Page 86 of Demanding Mob Boss

"Cian won't kill you. He cares about you."

Connor sighs. "I know you think my cousin walks on water, Anna."

Not so much. Not after today.

"But he's the boss. He has to do what's best for the mob."

Is that why he let the detectives take me? Because it was the best thing for the organization? "Well, killing you isn't best for anyone." That's one thing I'm sure of.

"Definitely not for me." There's a smile in his voice.

"I want to meet Elliott and Dot." A few months ago, that would never have come out of my mouth.

Especially after a day like today when I hit my mental limit. But my life has changed. There are more people in it than just my two friends. And I'm okay with adding to that number. Which is the opposite of how I've operated since my parents died. I've kept my inner circle to two because I couldn't trust anyone else.

Until I started working at Doyle & Byrne.

I don't feel as safe as I did when I started working for Cian, but I'm still glad I know these people. Because I fit here. Even if fitting in with a mob is riskier than I realized.

"I want you to meet them too. After Shea was attacked, I sent them out of town. Elliott wasn't happy. We'd only had a couple of weeks being back together, but I need him and our daughter to be safe."

"Have you told your parents yet?"

"About their grandchild?" Connor sighs. "No."

"Cian will help smooth things over. Shea told me that he lets women into the mob."

"That's different."

"I bet it isn't to Cian." He's too logical to cling to emotionally fed prejudices.

Jimmy might be less understanding. I don't know. We've never talked about stuff like this, but I have heard him lament not having any grandchildren. I think Dot will be the bridge between Connor's new family and his old one.

"Oh, crap."

"What?"

Connor grabs something from his pocket and then holds up my phone. "Cian wanted me to give this to you. He's probably texted you and is waiting for a response."

I don't take the phone. "Put it in the other room. I'll check it later."

"Okay, but are you about ready to eat some dinner? I'm starving. If you come out to the living room, I'll show you some pictures of Dot I have on my phone."

"Let me finish up." The water isn't as hot as it was and I’m starting to get cold again.

Connor nods and stands. "No more floating." He doesn't wait for me to agree before leaving the bathroom.

Standing up, I use a washcloth and some glycerin soap from a dish beside the tub to wash my body. I don’t feel clean when I'm done, but I start the tub draining and get out. I don't think soap and water can wash away the touch of someone when your whole being is revolted by that touch.

Maybe eventually, it will stop feeling like bugs are crawling over my skin.

I should have asked Connor how long he feels uncomfortable after having sex with someone he doesn't want to in order to make his friends think he's like them.

Chapter 28

CIAN

I look down at my phone again. No text from Anna. Although the cameras on her phone are now showing my bedroom and not the dark interior of her purse, she is not there.

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