Boston – two weeks later
Eunice walked down the hallway as the high heels of her shoes clicked on the tile flooring and she stopped in front of the door. She wasn't sure why she had received a phone call from Smecker to meet her in the old office as she looked at the door then she opened the door. She walked in the room while she closed the door and she saw Smecker sitting at the desk.
"You look a lot better than the last time I saw you," Eunice said.
"Knock off the bullshit," Paul said, leaning back in the chair. "Has there been any word on the Saints?"
"Are you kidding me?!"
"No."
"I can't believe you're still looking for them.
"They're out there somewhere."
Eunice pinched her eyes closes with her finger and thumb and she lightly shook her head before opening her eyes again.
"We would've heard something if they were still around," she said.
"There have been some mysterious deaths of some mob bosses over the last two weeks."
"And you think it was them?"
"I have some people looking into it."
"What people?! The only people who know anything about Connor and Murphy not being in prison are you and me!"
"And the FBI."
"I don't…."
Sighing, Eunice shook her head and she crossed her arms over her stomach.
"Look. I'm done. If you want to go chasing ghosts then go right ahead. I have other things to do," she said and he frowned.
"What are you talking about?" Paul asked.
"Remember when I told you I was reinstated in the FBI?"
"What about it?"
"They finally assigned me."
"Where?!"
"Can't tell you."
"When are you leaving?"
"Can't tell you."
Smecker watched her turn as Eunice headed for the door, opened the door then she turned to look at him.
"Just a word of warning. If you keep looking for them, and they find out what you did, you won't see it coming," she said. He flinched as she slammed the door then he sighed, sitting back in the chair.
Bloom's apartment
Eunice opened the door as she walked in the apartment and she closed the door behind her. She looked at the small main room when she placed her purse on the small table near the door, went down the hallway to the small bedroom and she opened the door to the closet after she walked in the room. She removed the suitcases when she placed the suitcases near the bed after walking to the bed and she sat on the edge of the bed.
"Bastard," she whispered while she thought about her conversation with Smecker. She knew she should have informed her boss about where Smecker was, but she was afraid of what he would tell them once they got their hands on him.
She went to go on her back as she stretched out on the bed and she looked up at the ceiling. She placed her hands behind her head as she thought about her life before meeting the Saints and she frowned.
"No. What happened wasn't their fault. Smecker's using them just like he's using you," she whispered She closed her eyes when her cellphone made a loud chirping sound and she got up. The cellphone was in her purse as she walked out of the bedroom, down the hallway, walked to the small table, removed the cellphone from her purse and she headed back to the bedroom. She sat on the edge of the bed when she tapped the screen with her right index finger and she noticed the text icon was blinking. She also noticed the text icon was surrounded by a red light and that indicated the text was on a secure channel. "Hunh."
She tapped the screen when she looked at the text and she sat against the headboard.
Hey, Blondie.
Hey, Wolf.
You free to talk?
Yes. What's up?
Not much. Just got off work.
How are things?
They're good. What about you?
Got reinstated.
How?! I thought you were in deep shit.
Let's say I made a deal.
Do I want to know what sort of deal?
No.
Still working for that asshole?
Nope. He was the reason I got in trouble in the first place.
How did he take you leaving?
He wasn't happy.
What did you tell him?
Didn't tell him shit. Did warn him that he better watch his back, though.
You really like living on the edge.
Yeah.
And you call me reckless.
"Asshole," she whispered then smiled.
Keeping out of trouble?
Yeah.
Still can't believe you are doing the one thing you told me you never do even if they paid you.
Better than the alternative.
A sharp pain moved through her gut as a harsh memory of the last time they had been together moved through her mind and Eunice sighed.
You still there?
Yeah. Just remembering something.
Shit. Sorry about that.
She looked toward the doorway when something suddenly felt wrong and she looked at the screen.
Look. I have to go. Got to pack.
Everything ok?
Yeah. I just have got assigned to a new agency. They want me there asap.
Ok. Where are you going?
Eunice looked at the screen as she thought for a few seconds then she strummed her fingers on the side of the cellphone.
Can't tell you.
I get it. Take care, ok?
Yeah.
Talk with you later.
She watched the red light around the text fade when she turned the app off and she went to pack. She thought about what she had said and she wondered if she should have talked about the Saints.
"No. He would only want to get involved," she whispered and she placed the suitcases on the bed.
A short time later, Eunice had packed her things and put the boxes with whatever she wanted to take with her into the trunk of her blue car. She got in the car when she closed the door, put on the seatbelt, started the engine and the blue car headed down the street. She looked out the window when she saw a black sedan following her car and she growled.
"Shit," she whispered. She steered the blue car around other cars as she tried to lose the sedan, but the sedan kept following her. Anger built inside her when she saw somewhere she could hide and she pulled the blue car behind a large brick building. She stopped the blue car as she turned off the engine and she reached into the glove compartment. She had placed the holster with her gun inside and she checked the gun to see if it was armed. She cautiously got out of the blue car when she went against the wall and she slowly moved toward the end of the alley. She peeked around the corner as she looked for the black sedan and she sighed. She saw the black sedan heading down the street as she ducked back in the alley and she looked back at the blue car. "Shit."
She quickly walked to the blue car as she placed the gun in her purse, opened the trunk lid, removed her suitcases, closed the trunk lid then she headed down the alley. She knew she couldn't take a gun to the airport as she removed the gun from her purse and looked at the gun. She also knew she couldn't just leave the gun in the alley and she placed the gun back in her purse.
"Yes," she said when she saw a gun shop across the street and she carefully headed across the street. She checked for any sign of the black sedan then headed across the street then she walked in the gun shop. She exited the gun shop a few seconds later when she flagged down a taxi and she got inside. After the taxi driver placed the suitcases in the trunk of the taxi and she got inside, she told the driver to take her to the airport then changed her mind and asked him to the bus station. It would take her longer to get to her destination, but she wasn't taking any chances. She looked out the back window, but didn't see the black sedan and she turned, sinking back in the seat while the taxi moved down the street.
In the alley of the large, brick building, Smecker walked to the blue car as he looked around for any sign of Eunice when he growled, slammed his fists against his legs then headed back for the black sedan.
Houston - The Wild Bull Bar
The door opened while Connor, Murphy, Diego, Annie, Darcy and Lisa walked inside and they headed for a table. Connor looked at the mechanical bull after they sat down and Diego ordered some beers. The waitress walked away as Connor turned in the chair to look at them and Murphy had his head down.
"Murphy? Are you ok?" Annie asked.
"Aye. Jus' feelin' like everyone's lookin' at me," he whispered.
"No one's looking at you," she said with a smile and he nodded.
"Glad your mom agreed to look after the kids," Lisa said as she looked at Darcy.
"She loves looking after them," Darcy said with a smile then took a drink of beer.
"Still… It's nice to get away from the ranch."
"Can't remember the last time I was here," Annie said when she saw Denny Mills standing at the bar with his biker friends and she sighed.
"What's wrong?" Diego asked then he saw Denny. "Shit."
Connor and Murphy looked over at the bar when they saw Denny and Murphy felt the anger coming from his twin.
"Guys. No," Annie said as they went to stand up then they sat down. Connor noticed Denny was walking over to the table when he stood next to Annie's chair and she looked at him.
"Hey," Denny said.
"What do you want, Denny?" Diego asked as he slid the chair closer to Annie and placed his right arm around her shoulders.
"Just comin' over to say hi," he said then looked at Connor and Murphy. "See these two are still here."
"Why wouldn't we?" Connor asked with the surfer accent.
"City boys like you? Don't stay around too long. Don't have what it takes."
"They got what it takes. And then some," Diego said and Denny looked at him then at Connor and Murphy.
"Prove it," Denny said as he glanced over at the mechanical bull. Connor turned on the chair to look at the mechanical bull and Murphy noticed the smile on his twin's face. Connor stood up as he locked eyes with Denny and the muscles in Denny's jaw twitched. Something in Connor's eyes caused a cold chill to move through him, but Denny didn't flinch.
"You're on," Connor said with a small growl.
"Him, too," Denny said, glancing at Murphy. Murphy stood as he walked to his twin and Denny frowned after he got a good look at them. "You're twins?"
"They're fraternal twins," Annie said then quickly explained what that was.
"Let's go."
They walked to the mechanical bull as Diego, Lisa, Darcy and Annie stood up and Annie lightly shook her head. They stopped at the mechanical bull while people gathered around and the owner of the bar walked to him.
"Hey, Jess. Got some guys who think they can take on Killer," Denny and Jess Greene looked at Connor and Murphy. He had been the bartender the night Connor accidentally punched Murphy and Jess folded his arms over his chest.
"You ever do this before?" Jess asked.
"Nope," Connor said with the surfer accent and Murphy shook his head.
"The rules are simple. You get on Killer. I start him up. You stay on as long as you can."
"What's the record for staying in the saddle?"
"Fifteen seconds is normal. The longest was twelve."
"Let me guess," Connor said as he looked at Denny. "You?"
"Yeah," Denny said with a nod.
"What happens if we stay on for the whole fifteen seconds?" Connor asked Jess.
"You get a free t-shirt, free beer and spicy wings and your name is put on the board," Jess said while pointing to the piece of wood on the wall near the bar. Connor walked to the piece of wood as he saw the names of people who rode the mechanical bull burned into the wood and he titled his head to one side.
"What're th'odds of people recognizin' yer name?" he whispered then he walked back to Jess.
"Well?" Jess asked. He watched Connor and Murphy have a silent conversation when Murphy barely nodded his head and Connor looked at Jess then at Denny.
"If we beat your time then you have to apologize to our sister," Connor said to Denny.
"Deal," Denny said with a nod.
"Are they really going to do this?" Lisa whispered to Annie and Annie sighed.
"Looks like," Annie said.
"Who wants to go first?" Jess asked.
"Seeing how he's is the reigning champion? I say he goes first," Connor said as he nodded to Denny. The people gathered around laughed and started betting on who would stay on the mechanical bull the longest and Denny walked to the mechanical bull. He looked at the safety pads on the floor with some straw and hay on the top and he climbed up onto the saddle.
"Whenever you're ready," Jess said while standing at the control panel. He didn't notice Diego standing behind him while Diego looked at the control panel and Jess pushed the buttons on the control panel.
"Ready," Denny said and Diego watched Jess turn the control switch. People cheered as the mechanical bull started bucking and Denny held onto the rope connected to the saddle. The timer was counting down how long he was in the saddle when the mechanical bull bucked with enough force to knock Denny off the saddle and he fell onto the safety padding.
"That had t'hurt," Murphy whispered and Connor nodded. They watched Deeny slowly get to his feet and one of his biker friends handed him a bottle of beer.
"Time!" Denny called out and Jess looked at the screen.
"Twelve seconds," Jess said and Denny growled. Jess looked from Connor to Murphy then reset the timer. "Who's next?"
"Me," Murphy said as he toned down his accent and he walked to the mechanical bull. He noticed how Darcy was looking at him as he settled on the saddle and he slid his fingers around the rope connected to the saddle. Murphy thought back to what Denny was doing during his ride on the mechanical bull and Murphy looked at Jess.
"Whenever you're ready," Jess said and Diego watched Jess push the buttons on the control panel.
"Ready," Murphy said as he toned down his accent and Diego watched Jess turn the control switch. A small grunt came from Murphy as the mechanical bull started moving and he held onto the rope.
"Eejit. What the fuck are you doin'?!" he thought as the mechanical bull bucked in a circle and he heard the cheering.
"Yeah!" Darcy shouted.
"You got this, Murphy!" Lisa shouted.
"Not too sure about that," he whispered when the mechanical bull bucked hard and Murphy almost fell off the saddle.
"Murphy!" Connor called out and Murphy felt the worry coming from his twin.
Diego watched the timer when the mechanical bull bucked and Murphy fell off the saddle. Murphy hit the safety padding when he went up on his elbows and spit some hay out of his mouth.
"Ow," he whispered then slowly got to his feet and dusted the hay off his clothes while walking toward Darcy. He didn't mind the laughter or what the people were calling him and he lightly shook his head.
"Are you ok?" Darcy asked as they locked eyes and he felt a blush moving across his cheeks.
"I'm good," he whispered and she handed him a bottle of beer.
"Time?!" Denny shouted and Jess looked at the timer.
"Eleven second," Jess said then he looked at Connor. "You're up."
Connor patted Murphy's right shoulder before going to the mechanical bull and Connor climbed up onto the saddle. He looked over at Lisa as she barely nodded her head and he slid his fingers around the rope strapped to the saddle.
"Whenever you're ready," Jess said and Diego noticed him glancing over at Denny. Diego then noticed Jess' right hand moving toward the control switch and Diego leaned a little closer to Jess.
"You wanna keep this bar then you better move your hand," Diego whispered to Jess. Jess had known Diego since childhood and he also knew Diego had connections. He lowered his right hand and Connor wondered why Jess suddenly looked spooked.
"What th'hell are you up to?" Connor thought as he tightened his fingers around the rope.
"Are you ready?" Jess asked.
"Ready," Connor said with his surfer accent. He felt the mechanical bull moving as he held onto the rope and he heard the cheering. He concentrated on how the mechanical bull was moving as he held on to the rope and Jess moved the control switch up a little bit. The mechanical bull bucked harder as Connor held on and his white straw cowboy hat flew off his head.
"Go, Connor!" Lisa shouted and he barely glanced at her.
"You can do it!" Annie shouted and Connor felt his bottom hit the saddle hard as the mechanical bull bucked.
"She's right. You can do this," Connor thought and Jess glanced at the timer.
"Shit," Jess whispered as he moved the control switch up a little. The mechanical bull bucked harder as Connor held onto the rope and Jess flipped the switch to turn the mechanical bull off. The mechanical bull came to a stop as Connor slid out of the saddle and sat on the safety padding.
"Time!" Denny shouted and Diego saw the anger in his eyes.
"Fifteen seconds!" Jess shouted and the people cheered.
"No!"
Denny stormed toward Connor as Diego got in front of him and they locked eyes.
"Back off," Diego said. Denny snorted a breath of air as he headed for his biker friends and they headed for the bar.
"Hold on! Didn't you forget something!?" Lisa called out and Denny looked at Annie. He walked back to Annie as she crossed her arms over her chest and he sighed. "Say It like you mean it."
"Annie?" Denny said with a small nod.
"What?" Annie asked.
"I'm sorry," he said and she heard the truth in his voice.
"I accept your apology," she said as she held out her right hand. Denny looked at her right hand then they shook hand, but he gasped when she pressed the knuckles of her left hand hard against his balls. "Just don't do it again."
"That's my girl," Diego whispered then Diego watched Murphy helping Connor to his feet and Connor dusted the hay off his jeans.
"Good going," Lisa said as she handed him the white straw cowboy hat. He placed the white straw cowboy hat on his head and she handed him a bottle of beer. They watched Jess walk to them as Jess handed Connor a white t-shir with the bar's logo on the front and Connor noticed Jess guessed the right size.
"Thanks," Connor said with the surfer accent.
"Let's go put your name on the board," Jess said with a smile. They headed for the wooden board on the wall near the wall and Jess handed Connor the wood burning pen. Connor carefully wrote his name in the wood then handed Jess the wood burning pen and Jess smiled. "Your wings will be brought over as soon as they're cooked."
Connor nodded as he walked to the table where Lisa, Murphy, Diego, Annie and Darcy were sitting and Connor saw the small, black pillow under his brother's bottom.
"Jess sent one over for you, too," Lisa said and Connor looked at the small, black pillow on his chair. He carefully sat down on the small, black pillow when he felt a small pain move up his bottom and lower back and down the back of his legs.
"Christ," Connor whispered.
"Lord's name," Murphy whispered.
"I'll get you something for the pain when we get home," Lisa whispered and Connor nodded. A short time later, the waitress came over with a large plate of spicy chicken wings and fries and a large pitcher of beer and she placed the pitcher and plate at the center of the table. Connor and Murphy placed some of the spicy chicken wings and fries on their plates with some dipping sauce and Diego poured the beer into the glasses on the table.
"To Connor and Murphy," Diego said as he held up the glass and they all clinked their glasses together. Murphy light nudged his twin as Connor smiled and they took a long drink of beer.
the Golden Cactus Ranch
The white truck moved up the drive while Connor and Murphy winced every time the tires hit a bump and Annie glanced back at them from the cab of the white truck.
"How are they doing?" Diego asked as she turned around.
"They're in a little pain," she said.
"You're not angry with them, right?"
"Not so much angry as a little worried. Connor wrote his name on the board."
"I checked. He just wrote his first name."
"Still. There aren't that many Connors around here. What if….?"
"Annie. Chill. Everyone knows they're your brothers."
"What about Lou? He wanted to know more about them."
"I took care of Lou."
"What about Daisy?"
"She just knows that, like you, they have an accent. Besides, she likes you. Why would she wanna do something that she'd knew would hurt you?"
"Jess…"
"Truth? Jess thought they were boyfriends."
"He thought they were gay?!"
"Yeah," he said and she laughed. He steered the white truck toward the farmhouse while Annie looked at Darcy's mother standing at the top of the stairs to the porch and Diego stopped the white truck in front of the stairs.
After they got out of the white truck and Darcy thanked her mother for looking after the kids, they watched Darcy's mother's car head down the drive then they went up the stairs. Lisa opened the screen door while she motioned for the gray wolf to back up and they walked in the farmhouse. Diego closed and locked the screen door then closed and locked the front door and Lisa and Darcy helped Connor and Murphy up the stairs.
"Easy," Lisa said with a small smile as she led Connor into his bedroom and she tossed the yellow t-shirt, the white straw cowboy hat and the black pillow onto the bed.
"I think my legs fell asleep," Connor grumbled.
"Why don't you go take a shower and I'll got get you something for the pain."
Nodding, he watched her leave the room then he headed for the bathroom. He flicked the switch as the light came on and he slowly walked to the bathroom sink. He held onto the sink as he looked at his reflection in the mirror and he sighed. He got undressed as he headed for the glass door to the shower and he opened the glass door. He turned the hot water on then added some cold water and he slid under the water. His back and legs tensed then relaxed as he took a shower and he slid his head under the water. After he turned off the water and slid one of the white towels around his waist, he walked out of the bathroom and smiled when he saw Lisa sitting on the edge of the bed. A glass of water was on the night table and two Ibuprofen pills were next to the glass.
"Thanks," Connor said as he walked to the night table, picked up the Ibuprofen pills and the glass of water. She watched him take the Ibuprofen pills then took a drink of water and she scanned his body with her eyes. "Enjoying the view?"
"You're welcome," she said as she changed the subject and Connor swore Lisa was blushing. She stood as she headed for the door then she turned. She noticed the tattoo on his back as she frowned and leaned against the doorframe. "Nice ink."
"Thanks. It's supposed t'be our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross," he said as he turned and she noticed some water slowly moving down his chest and stomach.
"Well…. You and Murphy are off the clock for the next few days."
"We'll be ok."
"I'll remind you of that in the morning," she teased and kicked off the doorframe. "Night, Cowboy."
He watched her head down the hallway when he smiled then he went back in the room and closed the door.
The next morning, he and Murphy woke to sharp pain moving up and down their backs, bottoms and the back of their legs and Connor softly laughed as he looked up at the ceiling. He carefully rolled onto his right side, closed his eyes and went back to sleep