Wiggling to free our bodies, I climb out of Rafferty’s love seat, dodging his grabby hands. Blowing him a final kiss goodbye, I steal his T-shirt while making a run for it. Turning at the last moment to see him posing like a Roman god, naked and ethereal, is the last view of him I see.
There’s no way to wipe the smile off my face as I walk back through the room into my side of the apartment. My goofy look stays with me, even when I walk past Ronin sitting on the edge of my bed, looking lethal in a jet-black suit and crisp white shirt.
Turning as I close the door to the bathroom, I absolutely drink him in. He’s stunning and no internal arguing with myself about blurring lines already is going to change how good-looking he is. The whole pack is gorgeous. The whole pack knows it too.
With a last sweep of appreciation, I close the door. I have to, or I’d stand there and stare at the Alpha for way too long. Which, in a way, is probably what he wants. Me not working, that is.
I don’t bother locking the door to the bathroom. Considering their attempts to date, it’s not like a simple lock is going to keep any of this pack out. Still, I manage to shower, blow dry my hair, and get my makeup on without any interruptions.
Ronin is on his phone, in the same spot, when I walk out in only a towel. The way he watches every step I take is scalding. Dressing in front of him is a dance of seduction, but it’s also a necessary reminder to him of who I am. Once I’m dressed in my uniform, his change of mood is blatantly clear.
Maybe it’s because of the lingering aftermath of my time with Rafferty, or I’m simply winding the Alpha, but either way, I lean in while he’s still deep in conversation with someone to kiss his neck.
“I finish late. I’ll see you when I get back.”
And then I hightail it.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
TALLY
After the seemingly endless buildup to me working, when I eventually leave the apartment without anyone carrying on or shackling me, the moment is a bit of a fizzer. Still, I don’t dawdle around. I literally haul arse and zigzag around the crowd until I’m mostly confident Pack O’Connor won’t come charging after me.
From their point of view, I get why they don’t want me to work at a Kelly establishment. If rumors of unrest on the streets are true, which they appear to be, I’m liable to become someone’s bargaining chip. From my perspective though, if the O’Connors are in control, and Paddy O’Connor is the head of the Irish Mafia, then I should be able to go wherever I want, and be mostly safe. Throw in my insistence we get to know each other, and that I keep my independence, I suspect my stance is a bitter pill for Ronin, Keegan, Tynan and Rafferty, to swallow but they will because of Noinin’s vision of us being together.
I’m sure behind the scenes they’ll be arranging my safety, using ‘their’ people, or trailing after me themselves as well as whatever else they deem necessary. As long as they don’t stop me working, I’m fine.
I’ve always understood what I do comes with huge risk, and I’ve already been pulled into some pretty shitty situations but I’ve walked out of them too. Not that Pack O’Connor know that, but if push came to shove, I’d move out and cut off seeing them so I could finish my job, the reason I am here.
Since I have a little time to spare before I have to start work, I disappear inside one of the larger department stores. Once I find the crockery, because it's usually only full of older ladies or deserted, I make my call.
“Hey, kid, how are you doing?” Joe’s voice is exactly the medicine I need.
“I’m okay. Getting lost in the job, but not in a bad way.”
I hear the squeaking groan of his chair as he sits upright and a second later his telltale footsteps across the floor before the door shuts. “What’s going on?”
I get he’s speaking to me as my pseudo father figure, but a small voice in my head cautions me still. Although, it’s pretty much how my life is. No one gets the whole me, and honestly, I’ve never wanted to completely share myself with anyone. Until very recently.
“It’s frustratingly slow. This stage always is, but I feel like I’m getting caught on a freeway too.”
“Okay. You’re not making sense, but I know there’s a reason for that. At the end of the day, I trust you’re exactly where you’re meant to be, doing what you need to be doing.”
Joe’s belief is a warm blanket on my doubts that I’m doing what I should be.
“There can be no justice without truth,” I say without thought, but it’s also a subconscious confirmation of what’s been making this more difficult—Pack O’Connor, in short.
I am not a fan of lying. I actually loathe liars, which makes a mockery out of my career, but it doesn’t take away the deep-seated need for me to finish what I promised my mother I’d do.
“And then there are times, Tally, where you have to lie to protect people. It’s not done maliciously. The act is born out of necessity. If they’re your people, they will always understand and respect the things you’ve done.”
“Or they’ll turn their back.” Or kill me. I obviously don’t share that with Joe, but it’s a very real possibility in my line of work, considering the people I’m mixed up with.
“But that is a sign in itself they weren’t your people.”
“Perhaps.”
The relief I felt at hearing his voice remains, but a handful of words, spoken without Joe understanding where I’m coming from, still feel relevant and bring back the sense of burden with them.
