Exploding: A Mafia Romance (The O'Keefe Family Collection #1) by Tuesday Embers
Authors: Tuesday Embers
Ads: Link
watched the stream of homes slowly devolve with broken shutters, missing windows and overgrown lawns as they drove further into the heart of the west end. Killian’s gun was no longer tucked into his belt. He had it clutched between his knees, ready to aim at the wrong moment’s notice.
Vince’s main restaurant chain in the heart of the west end was La Cucina Italia. The location on Fourth Street and Fairhead Way was where his family conducted all their business. Before things went so horribly wrong between their families, it was where Fallyn had played as a child with Jo-Jo as the two chased after the older kids. Joey was only three years older, and had made for a good playmate on many a long day. Her eyes were wide as she took in the streets that looked far more ominous than the ones in their territory.
A few people stopped and watched as the white O’Keefe truck drove through town. Fallyn placed her hand on Killian’s back to calm him, speaking loud enough for her words to carry through the small window separating the cargo area from the cab, where Finn was. “Remember that our territory could’ve been just like this if you hadn’t loosened the death grip Daddy had on his high-interest loan clients. You did a good thing, Kill, so don’t listen when Daddy throws his usual fits. The east end is beautiful.” She looked through the windshield at the busted-out windows of a convenience store they drove past. “This is what happens when you take care of your bottom line without bothering to take care of your clients.”
Finn reached through the window and gripped his sister’s dainty hand. “Sing it, Sister Suffragette.”
When Seamus pulled into the sparsely populated parking lot of La Cucina Italia, no one spoke. The three sat in tensed contemplation before Killian put his hand on his door. “Fal, you stay in here until I tell you it’s safe.”
“No,” she ruled, using a finite tone she tried not to invoke too often, lest it lose a little of its power. “You’re not getting out with your gun drawn. Sends the wrong message. You want peace? Try harder. I’ll go out first.”
Seamus hissed to let his sister know he did not support her plan. “Not a chance, Fally. Kill, Finn and I’ll go out, then when we give the okay, you can come out.” He looked over his sister to Killian. “Is Carrigan ready?”
Fallyn was livid. “You brought Carri in on this nonsense? Where’s he hiding out? I didn’t see his cop car.”
Seamus jerked his thumb south. “He’s in neutral territory, but he’s ready and waiting for a call from us.” He looked around the parking lot, seeing no people walking around at noon, which gave them no small amount of discomfort.
“This is ridiculous. Either we trust them or we don’t. I’m going out first. They won’t shoot me. Now you’ll put your guns away. Nothing says ‘I came here for a fight’ quite like coming out with your pistols blazing.” When her brothers began to argue, she crossed her arms. “Either we trust them, or we pack it on up and go home. This is what you wanted, Kill. Either it’s safe for us here, or you pushed this whole thing too hard. Which is it?” She did not wait for a response, but climbed over Killian and exited the truck.
No sooner had she set her foot on the concrete did unwelcome hands grab her and jerk her away from her brothers.
13
Captive Baker
F allyn’s scream brought Vince , Joey and Angelo out of the restaurant just as Killian, Finn and Seamus jumped out of the truck. It wasn’t a scream of terror, which one might assume would come when a young woman is grabbed and restrained in the middle of a parking lot by a sweaty stranger in a filthy yellowed white t-shirt. Fallyn’s was a shriek of anger and indignation at being snatched at despite her attempts at making peace. Too many men were shouting at the kidnapper, who now looked confused that his heroic capture of the smallest O’Keefe on enemy soil was
Vince’s main restaurant chain in the heart of the west end was La Cucina Italia. The location on Fourth Street and Fairhead Way was where his family conducted all their business. Before things went so horribly wrong between their families, it was where Fallyn had played as a child with Jo-Jo as the two chased after the older kids. Joey was only three years older, and had made for a good playmate on many a long day. Her eyes were wide as she took in the streets that looked far more ominous than the ones in their territory.
A few people stopped and watched as the white O’Keefe truck drove through town. Fallyn placed her hand on Killian’s back to calm him, speaking loud enough for her words to carry through the small window separating the cargo area from the cab, where Finn was. “Remember that our territory could’ve been just like this if you hadn’t loosened the death grip Daddy had on his high-interest loan clients. You did a good thing, Kill, so don’t listen when Daddy throws his usual fits. The east end is beautiful.” She looked through the windshield at the busted-out windows of a convenience store they drove past. “This is what happens when you take care of your bottom line without bothering to take care of your clients.”
Finn reached through the window and gripped his sister’s dainty hand. “Sing it, Sister Suffragette.”
When Seamus pulled into the sparsely populated parking lot of La Cucina Italia, no one spoke. The three sat in tensed contemplation before Killian put his hand on his door. “Fal, you stay in here until I tell you it’s safe.”
“No,” she ruled, using a finite tone she tried not to invoke too often, lest it lose a little of its power. “You’re not getting out with your gun drawn. Sends the wrong message. You want peace? Try harder. I’ll go out first.”
Seamus hissed to let his sister know he did not support her plan. “Not a chance, Fally. Kill, Finn and I’ll go out, then when we give the okay, you can come out.” He looked over his sister to Killian. “Is Carrigan ready?”
Fallyn was livid. “You brought Carri in on this nonsense? Where’s he hiding out? I didn’t see his cop car.”
Seamus jerked his thumb south. “He’s in neutral territory, but he’s ready and waiting for a call from us.” He looked around the parking lot, seeing no people walking around at noon, which gave them no small amount of discomfort.
“This is ridiculous. Either we trust them or we don’t. I’m going out first. They won’t shoot me. Now you’ll put your guns away. Nothing says ‘I came here for a fight’ quite like coming out with your pistols blazing.” When her brothers began to argue, she crossed her arms. “Either we trust them, or we pack it on up and go home. This is what you wanted, Kill. Either it’s safe for us here, or you pushed this whole thing too hard. Which is it?” She did not wait for a response, but climbed over Killian and exited the truck.
No sooner had she set her foot on the concrete did unwelcome hands grab her and jerk her away from her brothers.
13
Captive Baker
F allyn’s scream brought Vince , Joey and Angelo out of the restaurant just as Killian, Finn and Seamus jumped out of the truck. It wasn’t a scream of terror, which one might assume would come when a young woman is grabbed and restrained in the middle of a parking lot by a sweaty stranger in a filthy yellowed white t-shirt. Fallyn’s was a shriek of anger and indignation at being snatched at despite her attempts at making peace. Too many men were shouting at the kidnapper, who now looked confused that his heroic capture of the smallest O’Keefe on enemy soil was
Similar Books
