Page 46 of Flynn

There was a period when we spent most of our time on the streets. We became best friends and eventually became part of a gang.”

She blinked at that. “You were in a gang.”

“Yes.” he bit out. “We were foolish and lacked direction. My mother was working multiple jobs, and I had much free time. Maurice’s home life was intolerable, and there were others like that. So, we became ‘blood brothers.’”

“And what did you do in this gang?”

“Petty things.” He shrugged. “Hotwire cars hassled a few people - stole a few things. We were acting out, at least I was. It started when we were barely twelve and continued until high school. Then we got busted for breaking into a local store.

The sheriff knew my mother and decided to give us a lecture and a break. When I got home, Mother gave me more than a lecture; she hauled me up and gave me a few taps.

But it was the expression on her face that got to me. She was crying. I had never seen her cry before, no matter how hard we had it, and I decided there and then that I would make her proud.” He paused, a faraway look on his face as if he was back in the past.

“Nothing was mentioned about your past gang affiliation.” she finally said, breaking the silence.

“Excellent PR,” he told her sardonically. “When I started making money, they insisted it would not look good to the American public, especially since Daley was also rising as a notorious kingpin. It would not do to have my name associated with his.”

“You were no longer friends with him?”

He shook his head. “I decided to disband the gang, but he was not pleased. He wanted us to go on to bigger things, like robbing homes and terrorizing innocent people, and that was where I drew the line.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

He focused on her face, the bruises that had not yet faded. “I saw him today.”

“Where?”

“His favorite restaurant. The Pearl.”

“You had lunch there as well?”

He shook his head. “I sought him out. I knew he was there and went there to confront him.”

She simply stared at him, going still at the implications of what he just said hit her. “You deliberately sought him out.”

“I did. Yes.”

“Because of me.”

“Yes.”

“What did you say to him?”

“I reminded him of who I was and that you are connected to me, and if he or anyone associated with him touches you again, there would be hell to pay.” The flinty expression on his hard, handsome face sent shivers up and down her spine.

“Who gave you the right?”

He nodded in the general direction of her stomach. “The fact that you are carrying my baby does. I will not tolerate you being harassed.”

“That’s a polite way to put it.” The sarcasm note in her voice was evident. “Considering that I was almost killed.”

“And if there were proof, he wouldn’t have been left standing.” The expression on his face had turned murderous, and she found herself gripping the sheets.

“You are involved with a hoodlum, a career criminal, one who happens to be the focus of an intensive investigation, and you never said anything to me.”

“I never thought it was relevant before now.”

“And it’s relevant now.”

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