Page 7 of It Will Always Be You
“Ecstatic. Will there be notice if I need to stay past six?” I throw back, watching his eyes darken even further, and a muscle jumps in his jaw as he grinds his teeth.
“Why? Have a hot date to get to? If so, I can’t see this being a good fit for you.” His lip curls in distaste, and I so desperately want to slapthat look off his face. A face as handsome as his should never have such an ugly expression painted across it, nor should such ugly words leave a mouth as kissable as his. It truly is a sin.
I wonder if knocking him down a peg or two would cost me the job? It might be worth it. Asshole clearly needs it.
“No, but I would appreciate knowing so I can bring dinner with me,” I throw back, just about keeping my eye roll to myself.
“Dinner can be expensed,” he rebukes, looking ready to launch into his next attack when Donna cuts him off with a sharp glare.
“Okay, well, I think that about covers it. Thank you so much for your time. We’ll be in touch.” Reading the clear dismissal, I offer her a smile and a muttered thanks before gathering my things and getting the hell out of dodge.
Talk about a domineering asshole. God help anyone unfortunate enough to have to deal with him on a daily basis.
Chapter 6
“Absolutely not.” No fucking way this is going to work. That was my initial thought when Helen, in her tight skirt with her big blue eyes, followed Donna into the meeting room. She’s a distraction of the highest order, which is the last thing I need right now when my Da’s legacy rests heavily on my shoulders and all eyes are about to be on me, even more so than usual. Never mind the fact she’s woefully underqualified and overflowing with attitude. There’s no way we could work together. We wouldn’t last a week before she’d be bent over my desk, getting her ass spanked raw to knock the brat right out of her.
“What the hell is the issue this time?” Donna sighs, capping her pen and slotting it into her ponytail before giving me her full attention, arms crossed, lips pursed, tapping her foot. All signs of my impending doom.
Pointing at her, I respond, “You know what! Don’t give me that. Playing dumb doesn’t suit you. The girl has no experience.”
“Jonathan. You shot down the last nineinterviewees for reasons ranging from their lack of availability to not having the balls to stand up to you. Now, it’s your turn to listen.” She blows out a breath, rustling her bangs. Plucking her pen out of her hair, she pokes me with it as she continues. “We’re fast running out of options. She’s perfect for the role, and we both know it. Now, pick: her or Saul?”
“Fucking hell, woman. That spineless piece of shit wouldn’t last an hour. Fine. But if she sets one foot out of line, she’s gone. No second chances, you hear me? I will not be babying her.” Ignoring the smug look of satisfaction on her face, I take my leave.
As much as sitting in on these interviews has been a pain in my ass, it’s also been a nice reprieve from the bigger storm brewing. But with no more excuses or distractions available, I head to the carpark while dialling Seamus.
“Anything?” I demand as soon as the call connects.
“Other than painful small talk, a few underhanded deals, and, oh! They ran out of the salmon… Nope.”
“Cut the crap and be serious for a second. You know what I mean.”
“I am being serious. That salmon is insane. Have you tried it?” The mirth in his tone would normally have me laughing, but these days, laughter is a foreign concept.
“I put it on the menu. What do you think? I meant anything about Angus,” I clarify with a roll of my eyes as I peel out of the car park and head towards our underground torture chamber, nicknamed the Pit, to meet Ciaran.
“Nope.” He pops the p. “Maybe they have access to oil or diamonds or something up there.”
“You know as well as I do that the arms deal he was chasing after was easily worth five figures a month. How much oil would it take to be raking that in?”
“Shit, I don’t know. Why does this even matter?”
“Because Da says it does. Because there’s a rumour that whatever he is up to isn’t Table approved.” The implications of that hang between us like a thread neither of us want to pull. There’s only one thing thefive heads of the most powerful and deadly mafia factions agree on wholeheartedly, only one rule they must abide by to keep their seat at the Table. If Angus has gone against that and gotten involved in the flesh trade? God help him, for he will be spared no mercy.
The silence stretches between us for a moment, heavy with bitter understanding, before Seamus rasps, “Roger that. I’ll get Brennan to do some digging for us. Speaking of the twins, you headed to meet Ciaran?”
“Yeah. Any idea what he caught?” I enquire. Ciaran’s tendency to be vague at best is one of those qualities that drives me up the wall while also making him the best at sniffing out intel most would never get their hands on.
“None. He just said it was something juicy. Fill me in later?” With a grunt, I hang up on him and continue making my way to the Pit. Pulling into the car park, I abandon my car before clearing security and heading to the basement.
“You catch me something, O’Malley?” I call, strolling into the all-too-familiar room. At this point, this place may as well be my second home for the number of hours I’ve spent here. Spying him reclining against the wall, one foot crossed over the over, a smug smirk on his face, I make my way over to him. The quietness has me quirking an eyebrow at him in question.
“Oh, you could say that,” he taunts, jerking his head for me to follow him deeper into the room. All around us are tools of the worst kind, and the urge to stretch my muscles and put some of those to good use has me salivating, wondering where the fuck his captive is.
I swear, if he dragged me out here to chat…
“Stop edging me like I’m your wife and tell me what’s going on.” He stops walking suddenly, and I nearly run into his back. Whirling around to face me with a manic look in his icy blue eyes, he says, “Look down, Johnny.”
