"How do you know?" Ariana sat on her sofa with her mug of light coffee between her hands. She so carefully kept her gaze only on Connor who rubs his throbbing temple. On her lap is her orange tabby cat, curled up in a ball with much delight. Connor is frantic as his hands touch around his dirty pants pockets to search for something or the other.
"Like I said," Murphy says behind his thumb, "We have our resources."
Ariana shook her head, gripping her mug. All of this made no sense. A throbbing headache began to form. One minute, she was living a life with Grace. No care whatsoever, then she saw the MacManus on the local news. Next, the news about the Russian Mafia was out again - possibly daring the saints but also using this opportunity to sniff out enemies. And last, Connor and Murphy stumbled right onto her doorstep with vague explanations. She should have known better. Known the two would eventually wander their way back one day.
Connor now flipped the cushion next to Ariana, his brows furrowed as his mind grew slightly flustered.
"Where is the damn -" Connor muttered to himself, digging his arm into a tear just between the fabric and the end of the backrest of the couch.
"Don't mess up my couch, even more, boy!" Ariana spat, pinching his arm. A knock on the door distracts her from Connor's soft slurs and desperate need to find his lost item. Murphy pushed himself off the wall near the apartment's metal door. She watched in silence as the door swung open to see an older gentleman. Ariana is surprised, thinking their guest may have been Ty since she left him a voicemail earlier this morning. Instead, a man who favored Santa Claus made his way in. Murphy sending this unknown creature a false smile.
"Who is this?" Ariana questioned, not too pleased that Murphy just allowed this man into her own home.
The old man with a short silver beard settles his bright blue eyes onto Ariana. He then flashed her a respectful grin, slipping his black wool newsboy cap from his shoulder-length locks. Ariana carefully placed her mug down onto the coffee table. She notices something about him. The way this man stood. Too similar to how Connor and Murphy stood. The way his eyes twinkled during a cheesy smile identical to the twins.
"Forgive my interception. My name is Noah MacManus," Noah plays with the worn fabric just at the crown of his hat. "Connor and Murphy's father."
Murphy stood behind his dad with the right side of him facing Ariana. His own blue eyes fell onto her before his thumb went back to where it usually went during times of stress. Ariana snapped her head at Connor who simply grunts. The eldest twin on all fours, peeking underneath the sofa and his fingers attempting to slip into the small space between the beginning of the couch and flooring.
"I -" Ariana is quick to stand up. Max, the house cat, in her arms. "Ariana Jacobs -"
"I know ye. The mother of my granddaughter," Noah couldn't believe his own words. His granddaughter. Something Noah never thought he could say after a long brutal history. Hell, Noah could barely believe he found his sons in such a manner. It is like a dream come true but dreams usually end. Reality is always there to greet anyone. As much as he wished this was a visit to just sit and enjoy his family's company - reality wins. "Nice to finally meet yah."
Ariana nods her head, squeezing the large cat in her arms. "Would you like some coffee, Noah?"
"No thank you."
"Found it!" Connor blurts out after digging out a folded piece of paper from his coat pockets. His blue eyes twinkle with satisfaction as his fingers unfold the small paper.
"So, are you going to tell me what happened to my family?" Ariana questions.
Connor flicks his stare onto Murphy then onto Noah.
Eventually, the conversation was going to come up, but Connor nor Murphy was quite ready to tell the story. It is gruesome and by far one of the hardest things to think about. Especially since the news may hurt Ariana.
"Well," Connor began, gripping his note in hand. A look of conflict flash across his bruised face.
"Sit," Noah tells Ariana and she does so without question. "What do you know?"
"I know enough," Ariana starts, "My dad wasn't the best of men. What he believed in when everything began was different. He had a vision for the black community and wanted us as a race in this country to rise. Then, of course, as most things do - his vision became something entirely different. My dad - he did things - terrible things, but he changed when I was still young. Moved us out of harm's way. In Harlem, he did well for those who needed him the most. That's why I don't understand why he, my mom, and my little brother were killed. It didn't - still doesn't make sense."
Murphy now sat on the love seat next to Noah, rolling an unlit cigarette between his fingers. Everything she just said, was correct until the end. The lies this man told everyone to keep his business up and running.
"That's not true," Murphy says, placing his cigarette between his lips.
"Excuse me?" Ariana hissed, snapping her glare towards her once lover.
"Yer da was an asshole until the end. That's what he was. A fuckin' cock."
The more reasonable twin shifts on the cushion of the full couch. Connor's blue gaze push onto Ariana as her face began to beam with anger. Leave it to Murphy to get underneath her skin. His brother always did most tactfully.
"Ignore him for a second and listen," Connor moves himself to fully face his friend. "The Muslim mafia still had their ring leader despite what he told ya. Pissed a lot of people off."
"Okay, so what if he did do all these things. Who went after our family? There are about three branches of the Russian mafia ain't there?"
"Sasha Ivanov. The big guy who is in 90 percent in charge of New York," Connor unravels his little paper as he did before. Handing it over to Ariana with a blank stare. "Tonight, his underdogs will be at the club yah used to work at. Took it from some unfortunate fella."
Ariana took the worn paper with some strangers scribbled handwriting to give it a good look. She rubs her lips together. Not quite knowing what this had to do with her.
"We need you to join us tonight," Connor finally informs.
Ariana raised her gaze from the paper, her mouth slightly ajar as she thought about what Connor had just said. She thought they were here to protect her and Grace. Not make her join their criminal acts, as much as the boys claimed all the good they were doing. For the grace of God, something of the sort. Ariana hands Connor back his paper and shook her head.
"No, I can't just go off and hunt down some sweaty Russian goons -"
"We need you," Murphy cuts in. Ariana's mouth shuts and she carefully placed her brown eyes onto his blue ones. Their silence challenging the other with some calculated thought. "Da is heading back to Ireland. We need a third person to do this shit. Once this is all over, we will follow behind. Get out yer hair."
"So you're leaving again?" Ariana questions with bitterness to her tone. "Just like that?"
"From what I can tell, ye don't want us here," Murphy replies quickly.
"I don't give a damn what I want. What about Gracie?!"
Murphy stood to his feet and left the room after giving Ariana one quick look of guilt. He didn't want to leave her or Grace again. Murphy desired to stay behind and be with his daughter. Perhaps rekindle what he and Ariana once had before he broke her heart into a million pieces. If Murphy could have the family he didn't know he had, he would. However, with his bloody past, he couldn't risk staying in the states. Nor could he take her judgemental glances.
"Yer welcomed to come along" Noah chimed in after Murphy slammed the door leading to the small patio. "My boys need you for this task. That's all they ask. Then, if yah would like, the three of yah can join us."
Ariana scoffed at the idea of attempting to drag Ty from out of Boston. He had been set on staying in one place as long as possible. After what they've been through before meeting Connor and Murphy, Ty declared Boston his home. No more moving, even if it kills him. Though, it took the older Jacobs some time to come to this decision. Since he held paranoia for the first year in this loud city.
And let's not forget his bigotry and egotistical tendencies. Always getting in his way of using common sense.
Ariana finally placed the ginger cat down onto the floor before she too stood. Her eyes steady on Noah. If this is the only way of getting back at the bastards who killed her family, then she will do this one task. After this, she wants nothing more to do with what they plan to keep her child safe.
"I will help but, I want you and your brother out of my house for good. Grace doesn't deserve half-ass attempts."
Connor lowers his gaze at the thought of leaving Ariana and Grace for good. He held some hope that she would agree to come to Ireland with them. Matter of fact, Connor had hoped Ariana and Murphy would just slip back to how things used to be. Yet, Connor is smart enough to know that may never happen. This is more complicated than the usual love story.
"Okay," Connor bobbed his head in agreement to her terms. His sad blue eyes flicker back onto her as a small smile formed across his lips. "I will respect your choice. Always will."
Ariana blinks back tears that threaten to roll down her cheeks. She gathers herself, not wanting to show any weakness in front of a man she just met twenty minutes prior.
"It was nice to meet you, Noah. I'm sorry things couldn't be better."
Noah merely nods his head. The woman, shaky and torn, spun on her heels to leave the living room. Only to pause at the entrance of the hallway, her head snaps towards Murphy who stood near the patio glass panel door. His back turned away from her, searching the buildings surrounding them for some type of answer. If only Murphy saw a simple explanation.
xx