Law of the Irish Page 3

  Grinning at him, I pull another hundred from my money clip and say, “I raise you a hundred.” We play for hours until it’s time to call it a night. I lost two hands and won two. All in all, it was a pretty good night.

  The next morning, it’s back to business as usual. Callahan is sitting in the chair across from me with a set of files in his hand. He passes them to me and says, “These are the final candidates.”

  Taking the files, I flip the top one open and read. “Which one do you like for it?”

  He points to the second file and says, “Justice Taylor. He’s well trained and he bats for the same team as you.”

  Nodding, I take his suggestion under advisement while suppressing a grin at the fact that Justice is also gay. “Alright, I’ll interview them one at a time. Send the first one in.”

  Interview time. The investigation I’ve been thrust into is depending on my success. The guy who went into the office before me ran just out looking physically ill. It doesn’t bode well for me.

  Callahan exits the office and says, “Justice. It’s your turn.”

  Nodding, I stand and take a deep breath then follow Callahan into the office. I take a quick glance around the room before turning my gaze towards Mickey O’Rourke. Damn… the man is stunning and totally my type… this job just got a whole lot harder. Mickey has raven black hair and vibrant green eyes. An unlit cigar rests in an ash tray and a glass of what looks like whiskey next to it. He’s wearing a suit, but the jacket is hanging off the back of his chair and his sleeves are rolled up, showing off a set of tattoos on both arms.

  Instead of introducing myself properly when Callahan gestures for me to sit in the chair across from Mickey and Mickey introduces himself, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “You don’t look Irish.”

  Callahan stares at me wide-eyed and I feel a blush creeping up my neck as I realize what I just said. Before I can apologize though, Mickey throws his head back and laughs. His eyes are dancing with mirth when he says, “Well blondie, that’s because my momma was Sicilian.”

  Grinning at the nickname, I say, “Did she have a thing for Disney, Mickey Mouse?”

  Jesus Christ… I really need to learn to think before I speak. I’m pretty sure I just insulted him a second time.

  To my surprise, Mickey grins wide and says, “I like you, blondie. You got the job.”

  “Really? Don’t you need to ask me questions or something?”

  He shakes his head. “Nope. You impress me. Not many people are confident enough to speak what they feel around me. It’s refreshing. Callahan is going to teach you everything you need to know about his current security plan. You’ll accompany us both until you learn everything. Seeing the plan put in action when I go out will be a good learning experience.”

  “Got it.”

  “You’ll be paid weekly. Callahan will get you set up with a new bank account, so you’ll have access to your pay without it being flagged for taxes.”

  “Okay.”

  He leans back in his chair and says, “I have a business dinner with the Italians this evening. You and Callahan will be part of my security while I’m there. I’ll expect you to wear a suit when you’re working unless the situation calls for casual. Do you have a gun?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. You’ll keep it on you at all times. Now as for the reason you’re here. There’s unrest amongst the ranks. Someone doesn’t like the fact that I’m gay and is trying to remove me from my position. I have no idea who it is and since I consider everyone family, my judgement is biased. You’re here to be the objective third party. I want you to observe and report back to me. Anyone you think is suspicious I want to know about. Got it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Also, keep your phone on you at all times just in case something comes up and I need to get a hold of you.”

  “Anything else I need to know?”

  “Not right now. If I think of anything else, I’ll let you know.”

  He stands and pulls on his suit jacket. After buttoning it, he circles his desk and says, “Come on blondie, I’ll give you the grand tour, introduce you around, and then let Callahan take over.”

  “Lead the way, mouse.”

  With a grin, he opens the door and steps out into the hall.

  Fighting back a grin of my own, I follow him out into the hall. Flirting with Mickey could easily become my new favorite pastime.

  Focus Justice… you have a job to do. Don’t let the man’s good looks get in the way of doing what you came here for. Even if he pushes all your buttons, you can’t give in to temptation. It’ll screw up the investigation.

  With that thought in mind, I make a vow to myself to keep this relationship strictly business, despite the flirting. The sooner I get what I need to take Mickey down, the sooner I can get back to doing what I do best. Hell, after ten years, maybe I should really think about retiring. I’m not getting any younger and my job isn’t helpful when it comes to sustaining a good relationship. The last time I even entertained the idea of settling down it was with my long-time boyfriend. We’d been together for nearly five years and I was all set to propose until I came home after wrapping up a case and found him in bed with the neighbor. The very busty blonde neighbor who had a thing for wearing red bikinis and daisy dukes while mowing her lawn.

  Sad thing is, I wasn’t even that upset which says something about the relationship. Since the house was left to him by his grandparents, I packed all my things and moved out. I had to put most of my stuff in storage after that since I landed another case. Travelling for work in the years since has left little time to actually settle down. Maybe after all this is over I’ll find myself a house in the country and a nice guy to go with it. Start living the life I want instead of letting my job be my sole focus. It’s a nice thought and something I’ll definitely be considering. Seems like this job is the step back I needed to take to help me put my future into perspective.

  A hand lands on my shoulder and I reach for my gun on instinct, causing the person at my side to snicker. “Skittish blondie?”

  Grinning at Mickey, I wink and say, “Not in the slightest, mouse. Just a bit preoccupied.”

  “Well, you’d better shake it off. I won’t have my bodyguard distracted.”

  “Don’t worry, mouse. I’ve got your back.”

  “Good.”

  “So, about that tour.”

  He laughs and says, “Follow me then.”

  Leading Justice through the warehouse that was turned into a base of operations, I show him everything there is to see, from the cage where we hold underground fights to the rooms where some of the members stay when they can’t or won’t go home or have no home to go back to. The other parts of the business like the club the escorts work out of and the guns, are something he’ll be introduced to another time. After he’s earned his place of course. Once I’m sure I can trust him then I’ll bring him into the fold fully. Him being an outsider comes with a share of risks. The number one being that he could be an informant and anything he sees or hears will go straight to the cops. Which is why I won’t let him see the darker side of the business until he’s been here for a while. Consider it a probationary period.

  The last thing I need is the Feds raiding this place. Not that all my business is done here of course. Still the illegal gambling that goes on at the fights would be enough probable cause to get a warrant. Not that they’d find much more than that. I cover my tracks well and none of my men would ever talk. They’d die first. That’s the thing about loyalty though. In light of recent events I’m starting to think that some of my men aren’t as loyal as I thought they were. The asshole that took out some of my guys is proof of that. Sure, some of my men die occasionally but it’s usually when something goes wrong with a deal. This though? This is a whole other ballgame. Someone is targeting me deliberately by hitting me where it hurts and soon enough, I’m going to find out who. When I do, they’re going to wish they’d never been born.
<
br />   I don’t take kindly to people threatening me and my men. Once I find the culprit, there’ll be hell to pay. The men we lost in the attack were some of my best and I’m not very forgiving when it comes to assholes who deliberately hurt the people I care about.

  Coming to the end of the tour, I turn to Justice and say, “Well, that’s everything for now. You’ll be introduced to the rest of the business when I’ve deemed you trustworthy enough. Callahan will take over from here.”

  Callahan grips Justice’s shoulder and says, “Come on. We’ll start with the surveillance room. I’ll teach you everything you need to know about the cameras we have in place then we’ll move on to other things.”

  Callahan steers him away and they walk off towards the security office. Donning my business face, I head back to my office, so I can tackle todays to do list. I have a few meetings to get through before the deal with the Italians this evening. Usually, I have Callahan in the room with me since he’s my head of security but because he’s training Justice, I’ll have to go it alone. Sure, I could ask someone else to accompany me but right now, I don’t think I could trust that person not to stab me in the back.

  I hate feeling distrustful of my people but with a bullseye on my back, I have to draw the line somewhere. Thankfully, I’m not meeting with anyone too important or dangerous today. Normally, meetings like the ones I have today are done outside of the warehouse but with the unseen threat looming over my head and needing Callahan to train Justice, I can’t leave. It would leave me open to attack. Not that security would be able to stop a sniper but they’d sure as hell try.

  Halfway to my office my cousin steps into my path. “Cousin. Can I help you with something?”

  “Why would you bring an outsider in as your head of security? You know I would’ve gladly stepped into the role if you’d asked. I don’t see the point in jeopardizing the organization because you’re afraid.”

  Narrowing my eyes at him, I say, “I’m not afraid, I’m distrustful. If I can’t trust the people around me not to stab me in the back, then the whole organization falls apart. So, while it is a risk to bring in an outsider, it’s one I’m willing to take.”

  “You’re willing to risk everything our fathers built?”

  “I am. Ending up in jail sounds a lot better than ending up dead. With the connections I have, I could still run the business from the inside of a cell.”

  With that parting shot, I step around him and head into the office. My father and uncle died at the same time. My uncle was always my father’s second in command and when they died, I think my cousin assumed the organization would go to him because he was older. Instead, I took my father’s place and instead of choosing my cousin as my second in command, I chose Callahan. I think he’s secretly resented me for it ever since. Hmm… I might have to get Callahan to add him to the list of possible suspects.

  Taking a seat in my chair, I pour myself a glass of whiskey then dial Bruno on the office phone. “Yes boss?”

  “Send in whoever is first.”

  “Will do, boss.”

  Every time I have meetings here at the warehouse, Bruno takes care of escorting whoever I’m meeting with to a waiting room near my office, so they aren’t tempted to wander around unchecked.

  The door opens, and I stand to greet my guest. “Father Moreno, good to see you. What can I do for you today?”

  “It’s good to see you too, Mickey. I came to thank you on behalf of my wife.”

  He holds out a cake and says, “She baked this for you. It’s made with Irish Whiskey.”

  Grinning, I take the cake from him and say, “I do love my Irish Whiskey. How is she doing?”

  “The new treatment seems to be working well. She’s had more energy lately and seems to be back to her normal self. Thank you for arranging it and covering the costs. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

  Pinching off a piece of cake, I have to fight back a moan at the flavor. So damn good. I’ll have to get the recipe from Evie sometime. “Don’t worry about it. It was the least I could do. You know my mother and she loves your wife. If I didn’t help in some way she’d hound me, guilt trip me, and even refuse to bake me cookies if I didn’t agree. So, I beat her to the punch. Any medical bills pop up, you send them to me okay? I’ll take care of it.”

  “I couldn’t ask that of you. You’ve already done so much for us.”

  “Nonsense. You aren’t asking, I’m offering. Now, let’s talk about the group home. How are the kids?”

  Father Moreno grins and says, “The kids are great. Some of them have been asking about you. You’ll have to come by soon.”

  “I will. Do you have enough funding to cover expenses?”

  “Yes. Thanks to you. We were able to buy clothes and other necessities for each of the children and have also secured counseling for the hard cases which seems to be helping them. We’ve noticed that the fighting and the bullying has decreased significantly.”

  “Good. You let me know if they need anything you can’t afford, and I’ll handle it. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  “Maybe. It’s about one of the older boys. Teagan.”

  “What do you need me to do?”

  “Talk to him. We’ve been unable to convince him to go to counseling and I think he’s being recruited by a gang. He’s a good kid and can go places if he focuses on his education but lately, he’s been skipping classes and getting into trouble. I don’t want to see him throw his life away.”

  “I’ll be by sometime this week to talk to him.”

  “Thank you, Mickey.”

  “It’s no problem. Really. I might not be able to convince him of anything, but I’ll try my best.”

  “That’s all I ask. I better get going, Evie is waiting for me to take her shopping.”

  With a grin, I say, “You tell her I said thank you for the cake. It’s delicious and I want the recipe.”

  He laughs and says, “I’ll have it for you when you come to visit the children.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  He holds out his hand and I take it. After a quick shake, he exits the office. Pinching off another piece of cake, I pop it into my mouth before dialing Bruno on the office phone.

  “Yes boss?”

  “Send in the next client after you’ve escorted Father Moreno to his car.”

  “Will do boss.”

  After learning the ins and outs of the security system, Callahan and I head back to Mickey’s office to sit in on his afternoon meetings. Callahan said we probably wouldn’t be needed since Mickey can handle himself but sometimes it’s the show of force that keeps people from doing something stupid.

  When we enter the office, Mickey is sipping his whiskey while pinching off pieces of a cake to eat. He grins at us and says, “You guys are just in time. Take some of this cake before I eat the whole thing.”

  Callahan laughs and pulls out a knife. After cutting himself a piece, he stands in the corner to Mickey’s left.

  “How about you, blondie? Want some cake?”

  Mickey holds up the plate like an offering. Pulling out my own knife, I cut myself a piece and take a position to Mickey’s right. There’s a knock on the door and a man in a suit walks in and says, “Your two o-clock has arrived sir.”

  Mickey nods and says, “Thanks Bruno. Send him in.”

  Bruno exits the office and returns a few minutes later followed by another man in his thirties who looks out of place with his green polo shirt, khakis, and leather oxfords.

  Mickey looks to the man in the polo and says, “Have a seat.”

  Once the man is seated, Bruno exits the office. Mickey leans forward resting his elbows on his desk and steeples his fingers. “Mr. Ryan. You know why you’re here?”

  The man nods. “I haven’t paid my loan.”

  Mickey says, “that’s right. You haven’t paid your loan. I’m a reasonable man Mr. Ryan. I can understand not being able to pay the full payment amount. Times are tough, but n
ot paying anything at all for six months? That’s not going to work for me.”

  Mr. Ryan does his best to look apologetic, but it doesn’t work. “I’m sorry. I lost my job and I only recently got back to work. I’ve got kids to feed and my wife and I are barely scraping by. Please. Have a little mercy. I need more time.”

  Mickey tsks at the man. “I don’t like liars Mr. Ryan. I know you’re single and have a well-paying job. There’s no kids to feed either.”

  The man scoffs and says, “I don’t know where you heard that sir, but it just isn’t true.

  Mickey raises an eyebrow at him. “You calling my head of security a liar Mr. Ryan? Because he’s very good at his job and a background check was all I needed to get this information.”

  Mr. Ryan shakes his head vigorously. “Of course not sir. “

  “That’s what I thought. “

  The man says, “I just need a little more time. I’ll pay you back.’

  Mickey shakes his head and says, “No. No more time. When you came here for a loan, I took you at your word when you said you’d pay me back. You reneged on our deal. If the payment plan wasn’t acceptable for you, you should’ve come to me and we would’ve worked something out. It’s too late for that now.”

  With a steely expression on his face, Mickey narrows his eyes at the man in front of him and says, “You have three days to get me the money you owe me. If you don’t have the full amount by then, you can beg for mercy from the inside of a coffin.”

  Holy shit… .he just threatened the man. I shouldn’t find that sexy. Really… .really shouldn’t. Doesn’t stop my dick from taking notice though the selfish bastard.

  With a nod towards the door, Mickey says, “Get him out of here.”

  Circling the desk, I haul the man up by his elbow and lead him from the office. As soon as were outside the door, Bruno steps away from the wall he was leaning against and says, “I’ll take him from here, sir.”