Page 35 of Omega in Hiding

“I thought so. Just to be clear, my beef is with the Irishmobs, not the Irish people.” He grimaces. “Just wanted you to know that.”

“I appreciate you saying that. Tensions are running high right now. I’d hate to get caught up in the anger that’s directed toward the O’Sullivan Clan.”

“No worry of that. You protected Baby Joesph and Paolo. I’m not concerned about you harming any of us. You seem like a peaceful kind of guy.” He laughs. “Although, from what Enzo says you handle a gun well.”

I tense. “I think living in Los Demonios has taught me to be prepared for anything.”

“Yes,” he murmurs. “It’s a violent city.” He hesitates and then adds, “Dario told me about your sister. I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“Thanks.” I feel guilty lying, but it’s a necessity.

“Do you have any other family? You never ask for time off, so I wondered.” He shifts Baby Joesph to his other hip, and the baby whimpers.

“No. My family is gone,” I lie. “Mam died years ago and Da soon after.”

“I see.” His expression is empathetic. “I’m sure your sister’s death took a toll on them.”

“Yeah.” I hate accepting his sympathy for a lie, but it’s imperative he stop digging into my past. If he thinks my entire family is gone, maybe he’ll lose interest in me.

He glances down at Baby Joesph. “If I lost this little one, I’m not sure I could go on.”

“I understand.”

He smiles weakly. “I feel like you do understand. You’re very empathetic, Connor. I can see why the childcare agency you work for feels you’re a valuable asset.”

“They’re a good company to work for.” It makes me uneasy because he’s still fixating on me too much. My goal is to be helpful, but in the background. I never want to be the center of attention. Unfortunately, my actions today have put a spotlight on me. I try to change the subject. “So, do you know what Dario and Valentino have planned against the O’Sullivan Clan?”

Alessio’s face hardens. “I don’t know all the details just yet. That’s what we’re going to dive into tomorrow when we meet with Valentino. However, I do know that it wasn’t just the O’Sullivan Clan behind the attack today.”

“No?” I frown.

“Nope.” He scowls. “Rumor has it the Murphy Clan was also involved.”

I freeze at the mention of my family’s syndicate. My heart speeds up and shock rolls through me. I’m not sure how to respond. But he’s watching me, so I have to say something. “Why… why would they get involved?”

He exhales. “The last three years, the Murphy Clan and my family, The Abella Syndicate, have been feuding. My late father and Seamus Murphy butted heads over some casinos, and it grew into a huge dispute. You know how that shit happens.”

“I’ve heard that can happen, yeah.” Fear shifts through me when he literally says my father’s name. I haven’t kept track of my family, or mob news in general, but I’m very familiar with my father’s character. Seamus Murphy is a man who’s easily offended and who holds grudges for life. If my family started feuding with the Abella Syndicate, that was after I left. But that doesn’t make this situation any less precarious for me. If Alessio and Dario connect me in any way to the Murphy Clan, I’m toast. I won’t just get fired. I’ll probably be murdered and made an example of.

“Now that I’m the head of the Abella Syndicate, I can’t just let this kind of thing go,” Alessio says, apparently oblivious to the meltdown I’m experiencing. “It’s frustrating, though. After marrying Dario and merging with the Black Knives, I really hoped that the merge might force the Murphy’s to back off. Apparently, that isn’t the case. Not if they were in cahoots with the O’Sullivan Clan.”

“Yeah. I understand your frustration.” I sound robotic. It's impossible not to feel paranoid as I sit listening to Alessio. I feel as if I have a giant bullseye on my back. By somehorrendousfluke, I’ve landed in the middle of a nightmare scenario. My one goal the last six years has been to avoid anything Mafia related, simply so I wouldn’t run into my family. Now, not only am I in danger of my employer finding outwhoI am, but I’m also in danger of my family finding outwhereI am.

Alessio narrows his eyes. “Are you okay, Connor? You look kind of pale.”

I swallow hard. “I’m fine. I uh… I think the events of today are catching up with me.”

“Of course. I should have thought of that. Today has been traumatic for all of us.” His expression is empathetic. “I’m not letting Baby Joesph out of my sight. Why don’t you go rest or something? Tomorrow will be a long, stressful day.”

I rise slowly, nodding. “Uh, yeah. If you don’t mind, I think I could use a nap.” I force a smile, praying he can’t sense that I’m about to pass out from fear and stress. “You sure you don’t need me anymore tonight?”

“I’m sure.” He smiles reassuringly. “In fact, we won’t go to see Valentino until the afternoon. You should sleep in for once.”

“Maybe I will.” I force another smile. “Thanks, Alessio. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you then.”

I leave him and go inside the house, my head swirling. I have to get away from this situation. There’s no two ways about it. I can’t stay here. Not when Alessio and Dario are going to war against my family. Whether I tried to abandon my past or not, it’s caught up to me. I’m terrified that someone in this house will figure out who I am. It’s too dangerous to stay. My family will probably find me now too. The only logical thing to do is to disappear.

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