Authors: Madison Stevens
Table of Contents
Copyright
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Thank You
Also By
Author Bio
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents depicted in this work are of the author’s imagination or have been used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locations, or events is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
Copyright 2014 Madison Stevens
No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author.
Finn (Kelly Clan #1)
by
Madison Stevens
Getting shot again isn’t on top of Alyssa’s list of favorite things, but if it means saving Finn Kelly, she’s more than willing to take the risk. Now, if she can only convince him to quit being so overbearing, they might stand a chance at starting some sort of relationship.
Being the head of an Irish mob family is a dangerous line of work, even if they are trying to move away from illegal activities. The last thing Finn wants is to drag Alyssa into his world, but he isn’t given much choice. With a crazy Russian mobster out for blood and his own brother fracturing the family, Alyssa and Finn will need to learn to trust one another to survive.
This book follows KACE of the Allen Securities series. Although it can be read as a stand-alone book, some characters and plot elements will have stronger impact if you have read KACE.
Chapter One
Alyssa paced in her cute little apartment, her phone to her ear. It had taken nearly a month to put things together, and she was proud of all the work she’d done. A few cheap pieces of art hung on her wall, and she’d even been able to get a decent-size TV. The place was small, cozy and totally hers.
But as she listened to the therapist on the other end of the phone bumble along with why he wouldn’t be able to continue helping at her physical therapy appointments, she was reminded just how small her place, and world, really was. She ran a hand through her short blonde hair and tried to keep from laughing hysterically.
This would be number five that had been driven off. She couldn’t keep running through them like she had, or she was going to have her name blacklisted for this sort of thing.
“Are you sure you don’t want to just switch days, Roger?” she pleaded over the phone. “I’ve really enjoyed out sessions, and thought I was making real progress under your care.”
“I just have too many patients right now,” he said. “I shouldn’t let you be assigned to me. Sorry.”
She sighed at the lame excuse.
He really had been very good, and it didn’t hurt that he was pretty damn nice to look at as well. Not that she didn’t get plenty of man candy daily, but all of them were under threat of death to avoid even acknowledging she was a woman.
“Okay, I understand,” she said into the phone. “Thanks.”
Alyssa hit end on her cell, tossed it onto the couch and started pacing again. Her boss, Finn Kelly, could be so infuriating sometimes. It had been bad enough when she decided not to stay in Jessica’s townhouse. He pestered her day and night about it but had finally given up. Then there was the furniture fight. In the end he had won, but only on the basis that she’d pay him back over the next few months out of her paychecks.
She sighed and slumped down on her dark gray couch. Finn had been an ongoing problem since the first day she met him, up until the point where she’d been shot in the shoulder and then even after. Dark and dangerous, he intimidated her. There was always something about him that drew her in though. Maybe it was his incredible good looks.
She grinned. With his dark brown hair, bright green eyes and strong jaw, he looked like he belonged on a billboard and not as some mob boss. Though without that job, he wouldn’t really be Finn anymore.
Being near him for this last month, she’d gotten to know the side of him that she didn’t even know could exist. She just wished he wouldn’t take everything to the extreme.
Alyssa picked up her phone. He wasn’t going to get away with it this time. She was going to really tell him off.
* * *
Alyssa slammed through the front door of Cortex, turning her body to the side so she didn’t bump her bad shoulder. The sling could only do so much.
She was starting to see the benefits of being the front manager of the club, even if she was just getting the chance to use her new key.
“Hey, Alyssa,” Conor said from his stool at the bar.
She whipped up a hand and barreled past through the back pass of the bar. After all, Conor was just another piece of man candy who wasn’t allowed to acknowledge she was a woman.
“Oh,” Conor said. He jumped up and tried to cut her off at the end of the bar. “He’s really busy.”
He held up his hands, trying to signal that she should stop.
“Oh, I’m sure he’s real busy,” she said, sarcasm lacing her words.
“No really,” he said when they reached the door. “He’s in a meeting.”
“Well then.” She smiled and muscled him out of the way with her good arm. “I’ll just have to keep it short.”
She walked threw open the door to Finn’s office and stomped in, narrowing her eyes. He sat in his office chair behind his desk, smugness on his face, like he was a king taking audience.
Her eyes dashed to the side, and she was stunned by the beautiful woman sitting in the chair.
The woman smiled at her, and for some reason, it pissed Alyssa off. It was like the woman was in on some secret joke.
“I think we’re done here,” the woman said.
“You giving the orders now, Claire?” Finn said, arching an eyebrow.
Claire stood and folded her arms over her well-chosen business outfit, formfitting top, jacket and skirt but not enough that she’d not be taken seriously. Alyssa looked down at her own clothes. She’s been forced into mostly jeans and t-shirts with the sling.
After Finn stood, Alyssa could see just how tall Claire was. She’d always guessed Finn at about six feet, and the other woman was very close to that.
Claire tossed her dark brown hair over her shoulder and smiled.
“You know I was never one to follow along with you.” She winked. “I’ll be in touch.”
Alyssa watched as Claire walked out of the room, that same secret smile in place. Anger flared inside her.
She turned to Finn, frowning. He sat back down in his chair, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the desk.
“Can I help you?” He smiled, and she knew that he wasn’t surprised to see her.
“Don’t give me that crap,” she said and moved further into the room. “Five,” she said, slamming her hand on the desk, “five therapists that refuse to come back.”
Finn shrugged and seemed unfazed by her antics. “So we hire a new one.”
She sighed and sat in the seat across from him. “You know how important it is that I keep getting therapy.”
Finn sat up and leaned in. The scent of his spicy soap floated over to her.
“Of course,” he said.
“Well then, let me get my therapy,” she said, the exasperation evident in her voice.
Finn leaned back and stared hard at her. “If you would just let my men come in with you, there wouldn’t be a problem.” he grumbled.
“No,” she said firmly.
It had taken time to get used to the fact she had some not-so-nice scars. Last thing she wanted was for a bunch of sweaty men to see her blemishes.
Finn scrubbed his hand on his face. There were dark circles under his eyes.
“You understand that the Russians are still out there, right?” he said, looking at her with concern. “It doesn’t help that my brother is still out there somewhere.”
“Ennis,” she whispered. Finn’s face darkened, and she regretted saying the name.
She could handle the Finn that was arrogant or bossy, but there were moments where another Finn came out, and that version of the man chilled her to the bone. That was the man that would shoot someone dead without remorse, and she pitied the person who came up against him.
He closed his eyes, and she wondered if she should just go. It was still a bit early to start work, but there had to be something she could do.
She let out a mental sigh when he opened his eyes. The ruthless Finn had vanished, for the moment.
“Things are on high alert right now,” he said. “Don’t trust anyone.”
She thought about it, and although she understood, it still seemed a little overboard.
“Besides,” he mumbled. “Couldn’t you get a woman?”
Alyssa blinked several times, floored into silence. Heat flooded her cheeks. She stood and looked down at him with all the irritation she felt.
“No,” she said. “Is that what this is really about? From now on I’m going to ask for nothing but men.”
Finn stared at her for a few seconds and then burst out laughing.
“You tell them that, and I’m not going to have to run them off, they’ll stop assigning them,” he said.
She smiled. “Oh, I don’t think so. Lois likes me.”
Finn frowned. “Who the hell is Lois?”
“She’s the scheduling person at the hospital,” he said in irritation.
Finn snickered. “You know the scheduling woman by her first name?”
She felt her fingers pop as she restrained herself from reaching across the desk and throttling him.
“Only because you run them off,” she said through gritted teeth. “Whatever.”
She shook her head and turned to walk out of the room. When she reached the door, she stopped and looked around.
“What the hell did you do to the office?”
* * *
Finn had been waiting for it the whole time. As much as he shouldn’t enjoy it, annoying Alyssa was becoming one of his favorite things. Her reactions were always so great.
Besides, it was one of the few ways he could get her to even interact with him. He didn’t understand why she still shied away from him. She didn’t seem to still be angry about the whole false accusation incident. He’s gone out of his way to make sure that she had every comfort she could want. And even though it annoyed her, he watched out for her safety.
Nothing bad was ever going to happen to her again. Not under his watch.
He looked around the room at his handiwork. They had taken out the file cabinets and moved them to the back room. Nobody really needed them now that they had computers. It was mainly filled with paperwork for the IRS and such. A man in his position couldn’t be too careful when it came to the government.
He’d kept the couch. He never knew when he might need to spend the night. Besides, the damn thing was beautiful. The feel was amazing, and he just loved it.
“Why are there two desks in here?” Of course that would be what she focused on.
He pointed to the other desk, which formed an L with his.
“Your desk,” he said and then pointed to the desk he sat behind. “My desk.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, and he marveled at how beautiful she was when she was angry.
She stepped toward him. “And why would you need a desk?”