I want to yell at him, but I’m too tired to. I’m not some brokenhearted teenager. I understand what Mac’s doing, and as badly as it sucks, I agree with him. Honestly, I commend him for taking this as seriously as he has.
“I’ll let Dieter know when he’s ready to come over. Probably best if you aren’t there when we come. The truce is over. Don’t take the past few days as ‘all is forgotten.’ I’m still coming for your neck, literally.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less from you.” Jakob must have hung up the phone because the last thing I hear before I fall asleep is him murmuring, “Such a petty bastard.”
* **
Today’s been a really good day. It could be placebo because I know Mac is back in the city, but regardless, I have energy and a huge smile on my face. I worked today at Landauer for a change of scenery. I’ve even made my way over to Dieter’s shop to hang out and visit. We’re sitting in his office when his apprentice and work wife, Ethan, struts in.
“Hey boss, I need your—” His sentence is cut off as a goofy, lopsided grin mars his face.
Ethan is about a year older than me. He’s about six three and is in great shape. His brown eyes slowly check me out. He’s had a crush on me for years. One that he’s respectable about, but it still makes me giggle. He has no idea the baggage I come with, or that the man who has my heart would take him out with his pinky. Ethan has nothing to do with the criminal underworld of this city. He’s a grease monkey who my brother found working out of an alleyway for barely enough money to survive off of, so he took him under his wing.
“Ms. Fischer. What a pleasure it is to see you. I wasn’t expecting such a stunning woman to be in our presence today.” He’s smirking the whole time, like he can’t even take the stuff he’s spilling seriously. He’s such a flirt, but it’s good natured.
“Mr. Evans.” I give him a playful finger wave the same time Dieter tells him to fuck off.
Ethan laughs loudly at both of us, “No, but seriously Lee, you look good.” His smile turns more gentle. My health is kept under lock and key, but Ethan knows the bare minimum since he takes over the shop on days Dieter sits with me.
“Thanks, I feel good today.”
“Good enough to go dancing with me tonight?” He waggleshis eyebrows at me.
Dieter chimes in, “Good enough to watch her man fuck you up if he catches you looking in her direction.”
Ethan’s eyes widen in mock surprise. “You got a man, Lelonie?”
“I do.” My face lights up just thinking about how I’ll get to wrap myself around him soon, hopefully in a few days.
“I’m not scared, I’m sure I can take the punk.” He’s trying his hardest to bite back his smirk.
Dieter’s eyes twinkle with mirth, “Oh yeah, E? You’re going to go after Mac Byrne?”
The smile melts off his face. Gone is the silly man who was joking just seconds before. His body turns rigid, “You’re not fucking serious.” His eyes dart from Dieter’s to mine in shock.
“Watch it.” Dieter’s voice turns deadly low.
He throws his hands up and storms out of the room, “What the fuck ever.” He slams the door behind him.
I look over to my brother, who looks just as shocked and confused as I feel. What the hell was that? I’ve never seen Ethan act like that before. Honestly, the only time I’ve ever seen him not smiling and carefree is when he has had to run Dieter something by my apartment and I’m having dialysis or a bad day.
“Should I go check on him?” I look back at the closed office door.
“No, he’s fine. I’ll talk to him when you leave.”
“What’s his problem?”
“Lee, everyone knows who the Byrnes are. Everyone knows Rowan’s wife and son were kidnapped. They know Kieran was shot. What the fuck is going to happen to you now that you’re with them? E jokes around. He playfully flirts withyou to make you smile, but he’s a protective man. He’s just worried.” He pushes up to his feet and walks over, dropping a kiss on my head. “He’s a good friend and a good man, Lelonie. You’re my sister, so he’s a little extra on edge about you dabbling with the mob. It’s about time to close up. Mama has Hannah so I can come straight to your house. Do you want to hang out here and wait for me, or do you want to head back home?”
“I’ll hang out here. I’m going to call Mac while I wait.”
Mac got his phone back a few hours ago. He said he left it in Rowan’s car by mistake and didn’t realize until he had already left. If I were a betting woman, I’d bet that Rowan made sure his phone was left in the car. Unlocking my phone, I find his number and click on it before bringing the phone up to my ear.
He answers on the first ring, “Hey, Beautiful.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and it’s so addicting.
“Hey, Handsome. What are you doing?”
“I’m walking around with Rowan, making sure he got all of my hiding spots. It’s sticking this time, Lee. Fuck, I swear I’m going to make this stick.” I’m terrified he won’t, but he sounds so sincere.
