Page 62 of Watch Me, Daddy

He didn’t need to do that any longer.

“Our business with the Murphys is also concluded,” he acknowledged.

I nodded once, meeting his gaze, searching it for any sign of betrayal and finding nothing of the sort.

“Enjoy the rest of your night,” I said.

“You too,” he answered.

I turned and walked right out the front door. Time was ticking by. Irina was waiting for me, but I had one last stop to make before I returned to her.

CHAPTER18

Irina

As the minutes ticked by, an uneasiness settled deep within me, like a knot tightening in my stomach. My heart raced with worry for Aidan, each passing moment heightening my anxiety. The fear of losing him, of something terrible happening, gnawed at me. I found myself restless and paced the kitchen, unable to shake off the impending sense of doom.

What if he got hurt? What if Anton killed him?

Three of the Murphys sat at the kitchen table, watching me pace back and forth. The twins, Connor and Caden, as well as Ada, were here for the night, at least until Aidan came back. They were here on the off chance that the Kozlovs had caught wind of our plan, but it had been painfully quiet for what seemed like hours. The rest of the Murphy clan was close. I’d had the opportunity to meet them all, but these three were my favorite.

Kieran and Leah sat at the head of the family. They were sweet, but they had a family of their own to care for and protect. Cormac and Caitlin were fun, but I hadn’t gotten the chance to know them very well yet. I hadn’t met Ada’s husband either, but from what I gathered, he was just as much of a powerhouse.

I glanced at the clock. It was one in the morning now. Aidan had left shortly after eleven. What if he wasn’t coming back? Why had he needed to go in alone? Why was that necessary?

With a soft sigh, Ada’s dark blue eyes met mine.

“Come sit down, Irina. Let me pour you a drink,” she offered.

“What if he needs my help?” I asked.

“Aidan would have all of our heads on a platter if we allowed you anywhere near Anton Kozlov ever again, especially tonight,” Ada replied, and Connor laughed softly.

“You can say that again,” he murmured.

“Don’t worry, Irina. Aidan can handle his own,” Caden added.

I peered back at Ada, her presence as striking as ever. Her trademark scarlet red lips were a bold statement against the backdrop of her impeccable fashion sense. Every detail of her appearance was meticulously styled, from her chestnut hair that held a hint of rich burgundy when it caught the light, to the sharp lines of her designer pant suit that spoke to her power and sophistication.

She wasn’t that much older than me, but the aura she presented was one I wanted to make my own. Ada’s lips curled into a knowing smile as she sipped her martini, her eyes fixed on me.

“You know, Irina, there was a time when Aidan’s strength really surprised us, and it wasn’t in a knife fight,” she began, her tone dripping with intrigue. The way she said it broke through my fear, and I sat down at the table beside her. She picked up an empty glass and poured me two fingers of whiskey. I didn’t know very much about it except it burned on the way down, but I could read the label on the bottle.

It was Midleton Very Rare. It lookedexpensive.

“Tell me.” I leaned in and gestured for her to continue.

“Well, it was during a high-stakes poker game. Aidan was just starting to make a name for himself here in Boston along with the rest of us. He had just secured a deal with a notorious gambling house, but there was a catch. The regulars didn’t take too kindly to newcomers. Aidan found himself in a dangerous situation, outnumbered and facing some of the toughest players in the city,” Ada began, glancing at Connor and Caden with a soft smile.

“I remember that night,” Connor chimed in, a playful grin on his face. I leaned in, very curious now.

“So, they challenged him to a game of poker, and he sat down to play. They thought they were going to hand his ass to him without even trying,” Caden continued, leaning forward.

Ada’s gaze returned to mine, her voice low. “By the end of that night, Irina, Aidan had cleaned the table, wiped out his competitors, and walked away with the entire pot.”

“He didn’t just get lucky, either. He won with skill,” Conner added.

“And here I thought fistfights were his specialty,” I replied, my tone lighter.

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