Free Double The Risk by Samantha Cayto

for anyone else, then smacked himself when the obvious came to him. “Of course, I’m an idiot. Uncle Connor.”
    “Jesus, how many of you are there?”
    Ronan treated Diego to a nasty grin. “Do you mean Irish or just Callaghans?”
    Diego winced. “Never mind. Forget I asked. Who is Uncle Connor?”
    “He was my father’s partner, so not really an uncle. Just a really good friend, except like a lot of my father’s really good friends, he made himself pretty scarce once the rumors started flying. None of them wanted to be tainted as bad cops.”
    Because it infuriated him as it always did when he remembered how his father’s name, and his mother’s by association, had been dragged through the mud with whispered innuendos, he paced away with clenched fists. He hated showing his darker emotions to others, preferring people to see only the carefree part of him.
    His new partner had other ideas. Instead of giving him space, he trailed after him. “Didn’t anyone stand up for him?”
    “Uncle James. That would be Mr. Police Commissioner, sir, these days. He’s been around my brothers’ lives and mine all these years since the murders, although he’s discreet about it, if you ask me.”
    “Jesus,” Diego gasped at Ronan’s name dropping. “You really are some kind of Boston police royalty.”
    “Yeah,” Ronan agreed ruefully. “Except it’s like being from the part of the family descended from the executed traitor. Sometimes, I think the only people who still believe my father was a good cop are my brothers and our cousin, Regan, and her father, Jack.” With a shake of his head. “I guess you can add Finn’s boyfriend, Michael Caruso.”
    Diego stepped in front of him. “You can add me to that list, too.”
    Ronan was incredulous. “Seriously? You’ve known me for like a day. Why would you believe a fucking thing I say or even care?”
    “I told you, I know what it’s like to have cops whispering about you when your back is turned and get the facts wrong because the truth is either too awful to face or not awful enough to interest them.”
    That was the second time his partner had alluded to some trouble he’d had in what Ronan could only assume was his time as a New York cop. There was a story there, and damned if he didn’t want to hear what it was. But now was not the time. “Okay, I get that. And, thanks. Anyway, I’ll ask my Uncle Jack, who really is my uncle, if he can set up a meet with Connor. He’s still on the force, I think, although working some desk job.”
    “Good.” Diego nodded. “In the meantime, let’s take this place apart. Who knows, maybe there’s another hiding place.”
    Ronan grimaced. This wasn’t going to be fun. But he had his date with Cassidy later to look forward to, that is, if his partner didn’t somehow manage to beat him to the punch again.

Chapter Four
    Slut . No, that wasn’t true. She wasn’t being fair to herself.
    Cassidy stared back at her face in the restroom mirror at work. Her mother would think so, of course. Her mother, however, had also thought it was fine for Cassidy to have the longest engagement in the history of humanity. She had readily backed Thomas when he’d said he wanted to wait until they were done with their residencies in separate cities. Once they were back in Boston establishing their practices, they could throw the lavish affair that both families wanted, followed by a two week honeymoon in Europe. Then they’d come back and set up house in Weston or Wellesley or maybe Lincoln, one of the nice western suburbs so that they had the perfect home to bring their 2.5 children into when the time was right. So sensible and so utterly boring and unsatisfying.
    No one seemed to think it important that the two of them spend time together, share intimate moments to strengthen their relationship. No one that is except Cassidy. At most, she’d seen her fiancé once a month depending on their hectic schedules, and the need for down time