Page 1 of Bloom: Part 2

PROLOGUE

“No, no, no. Whatever it is you need, fuck no!” I held up my hand to stop my brother Cillian in his tracks, skirting around him to get to my car.

“Come on, Keegan. You don’t even know why I’m here. Can’t I miss my baby brother?”

I snorted. Maybe twelve-year-old Keegan would have been moved by those words. Me? Not so much. I’d outgrown the hero worship of my eldest brother since middle school, when I learned what our family was and what he was to become.

“Yeah, right. When was the last time you came to see me just because? And at my workplace? Are you crazy? How did you even get into this parking lot? It’s for staff only.”

“Really? There aren’t many places I can’t get into.”

I pressed the button on my fob to unlock my car. Cillian slid between me and the car door, folding his arms across his broad chest. His muscular arms, covered in tattoo sleeves, bulged in his gray T-shirt.

If he doesn’t dress better, Pop will never hand over the family to him.

He has to put Cillian in charge. If not him, I’m the only one left. Emil is too careless for the job, and I tapped out years ago. In fact, I’ve never been in.

“Listen, Cill, you can’t keep interfering with my work.”

“How am I interfering? Your shift’s over, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but I worked a sixteen-hour shift. All I want right now is a shower and some sleep.”

And maybe a quick roll in the hay if Aurie was available. Another reason I had to tap out of the Mafia. I was gay, and I couldn’t see Pop accepting that, even if everyone said I was his favorite son. So far, I’d hidden my sexuality from everyone, but it was only a matter of time before the secret was out.

“And you’ll get it, but before that, you’re needed.”

I groaned. “Whoever’s banged up this time, take them to the hospital. That’s what it’s there for. Pop pays his taxes.”

“You’re not fixing anyone. Not this time.”

“Then it’s really not an emergency. See you Sunday.”

On Sundays, our mother insisted all the family members sit down to have dinner together, even though both Cill and I had moved out. She only gave me a pass when I was on duty at the hospital.

“Pop sent me for you.”

“What?”

Cillian reached into his pockets and took out a cigarette from the box with the stylish golden crest that represented Pop’s favorite brand. He lit it up and took a deep drag, the orange tip glowing in the dim-lit parking lot, and blew out the stream of smoke.

“We should go,” he said. “He doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

I heaved a sigh and nodded. Anyone else I would be able to refuse, but not my father. So many people, including Cillian, had cautioned me against asking his permission to walk away from our crime family businesses. But he was wrong. Not only hadPop consented but also supported my passion by paying for med school. With my uncle on my side, we’d convinced him to allow me to live my own life.

“What is it about?”

“He’ll tell you. Whatever you do, just don’t argue.”

Hell. Now I was really curious, but Cillian was tightlipped, so I knew he wouldn’t say anything else. We got into my car, and I backed out of the parking spot. I resumed my dystopian audiobook but missed half of it. My mind was racing with possibilities—none of them good.

I followed Cillian’s directions, and when I rolled to a stop outside one of my father’s warehouses in the industrial quarter, my earlier exhaustion vanished. A shiver of unease snaked its way up my spine as we exited the car. Soldiers patrolled the area, strapped with guns that weren’t legal to carry.

“What the hell is this, Cillian?” I whispered.

“Don’t say anything. Just follow me.”

As we approached the entrance, the heavy steel door creaked open, and a silhouette appeared: a tall, distinguished man with a straight nose and neatly styled black hair. Uncle Mickey was one of my father’s most trusted enforcers. His gray eyes flickered over to Cillian, then landed on me. Next to him stood a stocky man with a patch over his left eye. “Keegan.” Uncle’s voice was gravelly, as if he had swallowed shards of glass and washed it down with whiskey. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

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