Page 64 of Demanding Mob Boss

I have to work. It doesn’t matter that everything inside me hurts at the idea of going back there and not seeing Cian. What did I do wrong? Did I ask too many questions?

A loud pounding sounds on the door.

Ini looks at me. "Are you expecting anyone?"

I shake my head.

She goes to the door and looks through the peephole. "It's that big guy that moved into the apartment down the hall yesterday with his friends."

Uninterested, I head for the bedroom. I need my tent.

I hear Ini ask, "What do you want?" through the door.

The man's answer is muffled, but Ini replies, "Yes."

I dig in my purse until I find the case with the noise cancelling earbuds Cian gave me this morning. I put them in and the rest of Ini's conversation with our neighbor is muted.

Chapter 21

CIAN

Lachlan agrees that distancing myself from Anna is the best course of action. "The fewer people who have a target on their back because of their connection to us, the better. I'll triple the guard on your mom and sister. I already contacted the family in Ireland to increase Máire's protection."

He sets up a meeting for me with Walsh for the next day. I'm done playing around with this fucker. He was my da's friend, but he's nothing to me. He'll give me the information I want, one way, or another.

We've already got people following up on the location information Carmen gave us, but so far, her cousin has vacated herself and her minions from everywhere on the list. At least we are able to confirm that Carmen's intel is legit. Traffic cams and witnesses attest to the fact that Martina was staying at the hotel Carmen told us about.

We're using those same traffic cams to try to trace her movements after leaving. That will take time though.

"I've got a meeting set up for you with Quinn Murphy an hour before Walsh is supposed to arrive," Lachlan tells me after tapping some things on his phone. "Stavros will meet with you tonight."

We need to know what is happening with the Greek mafia.

As a front for the cartel, the ultimate goal for the Kicks Bandidos is control of the Chicago underworld. The Greeks are probably dealing with plenty of shit from them too.

Lachlan leaves and while I'm waiting in my office for Stavros to arrive, I check my text messages. There are a lot, but I click on Anna's first. It has been several hours since she sent it. She asks if I'm still watching her.

There's something about that question. Like she thinks I’m done with her. I'm keeping her safe, but she doesn't know that.

I text back.

Me:Yes.

Because I need to, I click on the feed from her apartment cam. The living area is empty. She's probably hanging out with her friends at Mrs. Hart's apartment. Sometimes, they play board games after they eat, or watch movies on the older woman's small television.

Ini is there, playing cards with Mrs. Hart, but I don't see Anna.

Where is she?

Remembering I saw a message from Arlo, I click back into my texts. I'm not worried. If something had happened to Anna, he would call me, and if I didn't answer, he would call Lachlan. It's protocol.

The last text in the stream says Anna is home. I scroll up and curse. She left the building without Arlo and rode the L home. Something stabs my chest. Fear.

Fuck this. I don't feel fear.

But she rode the damned train home. Totally unprotected. What if the Kicks Bandidos picked her up?

Dread rolls through me at what they would do to my sweet girl.

---