Page 23 of Southie
No.
They didn’t enter into them blindly.
In my case, I was paying for my father’s sins by being Paddy’s Enforcer. Not a choice I would’ve normally made, but what choice did I have? I could do the same for Mr. Jennings, in return for his help, so his daughter didn’t have to pay the price for his mistake.
During all real estate deals concerning most neighborhoods in Boston, especially Southie, agents made potential buyers aware that protection was due at the end of the first month of setting up shop with Paddy O’Connor. Mr. Jennings knew what he was getting into, but when the first payment was due, he refused when the runner came to collect, and then he kept refusing.
I’d needed to get rid of Johnny and Sean to strike that deal with Mr. Jennings. It was something I’d come up with on the spot and decided it would benefit us both. I didn’t truly trust Johnny or Sean. Both men had worked for Paddy well before I joined the ranks. I’d heard grumblings of Sean being pissed Paddy gave me the job instead of him, so I wouldn’t trust either one of them with this.
The other reason I’d needed to get them out of Jennings’ office was jealousy. I didn’t like the looks they’d given Jennings’ daughter, especially the way Sean’s beady eyes had raked over her body. Although she’d worn a heavy coat, her curvaceous hips and thick thighs had been on full display for all to see. Both Sean and Johnny had practically drooled over her. If one of them had made the mistake of saying something to her, I would’ve lost my shit. It had taken everything I had not to fuck Sean up when he winked at her as they left the office.
Paddy had informed me I’d be dealing with a high-profile person refusing to pay protection. I’d been a little thrown off when he handed me an address in Southie. If not anywhere else, business owners in Southie understood what the deal was.
When I became his Enforcer, it meant I wasn’t in the neighborhood as much anymore unless it was to see my grandmother. After taking the job, I bought a place in Mission Hill to get away from my parents. It wasn’t as far from Southie as I would’ve liked, but for right now it served its purpose. So, it confused me as to why a high-profile person would even be in Southie.
Paddy had said nothing about who it was, which wasn’t unusual. More often than not, he handed me an address and told me how much the debt was. My job was to either get the money or rough them up enough so the next time they paid on time. If Paddy had already given a warning, that meant they had a death sentence I’d carry out.
From my understanding, Paddy had sent several warnings to Mr. Jennings, so I’d wondered why Paddy had waited so long to call me in when he’d given Mr. Jennings enough warnings. More warnings than I’d ever known him to give to anyone. Most of the time, people only received one.
Either way, Paddy had ordered a death sentence if he didn’t pay that night.
The second I entered Premier Boxing and my eyes landed on the former professional boxer, my steps faltered. When he approached me, Sean, and Johnny, I’d been speechless when he asked if we needed help. Jennings had been my idol growing up, and I was star-struck. To tell the truth, in our meeting, it was hard not to be a fan. Even under the circumstances, it had been an honor to meet him.
After blinking rapidly and the shock wearing off, introductions were made that would change Roland Jennings' life forever.
Roland Jennings was the fighter I’d patterned my skills after. When he retired, it devastated me. However, being the professional I was, I quickly tamped down my excitement. The job kept my Pops and Ma breathing, whether they deserved it or not.
I’d managed not to get sidetracked untilher.
When she walked in, things changed.
Staring at her now, it was like looking at my future, which was crazy for me to think because I lived day by day, never thinking I’d be around for the next. For the longest time, my dream had been to get the hell out of Southie. Everything I did went toward that goal. Now working for Paddy, I held on to that dream but lived more for the day because it could be my last.
A chance encounter with an unknown woman had me back to having that dream but having her in it as well.
I wanted her in my life permanently.
In short, Ms. Jennings was a fucking goddess and a goddamn distraction.
My grandmother calling my name brought me back from my swirling thoughts. Whenever I was around my grandmother, she always made me smile.
The shock on Ms. Jennings face mirrored that samedeer caught in headlightslook from when I’d met her in her father’s office, and it didn’t go unnoticed.
“It’s you.”
I leaned forward, gave my grandmother a kiss on the cheek, and looked at the alluring woman. “It is.”
“Wait,” my grandmother looked between the two of us, “you two have met?”
I nodded. “I met Ms. Jennings a few months ago.”
Even though my grandmother knew of my involvement in Paddy’s business, she didn’t need to hear why our paths had crossed. The more I kept from my grandmother about this life, the better.
“Well, this is my Liam. The grandson I’ve been telling you about. The one I wanted you to meet.”
My nana smirked, and I rolled my eyes. She swore up and down that with my new job I’d end up with some hoodsie, so she took matters into her own hands to keep it from happening.
Like with any young woman my grandmother met, she told them about me and tried to hook me up. Yes, my seventy-nine-year-old grandmother tried to play matchmaker. I kept reminding her I wasn’t the good little Irish Catholic boy I once was, and these women she brought around were way too good for someone like me. Like Ms. Jennings.
