Escaping: A Mafia Romance (The O'Keefe Family Collection #2) by Tuesday Embers, Mary E. Twomey

just had a great weekend together with both families and no fighting. If Killian hears about this, how long do you think our little truce is going to last? You still need my family to help you get your territory back on track. Think long-term, Angelo!”
    Angelo’s nostrils flared. “We leave you with Carrigan, and you end up bleeding on the side of the road? Unacceptable!”
    “I’ll handle my family. You handle yours. I didn’t go crying to Vince or ask him to come get me. I’m not asking you to fight my battles.” She stood, taking a chance and reaching out to put her hand over Angelo’s ready fist. “I’m asking you to fight harder for peace than your whole eye for an eye vendetta.” She moved closer to Angelo, her heart pounding. “Please. Let him go.”
    “I can take Angelo, Fal. Don’t beg him like that.” Carrigan was livid as he finally found the wherewithal to stand, seething at Angelo, who was taller and far stronger.
    Fallyn ignored her brother and held Angelo’s hand, leading him away from Carrigan and back toward the freeway.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Nine.
    Asthore
     
     
    Her house was exactly as she’d left it, with the exception of Jen’s magazines lying about on the coffee table in various degrees of decimation. “Starting another art project?”
    “Finishing one, actually. How was your vacation?” Jen pointed to the kitchen counter. “Mail’s over there.”
    “Thanks for housesitting. Needed to get away, you know?” Jen caught her up on the store, which had not needed Fallyn as badly as she’d worried it would. Loretta was proving herself to be a reliable manager, earning her keep and giving Fallyn the luxury of owning a business that didn’t run her into the ground anymore. Fallyn made plans to adjust her schedule so she only worked thirty hours the next week.
    Two months of family dinners with the D’Amatos in their father’s home came and went without incident, and without Carrigan and Fallyn saying one word to each other. Patrick O’Keefe referred to Joey strictly as Jo-Jo, which the youngest Italian boy took with grace. Fallyn worked fewer hours while the business grew. She hired another baker to help Loretta, and still had money left over to stay ahead of her expenses.
    She looked forward to the Monday meetings Killian and Vince still held in her shop. They were no longer worried about neutral territory, but chose her store because it was halfway between them and provided a nonstop treatment of coffee and sweets. Fallyn sat next to her brother and sipped her tea while the men talked shop, content to see the two sides getting along so easily.
    “The cops actually started clearing out the squatters from the abandoned buildings,” Vince told Killian. “I’m pushing to get the condemned ones demolished so we can get rid of some of the eyesores. Build up property value and keep any addicts from holing up inside.”
    “Good plan. Need any help from us on that end?”
    “If you feel like talking to the mayor, that’d be nice. I plan on reaching out tomorrow.”
    “I can make the call this afternoon, then. Give him a day to think it through before you lean on him.”
    “Thanks. That helps. What about you, Little Keefer? Looks like the shop’s doing well.” He motioned to the line that never seemed to get shorter.
    “It is. Thanks for asking.” They’d talked for hours about his businesses and hers the day before at their secret spot. It was November, and too cold for swimming, but they weren’t ready to move their weekly escapes from the countryside scenery. They indulged in many hours staring out at the pond they’d skinny dipped in too many times to count. They felt a sentimental attachment to the cozy tree they shared their plans under, and weren’t looking forward to when the snow started falling, chasing them away from their safe place.
    Vince sipped his black coffee, keeping his gaze across the table at her professional and polite. “My restaurants