Page 64 of Captivated

The Irish pub we pull up to in Woodlawn Heights reminds me of the place our dad used to take us to back in Boston. He always had to leave us to go and talk to someone after we ordered our food, and didn’t come back until Sean and I were almost finished.

Sean’s face still holds the markings of the assholes we’re about to meet, and I take a deep breath on the sidewalk before stepping inside. I need to be the confident Cassie that takes no shit from anyone so we have a chance of making it out of here in one piece.

I was used to being looked at as an extension of my dad back in the day. Someone to also respect and be spoken to like I was important. So, I pull my shoulders back and walk in there like Iknow who I am even when I have no idea who I am or where I belong anymore.

Right now, Sean needs me, and I’ll pretend to be whomever I need to be if it means we’re alive in an hour.

“Sean!” a guy who looks to be just a few years older than me shouts as a greeting, acting like they’re two old friends reuniting. He’s flanked by two other guys who look like they only speak when ordered to.

“Liam,” my brother replies, his face neutral.

“Tell me you have something for me,” he says, then looks at me with a crooked grin. “Let me guess…you don’t have the money and you’re here to offer this lovely woman as payment? You must be good if Sean thinks you’re worth $100,000.”

“She’s my sister.”

Liam shrugs. “Doesn’t answer my question.”

“I’m not payment,” I sneer, “Ihavethe payment.”

Laughing, Liam looks to the guys beside him. “Looks like Seany-boy needed his big sister to bail him out. Tell me, sweetheart, where did you get that kind of money?” His eyes travel down my body, which is exactly why I dressed like this.

“I have my ways,” I tell him. “But I don’t have all of it.”

He throws his head back and laughs harder. “That’s too bad for your brother then, sweetheart.”

“I have $88,000. I can get the rest in a few weeks if you give me time.”

“Where is it?” His eyes drift over my empty hands.

“I’ll transfer it to you when I have your word you’ll give me time for the rest.”

“How can I trust you’re good for it? Your brother is a degenerate gambler and your father was a conniving bastard who thought he could kill his way to the top and still be respected. And I don’t know you at all to trust you. Your family doesn’t exactly exude trust.”

The air leaves my lungs and I manage to only whisper, “What about my dad?”

Why is he bringing up our dad?

“You didn’t know who your dad was, did you? Your brother didn’t either,” he says smugly.

I look at Sean and he’s looking at his feet. “What is he talking about?”

“When I asked my dad about yours, he knew all about him. He said Finn Connelly was an arrogant man who was a trusted captain in the Boston family until he got greedy and decided he wanted to be boss. He took out everyone in his way.”

“What are you talking about? He was in FBI custody when the family killed him for turning state’s evidence.”

All three guys laugh. “No, sweetheart. There was no FBI. Your dad was a ruthless son-of-a-bitch who only had one goal. To be boss.”

“No.” I shake my head. “You’re lying.”

“Why would I lie about that? It was ten years ago and in a different city. The lore of your father has been used to teach all of us to watch our backs, even with those who we think we can trust. Which is why I don’t trust you, sweetheart.”

This whole time I thought my dad was finally going to choose my brother and I. I thought he had enough good left in him to choose hisrealfamily. I thought he was trying to keep us together.

He lied to me.

Those weren’t FBI agents?

He just hired men in suits to trick me and Sean when they were probably just hired muscle to keep him safe from the rest of the family coming after him.

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