Page 29 of Nolan (The Doherty Mafia)
We were back in his bedroom and I was putting on my shoes. He was snippy with me and it was obvious he wasn’t happy.
“I just wanted a drink of water so I went to the kitchen. I’m sorry I happened to bump into your sister-in-law and your dad. I didn’t intend on that happening.”
Nolan walked around the room, running his hand through his hair repeatedly. I saw his mind was racing. He wasn’t even really listening to what I said.
“Nolan…” I tried to get his attention by going up to him. He finally turned to me and there was a wildness in his eyes. “It was fine. They were just curious about me. It’s over now. I’ll leave and they’ll forget about me.”
I tried to be as gentle with him as possible. I knew he was troubled.
Nolan clenched his jaws tightly, shaking his head.
“Yeah, they’ll forget about you because they don’t care about me. They don’t want to get to know anything about me. All they expect from me is to sit in the corner and be happy with the scraps they throw in my direction.”
This was the first time he’d spoken so openly about them. He exposed himself to me.
“Maybe you should talk to them. That wasn’t the impression I got,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes at me. I was worried he’d accuse me of taking his family’s side. Frankly, why did I even give a shit?
“Yeah, you should leave now before everyone else lands up here,” he said in a hollow voice.
I waited a few beats, wondering if he’d reach for me and kiss me again, but he didn’t. I knew it was time for me to leave. A big part of me didn’t want to. I wanted to stay. I wanted to keep him company. I wanted to help him feel better about himself and his family.
“Okay, bye,” I said instead, leaving the room. Just like he wanted me to.
“Who are you dreaming about?” Eliza asked while I swept up hair off the floor of the salon later that day. She must have noticed I was in my own world, fantasizing about something.
She wasn’t wrong.
I was daydreaming about what it’d be like to sit at the large kitchen table at the Doherty house, enjoying a breakfast with the rest of Nolan’s family.
I hadn’t met anyone else, but Reese seemed like someone I’d have liked to get to know. And even though Patrick Doherty had been suspicious of me at first and he seemed like a no-nonsense kind of man, he was also fair.
I sensed Nolan’s family genuinely wanted to make peace with him, while he kept pushing them away. I knew it wasn’t my job to try and help him or make things right with his family, but I was defensive of him. I wanted them to see his side of the story too.
It wasn’t my place to act as the mediator, but I hadn’t been able to just stay silent. Now I didn’t know what I’d say to Aldo.
I smiled at Eliza and shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about how I was falling for a guy I was supposed to hate.
My phone rang and I saw it was Aldo calling. I knew exactly what he’d ask me. I wanted to ignore the call, but it wouldn’t have been helpful. At some point, I’d have to face the music.
So I stepped outside the salon to take the call.
“How did it go last night?” he asked.
“Did you have me followed again?”
“You know I need to keep an eye on you. For your safety,” he replied.
I wanted to reiterate I’d be able to take care of myself but I knew it wouldn’t make a difference. Aldo would continue doing what he thought needed to be done.
“I met Patrick Doherty,” I said, waiting for his reaction.
Aldo took a while, hearing his name forced him to take a breather.
“What did that motherfucker say? Did he say anything about me?”
I wasn’t sure why hearing Patrick being spoken about like that made me a little uncomfortable. Aldo had every reason to be angry with him—if the Dohertys had done to him what he claimed.
“We spoke about Nolan, he didn’t mention you at all. He had no reason to. They obviously don’t know we’re connected in any way.”
“You need to hurry the fuck up with this. You’re just wasting time cozying up to the Dohertys. That is not what I’ve sent you there for,” Aldo snapped.
It was the first time he’d spoken to me this way. This was a new side of him and it made me grip my phone harder.
“I’m trying my best, Aldo. I don’t think it’ll work if I come on too strong. It’ll make all of them suspicious.”
“You’re in the household now. Use it. I’m running out of time. Don’t you see? I am in danger. We are all in danger. Nora would’ve wanted me to stay alive so I can take care of you.”
