Page 79 of Poison and Wine

Groaning, I replied, “You love to torture me, don’t you, Kitten?”

With a wicked grin, she stood up from her chair to stand beside me. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

Chapter Twenty-Two: Callum

The days after my wedding reception turned into weeks, and before I knew it, Caterina and I were celebrating our one month anniversary. Of course, you wouldn’t know I was married considering I was sporting daily blue balls and hadn’t jerked off as much before bed since I was fifteen. Somehow marrying a nun had bestowed a vow of chastity on me. I wanted to be patient with Caterina, but if my celibacy stretched on much longer, I was going to snap.

Thankfully, I was keeping busy with the upcoming opening of the Kavanaugh’s first Boston owned club, Bandia, which meant goddess in Irish. Currently, I found myself in my office buried under a mound of last minute paperwork. We had a soft opening in a week, but from the looks of all the multicolored papers to sign off on, you would think it wasn’t for another month.

Just as I was about to text Caterina that I would be late for dinner, Dare burst through my office door. “This better be important,” I growled.

“The alarm for the 15th Street warehouse just went off. I tried calling Sean, but he’s not answering.”

“Fuck,” I muttered as I sprang out of my chair.

As we started for the elevator, Dare asked, “Do you think this is retribution from Alessio?”

After punching the down button, I jerked a hand through my hair. The elevator doors opened up, and we got on. “It makes the most sense. It’s been quiet on all the other fronts since word of our marriage came out.”

Just like Seamus had foreseen, the alliance of the Neretti’s and Kavanaugh’s had been a success. Even with the violent animosity from Alessio, it was well-received. Several families we’d lost after my father’s murder had reached out as well as a lessening of our threat from the Bratva.

Once we made our way through the lobby, an SUV sat out front waiting for us. During the drive, I tried calling Sean again as well as some of the other soldiers who had been patrolling the warehouse. With a frown, I turned to Dare. “Nothing.”

“Fuck.”

When we finally arrived, the warehouse was engulfed in flames despite the hard work of multiple fire crews on the scene. After exiting the car, Dare and I made our way toward the front of the warehouse where Quinn stood talking to Frank O’Dell, the Fire Marshall.

With a grim face, Frank extended his hand. “As soon as I heard it was one of yours, I came right down.”

“I appreciate that, Frank.”

Gazing up at the roaring blaze, I shook my head. “Have you found anything?”

He nodded. “I had my men take the device away as soon as possible before the cops could get a hold of it. I’ll have my best guys on it.”

“Thank you.” Everyone in the city could be bought, and Frank was one of them. Of course, it made good financial sense to have members of the fire department in your pocket, especially when situations like these flared up.

At that moment, two firefighters came around the side of the building carrying a black body bag. My heart sank into my stomach. “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.

Dare shook his head grimly. “I guess that’s why we couldn’t get Sean on the phone.”

“Are we sure it’s him?” Quinn asked.

When the taller fireman held out a wedding band, I took it. As I turned the silver piece in my hand, the names engraved in the inside caught the light. Sean <3 Bridget.

“It’s him,” I choked out. After shoving the band in my pocket, I asked, “Were there any more potential casualties?”

“Sean was on guard until midnight,” Quinn replied.

“But I couldn’t get in touch with Neil or Philip,” I said.

“I imagine they were asleep since Neil had duty on the 19th street warehouse last night, and Philip was on here.”

I nodded. When I realized what lay before me, my chest clenched. The worst part of losing anyone from a soldier on up to an officer was having to report their death to the family. In this case, I had to go to a young wife and tell her that her husband was never coming back home. “I have to go to Bridget’s,” I pronounced.

Quinn’s expression saddened. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No. I’ll handle it. You guys stay here and find out all you can.”