Free Conall by Reana Malori Page A

to this point, he knew they still needed to address the issue of what her brother had seen. Picking up the phone, he dialed Dillon. The phone rang only once before he picked up.
    “Hello,” Dillon said into the phone.
    “What have you found out about our little canary?” he asked.
    “He’s holed up in Pawtucket, at his parents’ home. Doesn’t come out much. Not talking to anyone on the phone. No reports of anyone coming to see him. So, whatever he thinks he saw, has him riled.”
    “Damn!” Conall didn’t need this shit. Maybe he should have Fionn just handle this and get himself out of the mix. But fuck, this was her brother. He may be a fuck-up, but if she cared for her brother the same way he did for his, he would have to find another way out. “Okay, keep some of our boys on him. Don’t let him out of our sight. I want to know every move he makes. If he makes a move to call anyone he shouldn’t be talking to, you know what to do.”
    “Boss, I hear the Italians are looking for their package. Apparently, the old man is making waves and claiming the Italians did something to his man. He wants them to replace what he lost.”
    He didn’t need this shit right now. “Oh yeah?”
    “Yeah. But the Italians know something is fishy. They’re starting to pick up on the fact that the old man hasn’t been a straight shooter with them. Not sure how that’s going to work out, but I had to pass it along.”
    “Yeah, okay. Keep me posted.” Ending the call, he sank deeper into his seat and closed his eyes, his mind swirling with the possibilities of how their plan was coming together quite nicely.
    Within thirty minutes, they were pulling up to Tatiana’s place and a smile came over his face. Now it was time for some fun.
    * * * * *
    Conall sat next to Tatiana on the couch, her body leaned into his as they watched the fire burn in her small fireplace. They’d been sitting here talking for the better part of an hour about her job as an accountant and his reasons for creating Blackbird Consulting. At least the reasons he could share. He learned that her favorite ice cream was rainbow sherbet, she loved the snow, but had never been skiing, and her ultimate way to relax was getting a full-body massage.
    Not wanting her to feel left out, he talked about his brothers and how close they were and some of their tamer antics from their youth, his promise to make sure she went skiing at the cabin he owned in the New Hampshire mountains, and that his secret obsession was watching cooking shows and trying new dishes.
    No matter what he did outside of today, he would have these moments with Tatiana. The ugliness waiting for him outside these walls could stay there. Right now, with her, this was what he needed. Even if only for a few hours.
    “You’re so damn beautiful,” he whispered.
    “Thank you,” she whispered into his chest. Not lifting her head to look at him.
    “Look at me,” he ordered.
    After a slight pause, her head tilted back as she did as he’d ordered. One look at her and he knew she was holding back, trying to rein in her desire for him. Her eyes were just a little glossier, her lips slightly parted, her breath coming out just a little faster.
    “I’m glad I came over tonight, sweetheart. Being here with you feels good.” His hand rubbed against the smooth skin of her face. No woman had ever made him want to sit down with her and relax.
    As soon as he’d walked inside, he noticed the table had been set and ready for them to sit down. It was what he had always pictured life should be like and he was positive that he could get used to having her waiting for him at home every night. She wouldn’t need to cook though. He could afford to hire ten cooks if she wanted. No, he just wanted her face to be the first one he saw when he walked through the door at night.
    That thought caught him off-guard. He hardly knew this woman and here he was thinking about her being here for the long haul.
    “I’m glad