Page 24 of Demanding Mob Boss

My babysitter told me there had been an accident when they didn’t come home. She said they were both taken to the hospital and we had to hope they would be okay. I hoped so hard all night and the next day, right up until my aunt showed up to tell me they were gone.

Gone and never coming back.

I hated hope after that.

So, I'm not going to hope for Cian to crush on me like I’m crushing on him.

But I'm not quitting my job either and my friends both promised to stop harassing me about it. They also both told me to be careful.

I look around the office where I work. There is nothing that can hurt me here. I'm in more danger going to and from work every day than the time I spend in this building. If it wasn't safe Cian wouldn't let his sister work here. He's very protective of Shea.

I've never met the other sister, Máire. She's the same age as me, but she's attending university abroad. In Ireland. They still have family there. What would it be like to have family in another country? I never knew any of my dad's family. My aunt is my mom's sister and she never talked about where their family came from.

"You look lost in thought," Cian says. "Are you still worried what your friends think about you working for me?"

"No." I smile, glad he was able to convince them when I couldn't. "I was thinking about family. You know where yours comes from. I don't even know if my dad had siblings."

"Why not?"

"My dad wasn't on speaking terms with his family and none of them came to the funeral, but when I asked my aunt if my grandparents were all dead, she said no. That my dad's parents were both still living. And they didn’t want me."

"She told you they didn't want you?"

"Yes. It had to be the truth, because if anyone in my father's family had wanted me, she and my uncle would have been relieved to be able to send me away."

His hands fisting at his sides, Cian makes a strange sound, but his expression doesn't change.

Connor curses.

My brows furrow. "What's the matter, Connor?"

"Uh…"

"Nothing," Cian says. "Right, Connor?"

"Right." Connor doesn't look convincing, but I'm not one to pry, so I don't ask again.

"Thank you for talking to Ini and Mrs. Hart," I say to Cian. "That was really kind of you."

Cian shrugs. "It had to be done. You're not quitting."

His forcefulness might bother someone else, but it makes me feel safe. I've never responded to the world like other people.

Lachlan comes into the office suite, his gaze taking in everyone standing around my desk. "You ready, boss?"

"Yes." Cian's less than revealing expression shutters completely. "Connor, I want you in this meeting too. Anna, you are on the phones."

I take them their lunch when it arrives. Tension thrums in the air and they don't say anything when I'm in the room.

Shea joins me for mine. "I love that you're here, Anna. I miss Máire and it's like having another sister around."

I don't let people in. I don't get close to people, but these Doyles, it's like they've always been there, inside the wall I put between me and the world.

"I hope I get to meet her someday," I say.

"I'm sure you will. Ma wants to meet you."

"Your mother? I wonder why."

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