Page 115 of Demanding Mob Boss

"That's fucked up," Tommy says.

Eoin's eyes are filled with death. "Give me names, Elliott."

"That's what Connor said when I told him about it." He gives Ini a wry smile. "Connor is in the mob too, but I'm safer with him than I ever will be with my parents."

"Connor is a good guy," Tommy says. "You sure as hell are safer with him."

Do Tommy and Eoin realize that Elliott isn't talking about being friends with Connor, but more?

"It's not the same thing," Ini says, her tone nearly desperate. "Anna would never have been traumatized by that dirty cop if she didn't work for Cian Doyle. She was targeted because of him."

"And I was targeted because I didn't conform. Anna's life won't be the same with Cian than it would be without him, but if she loves him, maybe that's okay with her."

I get the feeling Elliott is talking about more than me. He had to decide whether to let Connor into his life and Dot's too and he chose to tell Connor about their baby.

"I know you care about him, but Cian is a psychopath, Anna." Ini is not letting this go.

But she's wrong. "No, he's not."

Everyone at the table, except Elliott, looks at me with disbelief. I give them all a good frown, especially his men.

"He's not a psychopath," I say firmly. "I did some research and his behavior is more in line with someone who has antisocial personality disorder."

Not that he needs a label. Does it matter why Cian is the way he is? Not to me.

"So, you're saying he's a sociopath. That'ssomuch better."

"It is. He can feel emotions and while he has no regrets for the things he does as a mob boss, he's capable of caring about the wellbeing of his family, the men under him, and me."

"That's a lot of words, Anna." Ini regards me intently. "Especially for when you are stressed."

Iamstressed. I hate being at odds with Ini. And the man I love is out on the streets of Chicago waging a very real war against our enemies.

"They are words that needed saying."

She looks at me for several long seconds. No one else says anything.

Finally, Ini sighs. "He's your person."

"Yes."

"I get that, but I’m always going to look out for you, too."

"Thank you." I'm doing my best to look out for her and Mrs. Hart.

Maybe she understands that because she gives me that look she does when she wants to hug me but knows I prefer she not.

"I still don't understand why Mrs. Hart and I had to come over tonight."

Eoin says. "Anyone Cian cares about could be used as leverage against him."

"One. He does not care about Mrs. Hart or me." Ini ticks off on her fingers. "Two. We aren't moving in here, so why tonight specifically?"

"I can't answer that," I tell her baldly.

"Anna is Cian's woman," Tommy says. "Anyone important to her is important to him."

Ini narrows her eyes. "Something is going on tonight, but you can't tell me what. And because we are your friends, we need to be here to be safe. Have I got that right?"

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