Cassidy's POV

I woke up the next morning and turned in bed and when I opened my eyes I was staring into the sleeping face of Connor. I smiled to myself as I watched him sleep and figured there was no way for me to fall back asleep, so I slowly snuck out of bed and made sure not to wake Connor. When I made it out of bed and knew that I hadn't woken him up I walked to the door and slowly opened and closed the door. I was backing up and I ran into something and wiped around to see a shirtless Murphy standing there shocked. I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks at the embarrassing and awkward encounter.

"After ya" Murphy reached a hand out motioning for me to go down before him. I nodded to him before I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen with Murphy walking slightly behind me.

"So, didn't know you were here" I walked over to the coffee pot and started making coffee. Murphy awkwardly stood in the doorway to the kitchen and scratched the back of his head.

"Yea" He looked down at his feet and continued to stay away from me.

"You can come sit down, I'm just waiting on the coffee" I offered as I sat down at the table in the kitchen. Murphy hesitated but stepped forward and took a seat the table, " I realize we haven't really gotten to know each other, I'm usually interacting with Connor and obviously you're taken by Melanie, but I feel like we could get along and be friends" I smiled at Murphy before standing up and pouring two cups of coffee after it was brewed.

"Yea, ya obviously caught Connor's attention, it only seems right dat we play nice" Murphy said and I turned around confused, but when I saw he was smiling I laughed.

"I think we can manage that" I smirked handing him a cup of coffee and he took it with a nod and took a quick sip.

"Ya got any advil?" Murphy asked and I was suddenly aware of the slow headache that was settling in, I loved the drink, but it didn't love me the morning after.

"Yea, hold on" I stood up and went to the medicine cabinet in the kitchen and came back with a bottle of advil. I handed him three pills and poured out three for myself before downing them with my coffee.

"I worry about Mel you know" I stated and Murphy looked up an met my eyes.

"No need ta worry 'bout 'er" He assured me, but I wasn't about to believe that.

"You take care of her, and don't hurt her, she's my only family left, I have to protect her" I was sincere in what I was saying and Murphy could see that because he nodded and I felt like he was taking what I was saying to heart.

"Better not 'urt Connor either" Murphy warned and I looked up at him and we both laughed.

"I think that's the other way around" I smiled and Murphy nodded in agreement. Murphy wasn't a man of many words, but he was much more simple than his brother and I could see why Melanie was so interested in him, I could definitely get along with him if Melanie and Murphy continued to be together. We continued to laugh about the Connor comment when I heard a man other than Murphy clear his throat, when I looked up I saw Connor and Melanie standing in the doorway with their arms crossed.

"You guys take lessons in looking like each other" I stated and Murphy turned around to look at Melanie and Connor and we both laughed again. Connor and Melanie didn't seem to get our joke and ignored us as they finally walked into the room.

"Morning" Melanie said and walked over to murphy and gave him a soft peck on the lips. Connor looked from Mel and Murph' and looked at me and nodded as a greeting, I nodded in return and Connor made his way over to me. I had to admit I was a little disappointed I didn't get a good morning kiss, but I didn't expect anything like that from him, after all he was my hardass Irishman.

"What 're ya two talkin' 'bout?" Connor asked sitting down in the chair next to me.

"Just you two" I winked at Murphy and we smiled at each other. Connor glanced at his brother and they exchanged a silent conversation as Melanie and I sat there confused. When we finished our little talk I stood up and poured two more cups of coffee and handed one to Connor and one to Melanie.

"Anyone hungry?" I asked and Murphy and Connor perked up and looked at me, "I'll take those excited looks as a yes, so I'll make some breakfast, Mel do you wanna go set up the dinning room so we can eat" Melanie nodded to me and took Murphy with her to help set up the dining room table. I went to the fridge and got the eggs out and found a pan, I was going to make scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon. I gathered everything that I needed and started to make the food. Murphy and Melanie were still in the other room and I was busy scrambling the eggs in a bowl before cooking them when I felt two arms wrap around my waist.

"Connor I'm trying to make breakfast" He began to kiss my neck and then nibbled on my ear and whispered some very explicit things to me, "Do you want fed or what?" I asked trying to take control of my body again.

"Well we could always do someting else" Connor kissed my neck one more time.

"You're such a man" I smirked and turned around in his arms. I popped up and gave him a peck on the lips, "Good morning by the way" I smiled and Connor smirked. I know that deep down inside Connor wanted to be a normal person, but he was just like me in the aspect that he was afraid to let anyone see that part him. I was glad that I was able to force that part of him out every once in a while, because it was really nice to see the sweet counterpart to the hardass he always was.

"Now go do something productive so I can finish breakfast" I pushed him away and he released my waist and walked out of the kitchen. Once I finished with the eggs, bacon, and toast I brought three bowls into the dinning room and we all began to eat.

"Dis is really good Cass" Murphy said with a mouthful of eggs, Melanie and I looked at each other and snickered. After we all finished breakfast Melanie helped me take all the dishes into the kitchen and start the dishwasher.

"Well we should be goin'" Connor poked his head into the kitchen and I put down the dish I was holding and walked over to him.

"Ok, thanks for an improved night last night" I smiled and he narrowed his eyes at me playfully. An awkward moment of silence fell over us and then Connor just walked over to the door and waited for Murphy. When I turned to look at Melanie she was entwined with Murphy in a very elaborate goodbye kiss. I turned back to look at Connor and he was just shaking his head to himself while I was embarrassed by the whole thing. Murphy and Connor finally left and headed for the bus stop and I went back to finishing the dishes in the kitchen.

"I had no idea you guys were here last night, this morning was so embarrassing" Melanie voiced her concerns and I just laughed.

"You should have seen it when I walked out of my room this morning and saw Murphy standing there, now that was awkward" I laughed and Melanie's cheeks pinkened.

"Yea" She said in a soft voice and looked down at her hands that were folded in her lap.

"I can see he really cares for you, I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time before about being with him" I apologized and Melanie looked up at me and I thought she was going to cry, her eyes were shiny and she started to sniffle.

"That means so much to me Cass, you are the best judge of character and the fact that you put forth the effort and talked with him this morning makes me so happy" Melanie walked over to me and gave me a hug, I was really confused by her super emotions that she had thrust on me so I gently patted her back until she released me.

"No problem, Murphy is a nice guy, me and him could get along" I smiled softly and this made her jump up and down excitedly, "Don't get too carried away there weepy" I laughed and Melanie stopped and wiped her eyes.

"Sorry" She looked up at me.

"Don't be sorry, you're in love, I'm happy for ya" I put the last dish in the dishwasher and wiped my hands off with a dish towel.

"I'm in love" She repeated and a smile consumed her face. Her excitement and happiness was contagious and I found myself smiling at her good fortune, that was until I remembered I had a mob meeting this afternoon, then my happy mood came crashing down because there was still one thing we were hiding from the MacManus brothers and one thing I was hiding from Connor that could possibly ruin everything that we had been through.

It was around 2:30 when everyone had arrived in the meeting room and I cleared my throat to get everyone's attention.

"We are ready to begin, status report on the Saints" I called out and a tall lanky man stood up in the back of the room and began speaking.

"We have a lead, been following it for a few days, but they haven't struck in a while, hard to pin them for it" He finished and I nodded my head.

"Continue working on it" I commanded. I would have to be more careful when it came to associating with Connor, my people would find it a little suspicious if I was spending so much time with one of the Saints.

"What about the Russians, are they giving us anymore lip?" I asked and a man that was closer to me and a little more heavy set stood up and started to speak.

"The Russians have taken all of the drugs and disposed of them, we offered them a better deal and they refused, they are pushing in on our territory know, they don't think you will do anything, they don't see you as a threat Miss Cassidy" He explained and I got this wild idea, they don't think I'm a threat huh?

"Not a threat, well send some of our guys down there with some guns and force them to move the new product, or I'll come down there myself and have a little chat with Blake" I demanded, Blake was their boss, and I had known him practically my whole life, went to school with him and everything, but when his dad died and he took over the Russian mob he had pushed all his friends away. They didn't think I was a threat, obviously they hadn't met me recently, all the time I had been spending with Connor I think had made me tougher and more sneaky, so if it came down to it I would confront the Russian mob and I would win.

"Any other matters that need to be discussed?" I asked looking around the room.

"We are still a little concerned about the Saints, they have taken out four of our big guys and two second in commands, which one of us is next?" One guys stood up and asked and the whole room echoed his concerns.

"I'm telling you right now that none of you have anything to worry about, I wont let these so called Saints run us forever, my father was a strong man and he ran this mob and made it what it is today, I won't let what he made perish, arm yourselves at all times and don't let your guard down, we will put an end to the Saints and we will build our empire to new heights" I finished my little speech and I could tell that everyone in the room believed me. Funny thing was I was the only one that didn't believe the speech, I was digging myself into two very deep holes, one with my mob and the other with Connor, I was beginning to think that I would never be able to get out of either one, and if I managed, I probably wouldn't be alive in one of the situations. I dismissed everyone and continued to sit in my chair thinking about everything, the Russians were getting testy and they could pose a real problem, I needed to think some things through and possibly think about telling Connor the truth before it was too late.

A/N: Man one more chapter and I've got 30, this is literally the longest story I have ever written, not just amount of chapters, but also word-wise, I can't believe it. Hope you enjoy! No song for today, rushing off to class again. Thanks McBrideReedusLover and Sissymac for the reviews, much appreciated! Wanna be mentioned R&R Please!