Page 34 of Grind
“Anything, Connor,” and the fact I know he means it makes my eyes burn. Doyles don’t fucking cry.
Taking another slug of the whiskey, I run a hand through my hair. “If I wanted to do a scholarship at the law school, make sure it went to someone working in the domestic violence center, would you know how to do that?”
His eyes are hard on mine, and finally he nods. “Yeah, we could arrange that easily enough. How much?”
I shrug. “Whatever it takes to cover her tuition, living expenses, that shit. I don’t want her to want for anything. Can you do that? The sooner it starts, the better.”
I can’t make this right, but I can make one thing right. And make sure that Ava’s future, and maybe in some way my dad’s legacy, goes on the way it should. That’s there’s one good thing that comes out of me epically fucking this up.
“Is this about Claire?” Seamus’ voice is barely above a whisper.
Even just her name still rips pain through me. That might never change. But I’ve come to realize I need to find a way to let that go.
I shake my head. “Seamus, I’ll never forget Claire and I’m always going to feel like shit about what happened to her. I’ll always wish that we had found a way to protect our cousin. We all will.”
It’s one of the rare moments where Seamus lets his feeling show. The pain, the anger and the regret at Claire’s lost potential there mirrors my own.
“And maybe this was about Claire when it started. I saw a woman that I could protect. A situation that I could make right. But as I’ve gotten to know Ava,” my voice trails off as I consider my words. “As I’ve gotten to know Ava, this has become about her. I’m completely focused on making sure that she gets justice, that this gets resolved, and that she’s happy. It’s about the present, and maybe the future. But not so much about the past.”
There’s a long pause, and then Seamus squares his shoulders.
“Good. So what are we going to do about Brooks?” Seamus puts a hand briefly on my shoulder. “You say she’s not your girl. I don’t believe you. And we don’t let people get away with hurting our family.”
“People have ended up floating in the harbor for less,” I growl.
“We can’t kill him, Connor. Even if he deserves it. Our friends on the force would be happy to help us, but things are too stressed now with Dad…”
“I know.” I straighten up and take another drink before putting the bottle down definitively. “I have a better idea.”
14
Connor
Just being in this office makes me sick.
“Mayor Stacy. Thank you for agreeing to see me.” It’s hard not to punch the mayor’s smug face. He sits in a giant leather chair behind an ornate mahogany desk. He doesn’t stand up, but gestures to a chair and I sit down.
“Busy out there,” the mayor says, nodding toward the window. It offers a generous view of Faneuil Hall, bustling with tourists. I hate small talk, but it’s part of the negotiations.
“Business is booming,” I agree, folding my hands in front of me.
“Connor,” the mayor says, sighing. “I’ve always liked you. We don’t need to talk about your family, or who’s a good upstanding citizen and who isn’t. We both know how power works. We also both know you attacked my son.”
“He attacked Ava Buchanan,” I grind out. “He’s been trouble for you, Mayor Stacy. How many more times are you going to have to cover for his bad behavior?”
“Ava is such a nice girl,” the mayor says, his eyes still on the crowd below. “I really hoped it would work out between those two. She’s a hard worker. Thought she’d have a calming influence on him.”
My hands press into his desk so hard it threatens to break. Stay calm, Doyle. “He needs to learn to respect women and keep his hands to himself.”
Mayor Stacy rolls his eyes heavenward. “I’ve had that conversation with him, Connor. I don’t know what else you want me to do here.”
Take a deep breath. I need to focus if I’m going to keep Ava safe.
Forcibly, I relax my shoulders. “Let’s make a deal, sir. You keep Brooks away from Ava, and then I won’t have to let the city legislature know about your brother’s illegal labor practices at that new hotel he’s building on the seaport.”
I lean back in my chair.
He blinks several times.
