Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Some of the lads laugh, but it doesn’t bother me in the way that it used to. I have Sasha, so they can laugh all they like.
“You’ll be running the operations here at the club,” he says. “No more foot work out on the streets. You said ye wanted more responsibility, Fitz, and this is it. This means less time in the basement. More time for you to spend with your family, which I’m sure Sasha will be happy with.”
He leans back in his chair and gives me a moment to think about it. “So, what do ye say? I really can’t do without you.”
Crow has always been there for me. Has always had my best interests in mind. Even though his focus is keeping the syndicate afloat and running, his lads never fall by the wayside. I told him I wanted to do other things. Take on more responsibility. And this is my opportunity to do so. To prove to Sasha I can be the man she needs. The man our child needs.
“Aye.” I give him my answer with a nod.
A smile cracks across his face and he slaps me on the back.
“Grand,” he says. “That’s just grand, Fitzy. We’ll swear you in this evening.”
“What about Sasha?” I ask.
Crow makes a gesture to Conor who scrambles out the door to retrieve the barrister who’s still waiting outside. He comes and takes a place at the table, and we get down to business.
“Sasha.” Crow looks to him. “What do we need to do to keep her safe?”
“At this stage,” he says. “It’s best she stays wherever she is. Once all of this has blown over, she can come back. But right now they can’t use her against you if they don’t know where she is.”
I nod, because I suspected as much. But his next words catch me off guard.
“I’d also recommend you two get married, sooner rather than later,” he says. “So for future situations such as these, you have spousal privilege to fall back on.”
Crow looks to me and smirks. “Told ye to make an honest woman of her, Fitz.”
I shrug, but even I can’t hide the smile on my face this time. All of the lads are looking at me like I’ve gone mad. I doubt they’ve ever seen me smile before.
After the meeting wraps up, they filter out of the room and I stay behind with Crow. He probably suspects I want to speak with him in private. I do, but it’s not about the matter at hand like he thinks.
He pours us both another drink and then gives me his attention.
“I need a baby,” I tell him.
He’s silent for a long while, tipping back the glass in his hand and downing the liquor inside it. “I’m not sure I heard ye correctly,” he says. “In fact, I’m sure I didn’t.”
“For practice,” I explain.
Now he’s looking at me like I’ve gone mad as well.
“Don’t tell me you couldn’t do with some too,” I argue. “When’s the last time you were even around a wee baby?”
He shrugs. “I haven’t a clue, Fitz.”
“Aye.” I nod. “So find us a baby.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Sasha
A month has passed since I’ve been holed up at Alexei’s. And I’m not at all happy with it, but I know that Ronan is keeping me safe until everything blows over. I haven’t been able to see him as much since Alexei’s house is so far out of the city and he’s taken on the new role of Underboss.
He assured me that the extra hours aren’t going to last forever, but just during the transition. He also assured me that this new role is going to be better for us. And while I was hesitant at first to know he was becoming even more deeply embedded into the syndicate, now I’m inclined to agree.
This change means he won’t be out on the streets, putting himself at risk every day. He’ll be handling business in the club and the men who work beneath him. And he won’t be spending so much time in the basement which is what I really care about.
I know who Ronan is and I’m not going to ask him to change. I wouldn’t want him to change. But I want him to know something besides violence. Besides blood. I want him to know what it’s like to have a different sort of family. One besides the mafia.
Already, I see the differences in him. His priorities have changed. And when he shows up here in the middle of the night, his face tired and drawn, he’s doing it for me. He could go home. But he told me once, in a sleepy murmur, that his home is here with me. Wherever I am that’s where he’ll be too.
The simplicity of his statement was so honest that he didn’t understand how much those words could ever mean to me.