Escaping: A Mafia Romance (The O'Keefe Family Collection #2) (9 page)

Fifteen. 

Keenan’s Sister

Fallyn didn’t want to drive to the county jail, but she knew she had to. Keenan was part of the family, and didn’t deserve to be cut off without being given his fair chance at being supportive. She had a monthly standing appointment to visit her brother, but today was a bonus visit. She went through the necessary checks and inspections without a blink, her heart lifting and crashing as the familiar smile greeted her. Surprise colored the smattering of freckles across Keenan’s wider nose. “Fallyn?”

The two sat at a circular table, fighting back the need to hug the other one, lest the guards take Keenan back to his cell for violating the “no touching” rule. The cold gray concrete walls were firm in their decree that no one should feel comfortable here. The handful of inmates who had visitors held their quiet conversations at tables around them, giving Fallyn no illusion of privacy. “Keenan, how are you?”

Keenan shrugged. “The same. Not much changes in here. But twice in a month? What’s going on? What’d I miss?”

She took a steadying breath as she tried to figure out where to start.

“Whoa. I missed something big, then. Usually you’re talking a mile a minute. Now I’m nervous.”

Fallyn didn’t feel like beating around the bush. The bare concrete walls felt like they were closing in on her, locking her inside with her brother. She’d had to keep the joy over her grand engagement to herself for too long, and the restrictions had grown irksome. She was happy with Vince, and didn’t want to hide it from the people she loved. “A lot’s been changing, actually. I started seeing someone a couple months ago. A really great someone.”

Keenan’s smile faltered. “Is that so? Does he still have both his kneecaps, or are the guys handling that?”

The hope that had welled in Fallyn that at least one of her brothers would be supportive crashed in her chest. She slumped at the table, stress and disappointment weighting her shoulders. Carrigan had already pushed her to the edge, but this was the breaking point. “That’s not fair. You don’t even know who it is, and you already hate him.” She lifted her face to show him how deeply his betrayal hurt. “You’re just like the others. This was a mistake.” She made to stand, but Keenan stopped her.

“Wait! I was only kidding, Fally. He’s probably great. I just know our brothers, and I’d be surprised if the poor guy was still walking.”

Fallyn slowly lowered herself back down, her hands trembling as she tried to grip onto her last chance at having a bit of her family stay in her life. “You’ll hear me out, then? You’ll be nice to me?”

Keenan motioned to his jumpsuit, his green eyes a mix of confusion and dismal acceptance that life would go on without his say-so. “Not like I can do anything from in here, but yeah. If you’re happy, I’m on board.”

“Carri found out and beat him up real bad. He could barely walk for days.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m scared, Keenan. I’m deep in love. Like, so deep. But they hate him, and I’m afraid they won’t leave him alone and let us be together.”

Keenan softened, his shoulders relaxing in sympathy. “Oh, sweetie. You can talk to me. I won’t freak out.”

“Promise?”

He drew an X over his chest. “Cross my heart. Being in here gives you lots of time to focus on the important things. The petty stuff isn’t worth fighting about. Is he good to you?”

Fallyn exhaled, nodding with too much enthusiasm. She was eager to make her case now that someone was finally listening. “He’s so good to me. He’s helping me with the bakery, making the business end more profitable. He’s patient with the guys. Didn’t even fight back when Carri did him in. Said he understood.”

“That’s something. Sounds like a good guy.” Keenan stared up at the tall gray ceiling, lacing his hands atop his head as he leaned back in his chair. “I gotta warn you, if you’re having sex with him, ain’t no amount of awesomeness gonna get him off the hook for that. You and I both know that Killian will bash his face in without blinking.”

Fallyn’s retort was clipped. “Yes, I’m well aware of the double standard in the family. You all can sleep with whoever you like, but Daddy made me promise I’d stay a virgin until I got married.”

Keenan was unperturbed at the blatant unfairness. “So you’re not…”

She lowered her voice. “Not that it’s anyone’s business, but no. I made Daddy a promise, and I’m not a liar. My guy is fine with it. He’s great to me. I wish you could see us together.”

“Don’t feel like introducing us with me in all my glory?” Keenan forced a smile and motioned to his orange jumpsuit. “I promise to dress nice.”

“Actually, you already know him.”

“I do?” His expression mutated into a scowl. “Not Jeremy. I really don’t want to get paroled one day only to get thrown back in for manslaughter. Be smart, Fal.”

“It’s not Jeremy, obviously.” Her heart beat so hard, she could almost hear the uneven rhythm. “It’s Vince.”

Keenan shrugged. “Don’t know a Vince. Did you go to college with him or something?” His wide mouth twisted to the side. “No, you went to an all-girls school. I give up.”

“You know Vince. It’s Vince D’Amato.”

“What’s Vince D’Amato?”

“My boyfriend.” She held up her hand, turning around the diamond so it was displayed to her brother. “Well, my fiancé, actually.”

Keenan shouted, despite the quiet murmurings around them. “What? No! You’re engaged? You’re engaged to Vince D’Amato? Gross!” His face soured at the mere thought of the rival family’s boss doing unspeakable things to his sister in the dead of night. “No, Fal! No! He’s like, twice your age! He’s a D’Amato! He’s… He’s Vince D’Amato! Are you crazy?”

“I don’t need your permission or your blessing. And he’s not twice my age. Vince is twelve years older than I am, and we’re both fine with it.”

“Do you hear yourself? He’s got two brothers closer in age to you, not that they’d be any better. Gross!”

Fallyn straightened, trying to maintain her dignity. “I just thought you should hear it from me before we get married. You’ll have a new brother soon.”

“Soon? Fally, no. Wait on this terrible decision. Wait a year. See how you feel then.”

“It’s not your decision. Not anyone’s but Vince’s and mine.”

Keenan ran his hands through his auburn hair, mussing it so the thick follicles stood on end. “Tell me how this happened! Tell me how the guys dropped the ball so bad that you’re hooking up with Vince and his filthy dick. Sick, Fal! Do you even know where’s he been? I thought he was still with Maria.”

“Well, clearly not anymore. Vince and Killian started meeting up at the bakery to bury the hatchet. The families have been working great together, actually. I told you all this already.” She’d informed him of a great many things involving the burgeoning peace between the families, conveniently leaving out the fact that she had been secretly dating Vince for months. “The O’Keefes and D’Amatos cleaned up a large part of the west side together. The families have been getting together for Saturday night dinners. After the cleanup,” she paused to ensure the conversation was censored for the guards, “we all went to the cabin together. Got along great, all of us. We’ve all been going up there once a month to chill. It’s only now that we’re together they’ve decided they all of a sudden hate him again.”

Keenan spoke through gritted teeth. “He spat on our mother’s casket. Do you remember nothing at all? He’s using you to cause a rift, Fal. He’s using you. You’re decades younger, you’re naïve, you’re sweet. End it.”

“Vince is twelve years old than me, not decades. I’m happy, and you should love me enough to send me off with a smile. I don’t care if you have to fake it, you smile and tell me congratulations.” She rose up out of her seat, her rage lifting her on its own power so she could tower over him in her anger. “I’m done with this nonsense from all of you! Someone will be on my side in this, so help me! Either get on my side, or I’m not coming back here ever again!”

Keenan rested his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands. “Give me a minute, okay? I mean, it’s Vince.” He frowned up at her. “Sit down and give me some time to process this.”

Fallyn’s anger crested slightly, so she sat back down, waiting out Keenan’s shock. “Choose your words wisely.”

“I haven’t been around for all the family dinners, the vacations, or the brotherly love time. He’s still the filthy dick who spat on my mother’s casket and let Papa D wreck his end of the city with drugs.”

“Papa D made a bad call, and Vince is the one who’s cleaning up the mess. He’s doing good things, Keenan. Please be with me in this. Please!” It wasn’t a plea anymore, but a command.

“I have some questions first.”

“They’d better be of the ‘how lovely is your wedding dress’ variety.”

“You got your wedding dress already?” He mustered up a smile for his sister, fighting through his desire to yell so she didn’t bolt. “You’re not supposed to grow up this fast.”

She lowered her chin when the next sentence tumbled out of her. “Carrigan saw me in my wedding dress and told me I looked disgusting and ridiculous, but I think it’s pretty.”

Keenan let out a low whistle. “Yikes. Never thought I’d see the day something broke apart the dynamic duo. Carri really said that to you?” Keenan took in his sister’s despondency with compassion. “So you’re getting married soon, then. I know you. If you’ve already picked out a dress, you’re not waiting around on this.”

Fallyn nodded, but that was the only information she was willing to give on the date she would officially become a D’Amato.

Keenan was silent for nearly a minute before he nodded into his hands, defeated. His voice was quiet and laced with weighted unhappiness. “Okay. If this is what you want, I won’t stand in your way. It’s a bad decision, make no mistake, but if you really want to be with Vince, my feeling that way shouldn’t stop you.”

The air gusted out of Fallyn’s lungs in a wave of shock. “Really? Is that like, your blessing?”

Keenan was pained as he drew his head up to stare at his sister. She still looked like the four-year-old pixie with pigtails to him, even with the engagement ring. “Sure. You have my blessing to make adult decisions. Marry who you like. Just be careful with Vince. I mean, so careful that you call Killian no matter how pissed you are now if things start to go south.”

Fallyn nodded. “I can do that. Things won’t go south, Keenan. They won’t. Vince is a good guy, and we really are in love. He’s good to me.”

“I trust you, I think.” He let out a nervous half-laugh. “Or, I have no choice, so I’m trusting you by default. I love you, Fally. Please be safe.”

“I will. Promise. Thanks, Keenan. You’re my new favorite brother.”

“Yeah? Well, be sure to spread that around next time you see the guys. Never thought I’d see the day Carrigan got dethroned.”

Fallyn’s newly acquired smile vanished. “I won’t be seeing them again for a long time. They won’t support me and they beat up my fiancé, so I’m done with them.”

“Honey, no. This is hard for us. You have to be more patient than that. It’s Vince D’Amato, for crying out loud. What’d Daddy say?”

“Daddy told me he doesn’t have a daughter, and then he smacked me across the face.”

Keenan’s face soured. “Be serious. Don’t joke like that.”

“Do you really think I’d joke about something so terrible? He didn’t know who I was.”

Keenan stiffened and then softened. “He’s really losing it, huh.”

“At this point? It’s hard to tell. The guys were pretty much on the same page, they just aimed their punches at Vince.” She slapped her hands together. “I’m done. I’m out. Love them all, but I don’t want to be ninety and calling my brothers to go to the movies with me on a Friday night. I think I’ve earned the right to fall in love without my fiancé getting the crap beaten out of him.”

“Okay. I get it.” Keenan held up his hands to stop her from declaring her love for Vince another time. Once was bad enough. “I won’t turn my back on you, and I won’t beat up Vince when I get out, unless you ask me to.” He pursed his lips as he cursed toward the ceiling. Then he forced out the next part in a gust that was filled with self-loathing. “You can even bring him by to say hi, if you like.”

Fallyn blinked at her brother as if he’d just given her too grand a gift for words. “Really? You can be cool?”

“I can try. If this is for real, you shouldn’t be cut off from your whole family. I’ll be there for you however I can. I can’t do much, but I can sit at a table and fake politeness. Not much choice with these babysitters.” He motioned to the two guards on opposite sides of the room. “Sorry the guys are being jerks.”

With gratitude painting her complexion, Fallyn cast her brother a smile. “You have no idea. I’m engaged, and I finally have someone in my family who can pretend to be happy for me.” The truth of the sentence hit her hard, sinking her shoulders back down two inches.

“Well, it’s a nice ring. I’ll give him that. It’ll make your left hook that much more effective.”

“I’m sure that’s exactly what he was thinking when he picked it out.” She stared longingly at her brother. “I wish I could hug you. I so wish it. I need you. Miss you something terrible. I don’t have anyone to give me away,” she mused with too much melancholy.