Page 36 of The Mobster’s Daughter (Massachusetts Mafia #2)

Caitlin

A s she stepped through the imposing double doors into the foyer, the familiar scent of leather and polished wood surrounded her, a smell that always reminded her of home.

Understated luxury was the only way to describe this part of her family home.

Deep chestnut floors buffed to a rich, glossy finish reflected the warm glow of the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling.

To her left was what her mother referred to as the library, a formal space hosting a pair of oversized black leather armchairs and a solid mahogany table.

On it was a brass lamp with an elaborately designed base and volumes of books lined the bookshelves in the room.

None of them were meant to be read; they were aesthetically pleasing.

Framed family photos and artwork selected by her mother hung at carefully chosen intervals, so it was visually appealing. Along the walls on either side of the foyer, benches upholstered in dark leather offered a space to sit, though Caitlin had never seen anyone use them.

She stopped at the bottom of the grand staircase.

Her eyes danced over the banister carved from darkish wood up the wide steps covered in a plush carpet in a deep shade of maroon.

It wasn’t the same, not like it had been when she was an innocent girl, unaware of what her father did for a living or what the “family business” really was.

Back then, she didn’t know how they got their money. Oh, to be that innoc ent again.

In one short week, her life had been cracked open and completely rearranged. She wasn’t sure if she could put it back together or if she even wanted it the way it had been.

Everything she’d endured with Moretti and Chertok hung over her like a dark storm cloud.

The relief she should have felt at having her name cleared was muted by all that happened.

Bobby was dead. Lev Chertok was most likely dead.

The tenuous hold the Moretti and O’Reilly families had on the peace they’d fought for was fractured.

Chertok’s trail of destruction had left a mess that would take months—maybe years—to clean up.

Enemies of both families circled like vultures, waiting for any sign of weakness.

Caitlin brushed her fingers along the banister, rubbing the grain of wood under her fingertips.

After fighting for so long to get out of her father’s house, she was back under his roof.

But not as the woman she’d once been, but someone hardened by betrayal and loss.

She sat on the bottom step with her head in her hands, the weight of her choices sitting heavy on her chest.

“Caitlin?” Her father’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

Sean O’Reilly stood in front of the double doors. His piercing blue eyes, the same ones she’d inherited, were softer than usual, laced with concern. He rarely showed his emotions, keeping a tight rein on them. He’d obviously been shaken by what happen ed to her.

“Hi, Daddy. How was your meeting?”

“It was okay,” he replied. He crossed the space between them in a few brief steps and sat next to her on the step. He bumped his shoulder against hers. “How are y ou doing?”

“I’m fine.” The words were hollow. She wasn’t, and they bot h knew it.

Her father put his arm around her, hugged her close. “You don’t have to pretend with me. What you went through ― no one should have to go thro ugh that.”

Caitlin forced a smile. “I’ll get over it. That’s what’s importan t, right?”

He studied her for a minute, his expression unreadable. “I don’t think it is , do you?”

She shrugged. “I guess. I do n’t know.”

“You survived something awful. I don’t expect you to get over it. In fact, take as much time as you need. This is your home. Your mother and I want you here. We want to help you.”

Caitlin swallowed back the sob threatening to escape her throat. She nodded and rested her head on her father’s shoulder.

“Thank you,” she whispered hoarsely.

They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes until Sean cleared hi s throat.

“So, have you thought about what comes next, what you want to do now?” he asked.

“I have considered that,” she replied. She glanced up at her father, who watched her intently and waited. His silence encouraged her to continue.

“I’m going to finish la w school.”

Sean smile d. “Good.”

Caitlin sat up straight and looked her father in the eye. “But I’m not going into environmental law anymore. I plan to study criminal law. After I graduate, I want to join the family business.”

There it was. The truth laid bare bet ween them.

Sean’s eyebrow arched, surprise flickering across his face. “You’re serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life,” she replied.

“I always thought I could stay out of it, that I could somehow live in two worlds—one foot in the family and one in the outside world. But after everything that’s happened, I can’t pretend that’s the case anymore. I belong here with m y family.”

Sean’s lips pursed into a thin line. Caitlin thought he’d fight her or insist she finish what she started. But to her surprise, he nodded slowly, a grin spreading across his face.

“I can’t believe it. I always hoped one of my daughters would follow in my footsteps, maybe even take over for me someday. I’m not surprised it’s you. You’re strong-willed, determined, and you’ve got a good head on your s houlders.”

“Think so?” she whispered.

“You’ve been through hell, sweetheart, but you came out stronger. I won’t lie to you. This won’t be easy. This life, it comes with a price, which you saw firsthand. But if this is what you want, I’ll support you and help anyw ay I can.”

Caitlin nodded, her resolve hardening. It was her choice to commit to this way of life and come hell or high water, she planned to own it.

“There’s something else,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Something you need to know.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he sensed the shift in her ton e. “What?”

“Grady.”

Sean didn’t move, though his shoulders stiffened enough for Caitlin to notice.

“We, I mean he and I, we uh, kind of had a thing…” She peeked at her father out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Sean O’Reilly had perfected the stoic expression, making his face unreadable. Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for his reaction.

“I know,” he said. “I spoke to Grady.”

“He told you?” she asked.

“He did. I mean, he didn’t go int o detail—”

“Thank God,” she muttered.

Sean chuckled. “I agree. Thank God. But we talked. He also said he broke things off with you. Is t hat true?”

“Yes,” she murmured.

“How do you feel ab out that?”

Caitlin squared her shoulders and turned to her father. No sense lying to him. If they were going to work together, they needed honesty between them. “I don’t like it. I think … well, I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with him.”

“Does he love you?” her father aske d quietly.

“I thought he did.” She sighed. “But all he’ll say is he cares for me. He won’t say t he words.”

Sean rested his elbows on his upper thighs and took a deep breath. “Have you ever heard the n ame Oona?”

Caitlin shook her head. “No. Who is that?”

“She was Grady’s fiancée.”

Caitlin’s stomach dropped, and her jaw clenched. Grady had been engaged. Had he ever been married? Divorced? Why hadn’t he told her?

“I… He was engaged?”

“It didn’t last,” Sean explained. “It was only for a short time. I’d never seen him like that. He was head over heels for th is woman.”

She shifted on the step, suddenly uncomfortable. “What happened?”

“She betrayed him. Us.” Her father rubbed the back of his neck.

“The Foley cafe thing; it was because of her.” He swallowed.

“Oona told them I would be there and when the bomb didn’t kill me, she was going to shoot me.

Grady jumped in front of the bullet. Oona vanished.

” He took Caitlin’s hand. “That … it destroyed him. For the first time in his life, he allowed someone to get close, and she deceived him. He swore he’d never let it happ en again. ”

By the time her father finished speaking, Caitlin had her hand over her mouth and a knot in her stomach. “I had no idea,” she whispered.

“Few people do,” Sean continued. “He doesn’t talk about it.

Hell, I just got him to tell me.” He got to his feet, pacing back and forth in front of her.

“I won’t lie to you, Cait. The idea of you and Grady together?

I hate it. But it’s not for me to decide who somebody loves.

Especially after what happene d to Liv.”

“What are yo u saying?”

“I’m saying I won’t put my foot down or be a hard ass.

He feels something for you. I can tell by the way he looks at you, talks about you, all of it.

And you said you love him. Nothing I say will change your mind or keep you away from him if you two are determined to be together.

” He walked halfway done the hall, stopped, and turned around.

“You have always been stubborn. I respect that. If this is the path you choose, you need to understand that it won’t be easy. ”

“I know,” Caitlin replied.

“It could turn your entire world ups ide down.”

“My world has already been turned upside down,” she retorted. “Grady grounds me. He keeps me sane.”

Sean crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the ceiling. “You’ll have to give me time to get used to the idea.”

“Do you hate me?” she asked.