Page 65 of Mob Princess

Me

Yeah. I’m coming.

“Jesse?”

“Yeah. In my office.”

I walk to the other end of the house and stick my head around the door.

“Hey. I’m headed out for a bit. Sean was able to fly here. He made it to Boston sooner than we expected. I’m going to meet him. I’m not sure if my plans are going to change or what. I’ll keep you posted.”

“You’re really into him, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. How can you tell?”

“You sound comfortable when you talk about him. It’s not like new giddiness when you first meet someone you like. It’s like you’ve been together since forever. Like it’s just a given you’re going to see him, and you might stay with him now that he’s in town. I’m happy for you. He’s certainly better than shithead.”

“Way better than shithead.” I grin and then laugh.

I head outside, and Cormac’s car is in the driveway. Seamus is in the passenger seat. I slide into the back.

“Thanks for taking me. I’m sorry about earlier.”

“We get it.” Seamus looks over his shoulder and offers me a smile I’m certain is genuine.

We ride the twenty minutes chatting about things to see and do in New York and Boston that aren’t the usual touristy destinations. It kills the time until we’re at the airfield, and we watch a private jet land. As we park, the plane’s door opens and steps lower. Then he’s there.

I don’t run—despite the temptation—so it feels like the longest hundred yards ever as I walk to meet him. Then I’m in his arms.

“Baby girl.”

I melt against him as I tip my chin up. He cups my cheek and stares into my eyes for a moment before we’re finally kissing again. It hasn’t even been a day. We weren’t even together a day. But this is heaven. The kiss goes on and on. I know there are people moving around us, but we don’t care. We won’t be rushed. His tongue curls with mine, and we swipe them within each other’s mouths. I remember as a tween thinking pressing tongues together sounded stupid and gross. Now…Sean’s damn good at pressing his tongue together with mine.

“Nounours.”

He gives me a series of pecks. Before sliding both of his hands into mine. My brow furrows as I look at his face again.

“What’s wrong?” I know there’s something.

“I need to talk to you in private. My cousins don’t know yet, but they will. Shane will brief them, but I don’t want you hearing this with an audience.”

“You’re scaring me.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to, but it’s serious.”

Chapter Thirteen

Sean

I want to pull Lina back into my arms and pretend like nothing exists but us. I want to whisk her away to somewhere warm and sunny that only has room for two. I want to make all of this better.

“I booked a room at a hotel. We can talk there, or we can go wherever you want.”

“I…” She shrugs.

I wrap my arm around her waist as we walk to my cousins. I don’t let go of her as I hug Cormac then Seamus. I know they’re glad to see me in one piece. They already know some of what happened. I called them during my flight up to Boston. I wanted to be certain Lina was all right. It was like I’m Atlas, and someone lifted the weight of the world off my shoulders when they told me she’d left Ewan’s. I don’t care who she stays with as long as she’s nowhere near Ewan. I don’t want her caught in the crossfire.

“Did anyone follow you?” I direct the question to my cousins.

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