Page 30 of Nolan (The Doherty Mafia)
I remained silent, allowing his words to sink in. It was becoming even more difficult for me now to picture the Dohertys the way Aldo described them.
“I know…” I murmured eventually.
“Then get it done for fuck’s sake,” he growled and ended the call.
Fourteen
Nolan
A few days went by without Amelia.
I knew it was uncalled for—the way we’d left it that day at the house. She had witnessed a new broody side of me. The way I always seemed to get around my family lately. I wished I’d spoken to her more calmly, but I hadn’t.
I had her phone number. I could have texted or called her, but I didn’t know what to say. But she was always on my mind. I wanted to see her again. No other girl made me feel like this.
Killian called me at one point and even though I avoided most of my brothers’ calls, I answered this one.
“You’re coming to dinner at our house tomorrow. We have an announcement to make for the whole family. You have to be there.” Killian made it sound like it was a command.
“Maybe,” I replied.
“Reese expects you there and she has invited your new girlfriend to join us.”
“Girlfriend? I don’t have a girlfriend!”
Killian laughed at how aggressively defensive I’d gotten.
“Whatever she is, Reese wants her here. She said they connected instantly and seems to think she’s good for you.”
“I don’t know when I’m seeing her next. If I’m ever seeing her again. We slept together, that’s it.”
“Then you can explain it to Reese when you turn up here without her,” Killian said.
The call ended quickly and I cursed under my breath. I was sure Amelia would reject the idea even if I’d invited her. Why would she want to hang out with my family when even I didn’t want to? Hell, I didn’t even know what they’d spoken about. Dad hadn’t mentioned Amelia since their meeting.
Maybe that had something to do with the fact that I hadn’t seen him since then.
I rubbed a hand over my face. I was frustrated with everything. I didn’t want to attend a big family dinner, not now that everyone knew I had a bone to pick with them. I just wanted to be left alone.
But maybe if Amelia agreed to go, having her there would be the distraction I needed. Or I could just…not turn up. What would Killian do? How important could this announcement be?
My frustration with my family seemed to have taken over every waking thought of mine. I needed to end it. Something had to be done.
I had to decide soon if being a part of the family was worth it for me or not.
I needed to get beer and walked to the grocery store around the corner of my apartment building. My plan for the rest of the night was to stay indoors and brood—just as I’d done most nights these days.
I walked into the store and went straight for the six-packs in the refrigerator. What I didn’t see was the hold-up I’d just walked into.
It was only when I noticed how quiet the store was that I sensed something was up. It was unusually silent. Only soft radio music came from the counter on the other side. I grabbed the beers and shut the refrigerator door. In the glass door I saw the reflection of a man holding a gun at the head of someone else. I figured it was a store employee.
I slipped my weapon out before I turned.
“Drop it!” I barked, letting the six-pack fall out of my hand. I held the gun up at the robber. The two men looked at me, alarmed and confused. The robber had his face covered—squished up by a pair of stockings. He looked fuckin’ ridiculous.
“Lower your weapon and step back. I want to see your hands up,” I barked.
The robber took a moment to come to terms with the fact that he was on the losing end of this bargain.
The employee winced and shuddered. He had his hands up too.
“Now!” I growled. I moved the gun an inch and took a shot. The bullet struck into a shelf behind the robber, missing him by an inch. Exactly as I intended.
It was all the proof he needed that I wasn’t fucking around. That I had perfect aim and would take him out if I wanted to.
He dropped his gun to the floor and held his hands up.
“Kick it over,” I said calmly. The man did as he was told. I clamped down on the gun with my foot, still pointing my own weapon at the robber.
“We can do this the easy way. You leave the store and run as fast as you can, and pray to your motherfucking God I never catch you. Or you can stay here and I make sure you never walk again.”
