The butler blinked at me with a flutter of white eyelashes, his pink lips curling thoughtfully. “Might I ask the reason for your visit, sir?”
“No.” I stood taller and clasped my hands in front of me, giving him a stare I used often with authority as a priest. “I wish to see my cousin.”
The butler smiled and it was eerie. “Of course.” His voice was gentle, but there was a lilt to it that unsettled me. “This way, sir.” He waved me through the main foyer, a small room painted white with gold trim, and into an entrance corridor, and then we passed the formal living room in the center of the bottom floor and walked to the right, straight to Ric’s office.
The butler knocked on one of the scarlet double doors.
“What is it?” Ric’s rough voice made my gut churn, but I kept confident on the outside. I wouldn’t let him see my weakness.
“Sir, it’s Briar. Your cousin Gian is here to see you, he was adamant.”
Briar—the name fit because he certainly was prickly. He smirked at me as we waited. When the door slammed open I held still, even though I wanted to jump out of my skin. Ric stood on the threshold, eyes lit with curiosity.
“Why are you here, Gian? You wouldn’t want your churchgoers to see you in this part of the city.” The corner of his mouth tilted, and he nodded at Briar, who spun away and walked off with purpose in his steps.
“I need to discuss an issue with you.” I shoved Ric, something I wouldn’t have dared to do when I was younger, and pushed my way into the office. I paused, surprised to see he already had guests. Sitting in one spot on the massive U-shaped black leather couch that took up the center of the room was one face I knew well, while the other I didn’t know at all.
Sloan Killough looked exactly as I remembered him, albeit older, with the same bleached blond hair and brown roots. The smug smirk was an old standard as well. His black suit molded to his body, with a bright red tie, which was the kind of thing I expected him to wear. He hadn’t changed a bit. The man next to him, however, was different. He’d obviously traded in his last pet.
This new accessory on his arm was much more handsome, with dark hair pulled tight into a bun on the back of his head and brilliant blue eyes. He had an industrial bar piercing through his ear and held himself with less superiority than the last guy I remembered. This pet seemed more laid-back. The red collar on his neck matched Sloan’s tie, and while Sloan’s previous pet had also sported a collar, it wasn’t anything like this one. Apparently this man got the best.
“Gian, it’s been a long time.” Sloan’s blue eyes sparkled with amusement.
“Sloan.” I let out a breath and stood tall. It was one thing to seem confident in front of Ric, but another to posture with Sloan Killough. If I fucked up any business between my cousin and the Killough Company, Ric would definitely kill me. “How long has it been?”
“Many, many years.” Sloan untangled from his new pet and stood in a fluid motion, and then he straightened his jacket before he walked over to me with his hand out, which I shook in politeness. “I heard you’d left the family to become a priest.”
“He hasn’t fully left us yet,” Ric said behind me with a deep laugh. “He still does work for us.”
“I am interested. What could a priest do for your business?” Sloan patted my hand before he let it go. He didn’t move, though.
I imagined Ric smiling smugly. “That is something I would be happy to discuss with you later on.”
I cleared my throat and glanced at Ric where he stood behind me. He had his arms crossed, brows raised in curiosity, and I knew I didn’t have long. I needed to say my piece and say it quickly.
“The Greek Lords came to my church last Sunday asking for money.” I shifted slightly so I could look at them both. Turning my back on Sloan would be disrespectful because he was the East Coast Irish boss, after all. He shared part of our profit and set the family up in ways that had taken us from small-time local work to international trade—most of which was illegal.
“Ah, they were a day early.” Ric shrugged like it was no big deal, and I gritted my teeth.
“You didn’t warn me, Ric.” My fists clenched at my sides. “I had Phoenix there.”
Ric laughed, while Sloan cocked his head.
“Phoenix? A man?” Sloan asked.
“Gian was celibate for a long time before a young man came and stole his heart—or made his cock hard, either one.” Ric nudged me, and I forced myself not to react to his needling.
“I don’t blame him.” Sloan glanced at the man on the couch. He stepped back until he took a seat next to the man and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “This is Conall, my pet. You haven’t met.”
“No. I met a previous pet.”
I didn’t miss the way Conall’s lips downturned in distaste as jealousy brushed over his handsome face, and I grinned because I knew how that felt. When it came to Phoenix, I didn’t like the idea of another man touching him.
“Which one was that?” Sloan asked, an amused smirk curling his lips. “I can’t remember anymore. The others weren’t important. I’ve found my perfect pet.” He kissed Conall on the temple, and his pet hummed with contentment.
Someone knocked, and irritation squeezed my insides. I’d only come here to warn Ric to let me know when someone was coming to collect money, but his distraction meant he wasn’t taking me seriously.
When Ric opened the door, more familiar faces entered, and the annoyance turned into something more—panic.Fuck. I’d walked in on a meeting of the big bosses, because Elio Folliero—an Italian who controlled one of the Five Families in New York City—and Orlaith Scully, the only Texan Irish boss, made their way inside with their seconds-in-command.
