Page 16 of Aidan (The Doherty Mafia)
I nodded.
“Yeah, I don’t think I ever really knew what you did. You never wanted to talk about it,” I tried.
Aidan’s eyes narrowed, just a little—but enough for me to take notice.
“Yeah, that hasn’t changed over the years either. I still don’t want to talk about it,” he replied.
I felt so nervous I thought I’d burst into tears. I was terrible at this. I was terrible at spying.
I shrugged, forcing a calm neutrality on my face.
“Fair enough, you don’t have to talk about it. I was just trying to make conversation.”
“Why don’t we converse about you for the time being,” he stated in a commanding voice.
I knew I would have to tread carefully to avoid suspicion. I was always being watched. By the Barons, and by Aidan too.
I tried to keep calm, answering all his questions as casually and truthfully as I could.
I was honest about the experiences I had living with the strangers I was sent to. He laughed at all the stories I had about their religious beliefs. He was interested in hearing how I got this job at the nursing home, what my coworkers were like. I told him a few stories about the people I worked with.
It was mainly me talking. Tonight, Aidan wasn’t going to give me anything and I knew I couldn’t push him too hard and make him more suspicious.
When I finally sat back and took notice, we were the only customers left in the restaurant. I hadn’t noticed how so much time had gone by. We talked for hours and it was…nice.
Aidan was full of surprises and he gave me an experience tonight that I hadn’t expected from him. It brought a smile to my face.
The servers watched us, probably hoping we would leave soon—but they were too scared of Aidan to come up and say anything. Everybody in this town knew a Doherty when they saw one.
“I guess it’s time for us to go,” I suggested.
“We should do it before one of them pops a nerve,” he commented, glaring at the staff hovering near the doors.
He pulled a thick wad of bills and left it on the table. As we made our way out, he placed a hand on my hip, electrifying my body. I couldn’t help but wonder if he would kiss me again. I wanted him to kiss me again.
At that moment, I would have given him anything he asked for.
For a few hours, he had helped me forget about everything wrong in this world. I got lost in his deep blue eyes. I enjoyed talking to him, the way I had before. I could never talk to anybody else like that.
Outside the restaurant, he helped me back up on his bike. I was excited about wrapping my arms around him again, being close to him as he rode.
Before he got on the bike he looked into my eyes. I thought he was going to kiss me, but he held back.
“You shouldn’t have left, Leah,” he said in a gruff voice.
My nostrils flared. I knew he was right. I shouldn’t have left. I shouldn’t have been so weak. I should have had the guts to stand up against my parents. I should have had the sense to tell Aidan the truth when I had a chance.
But it was too late for that now. Everything had changed.
“You’re right, Aidan. You’re right about everything,” I said.
Nine
Aidan
I had to meet with my brothers to discuss what was going on with Aldo Baron and this war we knew was coming.
Our father hadn’t called for the meeting so he wasn’t going to be there. We decided to meet up at Killian’s cabin in the woods where things would be a bit more private.
My dinner with Leah the previous night had been a revelation in a lot of ways. Firstly, I still wasn’t sure if I trusted her. There were so many things that were questionable. I couldn’t get past them or trust anything she said. Not even the stories she told me about the nursing home she supposedly worked at in the other town she lived.
Ever since I saw her meet the Baron guy, I couldn’t trust anything she said.
On the other hand, I had feelings for her.
Kissing her, holding her, spending time with her, giving her a ride on my bike—had all reinstated the fact that I still cared about her.
It confused me and now I regretted spending that time with her at all.
I regretted answering her call at the bar. Texting her back. Getting close to her again. Everything.
I had spent enough time hung up on her already. I didn’t know if I could do it all over again, because I was convinced she was playing a game.
Either way—I had to push everything to the corner for the morning while I spoke to my brothers. I already decided I wouldn’t tell them about Leah.
