His Christmas Baby: A Friends to Lovers Romance Read online

He would eventually, and we both knew it .

  * * *

  “W e’re heading out today, so pack your bags.” Keane towered over me, casting a shadow over my laptop which held an article for class .

  “No thanks. I’m good here.” The last time I went on the road with him I lost my virginity and my heart. “Just leave me locked in here like you always do. No big deal .”

  “Not this time Fi. You’re coming with me because I don’t know if we’ll be back or when.” His jaw was set in that firm line that made him look like he walked right off the pages of Hot Gangster’s Digest, his green eyes were laced with steel and his body poised for attack .

  I wanted to argue and fight with him. Tell Keane that he wasn’t the boss of me and couldn’t just order me around. But just because I didn’t trust him with my heart, didn’t mean I would not or could not trust him with my safety. “Fine.” I stood, slamming my laptop closed and shoving it into my bag. “When are we leaving ?”

  “As soon as you get packed. Don’t bring a lot of shit, we’ll be bouncing around .”

  His words were short and icy but that’s just how things were between us lately so I shrugged. “Why are we…you can’t find Dad ?”

  “I will find him Fiona.” His insistence was nice but unnecessary .

  “You haven’t ever spared my feelings before Keane, don’t start now .”

  He sighed and raked a hand over his beard. “I don’t know where he is or why he hasn’t checked in, but it can’t be good. So we’re going to find him .”

  “And if we don’t ?”

  “We’ll worry about that if it happens. For now, the goal is to find him. I have a few ideas of where he might be, so go on and pack a bag .”

  I trudged back to the guest room and tossed a few jeans, t-shirts and sweaters into a small bag along with underwear for a week and toiletries. If we were gone longer I’d just stop and get some along the way. “I’m ready,” I told him and put my phone and tablet plus chargers in with the laptop .

  The elevator ride was silent and tense and as much as I wanted to lean into him, to smile and chat with him like I used to do, I couldn’t let myself get sucked into Keane again. I still loved him and I still wanted him to love me, but I knew he wouldn’t .

  “Where are we starting ?”

  “A few places in the city first,” he said, placing his big roughened hand on my lower back and guiding me back to the truck .

  “Not the Charger,” I teased .

  His lips twitched and he shook his head. “Nah, figured we needed something new. Something no one knows about .”

  “What are all the not awful reasons he could be out of touch?” We were headed to Cearul territory first to check one of the many safe houses stashed around Boston .

  “He could be hurt and out of burner phones. He could be too far out for cell service. Or he could be keeping a low profile in case we’re being watched, trailed or bugged .”

  I let out a long frustrated sigh. “So chances are good that he’s hurt. Or worse.” Turning away from Keane I looked out the window and tried to prepare myself for the fact that I could very well be all alone in the world. Mom had been gone for years now, and though Dad was always there technically, he’d been lost to me for almost as many y ears. But if he were truly gone…wouldn’t I notice? Wouldn’t I feel different, more alone now than ever before? It was a silly thought, but one that gave me comfort .

  People always talk about how they felt a part of them was missing and they go on to find out they had a twin walking around on the other side of the country, or a child they thought died at birth was alive and living well ten miles away. That had to mean something, didn’t it ?

  “Don’t add extra problems to worry about Fi. We’ll find him, and then you can have the first punch for scaring the hell out of us.” He flashed that trademark smile and I wanted it to work. I wanted that smile to make everything seem better, like it always had. Only now, I don’t know. Maybe the smile wasn’t as powerful as I’d always thought .

  Or maybe shit was just too real for a dazzling smile to have any real impact .

  Keane

  I didn’t know what to tell Fiona. She said she wanted the truth, but no one really wants to hear that a parent might be dead somewhere. My heart broke for her and whether she let me or not, I will be there for her .

  “Are you okay ?”

  “Yeah,” she sighed heavily, her voice shaky and emotional. “I just…saw those legs and thought it was him.” She spoke so softly I could barely hear over the purr of the engine, but the terror in her voice was palpable .

  “I know. But it wasn’t, and that’s good news.” I put a hand on her thigh and squeezed, offering what comfort I could as we made our way to another safe house .

  “You called some guys to clean him up ?”

  “Yeah, that was a Red ‘Rock who thought he might find something interesting here. They’ve been staking us out a lot lately, but ever since you saved our asses they’re desperate .”

  She looked up at me with those big, unblinking blue eyes that still trusted me, despite our current tension .

  “You think they’ve picked up Callahan and his boys yet ?”

  “I don’t know.” They wouldn’t ever pick up Callahan because we had him. He had to fucking pay for sending those assholes after Fiona and we were making sure his debt was paid before we let him go. If we let him go. “Either way he’ll get the justice he deserves .”

  “Do you know where Dad was last time you spoke ?”

  “Nah. We kept it vague on purpose. Never know who’s listening.” Now I fucking regretted that I didn’t at least get an idea of his location because I had no idea where to start. “We’ll look at all the places he could be even if it takes weeks, Fiona. I promise .”

  “I believe you.” Her words were sincere but she wouldn’t look at me .

  “Talk to me, Fiona. Something is wrong other than Seamus and I’m right here. Ready to listen .”

  She was restless, and I wasn’t sure if it had to do with me or her missing father. “I don’t know Keane. It’s kind of everything, you know?” Blowing out another breath, she twisted the hem of her shirt in her hands. “I’m thinking of leaving Boston .”

  “What? Why would you do that?” I couldn’t let her leave the city. Not now while Seamus was still missing, and not ever if I could help it .

  “Because I need to be away from here Keane. I need to be someone besides Seamus O’Malley’s little girl .”

  “Can we talk about this after we find your dad ?”

  “Sure. You asked .”

  “I can’t think about you leaving right now Fiona. I just…I fucking can’t, alright?” I couldn’t lie to myself any longer about Fiona. I hated that she was pissed off at me, I hated that she thought I saw her as a little kid. I hated that she thought I didn’t have any faith in her, because I did .

  “Don’t think about it at all, Keane .”

  “Shit, get down!” A red car had been following us for six blocks now .

  “Why?”

  “Because I think we’ve got a tail. Just hang on, and don’t look back.” We didn’t make it this fucking far just to have some asshole run us off the road. Or shoot us off. I made a sharp left down a one-way street and turned right through an alley. When I came back onto the main street that fucker was still there. “Shit .”

  “Who is it ?”

  “I have no fucking idea, but judging by the color of that Mustang, it’s the Red ‘Rock assholes.” It’s a good thing I’ve been driving these streets since me and Seamus stole our first car at thirteen. They couldn’t keep up with me if they tried, and by the time we hit South Boston they were still stuck in traffic .

  “Shit Keane, where’d you learn how to drive like that?” Her face was flushed pink, either from excitement or fear .

  “Around.”

  She laughed and the sound echoed in the car. It felt nice to hear her laughing again. “Vague answer .”

&n
bsp; “I’ll teach you some time if you want .”

  She laughed again. “I think that was more excitement than I can handle. But you might have a second career as a stunt driver .”

  “You think ?”

  “Of course. I mean if this whole ganster-ing thing doesn’t work out for you.” Her smile sobered as her words became a reality. “Shit you know what I mean .”

  “Yeah I know. I wanted to be a stunt driver when I was a kid. Seamus and I used to tear up the streets, racing and turning on two wheels all through the city.” I laughed at the memory. “Seamus wore that same ‘oh shit’ expression you did .”

  She grinned and shook her head, running one hand through her silky red hair. “Dad always said you drove like a bat out of hell .”

  “More like a mick out of hell, but the need for speed is real,” I told her with a deadpan expression that sent her into a fit of giggles .

  “Don’t look now, but there’s another red car behind us, this time a Tahoe .”

  A quick look in the mirror and I saw what had her worried. The SUV was filled with angry Red Shamrocks, gunning for us and they planned to use the car as their bullet .

  “Hang on.” I zipped through traffic but the driver of the truck had more talent than the Mustang Driver. He kept up with me around every hairpin turn, through every yellow light, squeezing through impossible narrow ways just to stay close. “Fuck!” I smacked the steering wheel as we came upon 93. I thought about heading back to the North End, but I knew if I headed South instead, I would be leading the Rocks into enemy territory, and these enemies would shoot first and ask questions later .

  “Seriously,” she squeaked when she caught sight of the exit. “This is better ?”

  “For us it is,” I told her and turned on Dorchester Avenue. I slowed down after turning onto a residential street, giving a nod to one of the corner hustlers who sent a signal out to wherever the rest of his crew hid. The squeal of tires braking told me those dumb fucks tailing me finally figured out where they were .

  Ten minutes later we were back on course, taking the 93 to Somerville. Another safe house was there and one of the women Seamus sometimes spent time with, so I knew if he was still breathing this was where he would be .

  At least I fucking hoped so .

  * * *

  “S hit Keane, where the hell you been?” Rosie glared up at me, plump bosom on display in a silky red housecoat that barely covered her ass .

  “Looking for Seamus, you seen him?” Traffic had been fucked heading this way, and after dealing with those Shamrocks I felt tensed and pissed. “Well have you ?”

  Rosie’s eyes were fixed on Fiona, recognition and surprise shining in their grey depths. “Oh you’re all grown up and so beautiful.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I haven’t seen you since you were a little girl. Come on in, both of you.” She waved us in and looked around the block for anything unsavory. Rosie’s father and uncle had both been part of Cearul so she knew the score, particularly because they’d both died at the hands of enemies. She knew dying of natural causes was rare in this business and more importantly, she knew how to stay safe .

  I couldn’t help but smile because Rosie was a good woman. A little rough around the edges, but good and loyal .

  “Seamus, Rosie ?”

  “Quit your bitchin’, I’m getting to it.” She rolled her eyes as she waved a dismissive hand at me and smiled at Fiona. “Thinks because he’s got those movie star good looks he can have bad manners .”

  “Don’t I know it,” she commiserated .

  Rosie dropped a hand on her shoulder. “Seamus is here but he ain’t doing too well. He’s got a bullet in his shoulder and the crazy old fool refused to let me call a doctor .”

  “Fuck.” Seamus had been shot who knew how many days ago, without treatment. He could be septic. I picked up the phone and stepped away, keeping one ear on the conversation behind me .

  “Did he get any medical treatment?” Fiona’s voice sounded small and scared for the first time since everything had gone down. Hell, she hadn’t been this scared with that asshole Shamrock inside her apartment .

  “A guy I know is a vet. He came by and cleaned the wounds, stitched’em up and gave him some antibiotics. That was last week though .”

  “Them? He was shot more than once? Can I see him?” She sounded so urgent, so terrified I moved and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, ignoring the flash of surprise in Rosie’s all seeing eyes .

  “Sure, follow me honey. Just try not to react, you know how ornery Seamus can be .”

  I felt her spine stiffen under my hand, and I saw Fiona’s transformation from worried daughter to her mask of blankness. “Yeah,” she whispered in a shaky voice .

  Rosie pushed the door open with a breath that appeared to have only one purpose, to steel her own resolve. “Go on in honey, I need to speak with Keane .”

  I gave her a small push in the direction of the dimly lit room, curling my mouth into an encouraging smile. “Put your mind at ease, Fi.” She nodded and went inside, leaving me alone with Rosie and her inquisitive eyes. “Spit it out Rosie .”

  She grinned, shaking her head and making her way towards the kitchen. I followed her into the throwback kitchen with yellow high back chairs, floral and chrome table. “Coffee ?”

  “Yeah sure. So how long has he been here?” He must have been here almost since we lost contact if she was worried about infection .

  “At least a week, can’t really remember because it’s all a blur. The first few days I stayed right by his side to make sure the old goat didn’t die on me.” She was a tough old broad, so the tears pooling in her eyes told me just how worried she’d been. And how she cared more for Seamus than she let on .

  “Do you know what happened or who did this ?”

  She shrugged and poured water into the coffeemaker. “All he would say was ‘those fucking Shamrocks better hope I die.’ Not much of a comfort to the rest of us, but I assume they were behind this .”

  I didn’t know how much business Seamus shared with Rosie, but if he stayed here to recover she needed to know. So I told her everything about the setup, the FBI and how Fiona had cleared her dad and Cearul .

  “I’m sure there will be retaliation when the news hits .”

  “So…you and Fiona? Can’t say I imagined you going for the good girl type.” She grinned like she knew what I’d been up to with my best friend’s daughter .

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about Rosie. Seamus asked me to keep her safe, so that’s what I’ve done.” No one else needed to know what else we’d done .

  “Right, hmph,” she rolled her eyes and brought the coffee pot to the table along with milk and sugar. “I don’t have none of that fancy crap pods, so take it or leave it.” Ignoring her, I prepped my coffee and took a sip. “And I don’t believe for one second that there’s not something going on with you and that girl .”

  Yeah she got me and I choked on hot coffee, much to her delight. “Dammit Rosie .”

  Her laugh was more like a cackle and she took a seat across from me. “I don’t get why you’re denying it when it’s so obvious. You protect her sure, but it seems more like a lover protecting what’s his.” Those grey eyes saw entirely too much, probably because Rosie had spent all of her life with gangsters. She knew how we thought, how we reacted to just about any situation. “You’re worried about how Seamus will react .”

  “There is that. If there were something to worry about. Which there isn’t .” As much as I wanted to scowl and intimidate her I knew she didn’t intimidate easily so it would be a waste .

  “I don’t know, I think he’d be happy about his little girl in such capable hands. He trusts you more than anyone .”

  Yeah that’s exactly what had me so worried. Seamus was the closest thing to family I had anymore and unlike Rosie, I didn’t think he’d be too thrilled with his second in command fucking his twenty-one-year-old daughter. “Doesn’t matter Rosie. She’s just a ki
d .”

  “Old enough to save your ass,” she scowled at me and when her looked turned thunderous I felt a fist take hold of my guts. “Hey honey, how’s he doing ?”

  I turned and saw Fiona, looking so small and frail as she steadfastly avoided my gaze, instead focusing on Rosie. “He’s asking for you Rosie,” she said quietly and went back to Seamus .

  “Dammit!” I smacked the table knowing I would pay for whatever she heard later .

  Rosie stood with a smirk. “Nothing going on, huh? Keep telling yourself that .”

  * * *

  “W hy didn’t you call me? You look like shit by the way.” Seamus sat in bed, pale and ashen with red ringed eyes. The sheen of sweat covering his skin proved Rosie’s worries. “Someone’s coming to look at you .”

  “You know the Shamrocks probably have somebody sittin’ on Doc’s place right ?”

  I nodded because I did know that, and that fact had been confirmed by one of my men. “Fiona called someone she says is a concierge doctor. Means he comes to you, wherever you are .”

  He smiled and his eyes drifted shut. “She’s the best part of me, I’m tellin’ ya. That girl is too smart for the likes of us.” His lids lifted to reveal clear blue eyes that were too serious at the moment. “She seems quiet. And sad .”

  I knew his words were meant as a question. He wanted to know if I’m to blame for her mood. “She’s had a busy few days and we had to outrun a bunch of Red ‘Rocks in our search for you .”

  “And that’s all? It has nothing to do with what may or may not have happened between you two ?”

  Shit. “What are you trying to say?” Raking a hand through my hair, I let out a breath that held more tension than I should have now that Seamus was found. Alive .

  Seamus laughed, wincing at the pain it caused the bullet still lodged in his shoulder and the wound in his gut. “She’s been in love with you since she was too little to understand her feelings. I appreciate you trying to fight it Keane, I do. But you have to know you’re the best man I know .”

  My laugh came out hard and bitter. “You just said she’s too smart for the likes of us .”