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Prologue

Adelina Parker clutched her bag to her quivering stomach as she entered the back room of O’Connor’s Pub in Queens She hated this place She hated co here to drop off money every feeeks, and she hated the way the men all watched her when she came in A couple of ti for a drink, or they simply stared at her as if she were a piece of meat

It was better that she ca Kaitlin would never be able to handle this Not that Adelina was foolish enough to think that theseBut she ay more street smart and savvy than Kaitlin She wished her sister hadn’t borrowed the liado But then, Bryer, Kaitlin’s son would have probably died

“He’s waiting for you in the back You’re looking good, Adelina On your way to work, or are you off tonight?” Danny asked, as he licked his lips and eyed her over She knew that she was taking a risk co before work and all dressed up for The Phanto up here at four o’clock in thewhen the club closed, and when all the drunks were here at O’Connor’s

What a front this place was No one would ever expect a bunch of mafiosos to own an Irish bar

“I’io back there?”

“Yeah, honey Go right in,” Danny said When she looked over her shoulder at the stupid ht dress she wore, she had second thoughts about coet in and out Another five thousand paid Ten thousand o and their debt would be paid

As she entered the small beat-up hallway, she heard Danny close the door She made it to the only door down the hallway and knocked first The sound of a h the wooden door It didn’t sound like Sergio at all

She slowly opened the door, and when the roo around a table A quick scan out of habit, and she noticed the three other ht and look her over

“Ah, Adelina, so nice of you to stop by,” Sergio stated

“Who is this lovely creature?” one of the ut God, she didn’t want to be here

Sergio pulled her close and kissed her cheek He had started doing that three ti and she hadn’t wanted to tell him to cool it She feared he would add interest to the payment, or worse, take what he wanted as side credit She sed hard

“You look stunning Are you heading to work?”

“Yes I really need to get going I just wanted to drop this off to you Should we go into another roo that these nized two of them but wasn’t sure from where Her stares caused theio She didn’t want the men to think that she was interested

“Is it another five?” he asked as he caressed her ario was about five feet seven inches tall, with dark black hair and gray eyes He was a mean son of a bitch when someone pissed him off, and his prison tattoos on his neck could still be seen co from the collar of his white dress shirt

“Yes”

“Good Just a little ways to go no’s the kid?”

“She’s got a kid? Damn, woman, there are ways you can pay off whatever debt you owe to Sergio,” one of the men stated

“Hell, how ht here with the eight of us,” another stated and then laughed really loudly

Her heart nearly leaped froio and he appeared as if he were conte her collarbone

“She is quite beautiful A rare find But no can do, gentle her jaw and winked