Author's Note - Thanks to all my readers and people who made Raking a favorite this week. Made my crappy week so much better! I was stuck, but I seemed to have found my mojo again, so yay for that.
Finding my mojo would not have been possible if DeDe324 hadn't helped me through it. Thank you woman, you are so awesome and I love, love, love that you're willing to help me with my hiccups. I dedicate this chapter to you my new found friend, I hope you like it.
Onto the dramz! Please enjoy chapter 5 and if you did if you would be so kind as to drop me a line and let me know or even if you didn't, I invite both praise and critique as long as it's not "You suck, stop writing," or along those lines. Thank you again!
"Everyone ok, now that the cat is out of the bag," Quinn asked still firmly in Duffy's arms. Meeting Connor's eyes, he was smiling; happy that she was happy.
Bren kissed her neck, "You'll be punished later," he whispered. "Yeah, there's a drink involved?"
"Of course," she kissed his cheek, "And I can't wait," she nibbled his ear slightly before moving behind the bar. "What'll it be gents," she asked Dolly and Greenly, handing Romeo another Corona, the boys another shot and her husband a scotch.
"What he's havin'," they said pointing to Brendan.
"So me or the scotch," she said so casually that the conversations stopped, all present turned to the ginger, "What I can't say inappropriate things," pouring two more scotches. "Eunice?"
"Cosmo, please," a few moments and Special Agent Bloom had her drink.
"You used to work in a bar," Greenly asked.
Quinn nodded, "This bar to be exact," she nodded to the twins, "How'd you think I met those two?"
"All right enough pleasantries," Bloom said after a sip of her Cosmo, "Nice mix, sweetheart," throwing a wink Quinn's way who smiled in return. "We have the name of the shooter." The sentence managed to take all the warmth out of the room. The red head shivered. The strong hand of her husband grabbed hers kissing it lightly, resolve in his green eyes; the girl nodded. Eunice moved around to Connor and Murphy showing him the photo of the short gunman.
"This the fella," Connor took the sheet from her.
"Yeah, that's the fella. He's a Sicilian immigrant name of Otillio Panza. He'll be front page news in the morning but we have to assume Yakavetta already knows we've ID'd his guy. We can't give him time to 'Plan B' us."
Quinn was trying to listen to Eunice, but the three Bostonians were murmuring quite loudly. The ginger turned to them, arms crossed but before she could say anything Murphy set the timeline.
"We're hittin' him in 48 hours. That fast enough for ya?"
"Should be," the woman from the FBI confirmed, "Where's it gonna happen?"
Connor handed her back the sheet, "The Pru," which got everyone's attention.
Duffy and Quinn shared a look before turning to the boys. Greenly lost his mouth on the floor and Dolly just came out and said what everyone was thinking, "The Prudential?! What are you cracked?"
"Why not just do it center ice at a fuckin' Bruin's game," Greenly added.
"That's where the man is, so that's where we're goin'," Connor calmly said looking at the detectives before throwing a glance at Quinn, who was still taking everything in, her eyes wide in a mix of disbelief and fear. "No guts, no glory Green Beans."
"In fact we could use a few extra hands. That is if you boys can still get your Irish on," Murphy added.
Greenly looked straight at the twins, "Hey I got balls for days pally. I'm a fuckin' sack-o-matic."
Quinn looked at her daughter's God father, "David," she breathed out rolling her eyes.
The rest of the bar laughed at his comment. Connor pointed to him, "He's a fuckin' sack-o-matic," he slurred out.
Duff and Dolly raised their glasses, "We're in," they said in unison.
"Is that right," the voice behind the bar said. The three detectives turned to face Quinn, her face twisted in anger. The twins lost it rolling on the floor laughing, spouting something about 'Mother, may I?' Romeo and Eunice chuckled a bit. Brendan opened his mouth to speak but Quinn cut him off, "So just because those two idiots on the floor are back in town doing what they do best besides drinking, you're just gonna run over to the fuckin' Prudential and start killing mobsters? And what part of me did you think was gonna let that happen," her husband moved to retort again, "No, absolutely not. Never in a million years." A pair of strong hands held her shoulders, she saw the Veritas tattoo before the arms encircled her.
"Calm yourself woman," he said almost playfully, "We won't be puttin' them in harm's way, ya have me word on that," he leaned down chin resting on her shoulder. He could almost feel the heat her anger was projecting, "Now, breathe."
Quinn let out a sharp breath, "You and Murph, back room, now," she growled out. The two Irishmen followed without question. The red head slammed the door, "If anything happens to any one of my boys, I'm talking so much as a stub a fuckin' toe or one hair out of place, I will kill the both of you," her anger was quickly fading into fear. The strong finger she was wagging back and forth between the boys became shaky. Connor took hold of her shoulders again, lightly kissing her head and smoothing her hair.
"Not a scratch," he smiled.
The red head looked into his eyes with a squint, green eyes hard, "Good, send in the other three," her tone was dark as she crossed her arms over her chest. The three detectives entered moments later, not knowing what to expect. Staring them down for a minute to let it sink in just how upset she was over this, "You three protect them, nothing happens to them and nothing happens to you. If it does, those responsible will suffer the consequences. Am I crystal fucking clear?" Blank stares and silent nods came from the three stunned men. "Excellent, now where the hell will I be the next couple of days?"
Duffy snapped out of his stunned silence, "Puttin' you up in a hotel, under an assumed name. We'll run by home to get a few things first. That is if you're done scaring me," he flashed a smile at his wife. Her hard look could only withstand a moment of his charm before smiling herself. Dolly an Greenly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, don't think I didn't mean it boys," she said sweetly in passing as she walked into Brendan's arms. Quinn kissed him lightly before entering the bar again. She gave the twins another stern look, they nodded in response. "Come on Bren, let's get my stuff and I'll go hide again," her voice didn't contain a bit of sarcasm or annoyance. Quinn had accepted her fate for the time being, just wanting her family, extended or natural safe. Especially Rosie, how she missed her baby girl. Silent tears streamed down her face on the ride home. Duffy took her into his strong arms, the smell of his hair and skin mixed with smoke put her a bit at ease.
"She'll be fine, let's get you packed and get going," he kissed her mouth lightly, she tasted the scotch licking her lips.
Quinn packed quickly for a few days, grabbing anything she thought she would need. The ride to the hotel was quiet. Nothing was said but looks were shared and Duffy's hand never left her leg. She checked in alone under the name Riley Somers, she smiled a bit. Her new fake name made up of two rejected names for Rosaleigh. Walking with her husband to her second story room at the little known motel. Not a lot was around a liquor store down the street with some fast food places, but it was empty for the most part. The dark parking lot bare save for two cars and a red pickup truck. Sighing at the outside world before closing the door and locking it. Brendan started putting her things away, she looked at him and laughed slightly.
"Deja vu," she told him as he lifted his head.
Duffy stood up and laughed, "Strange how cyclical life can be."
"Oh, but see this time," she moved closer to him, "This time there's nothing holding me back," she pulled him closer by his tie and kissed him deeply.
His strong arms enveloped her and pulled his lips from hers slightly, "Are you sure?"
"Don't be such a girl," covering his mouth with hers again, penetrating it with her wet tongue.
Loosening the tie and unbuttoning his shirt exposing bare skin, running her nails down his chest, through the brown hair, he trembled a bit. Her hands found his belt and pants undoing them without her lips leaving his. The couple kicked off shoes and Brendan pulled off her dress then tore off her bra and panties. Gently pushing her on the bed, he threw off his open shirt, tie and boxers. Duffy dropped to his knees running his hungry hands over her skin, the tan from the summer fading ever so slightly leaving it a tawny color. Grabbing her hips pulling her to the edge of the bed his hands continued the assault with his hands, moving up her stomach to her breasts massaging them firmly. Quinn moaned slightly which grew in volume as he pressed his tongue against her clit and sucking it into his mouth. His laps quickened in pace when he felt her pulse quicken, reveling in how much of a release this was for them both, just enjoying naked skin on naked skin. Delicate beads of sweat made her skin glow as he stopped slowly, pulling himself on top of her. His mouth found hers again as she calmed slightly. Moving again from her sweet mouth to her nipples sucking and nibbling them as she let out a symphony of sounds. He smiled at the untamed reaction he was getting, having to be somewhat more quiet at home with Rosie around. Her breathing hitched as he pushed himself into her as she arched her back. The movement was fast but not hurried, the tension both had felt over this time leaving their bodies in a surge of endorphins, sweat and moans. Brendan growled out her name as he came inside her almost collapsing. Both of them soaked from head to toe and nothing was heard but panting for at least five minutes.
Once they had composed themselves and were both dressed, Duffy looked at his wife, "You gonna be ok?"
"Maybe," she said sly smile on her face.
"Whatever," he kissed her again, "Just stay put, I'll come and get you when it's all over," he held her face, "I love you."
"I love you too, now go on. I'll be fine," she held up three fingers, "Scout's honor."
"Alright," he kissed her head, nose, lips and left cheek before leaving.
Quinn bolted the door behind him, crossed to the bed and flipped on the television, "At least I'm not that guy," she said as laugh.
The dark skinned man in the red pick up truck dialed a number when he saw the detective leave, "I can kill her now."
The old and weathered voice on the other end stopped Panza, "No, take her alive."
Anger crossed the small Italian's face but he would obey the Old Man. Marching up to her hotel room kicking it open, he may have been only two inches taller than Quinn but he made up for it in brute strength. The door gave way after two kicks. Quinn screamed and tried to run but Panza was faster. He caught her hair and pistol whipped her, knocking her out. He picked her up carrying her down to the truck and threw her onto the bench seat. He drove for a good 45 minutes before he arrived at the Old Man's home.