Page 15 of Southie
“And if I refuse?”
“Then he’s dead and the debt transfers to ya ma and she’s just as bad off as he is. Donie keeps her supplied with whatever she needs. What do you think would happen to her if he couldn’t anymore?”
He was right. I’d be in the same position. My mom had no way to pay off my Pops’ debts since he’d racked up even more. Also, her being a woman, money wouldn’t be the only way Paddy collected on what my Pops owed. I’d heard stories of what Paddy and his organization did to women. It was disgusting.
I swiped my hand down my face, trying to decide how to get out of this. Did I want to accept this deal? Did I have a choice?
Paddy’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“If you accept my offer, Liam, it’s a lifetime appointment. There’s one way out and that’s by blood. Your blood or mine.”
My eyes closed and I silently cursed my Pops for getting involved with Paddy. Although I hated my parents, I didn’t need their blood on my hands. It wasn’t like it was a terrible deal Paddy had offered. I wouldn’t have to deal with Chaney and Charlie’s nasty asses every weekend. Being an Enforcer would get me the money I needed to leave Southie for good.
On the downside, I’d be in bed with the Irish Mob and leaving Southie would be impossible unless it was in a body bag, or if Paddy was in one.
This needed to happen now. Tonight. I would worry about getting out later. No matter the consequences, this was my ticket out of Southie.
Take the deal, save my money, and save my father.
Don’t take the deal, my Pops dies, my Ma takes on the debt, and I still need to pay to keep her alive.
“As long as you cancel his debts and he’s refused entrance from all your establishments, we got a deal.”
“All right, lad. I don’t usually do this, but you have a deal. I’ll ban Donie, and he won’t rack up any more debt in my establishments or with my people. But understand this extends to my establishments only, Liam. If he chooses to go somewhere else, it’s still a debt he owes.”
I nodded.
“Okay, let’s get out of the cold. Me fucking nuts are freezing.”
I chuckled and got into the back of the SUV with Paddy the Irish Mob Boss of New England. I’d just made a deal with the damn devil to save my shitty ass parents.
Getting in bed with Paddy wasn’t the best decision, but this would be my chance to get out of Southie, and that was all that mattered. With the money I made working for Paddy, I’d have enough to skip town. I’d deal with the stipulation of being involved for life, later.
Chapter 4
Camilla
Five months later
Even after I found out my father had been treating his fighters just as bad as he’d treated me a few months ago, he kept me in the dark about what was bothering him. Not to mention things were getting worse between us.
The night after I finished shooting his promotional stills, on the ride home, I tried to approach the subject with him. I asked if there was something happening with the gym, but he shut me down. He told me in no uncertain terms was I ever to question him abouthisbusiness.
I didn’t understand his aggressiveness towards me.
I was just concerned about him.
Before we moved here and before Mama’s death, all he’d talk about was when he started his gym, he hoped we’d run it together. That it would be our family business. A place for his future grandchildren to inherit.
He’d planned on opening it up in Charlotte, but when Mama got sick and died, and then my drama, he chose Boston to start over.
The plan for my involvement in the gym had remained the same until recently. I didn’t understand what changed. Now, he didn’t want me to step foot in the place.
To be honest, I wasn’t complaining about not being able to be there every day because I’d much rather focus on my photography. What bothered me was his attitude about the whole situation. He was keeping a secret, and it wasn’t sitting well with me. I didn’t like not knowing what was going on with my father, especially after it put even more of a strain on our already tense relationship.
I wasn’t sure if he’d found out Damian had tried to get me to go out with him and was attempting to keep me away from him. He’d always been adamant about me not dating a fighter. But being with a fighter would be better than the situation I’d gotten out of a few months before we moved to Boston.
I pushed my thoughts abouthimout of my mind. That wasn’t important right now. Whatever was going on with my dad was what I needed to focus on.
