Page 5 of The Mobster’s Daughter (Massachusetts Mafia #2)

Caitlin

W hile waiting in the car, Caitlin glanced over her shoulder out the back window, but she didn’t see Grady anywhere.

Her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

She checked the backseat, but of course there wasn’t any bottled water.

Her eyes were drawn to the coffee shop; it would only take a few minutes to grab water and get back in the Bronco. No harm , no foul.

She eased open the door, looked at her building one more time, then surveyed the surrounding area.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and she didn’t see anyone who looked out of place or was watching her.

There was no way those guys who killed Bobby were still around.

After another quick look at her surroundings, she hurried inside and go t in line.

It took longer than she thought to get the water.

If Grady returned to the Bronco before she did, he would chew her out and most likely talk to her in that condescending tone he used whenever she was in his general vicinity.

When she finally made it to the front of the line, Caitlin tapped her phone on the card reader, snatched the bottle out of the barista’s hand, and hurried outside, opening it as s he walked.

Caitlin spotted Grady as soon as she stepped out the café door. He had that perpetual scowl on his face, but instead of making him unattractive, it made him more desirable. Everything about him was desirable. She wished he would see her for what she was, instead of the mob boss’s daughter.

She raised her hand and yelled , “Grady!”

His eyes widened. He looked at her, then over her shoulder at something behind her. He broke i nto a run.

“Caitlin! Get in the car!” he screamed.

She froze, unable to move. What the hell was hi s problem?

A loud clatter came from the outdoor tables behind her. She spun around and saw the men who had shot Bobby. They shoved tables and chairs out of the way as they stalked toward her. The water bottle fell from her hand, and she stum bled back.

“Shit,” she muttered.

“Caitlin!” Grady bellowed.

She took another step away from the men descending on her, hit a planter with her foot, and fell on her ass with a loud, “Oomph.” She pushed herself backward, her feet sliding on the concrete, as the large, bald guy who ordered Bobby’s death stalked toward her, shoving unsuspecting college students and mothers in yoga pants out of his way. The guy Bobby ca lled Joey.

He grabbed her arm and dragged her upright. “You must be Caitlin O’Reilly. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Caitlin swallowed back a scream as he shoved his gun against her ribs.

Grady slid to a stop right beside them, his hand in his jacket on the butt of his gun. “Let her go, Joey,” he muttered.

The guy holding her arm snarled. “Grady McCarthy. What the fuck are you do in’ here?”

“I said let her go,” Grady repeated. “Let’s not cause a scene.”

“Then get out of my way,” Joe y snarled.

Grady stood his ground. “You don’t want to get on the wrong side of the O ’Reillys.”

Joey snorted. “I’m more afraid of my boss than yours.” He looked over his shoulder at the man behind him. “Gino, bring the car arou nd front.”

Caitlin sucked in a deep breath, shifted her weight to her back foot, and elbowed Joey as hard as she could in the sternum.

He grunted and took a step back, his grip on her arm loosening.

She turned at the same time as he moved, brought her leg up, and kneed him in the groin. He immediately dropped to t he ground.

Grady grabbed her hand before Caitlin could fall too. He pushed her behind him and dre w his gun.

“Get your ass in the car, now!” he ordere d. “Move!”

Caitlin didn’t hesitate. She spun around, raced to the Bronco, yanked open the door, and dove inside.

As she pulled the door closed, she locked eyes with Joey, less than ten feet away from her.

He raised his gun and aimed it at her head.

Screams erupted around them as people realized a man with a gun stood on the sidewalk in front of the shop.

Grady hauled open the driver’s side door, tossed her backpack at her, and yelled, “ Get down!”

Caitlin dropped to the floor in front of the passenger seat and put her hands over her head.

Grady climbed in, set his gun between his legs, and started the Bronco. Horns honked and tires squealed as he whipped the wheel to the left and made a U-turn across three lanes of traffic. He hit the accelerator, weaving through traffic as she curled herself into a ball on the floor.

“You can get up now,” Grady said after a few minutes o f driving.

She pulled herself onto the passenger seat and wrapped her arms around herself. “You know those guys?” she whispered. “The guys who kill ed Bobby?”

“What did you say?”

“How do you know them? The guys who killed Bobby?” she repeated.

“They … they’re the ones who shot your b oyfriend?”

Caitlin hugged herself tighter and prayed the trembling would st op. “Yes.”

“They work for Aldo Moretti,” Grady explained.

“He runs New York. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but he and your father have had some…

problems in the past.” He scrubbed a hand over his face.

“Jesus Christ, this doesn’t make any sense.

Those guys are Moretti’s men. They would never kill his son. ”

“His son? What the hell are you talki ng about?”

“Bobby’s full name is Roberto Corelli. He’s the illegitimate son of Aldo Moretti, born to one of his mistresses. Those men are going to tell Moretti you killed Bobby. Not only is he dead in your apartment, but your gun was on the floor nex t to him.”

“Jesus Christ,” she muttered. “Why is this happening?” She put her head in her hands.

Grady glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “They must know you’re Sean O’Reilly’s daughter. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were trying to sta rt a war.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered.

“Neither do I. What I do know is that Aldo Moretti will do everything in his power to find you,” Grady said. “If he kills you, not only does he get revenge for the death of his son, but he gets to your father as well.”

Caitlin scowled. “Fuck. Why is everything in my life always about my father? Sometimes, I hate being an O’Reilly.”

She strongly believed every problem in her life was directly linked to her father and his business .

Growing up, her and her sister’s freedom had been restricted out of fear that her father’s rivals might harm them or use them as leverage against her father.

She’d been lonely and isolated her entire childhood.

The only friend she ever had was her siste r, Olivia.

Her father’s reputation made it difficult for her to get into a college close to home. Most of the universities in the Boston area were reluctant to associate with her; it was one reason Caitlin had gone to New York f or school.

Romantic relationships were damn near impossible once people discovered her father was the Sean O’Reilly. Dating and boyfriends in high school were nonexistent. Once they found out she was a mobster’s daughter, men avoided her like t he plague.

“Caitlin?” G rady said.

“What?” sh e snapped.

“Are you listening to me? You’re in trouble,” he said. “This is about more than your father and Declan merging the O’Reilly and Muldoon families. There is something far more nefarious going on here. I need to hide you somewhere while I sort this out.”

“P-pull over,” Caitlin stammered.

“What?”

“I said pull over!” she screamed.

Grady made an abrupt right turn and pulled into the parking lot of an automotive shop. He drove around the back of the building and slammed the Bronco into park.

Caitlin got out of the SUV and stumbled up the alley, Grady right behind her.

Her legs buckled under her, exhaustion and fear weighing her down.

Her mind raced with the realization that a powerful mob boss wanted her dead.

Her breaths came in ragged gasps as the tears broke free and streamed down h er cheeks.

She sank to the grimy pavement below and hugged her knees to her chest. “I can’t do this, Grady,” she cried, her voice breaking. “I didn’t kill Bobby. I didn’t. I didn’t.” She shook her head, her blonde hair flying around her face. “Why are they do ing this?”

Grady reached for her, but she slapped his hand away.

“Don’t touch me,” she snapped. A choked sob es caped her.

He crouched in front of her, grabbed her chin, and held it tight, forcing her to look at him. “You need to keep it together. We don’t have time for your t heatrics.”

“Fuck you,” she muttered. Why couldn’t he be understanding just once?

“Stop being a brat,” he ordered. “I’m not putting up with the spoiled princess shit. You will stand up and get in the truck. You’ll also do as I say, and you won’t argue with me. Do you un derstand?”

Shocked, all she could do was stare into his hazel eye s. “What?”

Anger rolled off him in waves. He glared at her, and his grip tightened on her chin. “Get your ass off the ground and get in the truck now. I’m not asking you again. Un derstood?”

Shocked, all Caitlin could think to do was follow his instructions. “O-okay,” she stammered.

Grady released her, took her arm, and pulled her to her feet, then led her to the Bronco. He didn’t look at her as they got in, just put the SUV in gear and drove out of the pa rking lot.

Caitlin clutched her hands in her lap and stared out the window.

Fuck, that wasn’t supposed to be so hot.

She should be pissed that Grady dared put his hands on her, like she’d been angry at Bobby when he’d done it, but all she could think about was the way her stomach clenched with need when he squeezed her chin between his strong fingers and how she had to keep herself from moaning as he gave her an order.

She closed her eyes, and an image of Grady pulling her over his lap and spanking her bare ass filled her head. She bit her lower lip to keep herself quiet as she let her imagination run wild.