Chapter 7 - THE COFFEE SHOP ON THE CORNER
Ronan arrived five minutes early.
Sadie arrived ten minutes late.
Not because she was afraid.
Because she had changed her outfit three times.
She finally chose jeans, a cream sweater, and a blue coat.
No heavy concealer.
No high collar.
No attempt to disappear.
When she entered the coffee shop, Ronan stood.
She stopped.
“You don't have to do that.”
He smiled faintly.
“Old habit.”
She sat.
He waited until she settled before sitting across from her.
“What would you like?”
“Hot chocolate.”
Ronan raised an eyebrow.
“Not coffee?”
“I hate coffee.”
“Then why agree to meet at a coffee shop?”
She smiled.
“Because I like you.”
Ronan went still.
Sadie blushed.
“I mean—”
“I understood.”
He smiled.
“I like you too.”
***
They talked for two hours.
Not about Carl.
Not about Rourke.
Not about criminal investigations.
They talked about books.
Music.
Food.
Childhood.
Sadie learned Ronan had grown up in Newark.
His mother worked as a nurse.
His father owned a small trucking company that later became entangled with organized crime.
Ronan inherited the business after his father's death.
He expanded it.
Legitimized parts of it.
But he also made choices he wasn't proud of.
Sadie listened.
Then asked:
“Do you regret them?”
Ronan considered.
“Some.”
“Which ones?”
He looked at her.
“The ones where I convinced myself fear was an efficient substitute for respect.”
Sadie studied him.
“That's a strange thing for a mafia boss to say.”
Ronan smiled faintly.
“I'm a strange mafia boss.”
She laughed.
Then became serious.
“Are you still involved in illegal things?”
He didn't answer immediately.
“Yes.”
Sadie looked down.
Ronan continued.
“I'm trying to separate myself from them.”
“Trying?”
“Yes.”
She looked up.
“Then don't ask me to pretend they're harmless.”
“I won't.”
Silence.
Sadie considered.
“Good.”
***
When they left the coffee shop, rain had begun falling.
Ronan opened an umbrella.
Sadie stepped beneath it.
For a moment, their shoulders touched.
She stiffened.
Ronan noticed.
He shifted slightly.
“Sorry.”
She looked at him.
“You didn't do anything.”
“I know.”
She smiled faintly.
“I'm still learning what safe feels like.”
Ronan nodded.
“So am I.”
They walked slowly.
At the corner, Sadie stopped.
“This is me.”
Ronan looked toward the bus stop.
“Would you like me to wait with you?”
“Yes.”
He stood beside her.
The rain tapped against the umbrella.
Sadie looked up.
“Ronan?”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Why didn't you kiss me?”
He looked surprised.
“Would you have wanted me to?”
She considered.
“Maybe.”
Ronan smiled.
“Then I'll ask next time.”
Sadie laughed.
“That's annoyingly reasonable.”
“I'm practicing.”
The bus arrived.
Sadie stepped aboard.
Before the doors closed, she turned.
“Ronan?”
“Yes?”
“There can be a next time.”
He smiled.
“I'd like that.”
***
That night, Ronan returned to his office.
Rebecca was waiting.
She held a thick folder.
“We found something.”
Ronan's expression changed.
“What?”
“Rourke's financial network.”
She placed the folder on his desk.
“It's bigger than we thought.”
Ronan opened it.
Dozens of companies.
Hundreds of transfers.
False invoices.
Bribes.
And one account connected directly to the Continental.
He looked up.
“Who controls it?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“Your business partner.”
Ronan went still.
“Leo?”
Rebecca nodded.
And suddenly Ronan understood.
The trap hadn't begun with Carl.
May you like
It had begun inside his own organization.
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