Quinn

I hear the alarm and turn away from Molly, still wrapped in my arms, with a low groan to turn it off.

“Fuck,” I grunt out. It feels early, but that could be because Molly and I were up late making love as if we couldn’t get enough of each other.

I hear Molly giggle and pull her in closer. “Our kids' first words will be fuck if you don’t get a handle on it boyo.”

I grin and roll over, covering her with my body. “You’re thinking about us having children?” I'm so fucking giddy about it. Me, excited about children. I know I think about it every time we make love.

“Maybe.” She pets my beard and strokes my face. “But I’m telling you now if it is, I’ll be bloody steamed.” I chuckle and take her lips with mine.

Eventually, we make it downstairs, and of course, Jack and Ryan are already sitting at the kitchen table.

“Good morning,” Molly greets them which they return as she starts making breakfast.

“Fuck,” I mutter, and join them. “What the hell are you guys doing here again?” I grumble.

“Quinn,” I hear Molly behind me with a scolding voice.

They both snicker at me, and I roll my eyes. They never came over to eat before, but since Molly moved in, they’ve been coming by more and more, probably for her cooking. The only reason I put up with it is that I know Molly enjoys their company.

“How did the rest of the boyo’s do last night?” She asks the guys.

“Well, you were right about the few you mentioned. Great potential to work for us,” Ryan says.

“Told you, and Tommy would be a great enforcer in a few years,” she adds, coming to the table with coffee and mugs.

“I’d be more than happy to take him under my wing if that’s okay with you, boss,” Jack says.

“If Molly says they’re good, then they are,” I tell them, taking a sip.

We spend breakfast going over the business and talking about Molly’s gym. They both know something is going on, but I haven't told them about Murry yet. I’ll wait until Foster gets here before I do. Molly jokes and laughs with Jack and Ryan about various things, even cracking me up a few times. After we’re done, we talk about today's tasks, and Shane walks in.

“Hey. You missed breakfast but I can make you a plate.” Molly smiles when he takes a seat.

“Thanks, Irish but I'm good,” he tells her. “All ready for today O’Sullivan,” he says. We had a conversation last night. He wants more to do and I don’t blame him. His work with the sharks has been impeccable. He’s been in the business longer than I have and worked under Connor Dunne himself. I’d be a fool not to use his help on more delicate jobs.

“You guys running that job together?” Molly asks.

“Yeah. Shane is going to be the new middleman for Chen,” I tell her.

“Good to hear.” She generally sounds happy about the news.

“What are you plans today?” I ask her.

“A training session most of the time, and there’s new equipment coming. Betty is making a big dinner for all the boys.” It sounds like a busy day, but I like how excited she sounds when talking about her gym.

We all get up and head to our cars, though I stop Molly in the front entrance.

“I’ll text you later. Maybe I can come by and have dinner.” I gather her in my arms and lean down and give her a passionate kiss which she easily returns. When we pull back, I smell her curly red mane. Just like her, it’s sweet and spicy, and I'm addicted to it. “Make sure you take Dave if you leave the gym,” I warn her.

“What’s with the personal bodyguard all of a sudden? Something going on I should know about?” I know this should be the time I tell her everything, but again, I think I should wait until Foster gets here.

“You know me, just a crazy, possessive bastard.” It's not a lie, but I feel like shit keeping stuff from her. Foster is due tonight, so I’ll come clean then.

“All right,” she sighs, sounding like she doesn’t quite believe me but doesn’t push either. “I love you.” It takes my breath away. I still can't believe a beautiful woman like her can, but she does.

“I love you too.” And because I can't help myself with her, I lean in and give her one more kiss.

“Talk to you soon. Have a good day husband.” She gives me a cheeky grin as she walks to her car. “Stay out of trouble.”

“Easy to do when you're taking all of it with you.” She sticks her tongue out as she gets starts pulling away, Dave in his SUV following her.

I walk to mine where Shane is waiting. “Ready?” He asks, looking up from his phone.

I grunt my yes and go to my side as Shane gets into the passenger seat. We drive to the meeting place I set up with Chen’s men.

“You keep Chen’s business in a small circle,” Shane comments.

“My business with him is intuitive, and he’s very paranoid. He only trusts me, but if I can get him to let you in, then you’ll be our middleman.”

“What are the specifics of the deal?” He asks.

“I trade high-class drugs for blank passports.”

“But you’re not in the drug trade,” he states.

“No, but Chen has enough money and he wants unique drugs. Something he can't get in Japan.”

“What do you do with the passports?” He’s full of questions now, but I guess he’s trying to get the lay of the land.

“I always keep a few in case one of my men need to get out of the country. The rest we sell for about fifty thousand each.”

“Shit, that’s a lot, and how much drugs do you trade?” He sounds amazed.

“Only thirty worth for twenty passports.”

“Talk about a steal,” he muses.

“I can’t guarantee he’ll talk, he might want nothing to do with you. But if he likes you it would be a great asset to have you handling it.”

All he does is nod and looks out the window. We drive in silence, but there’s a charge in the air. Over the last month, I came to like Shane. He’s obviously protective of Molly and she’s told me so many stories about him it’s hard not to, but I feel like there’s something else about him. I can't read him thoroughly, and maybe it’s because he has such a deep relationship with Molly and I don’t like that. His work for me thus far has been impeccable, and he’d make a great middleman for Chen if he likes him. Perhaps over time, we can find a friendship between us.

Soon we pull up at the warehouse for the meeting. “Chen already here?” Shane asks.

“No. He always sends his advance team first, then once I get here he comes. He’s always close by and takes every precaution necessary when it comes to his safety.”

He doesn’t say anything but nods as we get out and head to the warehouse. I look around the building, finding nothing alarming. I open the door and walk in, Shane close behind me. As soon as I step through darkness awaits us and I know something is off in an instant. The light turns on, and I see the carnage in front of me.

Chen’s men are all dead, slaughtered. Then he steps out from the crates, Kevin Murry in the flesh, along with a large group of his men, ten maybe twelve of them. I quickly reach for my Beretta in the back of my pants, but feel the butt of a gun suddenly pressed against my head.

Shane. He grabs my gun before I can.

“Shane, what the fuck?” I growl out, shocked.

“Surprised, huh? He works for me, O’Sullivan,” Murry laughs. “I warned you there’d be hell to pay if you didn’t give me my woman.”

“She’s my wife,” I snap at him. I don’t know what shocks me more. Murry getting the drop on Chen’s men or Shane betraying Molly. I think the latter for sure.

“Not for long, once you’re dead she’ll see the light. Besides that old bat only shipped her over here to get her away from me,” he smirks.

“Shane. What the fuck is this? How could you do this to Molly? You know she’s happy here. With me.”

I turn my head to stare at him, his gun still pointed at my head. The look in his eyes is something I’ve never seen before in him, but there’s more. I see it. Regret, guilt, shame.

“Don’t do this. It’ll break Molly’s heart, and you know it.” I try to play on his feeling for her.

“No turning this one O’Sullivan. He’s been working for me for a very long time,” Murry chuckles.

“Fuck,” I grunt and pull back to pop Shane right in the nose. He recovers quickly, and we begin struggling for his gun. Suddenly a shot rings out and I stop and lift my hands as I turn to look at Murry. He fired in the air.

“That's enough of that now. You’ll be coming with us. I’ve got plans for you.” One of his men gives him another gun and before I know it I’m hit with a dart.

And everything goes black.