Shamrocks and Secrets by Cayce Poponea Read Free Book Online Page B

and myself, their eyes raking down our forms.
    I watched in amazement when their eyes then landed on Patrick and my hand in his. It was as if the bar caught on fire as barstools began to empty. Men were tripping over themselves, trying to grab their beers and make their way to the back of the room.
    Patrick led me over to the center of the bar and pulled out a chair for me. He snapped his fingers and a very handsome man appeared behind the bar.
    Patrick instructed him to give me anything I wanted, and then he leaned down and kissed my forehead.
    "I'll try not to be too long." And with that he joined a tableful of men in black suits behind us. I looked around and noticed a man in a black suit on each side of Allyson and myself.
    "He's never been subtle a day in his life," Allyson chuckled while taking a sip of her martini.
    Then it hit me, this was all a set-up. He had brought me here so that Allyson could talk to me. He knew I had dealt with her for several months, and considered her to be a friend.
    “ Al l right, girl, what's this about?"
    I was able to see Patrick's table clearly reflected in the mirrors that hung behind the bar. He wasn't looking at me, but I could see him talking to the men at the table.
    "He told me you showed up at Whiskers alone the other night. I have to hand it to you, Christi, you've got balls."
    I took a drink of my martini and then crossed my legs in her direction.
    "I wouldn't necessarily say that. In hindsight, it was really stupid and I could've been hurt."
    "He'd never let that happen, you know? ” I shook my head.
    “He won’t always be around to protect me."
    “Thats not true, Christi."
    "Really?" My tone was condescending.
    “Patrick always has an eye on you."
    I looked into the mirror again and saw that Patrick was still talking with the men at the table.
    "No, he doesn't, he's having a conversation over there, see, look in the mirror for yourself."
    Allyson smiled and then shook her head, "The bartender, Christi. He hasn't been more than a few feet from us since Patrick gave him his instructions."
    I hadn't noticed it until now, but she was right.
    “I’ll bet you also don't see the car that follows you around all day?"
    “What car?” I questioned.
    "My point exactly."
    Allyson and I sat in silence for a few minutes. As I continued to sip my drink, I took more notice of the room. When I first arrived, there were mostly men that you would find in any corner bar getting a drink after work. Now in addition to them, there were ladies dressed to the nines, huddled around tables sipping colorful drinks. There were more suits than I had ever seen. A scene from Goodfellas came to mind where the lead character came into the room and instantly a new table was placed near the stage for his date and himself.
    "You do know who and what Patrick does, don't you?"
    "It didn't take me long to figure it out, although my sister disagreed."
    Shannon and I had barely spoken two words since that conversation. She felt I was wrong for wanting nothing to do with Patrick. Maybe Dillion wasn't as good of a guy as she deserved after all.
    "He's a very powerful man, Chris."
    I took another drink and nodded my head, "I thought so."
    Allyson then turned to me and placed her hand on my knee. I looked first to her hand, and then back to her eyes. "He may be the most powerful man in this city, but right now, you have more power than he does."
    I blinked at her and then tipped my head to the side. "How do you figure?"
    "He's willing to do pretty much anything to have you by his side."
    And just as quickly as she got my attention, she lost it.
    "I can't give a man like him what he needs," I stated as I turned my body back to the bar.
    "Just what do you think a man like Patrick would need?"
    I began to run my finger around the rim of my glass. "Allyson, I've seen Casino and The Godfather, and I've watched enough episodes of the Sopranos to know that the women who are beside the powerful men are expected to ignore