Page 19 of Nolan (The Doherty Mafia)
“You don’t have to apologize to me, Amelia. You did what you had to do to keep him interested.”
Relief flooded my veins. I thought he’d be mad because I slept with the enemy.
“I left in the morning while he was still asleep. I panicked. I didn’t know if he was suspicious.”
“He’s not suspicious. I’m having him watched. He hasn’t done anything to make us think he’s sniffed you out. You’re going to be fine,” Aldo said.
“I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m sorry I don’t know all the rules.”
“There are no rules. You have to do what you have to do to get the information we need. I need to find out what the Dohertys are planning against me so I can be prepared for their next attack. And it looks like you’re the only one who can get it for me.”
I completed my shift at the salon and felt completely exhausted. The previous night had been exciting and I had too much to drink. Aldo hadn’t given me any further instructions for now, so I hoped to just go back to my apartment and sleep the rest of the evening away.
But then he called me again, just as I was leaving the salon.
“I have information on where you can bump into Nolan Doherty again,” he said.
Just hearing his name said out loud was enough to send shivers down my spine. I knew I shouldn’t have been excited like that at the opportunity of seeing him again. I tried to hide it from my voice.
“Oh? Today?”
“He hangs out at a tattoo parlor downtown. I’ll text you the details. According to my sources, he’s been there the whole day. It’d be the perfect opportunity for you.”
I felt nervous at the idea. Wouldn’t it be too obvious if I bumped into him today? So soon after I’d snuck out of his apartment. Wouldn’t it make him suspicious that I was spying on him?
“Maybe we should give it a rest for a few days. Maybe next week I can bump into him again,” I suggested.
Aldo sighed again. I figured this was his way of demonstrating disappointment.
“Sure, dear, we can do whatever you want. I don’t want to force you into anything. I don’t know when the Dohertys might strike again. They could have something planned for tomorrow night that’d take me by surprise. I wouldn’t have a chance against an attack like that when I’m not prepared. But you should do what you think is best for you.”
I rubbed my temples. My head throbbed with a terrible hangover. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep a strong head on my shoulders around Nolan if I saw him right now. He had a crazy hold over me.
“Okay, I’ll do it. I don’t want you feeling vulnerable.”
“Good girl. Thank you for all your help. I know this isn’t easy for you, dear, but you could be saving my life.”
“I want to help you.”
“I know you do. Just this time, try talking to him about his family. Ask him if they have any plans with me. I know you can do it. He’s mesmerized by you.”
Why had I blushed at that? I shouldn’t have cared what Nolan thought of me. We weren’t at the brink of a romance.
“Text me the details and I’ll try my best.”
“Take care of yourself, Amelia, and just remember, they are very dangerous people.”
Ten
Nolan
I was in the back room of the tattoo parlor, drinking cans of beers with my friends Chad and Ricky. The store wasn’t very busy today and these guys had a lot of free time.
Aidan and Brendan had called me all day and I got a few texts from Tristan too. They all wanted me to go over to the family home for dinner. Apparently, even Dad had personally asked for me. But I didn’t agree to any of their requests. I didn’t want to see them today.
I’d convinced myself that if I didn’t see my family ever again, I’d be fine.
Someone walked into the store again and Chad got up to go look. Ricky and I kept drinking and throwing darts at the wall. There wasn’t anything else to do. I didn’t exactly have a purpose in life.
The voices of Chad and the customer outside floated back.
“What kind of tattoo do you want?” we heard Chad ask.
“Something small I guess, because it’s my first.” It was a female voice and it sounded darn familiar.
I sat up straight the moment I heard the voice.
“Maybe if you have some ideas I can look through, they might help me decide.”
“Do you know where you want it?”
“On my foot,” she replied.
I stood up. I knew that voice. Something about that voice drew me outside.
“You get it on your foot and that’s going to hurt, darlin’,” Chad replied.
I saw Amelia at the counter the moment I stepped back into the store. She stood across from Chad, holding a thick book in her arms, about to flip through the pages.
