Page 113 of Demanding Mob Boss

He looks conflicted, but he's not moving.

"Elliott has Connor's daughter with him." I don't tell them the baby is Elliott's too, but they'll probably figure that out on their own. Or not.

It's hard to say how Elliott will react to spending time around Connor's mob brothers.

"Connor has a kid?" Tommy asks in shock.

I nod. "And that baby is in danger in Rockford. We have to get her and Elliott here before tonight's events get started."

Tommy's eyes widen. Is it because I know something heavy is going down tonight, or because he realizes his boss's family is in danger? Connor is Cian's cousin and that makes Dot his family too.

No one suggests calling or texting Cian to ask. None of us are willing to distract him tonight.

"I'm heading out," Tommy says.

"I'll tell Cian I made you," I offer.

"No." He shakes his head decisively. "We take responsibility for our own choices and this one is mine."

"Thank you."

"If you want Ini and the old lady to come over, you'd better call them now," Eoin says.

I agree and do just that.

Ini doesn't even argue when she hears the tone of my voice. That's one of the benefits of having a friend as close as family. They trust you and when you say they need to do something to stay safe, they believe you.

"I was making dinner," she says. "I have to put the food away in the fridge."

"Okay. Remember that big guy who came knocking at the apartment?"

"Yes."

"That's Arlo. He'll bring you and Mrs. Hart in his car." Which reminds me I need to text Arlo.

"At least I know what he looks like," Ini says. "Mrs. Hart isn't going to want to miss the end of her gameshow."

I do a quick calculation in my head. "Leave the second it is over."

"I'll do my best."

~ ~ ~

An hour and seventeen minutes after talking to Elliott, he reaches the building with Tommy following.

The usual driving time from Rockford to Chicago in good traffic is an hour and thirty-two minutes. Speeding increases the fatality rate in accidents associated with it, but there was no accident, and he is here safely with his baby, so I push the anxiety I feel knowing he had to have driven well above the speed limit away.

Ini and Mrs. Hart are not here yet, but Ini texted me when they left and again when they hit a traffic snarl. They should be here any minute.

"I know Connor will be glad you're here when he gets back." I usher Elliott inside.

He looks at Tommy and Eoin and grimaces. "Not so sure about that."

Connor's baby-daddy has brown eyes and hair, his delicate facial features enhanced by a close-cropped beard. A few inches taller than my five-feet-four-inches, he's slender and dressed like a hipster. He's very good looking, though not nearly as sexy as Cian. I can see why Connor is so into him though.

He indicates the baby in his arms. "This is Dot."

She clings to her dad, but looks at me and the others around us with curiosity. The baby has Connor's bright red hair and square jaw, but the shape of her brown eyes is all Elliott.

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