Callum:I need you here to deal with this mess, Paddy.
Scotty:For the record, I don’t agree with the amount of flowers that just arrived.
Scotty:I’m serious. He’s going to be pissed.
Scotty:Cal is asking me where you are. I can’t lie to him. Please don’t make me lie.
Callum:Three rats, Paddy. I don’t have time for this.
Scotty:You owe me.
Shit. Maybe I should call Scotty before Callum, to figure out what he’s said.
“About goddamn time.”
“What happened?” I ask.
“Three more rats showed up. Callum is blowing up my phone because he thinks I should know where you are. I told him you were getting a colonoscopy. You're welcome.”
“Really? That’s the best you could come up with?”
“Well, what was I supposed to say? That you were in New York getting your dick sucked by your baby momma?” he asks dryly.
I lean my elbow against the glass of the window, pinching the bridge of my nose. Closing my eyes, I say, “You know that’s not what’s happening.”
“Yeah, I know. Because you’ve just sent a million fucking flowers to Michael Griffin’s house. He’s going to lose his shit when he sees this.”
I roll my eyes. “He’ll like them. Is there anything else I should know before I call Cal?”
“No.”
We say our goodbyes as the car pulls up to the restaurant. I glance at Camille. “You go in and get our seats. I’ll be in after I call my brother.”
She nods as the driver gets out to open her door and help her. When the door is closed, I dial Callum’s number.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were getting a colonoscopy? Is everything okay?” He wastes no time with pleasantries.
“I’m fine,” I say. “Sorry. I’m a little out of it, but I can be wherever you need me in a few hours.”
“I hate to be a prick, but yeah. We could use your help. Declan’s out of town doing a run for me and Sean’s methods are a little too harsh for this.”
“Sure. I can be up and running around for dinner. Just give me the details.”
“Meet me at the bar at four,” Callum says. He hangs up before I can respond. It’s eleven now, so if I rush through lunch with Camille, I should be able to get back to Boston well before four.
My phone buzzes again, this time a phone call from Griffin. I swallow, a lump forming in my throat. He’s been ignoring me for weeks. The flowers I sent must have worked. Steeling myself, I answer the phone, ready to take whatever punishment he’s ready to dish out.
Chapter Three
Isleptlikeababy last night despite the heaviness that’s been gnawing at my insides. I attribute that to the sleeping pill I took as well as the tequila. It put me right into a deep sleep that I desperately needed. I haven’t slept in weeks because of my asshole boyfriend.
I stop on the stairs, cocking my head to the side.Boyfriend?He’s my ex. Ex-boyfriend, ex-best friend, ex-everything. I won’t be taking him back anytime soon. If at all. Not after all the shit he’s put me through for basically our entire lives.
Yeah, but he also saved your fucking life.
“Shut up,” I mumble to my inner self, and continue down the stairs. I hate thinking about the incident. Hate pulling up old thoughts of how I thought Paddy was going to die. How he saved me just in time. Those memories always bring up emotions I don’t want to deal with.
“Good morning,” Scotty says, sitting at the table in my kitchen. He’s already dressed in his mafia uniform. Black suit, black button dress shirt, black tie. His thick blond hair is buzzed close to his head, and brown eyes laugh at me as he holds his mug to his mouth, hiding a smirk. His legs are crossed, and he’s got the newspaper open and spread out on the table.
