Page 17 of The Boss's Revenge

“I mean, not really. The identity we’ll take needs to be a good fit for your age and appearance, that’s more important than location. That being said, I’ll try my best. What’s your poison?”

“It’d be nice to live somewhere near water,” I heard myself say. The words surprised me. I’d never really lived near water in my life and yet, deep down inside, there was clearly a yearning there for the calm I felt when I looked out at a power too massive to be fathomed. Looking at the sea always made my problems feel small.

Caelan nodded his huge head. “Noted. Is there anything you’ll have problems saying goodbye to here? Anyone? Usually, the most dangerous thing that people do, after they’ve disappeared, is try and make contact with a loved one.”

I glanced at him, and his eyes were on the stuffed penguin in my arms. The toy looked like he was wearing a dinner suit. He’d looked like the most stylish animal of the lot, with his black suit on. I smiled faintly, wondering if I’d chosen him because he very vaguely reminded me of Rocco.

“No. I’m used to moving on. I’ll be fine. I’m better on my own, really. I don’t have any loved ones.”

We stopped before the huge towering Ferris wheel. I tilted my head back and stared up at it moving sedately around and around.

“I’m sure that isn’t true. Everybody loves someone,” Caelan said, his Irish voice whickering against my ears pleasantly.

“Even us? Even you?” I wondered. Loving connections weren’t exactly encouraged in the dark and brutal world we lived in. Caelan O’Rourke, Konstantin, the Songs, the Lucianos, all of them existed in the shadows that fell between the cracks of the real world. I was one of them too.

“Well, of course. Every man has a mam, doesn’t he?” Caelan said after a moment, giving me a tilted grin that broke the tension.

I smiled. “Yeah, that’s right, of course.”

“What’s going on?” Rocco asked, reaching us and stepping in between. He looked annoyed. I blinked at his pissed-off expression. Rocco was a master at keeping up an unbothered, playful façade, but today, he seemed to have forgotten. Was it because of me? The thought made my heart race.

“Calm down, baby Luciano, we’re just getting the details straight. Soon enough, you’ll be free of this little viper in yourhouse,” Kon said, sliding an arm around my shoulders. “After, no one but me will know where you are.”

“Never call me that again, and why will you know? Rocco challenged, looking aggressive as hell about it.

Kon nodded. “Because, Kira is an honorary Ivanov, and Omer would never get her location out of me. I’m a locked box of secrets.”

Caelan shrugged beside me. “It’s your choice, but he insists.”

“It’s ok. I don’t mind. I trust Kon,” I said honestly.

We lingered there a little longer, while Caelan and Kon discussed the details with me. Rocco shifted beside me, a vibrating mass of energy that seemed to swirl around him. When they finally left us alone again, I blew out a hard sigh, and squinted up at the Ferris wheel.

“Should we go on it?” I wondered.

Rocco unclenched his fists, his eyes on Caelan O’Rourke’s strong back, as he moved away, through the crowd.

“If you want to.”

I thought it over for a moment, before nodding decidedly. “I do. I’ve never been on it before, and there’s a very real chance I’ll never get to come here again, so… let’s do it.” A strange melancholy filled my chest, as I smiled at Rocco. He took my hand and tugged me toward the ticket booth.

Soon we were seated in the old, cracked leather bench-seat, and the pier was slowly dropping out of view. I stared over the edge, and Rocco stared at me.

“Do you really think you can leave here, and never come back? Wouldn’t you miss it?”

“It’s just a city. Concrete and cars and people who like to shout a lot. Omer would never leave me alone if I stayed here, and I don’t want to live like that. I just want…” I blew out a breath, unsure how to put into words something I wasn’t quite sure of myself.

“To see the ocean?” Rocco supplied.

“You were listening?”

He shrugged, uncaring if he’d been eavesdropping. “I don’t trust O’Rourke, if it matters,” he said quietly.

I laughed. “Of course, you don’t. It’s against your nature to put your trust in someone outside your world but not all of us have the mighty Luciano name behind us or the resources. Some of us just have to go with our gut, and leap.”

“So, you feel good about him?”

“As good as I ever will. I’m not really the type to trust anyone easily,” I reminded him.

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