Page 64 of Mob Saint

He does a double blink. It’s fast, but it’s his tell. He’s about to lie.

“Because she’s good at what she does.”

That’s not the lie. It’s whatever he’s not telling me.

“And you think insulting her about her loss and how she looks is the only way to convince her?”

“No. That’s just?—”

He looks like he wants to swallow his tongue. His gaze darts to Tiera before he looks at my chest. He can’t meet my gaze. Weak fucker.

“You can attack a woman, but you can’t look me in the eye. You are pathetic.”

His fist clenches on the desk, and he doesn’t stop himself. He’s getting tired of my insults. Oh, well.

“Your father manipulated Tiernan by threatening her father, then bringing her husband in. He arranged what happened, and you know that. You picked up where your father left off by using her grief to manipulate her. You continue to use that grief to torment her. All of this because neither you nor your father had the balls to ask a woman a favor. Did your dick grow whenever you thought you were such hot shite attacking her?”

“I didn’t fucking attack her. Get off your high horse, Seamus.”

“If I get off anything, it’ll be to wrap my hands around your throat. Are you inviting me? And you know damn well you attacked her with your words. I’d even call it civil assault.”

“Come on, Seamus. That’s ridiculous.”

“In the State of New Jersey, ‘a person is subject to liability for an assault if (a) she or he acts intending to cause a harmful or offensive contact with the person of the plaintiff, or an imminent apprehension of such a contact, and (b) the plaintiff is thereby put in such imminent apprehension.’ I paid attention when I studied for the bar. You had her manhandled into cars, so why wouldn’t Tiera be afraid you’d do something worse? You threatened to hurt her dad just like your father did, so why wouldn’t Tiera be afraid you’d do something worse? Since you did it in this house, and you reside in the State of New Jersey, you’re liable. You’re lucky I’m only in the mood to be your judge and jury, not your executioner. You can thank Tiernan for that again.”

I’m kicking myself because I let my pet name for her slip. It gives too much away about my affection for her. It’s one thing to know I like her and care about her. But the nickname is too much because they’ll weaponize it. I just made her an even bigger target. Fuck me.

Chapter Fifteen

Tiera

I’m content to let Seamus do the talking. I’m worried about what’s happening to my dad. Is he just waiting around? Or are Vince and Keith doing something to him? Vince may be my dad’s youngest brother, but he doesn’t like my dad. He’s so fucking jealous he’s greener than fucking Kermit the Frog. If anyone’s a manipulative little fuck, it’s him. He might not lay a hand on Dad because he’s weaker than his big brother, but he’ll find some other way to pay Dad back for what’s going on in here.

Seamus sat back once I settled into my seat again. His arm is back around my shoulders, and it grounds me. It keeps me from letting my anxiousness show. It lets me focus rather than expecting the worst. Expecting everything to blow up.

My second cousin three times removed—or some shit like that—is sweating. I can see it beading on his forehead. It’s not hot in here. I’d say a pleasant seventy, seventy-two. He doesn’t enjoy being under Seamus’s spotlight. I can’t blame him. But he put himself there. He just didn’t know it would be Seamus shining the light.

“What’s the next job you plan for Tiernan?”

I felt his pinky move against my shoulder when he let Tiera slip a moment ago. I know he didn’t intend to do that. He’s already called me that in front of Dad a few times, so it’s not that he intends it to be a secret we take to our graves. But he knows he just gave Gareth leverage if he caught it.

“Tiera’s going to process a claim for a small residential fire in Manhattan. She’s going to make sure her company’s client doesn’t get a penny.”

“That is not my name to you, Garry. Call me that again—tell anyone to call me that—and an anonymous informant will turn everything over to the U.S. Attorney’s office.”

I modulate my tone, so it’s a threat without me sounding bitchy or scared. He needs to know I’m deadass serious. I’ve found those balls Vince claimed I had now that Seamus is in my corner.

He glowers at me, and I grin. He hates being called Garry. Like passionately hates it. He thinks it makes him sound like some fat, bald, middle-aged, used car salesman. He’s not fat or middle-aged yet, but his maternal grandfather was bald, so there’s hope for him yet. He’s as smarmy and skeezy as a stereotypical used car salesman.

“Fine.”

“Tone.”

Gareth snapped at me, and Seamus doesn’t like it. I lean against Seamus and smile demurely at my distant cousin. Seamus’s thumb noticeably rubs the outside of my shoulder, and I know Gareth sees it. I don’t think Seamus is doing it for effect, but I suppose in for a penny, in for a pound. If Gareth knows Seamus has a nickname for me, then he may as well see I really matter to my boyfriend. It’s also super soothing for both of us. I know it is for me, and he feels more relaxed than he did.

The mob boss doesn’t enjoy taking orders from an enforcer. Gareth grimaces when he catches himself glaring at me. He turns his focus to Seamus.

“I need Tiernan to get the case assigned to her, and I need her to expedite it. The homeowner owes me money, and he’s way behind on his payments. I could let him file the claim and get the money, then pay me back. But I want him even more screwed because he’ll have to borrow even more from me.”

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