Kelly Clan 02 - Connor (10 page)

One thing was sure, Boris was getting more bold, and their days of safety were coming to an end.

“Conor?” Teagan squinted as she made her way out of her bedroom. “Why is the TV so loud?”

He froze. This was not going to be pretty, and he was sure to be the one to pay.

“There was a death last night,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Someone who will have an effect on Claire’s bid for council.”

Teagan wrinkled her nose. “Are you still working with her?”

“He is,” Claire said from the door and smiled. “As long as he wants the job.”

He watched in horror as Teagan turned to glare at Claire.

“What’s she doing here?” she said to Conor.

“Hi, Teagan,” Claire said, ignoring the jab. “How have you been?”

“Great, no thanks to you.” She glared at Claire.

Claire turned to Conor, pain filled her pale green eyes. “I think I need to go,” she said and hurried out the door.

Conor turned to Teagan, his jaw clenched.

“You had no right to talk to her that way,” he shouted. “You don’t have the first clue what she offered.”

Conor breathed in hard as he stared at his open-mouthed sister. “Claire didn’t break things off. I did. For you.”

He raced out the door and stopped at the top of the steps as Claire pulled away. Conor took a deep breath and stomped back inside.

Teagan was sitting on the couch, waiting for him.

“What do you mean for me?” she asked, her eyes wide.

He sighed. All this time he spent hiding it, only to snap and have it all revealed.

“Mom was finished,” he said and sat down next to her. “I’d tried to convince her that things would get better if you had better doctors, but she didn’t want to spend any more. She gave an ultimatum. We had to leave it to God's hands as far as you were concerned and live our lives like we had, or she was going back to Ireland.”

“But you said she needed to be near family,” Teagan said.

Conor nodded. “She did, and she needed to get way the hell away from us.” He took her hand and held it in his own. “That was never the wrong choice I made. It was hard, but you were so sick, and I was always going to be there for you.”

“But Claire?” Teagan asked softly.

He shook his head. “The bills were a mountain. I had just started to earn more money with Finn, and yet, it still wasn’t enough. Claire wanted to help.” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “After what happened with Mom, I couldn’t be dependent like that on someone else.”

“So, you ended it with her,” she finished.

“I didn’t have much a choice,” he said. “All my spare time was spent working. There wasn’t time for a girlfriend, and that wasn’t fair to her.”

“Oh, Conor,” Teagan wept. “All this time I’ve hated her, when I should have been kicking your butt for not staying with her.”

She turned to him, tears streaming down her face.

“The greatest acts of love are the ones where another person's needs are at the forefront. Claire loved you enough to help ease the burden of things. Instead, you let your pride get in the way.” She stared at him for a few moments before talking. “My recent treatments, how am I getting them?”

He debated telling her the truth. If she knew this, all his cards would be on the table.

“Ennis offered better doctors if I left Finn’s crew and went with him,” he said finally.

Teagan quietly took it in and then nodded. “And you miss Finn.”

He shook his head. “There’s not a lot I wouldn’t have done to make life better for you. And in the end, it was a good gamble.”

She gave a weak smile. “And I would trade it all to see my brother happy.”

Conor smiled back. She was right. It was a sign of love.

“So, we make a new path,” he said. “One where we talk about things.”

Teagan nodded. “I like that path.”

Conor stood. This new path was going to start with making sure the women he loved were safe above all else.

* * *

Conor nodded to Braden as he made his way to the office on the yacht. Ennis conducted most of his business there, and if he was lucky, he could catch Boris in there as well. Two birds with one stone.

He knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Ennis called.

No sign of Boris, but he’d had a busy night chasing people and killing others. He was probably still sleeping it off.

“Conor,” Ennis said with a smile. “So glad to see you after such a rough dinner.”

“Sometimes siblings fight,” he said and eyed him as he took a seat.

Ennis raised a brow. “Indeed they do,” he said.

This time he was ready to play the game. There was a fine line with how much he could say, and Conor just needed to skirt that line, enough to throw Ennis off his game.

“Harriet Slone is dead,” Conor said. His best option here was to just be blunt.

“I heard.” Ennis smiled. “I always love it when loose ends get tied up.”

“And is Claire a loose end?”

Ennis frowned. “Only if she makes herself one.”

“Well, you might want to mention that to your Russian friend,” Conor said. “It was nearly two people on the news, two people closely related to you. I don’t think the media would have trouble connecting the dots.”

Ennis’s frown deepened. “We need her still.” He sat upright. “I’ll talk to Boris.”

Conor nodded. He hadn’t expect it would go as smoothly as it did, but maybe Ennis wasn’t all bad. He just had to hope that was the case.

As he left the office, he pulled out his phone. “Teagan, I’m going to need some help. Have any idea what a person wears to a charity gala?”

Chapter Ten

Claire brushed her dress down one more time as she stepped out of the car. The last thing she wanted to be doing was going to some large party, but if today was any indication, she was going to need the support of some big money behind her.

She had been lucky that there were no reporters when she showed up at her house this morning. After a quick shower and change, she returned to the living room, only to find her phone overloaded with messages and news vans waiting outside.

The questions had not been what she was expecting. She was ready to offer sympathy for the family and friends of Harriet, a sad ending. Instead, Claire was hit with accusations that her family had something to do with it. After all this time, she had avoided anything like that, and it was surfacing now? Claire smelled a rat, and she didn’t have to think hard to guess who. Ennis had all the reason in the world to destroy her. If she wasn’t going to join him, then he would take her out, one way or another.

Over and over her mind flashed back to Conor. In all this, she’d just hoped that he would be the man she knew him to be, but it was getting harder and harder to believe that when he had aligned himself with men like Ennis and the Russians. Harriet deserved some jail time, not to be killed.

She shook her head. It seemed Conor dominated her thoughts. If she was going to get supporters, she needed to keep her head in the game.

The long satin blue dress moved with her beautifully, so she at least fit the part. She’d swept her hair in a neat bun and found that the look gave her an edge of sophistication.

She smiled when Anna met her at the door.

“How’s the shark tank looking?” she whispered in her ear.

Anna grinned. “Primed for new bait.” She looked down at the blue dress. “And in that, you should do just fine.”

Claire smiled. She hoped so. The last thing she needed was more drama.

Sweet notes of classical music drifted through the air as she entered, and Claire fell in love with the place. They had decided to use the old history museum, and it was a winner in her book, with large staircases that made for a dramatic entrance, a domed ceiling that separated the night sky with a wall of glass and impressive art. She assumed that all the higher-end pieces left during the move to the new museum, but what was left was still just as amazing.

Claire beamed at Anna, who was preoccupied with scoping out backers.

“This is amazing,” Claire said, mostly to herself.

“I’m glad you think so,” an older man standing near said quietly.

Claire turned to make her introductions. She was surprised to find, unlike the other men in the room, he had opted for slightly less formal dress. His jacket had patches on the elbows and matched his bow tie. He looked like he fit better in a college classroom than a gala.

“So, which outfit were we admiring?” the man snarked.

Claire liked him instantly.

“I’m quite fond of his outfit.” She pointed to a nearby painting in which a man stood tall in his native head dress.

The older man raised his brows in surprise and grinned. “It’s a fine choice. I’m afraid it wouldn’t go over so well here.”

Claire crossed her arms in thought. “How about next time we put that theory to the test?” She winked at him and grinned when he began to laugh.

“Maxwell.” He stuck out his hand.

“Claire McClure.” She smiled.

Something about his name seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite place him.

“Oh, art lover and future council member.” His scruffy beard and round glasses only made him seem even more approachable.

“Only if tonight goes well I’m afraid. Otherwise, I’ll just be an unemployed art lover.” She waved a hand. “But I don’t think I’d be the first.”

“Ah, yes, sponsorship.” Maxwell nodded. “A tedious part of the job.”

“Maybe not so tedious when you have the chance to meet others like yourself.”

Maxwell chuckled. “I think you’ll do just fine tonight.” He gestured over to Anna. “It would seem your friend has found some prospective donors.”

Claire looked across the room and found Anna lost in a sea of older men.

She turned to Maxwell. “Wish me luck.” She winked.

He chuckled. “That and maybe some disinfectant. I think you’ll need it after tonight.”

She shook her head as she made her way across the room to where Anna was.

“Gentlemen,” Anna began, smiling brightly. “I’d like to introduce Claire McClure.”

* * *

Much like the rest of her day, the gala was shaping up to be annoying. She spent more time talking about Harriet than herself. For sure, it wasn’t the best way to get backers. Most either seemed to think she did it or that her family had. Half had even come right out and asked.

Claire laughed as she sat in the garden out back. It didn’t seem to her like the brightest idea to ask someone if they killed another person. If they had no problem killing one person, what would make them not kill the next? It just seemed like flawed logic to her. Perhaps the wealthy party goers found a bit of excitement in the idea they might be around someone dangerous.

She pulled off her shoes and massaged her feet. Heels were cute, but they were murder on her arches.

“I see I’m not the only one trying to escape,” Jason said from just behind her.

He came down the winding path and stopped just beside her.

Claire stood. “Oh, Jason, I didn’t realize you were here,” she said.

Anna had spent most of the night with her, making sure that each person knew who she was.

“I’m not surprised,” he said and moved a little closer. “Anna’s busy working while you and I get to slip away.”

Claire narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“No need to get huffy,” he snapped. She noticed he seemed far more disheveled than she had ever seen him before. “Just some people are made for more in life.”

“Anna is very good at her job,” she said, irritation seeping into her voice.

Jason gave a hollow laugh. “I’m sure she is. She should be considering she isn’t going to progress much further.”

Claire frowned.

“So, I hear congratulations are in order.” He smiled at her, but there didn't seem to be much warmth in it. “Too bad your little plan backfired.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked and backed up just a little. Her legs hit the bench as he stepped forward.

“Having your cousin take out Harriet,” he said. “Of course it put a crimp in my plans.” He gave her a wicked grin. “But then I started thinking, why be with a nobody when I could be with a somebody?”

Her stomach churned as his meaning dawned on her.

“You’re married to Anna,” she said quietly. Maybe he was just drunk, and she could fix this.

“Your cousin took care of Harriet. I’m sure he could do the same for Anna,” he said simply, as if he hadn’t just asked her to have his wife killed.

“That’s not how Finn works. He’s not in that line of work anymore,” she said. “I can’t even do this.”

She turned to walk away but stopped when he grabbed her arm tightly.

“Listen here, bitch, you took my chance at partner,” he ground out. She stared into his eyes and shivered at what she found. “I’ll be getting something out of this.”

His other hand came down and cupped her ass hard. Without a thought to where she was or what might happened, Claire pulled back hit him in the nose with everything she had. Jason crumpled to the ground

“You listen,” she yelled at him. “You are a disgusting little worm. You ever touch me or come near Anna again, I’ll make sure my cousin does something about you.” She leaned forward.

“I thought you said he didn’t do that kind of thing,” he cried.

She gave him a once over and leaned back. “I think for you, he’d make an exception.”

Claire turned to a find a crowd had gathered around them. Anna stared at them in shock.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

Jason was the first to talk. “She attacked me. She’s just like her cousin. Is this the kind of thug you want on the city council?”

Claire glared at him. She'd show him a thug.

“That’s not exactly right,” Maxwell said, emerging from the shadows. “From were I sat, it sounded like you threatened to have your wife killed and then propositioned and assaulted Ms. McClure.”

There were several gasps from the crowd. Jason’s face contorted in rage.

“And who the fuck are you then, old man?” Jason yelled. He sneered at him.

Maxwell laughed. “You really have no idea whose gala this is, do you?” He stepped forward. “I’m Maxwell Cross. As in Cross Enterprises.” A tight smile appeared on his face.