Conall (8 page)

“Hey, Al, swing by Shannon’s place first,” he called out to his driver.

“Yes, sir. I put some new bottles of that water you like out and a few nips of that whiskey you like to swig down. I still don’t know how you drink that crap straight, but it’s there for you.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” he said with a smile in his voice.

Al had been driving him for more than ten years. Right when he was first beginning to go legitimate, or what could be considered legitimate. He’d put that man through the wringer, but he couldn’t take any chances. Not only was an extensive background check done on Al, but Conall had checked out his entire family. Although the position had been advertised through his company, he had done his own recruiting. Going through multiple drivers was not going to work for him. He needed someone that he could eventually come to trust, could play the part of a dedicated driver for a CEO of a multi-million-dollar corporation, but also knew how to keep his mouth shut. Turns out Al had been that and more. Hell, the man could probably retire right now if he wanted to, but chose to stay.

Loyalty. That was important to Conall. Regardless of what had been seen, said, or overheard, loyalty was what kept Al working for Conall. And that was the one thing he appreciated. Margorie was the same. That woman was fierce and even though he never discussed it with her, he knew she was no dummy. After his brother had left his office earlier that day, Conall had stood by the window thinking over what would need to happen now. So deep in thought, he hadn’t heard Margorie step into the office ay until she spoke from across the room. Thinking back on their conversation, he shook his head at the audacity of the old broad.

“
Conall? What are you over there brooding about?” Her voice crisp, just like it was every time she spoke, made him smile. Soft and cuddly could never describe her.

“I’m fine, Margorie. Did you need something?” he said, not bothering to turn around.

“Well, I’m just wondering when you’re going to stop feeling sorry for yourself and take care of business.” Her words stopped him cold. Did she know more than he thought? It wouldn’t surprise him if she did. But still, it was best that he not confirm anything and make it official.

Turning from the window to face his secretary, his brow crinkled in a frown. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Pausing for a second, she gave him a look that told him she knew more than she let on. “Hmmmm, okay, so that’s how you want to handle this? Okay, we can do this your way.” Pausing for a second, she gave him a hard look. “You have a meeting in thirty minutes in the Washington Conference Room. Here are the notes you need to read before you go in there. Don’t stand there staring out the window too long, you have work to do.”

“Keep it up, old woman, and I’ll toss you out of here. I swear, sometimes you act like you run things around here,” his gruff voice called out to her. His bark was worse than his bite, and she knew it. They had this conversation at least once every other day and she usually just laughed at him. His threat to fire her was an empty one. Margorie would always have a place with Conall, but he couldn’t let her just walk all over him.

“Yeah, and if you did, you wouldn’t be able to find your ass from a hole in the ground. Now quit pussyfooting and do what needs to be done.” With those insightful words and a tilt of her perfectly arched eyebrow, she walked out of his office and went back to her workstation.

“Old bat. One day, I really will fire you. See how you like that.” It didn’t skip his notice that he was talking to himself, in a low enough tone that Margorie couldn’t hear him from outside of his office door. Laughing to himself, he couldn’t believe that he, Conall O’Shea, a man who put fear into the eyes of grown men, was mumbling under his breath so that his secretary wouldn’t come in and threaten to box his ears. What had the world come to
?

Coming back to the present as his car pulled up to his brother’s place, he waited for Al to open the door before stepping out. Straightening his coat, he glanced from left to right as he walked into the building where his brother spent most of his time. Shannon was usually wrapped up in the arms of a beautiful, buxom whore willing to open her legs for him at the drop of a dime. Hell, even he wasn’t immune to the charms of the women who worked for his brother. At least, he wasn’t until now. After meeting the sassy and beautiful Tatiana, there was only one woman who he wanted to give pleasure to, and she sure as hell didn’t work in a brothel.

One hour later, Conall exited his brother’s establishment satisfied with the answers he’d been given. Things were well in hand and this deal would go through without a hitch. After all the work he’d put into it, it damn well better.

Now it was time to go see Tatiana. Giving the order for Al to drive him to her home, he took a few moments to relax and think about the upcoming night. Now was the time to forget about work, even if only for a minute. He wanted to hold her in his arms. Feel her soft skin against his. Just the thought of her had his dick hardening in his pants. There was something about this woman that drew him to her. If her brother hadn’t run to her like a little bitch, Conall never would have met her. So, maybe he should thank the kid instead of dropping him into the Boston Harbor with his ankles attached to a cinder block.

Rubbing his hand down his face at the thought of how he’d even gotten to this point, he knew they still needed to address the issue of what her brother had seen. Picking up the phone, he dialed Dillon. The phone rang only once before he picked up.

“Hello,” Dillon said into the phone.

“What have you found out about our little canary?” he asked.

“He’s holed up in Pawtucket, at his parents’ home. Doesn’t come out much. Not talking to anyone on the phone. No reports of anyone coming to see him. So, whatever he thinks he saw, has him riled.”

“Damn!” Conall didn’t need this shit. Maybe he should have Fionn just handle this and get himself out of the mix. But fuck, this was her brother. He may be a fuck-up, but if she cared for her brother the same way he did for his, he would have to find another way out. “Okay, keep some of our boys on him. Don’t let him out of our sight. I want to know every move he makes. If he makes a move to call anyone he shouldn’t be talking to, you know what to do.”

“Boss, I hear the Italians are looking for their package. Apparently, the old man is making waves and claiming the Italians did something to his man. He wants them to replace what he lost.”

He didn’t need this shit right now. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah. But the Italians know something is fishy. They’re starting to pick up on the fact that the old man hasn’t been a straight shooter with them. Not sure how that’s going to work out, but I had to pass it along.”

“Yeah, okay. Keep me posted.” Ending the call, he sank deeper into his seat and closed his eyes, his mind swirling with the possibilities of how their plan was coming together quite nicely.

Within thirty minutes, they were pulling up to Tatiana’s place and a smile came over his face. Now it was time for some fun.

* * * * *

Conall sat next to Tatiana on the couch, her body leaned into his as they watched the fire burn in her small fireplace. They’d been sitting here talking for the better part of an hour about her job as an accountant and his reasons for creating Blackbird Consulting. At least the reasons he could share. He learned that her favorite ice cream was rainbow sherbet, she loved the snow, but had never been skiing, and her ultimate way to relax was getting a full-body massage.

Not wanting her to feel left out, he talked about his brothers and how close they were and some of their tamer antics from their youth, his promise to make sure she went skiing at the cabin he owned in the New Hampshire mountains, and that his secret obsession was watching cooking shows and trying new dishes.

No matter what he did outside of today, he would have these moments with Tatiana. The ugliness waiting for him outside these walls could stay there. Right now, with her, this was what he needed. Even if only for a few hours.

“You’re so damn beautiful,” he whispered.

“Thank you,” she whispered into his chest. Not lifting her head to look at him.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

After a slight pause, her head tilted back as she did as he’d ordered. One look at her and he knew she was holding back, trying to rein in her desire for him. Her eyes were just a little glossier, her lips slightly parted, her breath coming out just a little faster.

“I’m glad I came over tonight, sweetheart. Being here with you feels good.” His hand rubbed against the smooth skin of her face. No woman had ever made him want to sit down with her and relax.

As soon as he’d walked inside, he noticed the table had been set and ready for them to sit down. It was what he had always pictured life should be like and he was positive that he could get used to having her waiting for him at home every night. She wouldn’t need to cook though. He could afford to hire ten cooks if she wanted. No, he just wanted her face to be the first one he saw when he walked through the door at night.

That thought caught him off-guard. He hardly knew this woman and here he was thinking about her being here for the long haul.

“I’m glad you came over as well. It is nice being here with you,” she said on a sigh as she snuggled in closer to him.

Him. Snuggling. If his brothers could see him now, they’d laugh their asses off. Oh well, fuck ’em.

“Do you like your necklace?” he asked as he eyed the gold chain holding the chocolate diamond pendant hanging around her neck.

“Yes, it’s gorgeous, but much too expensive,” she said as he watched her fingers pick at the gift he’d given her.

“No it wasn’t. The earrings look beautiful on you too,” he remarked as one hand rubbed the outer shell of her ear as he spoke. The teardrop-shaped earring matching her pendant sparkled under the glow of the flickering light from the fireplace.

“You didn’t have to do this. I don’t need gifts and diamonds.”

“I know you don’t. Which is exactly why I want you to have them. The color highlights your skin beautifully.” Tilting his head back to rest on the back of the couch, he pulled her closer. “Just say thank you, Tatiana. Let me spoil you, just a little.”

“Thank you, Tatiana.” She laughed.

“Brat,” he said in return.

“Conall, I meant what I said earlier today. I know what I want. It doesn’t make one lick of sense to me, but there you have it. Even though you’re wicked sexy, my decision to be with you is based on more than that, or the things you can buy me.”

He knew she meant every word, but the big-ass elephant in the room was refusing to be ignored. “Do you no longer think your brother is afraid of ‘those O’Shea brothers’ as you put it?” It was a risk he had to take.

Sighing, she got a pensive look on her face, as if to really think about her answer before she opened her mouth to speak. “I think my brother has challenges that he has to work through. He can get caught up in things he shouldn’t, you know? If he’s afraid of you and your brothers, then we’ll work it out. Fix it so that it’s no longer an issue. Can you help me do that?”

“What if it can’t be fixed?” Damn, why did she have to ask him that question?

“It can. Anything can be fixed with the right motivation. In this world, we live in a constant game of
quid pro quo
. This for that. If my brother has done something to you, then he’ll have to give you something in return to calm the waters. He’s not a stupid kid, just impetuous. He constantly acts without thinking,” she answered in a calm voice.

“Aren’t you concerned about having me here when everything with your brother is still up in the air?” Because he would be damned if he would leave at this point. For almost two hours, he’d been sitting here in a state of arousal. Every time she smiled at him over the dinner table as they enjoyed their tasty meal, his dick pulsed in need. The way her lips looked as she sipped her glass of
pinot noir
wine made his mouth dry. Her bare feet peeking out from under the long maxi dress made him wonder how they would look resting on his chest as he plowed inside of her wetness, her pussy welcoming him into its warm depths. His cock hadn’t gone soft since he stepped through her door. Oh no, it would take wild horses to get him out of here and away from her without getting a taste. He just needed to make sure she felt the same way.

“I should be. But I’m not.” Her whispered words reached him just as he felt her hand start to unbutton his shirt.

“Why not?” Fuck, he wanted to rip her dress off and claim her right there on the couch, but he wanted her to have this moment.

Pulling out of his arms, she adjusted her body. Going up on her knees, she hiked her dress up and swung one leg over his lap, straddling his body. Leaning down to lightly kiss him on the lips, she said, “I see you, Conall. Just as you see me. We’re here with each other because we’re supposed to be. So, no. I’m not afraid to be here with you. This. You. Is what I need.” She pressed down onto him and he could feel the heat coming through her panties and seeping through his pants. His cock got even harder, if that was possible.

He craved this beautiful woman, with her sassy personality and ability to draw him in. Rubbing his hands along her bare thighs, her skin was smooth and soft to the touch. Hazel eyes looked into his green ones as she continued unbuttoning his shirt. Fingers skimming along the skin of his chest, her nails lightly scratching him as they held each other’s gaze. Dipping her head every so often, she would nip and kiss his lips. Her tongue coming out to rub along his lower lip. It took everything he had not to take over. Need was clawing at him from the inside out. When her hips started gyrating and her wet pussy started to dampen his pants—that’s when he let the beast out.

Conall grabbed her face within his two hands and her whimper of need tore through him. “Enough,” he growled. “You’ve teased me long enough. My turn.” Pulling her down closer to him, he captured her mouth in a kiss that burned through any pretense that this was anything less than pure, unadulterated desire. He needed her like he needed his next breath. Sinking inside of her was all he could think of right now. Pulling away just slightly, he forced himself to speak. “Bedroom. Now.” Grabbing her under her ass, he lifted her from the couch and walked in the direction she pointed.