Page 6 of Reckless

“Yes. Wednesday night at eight.”

That was only two nights away. “It seems unfair,” I say as we stop at his car.

“What does?”

I lean against the door so I’m facing Michael. He’s making me feel very bold. “That I can only sneak out for you.”

He’s moved closer, his eyes flash angrily and I wonder again if I have overstepped the line. “If I have to put a man at your window every night to keep you in, I will do that.”

Power flows through me at his words. I want to push the boundaries but his eyes still flash angrily.

“There will be no need for that. I’ll stay put,” I say and he relaxes.

“You’re not going to be easy.” He says it more to himself and I can’t stop the smile that travels across my face.

“For some reason I don’t think you want easy.” I step closer to him. My legs are like jelly but I refuse to show it.

“I know what I want and I always get what I want.” I believe him. My hand trembles as it rests on his chest. I hope he can’t tell how nervous I am.

“What do you want, Michael?” I ask as I look up into his eyes. His fingers travel into my hair as he tightens his hand on my neck.

“You,” he tells me before he closes the distance.

Chapter Five

Michael O’Reagan

“Mr. O’Reagan I swear it wasn’t …” The boy hits the concrete hard. The impact a warning to the other three who are lined up and ready for questioning.

Richard drags the boy back up and into formation. It’s cold today, and this is the last place I want to be. The old farm yard hasn’t seen livestock in a very long time. It was away from the rest of the world and it was a place where I carried out punishments. It was something I had learned. You had to rule your kingdom with an iron fist. Someone always lurked close by ready to snatch it from you and that wouldn’t happen to me.

“You are like my children. Do I not give protection to you and your families?” I look at each boy. Two of the boys look at the ground and tremble. The one who tried to speak is staring at me.

“Do I not feed your families?” I step closer to Craig, he was young. Maybe fourteen and he was a runner for me. I was just as young as him when I worked for Mr Malone. The only difference between me and these boys was my loyalty ran deep. They would cut my throat to try to sit on my throne. But they were only boys. Not large enough to fill it.

“Do I not teach you how to have all this?” I step closer to Craig.

“It wasn’t me.” He’s shaking his head, but he isn’t trembling like the rest. But he should be. I know it’s him. I knew from the moment I stepped into this room.

“So who was it then?” I asked Craig, and he shrugs his shoulders. He’s the newest runner to my crew. I nod feeling disappointment. Lies. I didn’t accept them.

“Richard, take the boys home.” They all look at me now. Uncertainty flashes in their eyes.

“Craig you stay.” Craig shows his first signs of fear. His eyes dart to the hurried steps of the other boys.

“I didn’t do it.” This time his words fall flat but he still holds his head high.

“I’m disappointed,” I admit. I had picked him because I had thought I had seen something in him that lay deep inside me. The want to belong, the want to prove that I wasn’t a nobody. All my father had was a push bike and hands like shovels. My mother loved him. I didn’t. I remember thinking I would never become him. I would be bigger, stronger, better.

“Take off your clothes.”

Johnny one of my men steps into the barn and I give him a brief nod.

Craig folds his arms over his chest. “No way.”

His bravery again was making me think twice. “If you don’t, Johnny here will cut your fingers from your hands.” His clothes quickly form a pile in front of him.

It’s cold outside as Craig shuffles in front of me covering his manhood. His face holds real fear now.

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