“I’ll get up and get ready, just don’t distract me.”
“I’m not the distracting one. You’re lying there looking at my cock like you want to suck the tip off.”
“You’d like that, I bet. Fucking my mouth.” I blushed a little bit. When did I get so used to talking dirty?
He let out a soft grunt of desire. “Easy, girl, or else we’ll miss your friends. Get up and get dressed.” He left without another word and I sighed, smiling at the ceiling like an idiot. I stretched, got the blood flowing again, then climbed to my feet, brushed my teeth, took a quick shower, threw on some clothes, and headed out with Mack at my hip.
The diner was a spot in Doyle-controlled territory near Drexel’s campus. It was packed with sleepy, hungover college kids crammed into booths in sweats and sweatshirts looking like half of them might die at any moment.
Mack stood out. Half the girls in the room gaped at him openly.
But he only stood protectively at my side and scanned around like he was looking for threats.
Cath sat in the back corner behind the long counter trimmed in teal. Her hair was a mess and she looked exhausted, like she hadn’t slept. She fit in with all the other hungover young people, except she never went to college and never would. College wasn’t for Cath—it wasn’t for any of the Doyle cousins.
That wasn’t our path.
She was alone though. Tully wasn’t there, which might’ve been good. He’d likely flip out if he spotted Mack.
I touched his arm. “Why don’t you try to be a little less conspicuous and go sit over there?” I nodded toward the far end of the counter on the opposite side of the room.
“I doubt I’ll blend in.”
“Try anyway.” I kissed his cheek. At least one blonde girl gave me the dirtiest, most jealous stare I’d ever seen in my life. I stifled a laugh—it was absurd that any of these privileged college kids would ever feel jealous of me.
Although Mack had that kind of aura about him.
“Just be careful. Yell if you need me.” He kissed my neck then walked off, lumbering like a giant, and plopped down on a big teal vinyl-covered stool. The old lady working the counter ambled over to him, looking love-struck already.
Yeah, he wasn’t blending in at all. But hopefully, Tully wouldn’t notice him.
I walked over toward Cath. She glanced up and frowned in surprise but her face brightened as I slid in across from her. “How’s it going, home slice?”
“Hey, Fiona. What are you doing here?”
“Heard you and Tully had a date. I thought I might drop in.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “Date? This isn’t a date. He’s just been struggling and I wanted to check up on him and—”
“Whoa, easy there, I was kidding. Is there something going on with you two?”
“Absolutely not.”
“That means definitely yes.” I leaned toward her, grinning. “Give me the details. Have you kissed yet?”
“No! I mean, yes, but that’s—” She stopped, took a breath, let it out. “It’s complicated, okay?”
“Always is,” I said softly. Relationships in the family were never easy, no matter how they happened, but Tully and Cath were good people that deserved each other. I hoped they’d make it work.
If anyone should find real love, it was Cath.
She chewed on her cheek then glanced at the door and perked up. I followed her gaze and watched Tully walk into the room. He caught Cath’s eye, and suddenly I knew that I might be right after all, because it was like nobody else existed in the world.
He didn’t even glance in Mack’s direction.
Tully looked terrible. Both his eyes were swollen and his cheek looked like it’d been broken. His nose was crooked and he walked with a limp. But he still smiled as he approached.
Then he frowned at me.
“Hey, Tully.”
He paused at the side of the table then took a step back. “What do you want?”
“Just wanted to talk.”
“Hell, no.” He glared at Cath. “Did you tell her about this?”
“No, absolutely not. I didn’t even know you’d show up, I didn’t hear from you.”
“I lost my phone,” he muttered, then glared harder at me.
“You look like shit, Tully. What happened?”
“The uncles happened.” He shoved into the seat next to me, pinning me back against the wall. I took a sharp breath and looked over his shoulder.
Mack stared at me with fury in his eyes. I shook my head slightly, making sure he didn’t get involved.
Not yet at least.
“Why would they do this to you?”
“Someone stole my phone. Got it unlocked, I don’t know how. Texted Uncle Maguire about the drop. When they found out it wasn’t me, they weren’t happy.”
“God, Tully. I’m so sorry.”
“Fuck you.” He spit the words in my face. “Donal’s dead because of you.”
I flinched and glanced at Cath. She stared at me with her mouth hanging open.