Chapter Thirty-Five

Maggie

I knew what Aidan had done. Having me escorted down to the car didn’t change the fact that I knew he’d killed a man. But what I hoped he understood was that I didn’t care. That I applauded him for doing it. Amon was a bad guy, and given what I’d heard when he was holding me captive, he had no plans to let me go. He was going to kill Aidan and whoever showed up with him, and keep me as his personal sex toy.

At least until he tired of me. After that, I had no idea what he was going to do with me.

But Aidan had made sure he didn’t get the chance. He saved me. It was strange, but I’d never felt more love for somebody than I did for Aiden—killer or not.

I knew he was a good man with a good heart. He proved that time and time again in the courtroom, and now in the bloody streets of Chicago. After he came outside, we’d got in the car and left and wound up at his place. Doors locked. Lights on. Security outside. Tony and the other security guy hadn’t been around lately and I didn’t know if that was Aiden’s doing or Amon’s. Aiden said if Tony had been a two-faced gobshite with him, he probably was with Amon as well. If Tony was lying face down in Lake Michigan, more power to him.

Aiden sat on the couch beside me with his phone in his hand. He looked at me and then back at the phone.

“What do you think?” he asked me.

I shrugged. “Not my call to make, baby. You’re the one this is going to impact the most.”

He sighed. “Yeah, I know.”

“Are you having second thoughts?”

He looked at me and for the first time, I saw uncertainty in his eyes. All this time, he’d been so focused and intent on the fact that he was going to clear Flynn’s name and turn over control of the syndicate to him. And yet, with all of that now in sight, I could see he was hesitant.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I think my biggest fear is not having the choice. What if he says no to returning?”

“What if he says yes?” I answered his question with another question. “Are you sure you want to give up the thug life and go back to being a boring old lawyer?”

He smiled and leaned over, kissing me on the forehead. “You sure you want to be with a boring old lawyer?”

“I just want to be with you,” I said. “I honestly couldn’t care less if you’re a lawyer, the head of the O’Brien syndicate, or both. You’re all I care about, Aidan.”

He gave me another smile and a soft kiss. Then he turned back to his phone and pressed call, putting it on speaker as it started to ring on the other end of the line. I felt his body tense up a bit when it was connected on the second ring.

“Aidan,” came Flynn’s voice. “I had a feeling you’d be calling. Good to hear from ya, brother.”

“It’s good to hear your voice too, Flynn,” he said. “I’ve been worried sick about ya.”

I took hold of Aidan’s other hand and gave it a squeeze. I could tell he was nervous, though I wasn’t sure why.

“No need to worry, mate,” he said. “I’m living a good life out here.”

“So I’ve heard,” Aidan said.

“You and Maggie need to come out for a visit soon,” he said. “Stay for a little while, and we can catch up.”

Aidan looked over at me, and I saw the questions in his eyes. How did Flynn know about us?

“How did you—”

Flynn’s laughter cut him off. “I’ve been keeping tabs on ya, brother,” he said, “and from what I understand, you’re developing into a fine leader of men.”

Aidan smiled and shook his head. “I’m just keeping your seat warm,” he said.

“No, brother,” Flynn replied, “you’re carving out your own niche. You’re making the syndicate your own, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

“But I have the proof that you’re innocent,” Aidan said. “You can come back and take your rightful spot at the head of the table.”

Flynn laughed softly. “I’m afraid that time has passed, brother,” he said. “I appreciate you working so hard on my behalf, but I don’t intend to come back. I’ve built something new out here, and I’m happy.”

Aidan leaned back on the couch, a look of stunned disbelief on his face. He looked as if his every waking nightmare was becoming a reality—and yet, I could see a small sliver of relief in his eyes. Maybe not every piece of him wanted to give up leadership.

“So, what are you saying, Flynn?” Aidan asked.

“I’m saying that you are the head of the whole organization. I’m never setting foot in Chicago again if I can help it. The job and the city are yours, brother. Treat it well.”

I squeezed Aidan’s hand a little harder and kissed the back of it. He looked at me with an expression that was inscrutable. I couldn’t tell if he was happy or terrified by the news.

“I also meant it when I said I want you and Maggie to come out and spend a little time with me,” he said. “I want to get to know this wonderful woman who puts up with you and spend some time with my little brother, of course. We need to make that happen very soon, brother.”

“We will,” Aidan said, sounding almost numb.

“Brilliant,” Flynn replied. “Listen, I have to run, but call me soon. Let’s get something set up. I want to catch up with you. It really has been too long.”

“Aye. It has,” Aidan said. “And I will.”

“Then we’ll speak again soon.”

“Aye. Love you, little brother.”

The call was disconnected, and Aidan sat there staring at the phone in his hand for a few minutes. Finally, he tossed the phone onto the couch next to him and stared off into the distance.

“You okay?” I asked.

He nodded. “I’m fine,” he said. “I’m just trying to wrap my head around all of this. I can’t believe he’s not coming back.”

“It doesn’t have to be a bad thing,” I said.

He sighed. “I don’t know how I’m going to balance being a lawyer—an officer of the court—with the things the syndicate is engaged in.”

I shrugged. “You learn to delegate,” I said, “and maybe you start steering the brotherhood in a different direction. Maybe in time, find a way to take them legit.”

He laughed. “I don’t know if I can ever pull that off. I don’t know if the syndicate is built to ever be legit.”

“We’ll figure it out,” I said. “One way or another, we’ll find a way to balance these two halves of your life. We’ll figure it out…together.”

Aidan looked at me and smiled. “With all this uncertainty and how terrified I am to face it, I’m glad I’m not facing it alone,” he said. “You are my rock and that beacon of light in the darkness for me, Mags. I don’t know how I ever got by without you before, but I’m glad I don’t have to do any of this alone.”

We sat there for a few minutes, marveling in being together. My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my purse. It was a text from Maya.

Where’s my man, girl?

I’d forgotten she approved of Gary, and I needed to get him her phone number. “Baby?”

“Mmm-hmm?”

“Is Gary outside? I have a phone number I need to give to him.” I giggled, remembering the conversation we’d had about Maya.

He picked up his phone and slid his finger across the screen. “Here, text it to him.”

I took the phone and sent him a message. She said yes, have fun and you owe me one! 555-0123

“Done!” I gave him a soft, chaste kiss and smiled at him. “I love you, Aidan O’Brien.”

“And I love you. Margaret Burke.”

We stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment and everything around us seemed to fall away—Amon, the syndicate, Flynn, everything. All that mattered was us. The life we were going to build together. No matter what we had to do, no matter how this all played out, I had hope. I was optimistic. Because I knew that whatever happened—good or bad—we’d do it together.

* * * *

~ T H E E N D ~

Wow! I hope you loved Aidan and Mags as well! Turn the page for a sneak peek of Mick!