Page 7 of Crimson Tears

“What’s the red tattoo on your neck for?” I ask, bringing the blanket up to my chin, the adrenaline of the day settling into a tired numbness.

“Love.” Cillian turns on his side away from me, falling asleep swiftly as my mind runs through all of the things that could mean. One thing I’ll never forget is the night four years ago whenI lost my virginity to Cillian. He cuddled me close and drew a red Celtic knot on my hand. The trinity knot, the same one on his neck.

‘For love, for us, for forever,’ he whispered in my ear as we fell asleep in each other's arms.

The plane lands a few hours later, and I wake with anxiety twisting my gut. Cillian is going to be staying with me and my boyfriend. Although, Boris feels like so much more than that.

He was the man who literally helped me put myself back together, get my life together, all while keeping me hidden from my father and his fecked up crew of Reapers.

He knows who Cillian used to be to me. The moment we step into the house, I know he’s going to question my feelings, and it will put him on edge. I’m determined to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“Morning, Sweetheart,” Cillian says, standing to stretch as the cabin doors open.

I do the same, realizing I slept with all of my weapons tied close around my waist. Cillian eyes them as I stand to stretch as well.

“Think I was going to make a move on you in your sleep?” A devious smile dances on his lips.

I laugh, flipping my hair over my shoulder and turning to grab my bag to walk off the plane.

“You never would have stood a chance.”

A deep chuckle causes butterflies to erupt in my stomach as he approaches from behind, pulling my bag off of my shoulders. He leans into my ear, his breath tickling me.

“Check your pocket if you think that’s true.”

I tilt my head, our noses brushing as I slip my hand into my pocket to find a note. I pull it out, but it’s then that I notice thepen behind his ear. I would put money on the fact that he just slipped that into my pants when he took my bag from me.

Two can play at that game. I sigh, leaning into him and his arm casually wraps around me, as if we hadn’t spent a day apart for the last three years of our lives. His lips brush my forehead, and I soak in the feeling of calm, safety,home.

Then, I pull away quickly, careful not to let my feelings stray too far. “You check yours, Killer.”

His eyes widen as he pulls the note he left me out of his pants and a booming laugh leaves his lips, so loud that I can hear it even when he’s outside the plane.

An easy smile comes to my face as we get into my car, a deep plum mustang that I paid for with my own hard-earned money; I even had it upgraded with a special engine.

If this man thought I was fast with the little BMW I rented before, he’s going to shit his pants in the five-point harness in my car.

I can’t feckin’ wait.

Chapter 3

While putting the finishing touches on Nessa's favorite dish, I hear the sound of an engine I know all too well.

A smile grows on my face, one that seems unable to leave anytime she is near. Even just the sound of her car pulling up to our home has this full feeling growing in my heart.

I truly believed the universe was against me at every turn. Losing my wife was hard; but having to care for my son, who's eyes were mirrors of hers, was the hardest.

I had a few relationships prior to my sweet little fox coming along, but none of them really ever felt right.

In the beginning, our relationship was strange and felt forbidden. She is twenty-four to my fifty-two. The same age as my son and his wife. She also just so happens to be one of their very few friends.

As time went on though, age became just a number. Now we have a home together. For the first time in a long time, I feel happy and content. Peaceful.

Well, as peaceful as a retired mafia don who still lives a vast life of crime can get, that is.

I plate up the Irish stew and homemade soda bread that my son may or may not have assisted in making as I hear the front door open. Normally, she would come right into the kitchen, so I pause when I hear a male voice with her.

“So this is the old man’s place?”

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