“Oh no way! You’re fucking Teresa again,” I say, laughing. Teresa is Frank Bianchi’s precious daughter. Similar to Fiona, she’s kept from the dark underbelly of our world. But, unlike Fiona, Teresa’s most definitely arranged to be married to some crime family in Chicago. Just like all the important Bianchis.
From what I knew Ciaran ended things with Teresa a while ago, saying it was nothing more than a summer fuck.
“Oh, I did fuck her again. And yes, that’s where the information came from. She hates her family. It’s why she comes to me. She thinks hooking up with her family’s rival will cause some inner drama and the arranged marriage will be called off.”
“Ciaran, that’s a risky fucking avenue to go down,” I warn. I’m the one who does stupid shit, not him.
The waitress brings our check over, flirting with both of us and probably hoping to get somewhere in this city. Being on Ciaran’s arm would make her a queen. Ciaran enjoys flirting too much to ever settle down. Hell, until recently, I didn’t think either of us would stop sleeping our way around Boston.
We ignore her advances. She’s a cute girl, but exactly that, agirl. We’re in our thirties and unlike Geno, we don’t go for them barely legal.
Ciaran throws a hundred into the check book, then stands and buttons his jacket. He’s always in a suit. I, on the other hand, prefer a basic outfit. Jeans, a shirt of some form, and my boots. Suits aren’t the best for working the bar or my second job.
“Just keep an ear out for anything that might be of importance. I have a feeling it’s only a matter of time before this knowledge starts to spread through town. You know once our guys get wind of it, they’ll be flapping their lips about it. They all want the Bianchis gone.” Ciaran gives me a stern look. I know it’s because I’m still sitting but I haven’t finished my lunch. “Don’t go off the rails before I give any orders. You can be a little heavy handed when you’re impulsive.”
That makes me chuckle. He knows me.
Fuck this. I don’t need to be here anymore either so I stand and follow Ciaran out of the restaurant. There’s a car waiting for him already. The driver’s job is to be where Ciar needs him at all times.
“You want a ride?” he asks while opening the back door.
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m going to catch the T back to the bar. I have a detour to make before opening.” A detour to check on my angel so I can get my daily fix.
He steps toward me and pulls me into a hug. “Take care brother. We’ll get together soon. Tell Fi that Mom misses her and she needs to go visit.”
Our bro hug doesn’t last long, and as we break apart I agree to relay the message to my sister. There’s a little more pep in my step after talking to Ciaran. He helped get my mind off the shit Ewen said.
I jog down the street to the T, ready to see Ewen again.
9
EWEN
OJesus, eternal Priest, keep your priests, within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart, where none may touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
The sound of someone coming into the booth pulls me out of my Midday Prayer. I honestly spend more time in here doing my prayers than listening to confessions.
The shuffling subsides, and I slide the window open. It’s not really a window but an opening covered by a wooden screen, allowing me to see the person’s profile.
I rarely look over, giving the person a bit more privacy. Sometimes they confess things they’re ashamed of, but the fact they’re here is always the right step toward cleansing the soul.
“Forgive me Father for I have sinned again. I took another person’s life. Well, actually two lives.” It’s that voice again. The one that sent me through a loop of emotions a couple weeks ago. I’ve replayed that conversation over and over trying to figure out howIfelt about the exchange. Because what he said made sense, but hekilledsomeone. And now he’s telling me he killed two more.
What do I say to him? I’ve never been at a loss when it comes to receiving confessions.
“Father, you there?” His dark voice calls to me.
I nod, though he can’t see that. “Yes, my son, I am. I am trying to process your confession. Why? Why did you do it again? Didn’t our last talk help you repent and want to do better?”
“Oh, Father, you remember me. I’m flattered.” He chuckles. “I will admit our talk did mess with me, but it actually made me angry. I did unthinkable things to a person. Then I ended another’s life because I had to. Like all of them. I have to remove them.”
“You are not meant to be the one to extinguish someone’s light. Only God is the one who decides that.”
He shuffles around, probably turning toward the screen. Maybe trying to see me. This is a time I wish I could see him. The urge to look and to actually see this mystery of a person is pulling.
“I’m not going to debate what you think is right from wrong when I’m the one out here, living life. Seeing the terrible things humanity is capable of. Yes, the people I end could have families. But they’re also disgusting humans. They do unthinkable things. I just do what needs to be done to protect mine. And I will until my final breath.”
He’s wrong. I do know the horrid things people are capable of. I’ve witnessed them firsthand. But I know it’s not what God wants us to do. “He has a plan for us. All of us. Living through tough times is his way of testing us. Testing our faith. Only once we have embraced His plan do we earn our right to be in his grace. To be accepted into Heaven with His arms open.”
