Escaping: A Mafia Romance (The O'Keefe Family Collection #2) (3 page)

Four.

The Power of Pranks and the Pond

Fallyn awoke to being gently picked up with strong arms she would know anywhere as Declan’s. She kept her eyes shut through her murmured, “Morning, Declan,” and didn’t see the direction they were heading until the last second. She squealed and flailed when Declan launched her into the pond that was the size of two basketball courts.

“We’re going swimming,” Declan informed her, motioning to his swim trunks. “Hope you brought your suit.”

Danny clapped his hands in appreciation at having snuck up on their prey so easily. “That was awesome! Man, you were out, Fal. He got you good!”

Fallyn stalked onto the shore, drenched and cold. The cottage had a long-standing tradition of prank wars that usually got out of hand and ended with something illegal happening or something valuable breaking or being set on fire. “It’s on, Declan. Consider yourself my next target.”

Declan was all smiles, his freckles mocking her with their cuteness. “Bring it on, kiddo.”

Fallyn stomped into the cottage past the gleeful grins each of her brothers wore, announcing that the war had already started. She snatched up her overnight bag and marched into the bathroom. She changed into her swimsuit in quick, snappish movements, and brought out her sopping clothes. Her brothers were all outside with Joey and Tony, but Angelo was sipping his coffee at the kitchen table, separate from the ensuing good-natured mayhem.

“Where’s Declan’s bag?” she asked, and then spotted it. She ripped open his bag and wrung her clothes out over his belongings. Then she tucked her wet clothes under his things so the whole bag’s contents would get a thorough mildew smell. She took out his shaving cream and set to work filling just the toes of his shoes. She turned to the front door where the pile of men’s shoes were stacked. “Stop me if I reach for any of your family’s shoes,” she warned Angelo, who watched her with a small smile. She filled each of her brother’s shoes with shaving cream up to the halfway point so they couldn’t see the mess until they put their foot all the way in. “Declan’s was payback, but it’s preemptive with the others,” she explained. “Family tradition.”

Angelo added more creamer to his coffee. “Carry on. Though you might want to pass on using your lotion this weekend. Something may have happened to it. I’m sure Danny wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“Man! He got me already?” She stood in her pale blue bikini and looked around for more mischief. She set to dripping shampoo into the caps of her brothers’ tubes of toothpastes, calling to Angelo from the bathroom. “How’s everybody feeling today?”

“Vince says he’s fine, which means he’s pretty banged up. He took some of his pain meds so he could sleep off the worst of it. Want to tell me what happened?”

“No. You seem like the type to break a truce the second it gets shaky, so let’s just say Vince got hit by a swarm of butterflies.”

“Which one of your brothers found out?”

“Thousands of butterflies came out of nowhere and just attacked Vince. It was awful.” She swallowed. “I had a talk with the butterflies. Said he’d back off for now.”

“Which one, Fal?” His voice was level, but Fallyn knew Angelo was a planner. He would find out and Carrigan would get a matching bruise for each one he’d given Vince, plus interest.

She came out to the kitchen and searched the cupboard for the gallon of vinegar they kept to fend off pests. “Butterflies,” she repeated. “I’m handling my family as best I can.”

Angelo took a drink of his coffee, studying her avoidance. “Since you and Vince started up, I’ve seen a lot of things change.” He ticked off points on his trunk-like fingers. “The neighborhood’s finally getting cleaned out for real. Tony’s starting to fall in line finally. And Vince is actually happy. Walking around like the weight of the world wasn’t dumped on his shoulders. Never thought I’d put much stock in happiness, but he does more now to get ahead. I see the changes, and I know it’s because he’s taken up with you.” His tone darkened. “I notice all sorts of things. Like Vince being the only one of us who can barely walk today. Like him looking at things he shouldn’t be looking at.”

Fallyn’s nose crinkled. “Huh? What shouldn’t he be looking at? Like porn?”

Angelo choked on his coffee. “Wow, I never pictured that word coming out of your mouth. Glad I got to see it in person. No, not porn. Not childish things. Adult things. He sees what he wants and he goes after it. When he leaps, there’s no going back for him, which is why I’m concerned.”

Fallyn dunked her brothers’ toothbrushes into the glass of vinegar she poured. She took out a Tupperware bowl from the cupboard and then hopped up on the counter, reaching down the econo sized bottle of vodka.

“I could’ve helped you reach that,” Angelo scolded her. “It’s a little early for vodka, don’t you think?”

“Ah, just what I always wanted – an eighth big brother,” she teased him, covering her breasts so they didn’t bounce too much when she jumped down from the counter. She demonstrated her need for the vodka by pouring the entire bottle out into the Tupperware. She grinned at his chuckle when she refilled the bottle with white vinegar.

“Nicely done,” he lauded her. Angelo averted his eyes from her cleavage and bare legs as she climbed back atop the counter to put the bottle back where she’d found it.

“The brilliance is the step one, step two. First they’ll do shots with dinner. We always do on vacation. Then they’ll race to wash their mouths out, brushing it into their teeth. But they won’t be able to tell it’s on the toothbrush because the taste will already be in their mouths, so in the morning, they’ll wake up to the minty fresh vinegar taste all over again.” She put their toothbrushes back in the bathroom on the white and gold porcelain sink before rejoining Angelo. “You can say it. I’m the Queen.”

Angelo snorted and finished off his coffee. “I’ll let you know when Vince wakes up.”

“You didn’t want to go swimming? The water’s real nice when your brother doesn’t wake you up by dumping you in the lake.”

“It’s not for me. But it’s good to see Tony and Joey laughing. I worry they don’t get to actually live. It’s always about the city and work.” He motioned with his mug out back where, sure enough, Joey and Tony were howling with delight in the pond with her brothers. “Lots of good things have happened since you came into the picture.” His eyes flicked up toward the loft. “Lots of bad things, too. I hope Vince didn’t go through all this for nothing.”

“Well, I’m not bailing on him, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not sure what I’m worried about most, to be honest. That you turned down the money he offered you helps put my mind at ease, and frankly opens up the pocketbooks a little. Maria burned through thousands a week just in clothes and jewelry.”

“Gotta love her. I don’t know much about their relationship, only the headlines. You want to fill me in on anything I should know?”

Angelo considered this, mulling over his words before he chose the wrong ones. “I’m sure Vince has told you enough.”

“We’ve never really talked about her. Come on, Angelo, you’ve got the insider track, here.”

He waited a few beats before speaking quietly. “Maria’s bossy, entitled and treated Vince exactly as he treated her. It was never about love or even liking each other. She wanted money, and he wanted sex. It was a good arrangement. I’m sure it didn’t start out like that, but it’s where they were when it ended.” Angelo cleared his throat, studying his coffee as he spoke. “It’s why Tony was so concerned about you taking Vince’s money. It was a slippery slope with Maria. See that you don’t repeat her mistakes. Though, since you turned down his card, I don’t think I need to worry about you – at least not about you taking Vince for all he’s worth. Plenty of other things to worry about where you’re concerned.”

Fallyn pursed her lips in thought. “No, I’m not with Vince for his money. It’s good that you worry about him. If you see me doing something that makes you concerned, tell me. I appreciate the direct route rather than the sneaky, back alley one you tend to favor.”

Angelo eyed her, dropping his carefully worded sentences and going for the blunt truth that had been troubling him. “Okay, then. I think you’re dangerous.”

Fallyn scoffed, not expecting this to be the thing he responded with. “This coming from you? Wow. I must be terrifying if
you
think I’m dangerous. How many bodies have filled your trunk?”

“I don’t care so much about those bodies as I care about Vince not ending up in some O’Keefe’s trunk.” He motioned outside to where they were all playing together like one big happy family. “You might not pull the trigger, but if that happens, he’ll end up like that because he followed you around to whatever end you led him to. You’re reckless. You think that because you want peace to be here, it just magically exists, and the guns disappear. It doesn’t work like that.”

Fallyn took a few beats to honor his warning before responding. “I can work on that. You’re right. Sometimes I see what I want and I run after it. I know if I wait, it’ll get snatched out of my hands.”

“But it’s not just you anymore. You’ve got someone who’ll go down not just with you, but in your place if things go south. It’s a heavy responsibility, and I worry you don’t take that seriously.”

She paused and leaned across the counter to place her hand atop Angelo’s. “Thank you. I hear you, and thank you. I know you love Vince. I love him, too. I’ll try to be more careful.”

Angelo nodded once, looking satisfied with the exchange. “Go have fun. You’ve more than earned a day in the sun.”

“And you haven’t?”

Angelo shrugged and excused himself, leaving Fallyn to run out and jump into the water, tackling her nearest brother and dunking him. Seamus surfaced with a mouthful of water he spewed in her face like a squirt gun. Danny lifted her around the waist and launched her in the air, which started off the suggestion of blowing up the beach ball and tossing it around. When Carrigan came back with the ball, he threw it to Tony, who smacked it in the air, letting loose a huge puff of white powder in his face. “Ah! What is that? Is that dust?” His face had a thick layer of white on it.

“Flour,” Declan laughed. “Looks good on you, brother.”

The label of family sunk deep in Tony, who wanted to resist the congenial siblings, but knew he no longer could. “Oh, yeah? How’s this look, brother?” He put his hands together and squirted a well-aimed stream of water out at Declan, who sidestepped the assault.

Thus began the morning spent getting out their pent-up anxiety over the night of murdering. They dunked each other, splashed and played water volleyball without a net. They laughed like children for hours, and when they all got out of the large pond, they were each left wishing their parents hadn’t split them apart so many years ago.

Patrick O’Keefe had bought the secluded cabin fully aware that it needed a sizeable hot water tank for his overlarge family. There were three bathrooms, each of which had a line of men waiting their turn. Fallyn shivered with her towel wrapped around her, studying the takeout menus to decide which was best for everyone.

Joey hopped on the stool across from her at the counter. “I can’t believe they won’t let you shower first. They’re so all about babying you.”

Danny came by and mussed Fallyn’s wet tangles. “Rule of the house is Fallyn showers last. She takes the longest, no matter how much we tell her to hurry up.”

Fallyn shrugged. “Whatever. I can wait if it means I don’t get some jaggoff pounding his fist to the door halfway through my shower.” She opened up the Chinese menu to compare it to the Mexican restaurant. “What do you want? I can’t decide.”

“Just get a million burritos.” Danny turned to Joey. “You want to play some football? I don’t feel like waiting in line for a shower.”

Joey scoffed at the question, as if it never needed to be asked. “Let’s do it.” He slid off the stool and stretched, removing his towel from his waist and balling it up. “You coming, little sis?”

Fallyn’s head jerked up to look at him. There was no dig in his address, just a sparkle of contentment in his eyes. Fallyn moved around the counter and threw her arms around Joey, hugging him tight. She hadn’t hugged him since she’d been in kindergarten and he a few grades ahead, but long ago they’d felt like siblings to each other. “Let me get all my brothers some lunch, first. You want anything special, Jo-Jo?”

“Anything that’s a trough of food. I’m starved.”

“Mexican it is.” Fallyn squeezed Joey, wondering when he’d gotten so tall. “You know, we were almost the same height when we made mud pies together. Not fair.”

Joey placed his hand flat on the top of her head, measuring that she only came up to his shoulder. “One day you’ll grow to normal human height, Little Keefer. Put it on your Christmas list: I want to be as awesome as Joey.”

Fallyn shoved him playfully and sent the two outside, beaming that after all these years, she’d finally gotten her friend back.

Five.

Old Man

When Killian came back with trays upon trays of burritos, tacos, pintos and cheese, chips and salsa, enchiladas and quesadillas, every lax conversation came to a screeching halt as all the men made their way to the counter. It was a feeding frenzy to rival the zoo. Wrappers went flying and whole burritos were shoved in their mouths in one go. Fallyn was used to situations like these and knew there was no way to worm herself in to snatch up a burrito. She stood on the outside and tapped Killian on the back, knowing he’d probably eaten at least four tacos on the drive back, so he wouldn’t be as crazed.

Killian handed her a burrito. “Get in here, sweetie. You’ve got to push your way in.”

“No, thanks. But I feel like I should take some food to Vince. I mean, he’s been out all day and probably should eat something.”

Killian replied over a mouthful of crunchy taco, but it was unintelligible. He handed her five more burritos and a plate to take to Vince.

“I can do that,” Carrigan volunteered.

Fallyn threw him a sharp look meant to cut. “I got it.” She moved up the stairs to the loft before Carrigan could argue any further. The loft housed the many bunk beds. It was positioned above the den that lay next to the kitchen. There was no privacy in the loft, since it was all open to the main floor, but Vince was tucked far enough toward the back of the space that one could only see him if they stood on their toes at the front door. “Hey, Angelo. I brought you two some lunch,” she offered, handing him a wrapped burrito.

Angelo put down his paperback western and gave Vince a light kick to wake him. “I think I’ll get my own. Thanks, though. Now you’ve got me worried everything’s going to have shampoo or vinegar in it. Keep Vince company while I’m eating, will you?”

She mouthed her thanks before he left down the stairs to give them a moment of privacy. Vince yawned, groaning at the awful crack his jaw made. He was careful as he stretched. When he opened his eyes to check his surroundings, he didn’t expect to see such a breathtaking sight. The second his gaze fell on Fallyn in a bikini holding food for him, his heart lurched for her as his stomach frenzied for the burritos. “Hey,” he greeted her, unsure how open they could be.

“Everyone’s downstairs. I thought you might be hungry.”

“Come here,” he begged. “I had a rough night. Need some sympathy and company.” He sighed contentedly when she laid down next to him, cuddled up in his nook.

She knew she’d be able to hear anyone coming up by the creaking of the wooden stairs, but she was still careful to whisper. “What hurts?”

“Only everything.” His eyebrows pulled together as his expression darkened. “Why didn’t you get in the car with us? Why’d you go out after Carrigan? You know Killian could’ve found him just fine.”

“I won’t be benched when my family needs me. I did what you all wanted and stayed at home base. But Kill and I found Carrigan in a house by himself, thinking the guys were inside to help him. He could’ve died if we weren’t there to pick them off with him.”

Vince stiffened. “Did you shoot anyone?”

Fallyn swallowed, snuggling into his side as best she could without hurting him. “Of course not. I was baking a pie the entire time and handing out cookies to lure them out of their hiding places.”

He stared up at the honey-colored wood ceiling, taking a few seconds to collect himself so he didn’t rant. “I don’t want you killing people.”

“You stop and I’ll stop. I won’t sit back and watch my family get smaller.”

“No, Fal. I don’t want that life for you. Don’t you see you’re one of the reasons I did all that for? I wanted my streets to be safer for you to walk down. I didn’t want to send you into the mess, guns blazing.”

Fallyn rolled her eyes. “Great. Just what I need. Another brother.”

Vince’s knuckles brushed the plump outer swell of her breasts, half-smiling when she shivered. “
Tesoro
, I am not your brother. But I do love you, so don’t go crashing into crack houses anymore. I need you safe. I need you alive.”

“Well, I’m both of those things, so you don’t have to lecture me anymore.”

Vince chuckled, and then winced at the pain this brought to his ribs. “Is Angelo around?”

“What do you need?”

“A kiss. That’s all I ever need from you. More of that mouth, even when it argues with me like a fool.”

Fallyn pressed a delicate kiss to his lips, taking care not to brush against the broken skin. “You look like you’re in a lot of pain. What can I do?”

“Distract me. Tell me something good that has nothing to do with this mess.”

Fallyn wracked her brain. “Joey called me ‘little sis’ this morning. Actually hugged me. It was sweet. And Tony called Declan ‘brother’. Despite the chaos, our families seem to be finding their way.”

“That’s good to hear. What are the chances of you wearing this bikini the next time we escape to our place? It’s dead sexy.”

“You like it?” She looked down at her breasts appraisingly. She’d never given a ton of thought to her sex appeal before, seeing as how she had entertained very little possibility of holding onto a boyfriend.

“If my rib wasn’t busted and the rest of me feeling like an old man, I’d show you exactly how much I want you.”

“Oh, you with the sexy talk,” she purred, running her fingers over his chest to rev up the mini seduction. “Call yourself an old man again. That really gets me going.”

Vince chuckled. “I want to be young for you. I’m going to start taking better care of myself.”

“Wait, does this mean you won’t go throwing yourself into crack dens anymore? Boring!”

He ran his scabbed fingers across her cheekbone. “I think I’m going to stop drinking as often as I do. More wine, less Jack. Maybe eat healthier or something. After things settle down, I want to start running again. I played soccer with Declan and Finn in high school, you know.”

“Are you thinking you’re out of shape? I’ve got news for you, honey. You’re cut like a gym rat.”

His hand found the outer curve of her breast again, his thumb taking up residence there as he stroked the supple treasure. “Thanks. But when we get married, I’ll want you all day every day, and I know I’m not fit enough for how often I’ll want you just yet.”

No matter how many times Vince alluded to her permanent place by his side, each declaration took her aback, scrambling her brains and rendering her to speechless stuttering. “You… You don’t mean that.”

“You underestimate how stubborn I can be when I want something.”

Her voice turned mousy to hide from her brothers, and also the topic. “You think about that kind of stuff?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I wouldn’t put up with Carrigan’s beating. I wouldn’t keep trying to make an alliance with your family beyond the sporadic handshakes. If you were just a girlfriend to me, I wouldn’t be in as deep as I am. I love you, Fal. I’m in this, no matter what.” He paused, examining her face for signs of flight. “Did I just scare you off?”

“No. I’m just processing it all. No man’s ever said he wanted to marry me before. It’s all a little surreal.”

“Do you think about me like that?”

Fallyn kept her mouth shut as she tried to picture what being married to Vince would look like. There were the less appealing things that were unavoidable, like having the largest gun collection any married couple could dream of. Then there were the normal married things that she hadn’t let herself hope for before he’d come on her radar. Cooking together, making love, doing little things like making sure he was going to the doctor, and doing laundry together. All of it felt so strangely foreign, and at the same time wonderful.

“Vince, I…” Fallyn shot up and unwrapped a burrito when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. “Hey, Seamus. Can you ask Angelo where Vince’s pain meds are? He’s not feeling so hot.”

“Sure. Can I look?” he asked, displaying his hands to Vince to prove their innocence.

“Yeah. It’s just a broken rib and a few too many hits. It’ll heal fine, your sister’s just a worrier.” Vince gripped Seamus’ hand and let him pull him slowly to sitting upright on the bed. “Oof! Careful.”

Seamus and Fallyn worked Vince’s shirt over his head so Seamus could inspect the damage. “Yeah, Fally’s a big old baby when it comes to this kind of thing.” He cast his sister half a smile. “When I broke my arm, she moved in for a month. Wouldn’t so much as let me crack open a can without sending me back to bed to rest.”

“Hello! You broke your arm in three places! The doctor told you to rest.” She shook her head to dismiss the men’s sniggering. “Whatever. I’m not getting into it with you again.” She pointed to Vince’s battered ribcage that had several large splotches of black and purple outlined in red all over. “And this is worth worrying about. Should we take him in?”

Vince and Seamus shook their heads in unison. “No way. After the massacre we just pulled off? He’s not going back home until he’s a hundred percent. We don’t need the cops putting together that he was in any kind of fight.” Seamus pressed two fingers to Vince’s side, noting the visible wince. “He’ll be alright. Jeez, Vince. What crackhead got the jump on you?”

“I’m fine. Nothing a few days of lying in bed won’t fix.”

Seamus walked to the edge of the loft, leaning over the railing to shout to the men below. “Hey, Angelo. Where’re Vince’s pills?”

Angelo took the bottle from his pocket and tossed them up to Seamus, who dumped two out and handed them to Vince. “Thanks.”

“Bliss out, brother.” He exchanged half a smile with Vince before turning to Fallyn. “They’re starting up a game of football out there. You want in?”

“No, thanks. Angelo can go play. Let me take a shift watching gimpy, here.”

Seamus pouted. “Fine. I was hoping you’d be on my team.” He turned to Vince. “Everyone’s afraid to tackle her too hard, so she’s the golden ticket to scoring more touchdowns.” He smacked his sister’s palm before heading outside with the rest of the men, leaving Fallyn and Vince alone in the house.