”
Dad’s face tenses with disgust. “He’s nothin’ but a worm. Never been a part of the mafia. Lord only knows why Owen married that connivin’ woman. Finn’s not worthy of the name Byrne.”
My eyebrows dart up. “They’re stepbrothers?”
“More like sworn enemies,” Dad grumbles, his hate for Finn evident in his voice. He gives me a look of warning. “You stay away from Finn. He’s no good.”
Hope begins to unfurl in my chest. “But Liam’s good?”
Dad sucks in a deep breath of air. “I trust Liam with my life. He’s only been good to me.” He waves a hand in the air. “Even paid for Kristine and the medical bills.” Dad pins me with a look. “I’ll pay some of the money into your account, so stop worryin’ about Kristine.”
Maybe Liam can help me? Maybe he can stop Finn?
Could he be the answer to my prayers?
Dad rises from the chair, waving a tired hand at the front door. “Time to go, lass. Before someone sees you here.”
Climbing to my feet, I ask, “Does Mom know about the mafia?”
Dad nods. “Aye.”
I step closer, pressing a kiss to Dad’s cheek. Pulling back, I lock eyes with him, so many questions still mulling in my head.
“Don’t hate me, lass. I did the best I could.”
A loving smile curves my lips up. “Oh, Dad, I could never hate you. I understand why you hid it from me.” Now that I know the real reason for Dad’s behavior, I realize how much he loves me. How much he protected me. “Thank you for wanting to keep me safe.”
Emotion flutters over his face. “Always, lass.”
Picking up my bags, I say, “Stop worrying and get some rest.”
“You’re goin’ to stop workin’ there, right?”
“Yeah. I just need to wrap some things up.”
When I walk to the front door and open it, Dad reminds me, “Don’t tell anyone who you are.”
“Okay.” I smile at Dad before stepping out of the house and shutting the door.
Taking a deep breath, my world’s still spinning from everything I learned tonight.
Liam’s the head of the Irish mafia.
That means he’s stronger than Finn… right?
