Page 125 of Mob Princess

“Thank you.”

“I’m a boy mom through and through. I didn’t realize how nice it would be to have a daughter. If one is good, two is better.”

She offers me a smile that could make any boo-boo better. But this is a lot bigger than a scraped knee. She squeezes my hands as her gaze hardens. She gave me reassurance. Now she’s giving me strength.

“Lina, we have to go.”

The guys say goodbye to their parents, and Finn and Dillan say goodbye to their wives. This is a mission of sorts, so we all know things could go wrong. I can tell the O’Rourkes never miss an opportunity to show their love. It’s refreshing and foreign at the same time. I like it.

Sean and I get in a town car, and I expect him to ask me what I meant earlier. I’m ready to explain, but he says nothing. When I dart my gaze up to him, I know this isn’t the time. He’s focused, and I sense he’s running through his plan again.

“I need to make a call, Sean. It’s your mom’s advice, and I agree with it. It’s not a reflection of you or the men in your family. I don’t doubt anyone’s capability. It just needs to be someone from Boston.”

His eyes widen before they narrow. He doesn’t like it, but he nods. He knows what I’m going to do. He watches me enter a number into my burner and wait while it rings.

“Hi, Colton. It’s Nikki… It’s nice to hear your voice too. It’s been a long time.”

Sean’s hand goes around my wrist like a manacle. He’s not hurting me, but he wants the phone away from my ear. I change sides and shake my head. He reaches again.

“No, I haven’t spoken to Colt in a few days. Not since I left Boston.”

Sean’s brow furrows as his hands drop. I put a finger to my lips and put the call on speaker as Colton continues the conversation.

“He asked if you called.”

“Did he say why he thought I would?”

“No. But he told me you’re involved with an O’Rourke. He wanted to know if I’d heard. I had.”

“Still watching out for me?”

“Always. My son might have screwed up the best thing that ever happened to him, but I don’t blame you for his shortcomings. I blame your brother and father, but not you.”

“We’re still more alike than either of us is to Colt. I want to chat and catch up, but I’m calling for a reason. I need something.”

“Anything.”

“Hear me out first before you make any blind promises.”

“Nik, tell me what you need, and it’s done. I won’t ask why.”

“Justin.”

There’s a long pause, and I’m certain Colton’s wishing he hadn’t just said he wouldn’t need the reason.

“Justin is working with someone. It’s not Ewan or Colt. He hired a guy to take Sean. He used a woman from Sean’s past to get this man into one of the O’Rourke clubs. Justin had his guy drug Sean, but they underestimated him. Neither the woman nor the man involved survived. But Justin wants me to leave him and either go to Boston or Montreal. He’s still threatening him.”

“Do you want it done here or there?”

“I’m going to meet him right now. It’ll be a public place, so he won’t take me. But if something happens, and the O’Rourkes can’t scoop him up as we leave, then I need you when he goes back to Boston.”

“Does Sean know all of this?”

I’m watching him, and I can tell he’s more pissed than he’s ever been with me. More than about me leaving his parents’.

“I’ll fill him in.”

“It’s gonna piss him off that you’re involved, and it’s gonna piss him off that you think he can’t handle this.”

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