Page 66 of Twisted Secrets
He looked up from his computer and frowned. The light had changed in the room, the shadows getting longer as the sun went down. “How long have I been working?”
Olivia shrugged. “Three movies’ worth of time.”
Damn it, he hadn’t meant to zone out on her like that. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get so distracted.”
“It’s okay.” She shot another look at the nearest window. “I’m just jumpy. You’re sure he couldn’t track my phone?”
He set the laptop aside and stood, stretching. “Chances are that he wouldn’t have the tech to do it, since you have a prepaid phone. Even if hecan, we’re still better set up here than we would be anywhere else. Small hotels have too many entrances and exits to cover with five men. My men know this area, and they know this house. No one is going to get close without them seeing.”
She didn’t look completely convinced, but she nodded all the same. “Okay. I’m just…I’m not good at sitting on my hands while other people do the work.”
He understood that. If he hadn’t had the money mystery occupying him, he’d probably be in the exact same headspace as she was. “It will be okay. Between Teague and Aiden, this isn’t going to get away from us.” He’d even called in a favor with Carrigan—and, through her, James. With all three families in Boston uniting, even Dmitri Romanov would think twice before coming after Olivia. “They have a meeting set up for tomorrow. They’ll make him back off.”
“I’m sure you’re right. It just seems like I should be there.” She held up a hand. “I know I can’t and that might be playing into his hands, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m having trouble with all this.”
He’d done what he could do to stack the whole thing in their favor, but obviously he’d missed a step when it came to comforting her. Cillian stepped closer, until they were almost chest to chest, and lowered his voice. “What can I do to make this easier for you?”
Her smile was almost real this time. “You’re a strange man, Cillian.”
“It’s been said before.” And it would no doubt be said again. As it was, he now owed serious favors to three of the most powerful men in Boston. It didn’t matter that two of them were his brothers and one would eventually be his brother-in-law. Family meant a lot, but he’d put Olivia in front of family, and that wasn’t something they were going to forget anytime soon. It wouldn’t stop them from helping him, but he’d have a whole hell of a lot to answer for once this all died down.
The only one whowasn’tactively pissed at him was Carrigan, and that was only because, as she’d said on the phone, she’d told everyone that they hadn’t seen thelast of Dmitri Romanov six months ago when he disappeared from Boston. Their father hadn’t listened, and neither had Aiden.
Well, they were listening now.
He took her hand. “You said something about food?”
“I did.” She led him out of the living room and down the hall to the kitchen, where Hadley was staring intently at the stove. “Hadley and I have prepared a very glamorous and high-end macaroni and cheese for dinner thanks to your men delivering a truly outstanding amount of food.”
“Kraft?”
She laughed. “Is there any other kind?”
“Not as far as I’m concerned. I’m a fan.” Always had been, much to his mother’s annoyance. But then, plenty of shit Cillian had done over the years put that look of disparaging frustration on her face. One would think she’d finally accept it. But not Aileen O’Malley. She just kept right on trying.I wonder what she thinks of all this. He cringed.On second thought, better not to know.
Olivia dished up two large bowls and a much smaller one, and set them on the table. “Dinner is served.”
He didn’t realize he was starving until he took that first bite. Cillian smiled at Hadley. “You did a great job with dinner.”
She ducked her head and stuffed a massive spoonful of food into her mouth—or mostly in her mouth. A girl after his own heart. He glanced at Olivia to find her watching him with that strange look on her face again. “Do I have food in my teeth or something?”
“No. It’s just…Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” She took a bite.
He almost pressed, but decided that it was possibly something she didn’t want to talk aboutin front of her daughter. This whole dealing-with-a-small-human thing was full of more pitfalls than he could have guessed. Once dinner was done, he sat back and reallylookedat Olivia. He’d seen the anguish on her face this morning when she realized that her neighbor had been hurt by her ex, and he knew all too well that it wasn’t gone, no matter how good a face she tried to put on it. “Why don’t you go take a bath and try to relax?”
The look of disbelief she gave him would have been comical under other circumstances. “A bath.”
“Yeah.” He got up and started the water running. “Hadley and I’ll do the dishes and get the kitchen all squared away.”
“You…I…” She shook her head. “You don’t have to do that.”
He knew, but he also knew that Olivia would run herself into the ground if she didn’t stop and take a little time for herself. And the reality was that if he wanted something more with her, he’d have to get to know her daughter, too. He might as well take out two birds with one stone right now.
But Cillian waited, because if she didn’t trust him with Hadley, he wasn’t going to push. She’d proven herself to be a fierce mother and she’d already gone through hell trying to create a better life for her daughter. It would hurt if she didn’t want him spending time alone with her, but he’d understand.
Finally, Olivia nodded. “I guess a bath would be nice.”
He let loose a breath he hadn’t even been aware he was holding. “We’ll hold down the fort, won’t we, Hadley?”
