Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
That was…truth with some modification. Liam wanted her to have an escort when she was far away from home. Like, Kellan usually kept an eye on her when she was in Philly. In Chicago, she had a driver for certain things. And here, she had to have a family member with her for outings where she was gone most of the day.
It was all related to who her father was. John Murray still had enemies both inside and outside the syndicate.
He sure as fuck wasn’t my dad.
“I’m not sure he’s overprotective…” I hedged.
She laughed and patted me on the shoulder. “Oh, you’re wrong, big brother.”
I chuckled. That was so strange to hear—but it felt good too.
“Either way, everyone’s busy,” she said. “So, tag, you’re it. You and West may now accompany me to Cork tomorrow. I have to pick something up for Emilia. It’ll only be a few hours.”
Only a few hours? Gee, that was nothing. Fucking hell.
“Lucky us.” I smiled stiffly.
“I knew you’d love it! I’ll be ready at ten. Ciao.” She walked away with an entirely too satisfied grin.
Now I wanted to find Liam too. Motherfucker. How had this been dumped in my lap?
He was too fucking overprotective of that girl.
We’d lose two hours just driving between Cork and Killarney.
“Are you ready to go, sweetheart?” West came up to me, and he had our jackets.
“Uh, yeah. Looks like we’re taking Nessa to Cork tomorrow.” I buttoned up my parka, wondering what was so fucking important in Cork. And what it was that couldn’t be bought here in Killarney. “Don’t worry, I’ll try to get us out of it. If Liam wants a permanent babysitter on a grown woman, he should handle that himself.”
Huff.
“Or we could make a day out of it,” West suggested. “I’d love to see Cork. You could show me where you bartended in your backpacking days.”
Backpacking days was a stretch. I’d bought the cheapest ticket I could find, and I’d spent a few months in a hostel.
We could discuss it later during our pillow talk session after being cockblocked. Because we couldn’t very well have sex when the only thing separating our sleep alcove from the rest of our guest suite was a curtain.
In the meantime, we said our goodbyes to everyone, and West added a “See you soon” and “Be good to Aunt Emilia and Uncle Finn” to Ellie, Trip, and Colby.
After that, we stepped outside into the winter cold of southwest Ireland, where the winds were harsh and wet, except…not right now. It was kind of calm.
“Where are we going?” I asked. “Shan and Kellan are still inside.”
“I thought we could take a walk and enjoy a moment to ourselves.”
Awesome idea, despite the cold.
My eardrums needed a break.
I slipped my hand into his as we passed Finn and Emilia’s house, where dim lights glowed in the windows and a big wreath hung on the door. No front yard here. The door opened up right onto the sidewalk.
I couldn’t remember much from my brief visit here years ago, only that I loved the feel of the town. The old town center was like walking into the past. Each house had its own history, and the cobblestone streets had been walked on for hundreds of years.
Finn’s house was from the early 1800s.
“You were amazing on stage. I sent a video to Giulia—not including the war cry for the Sons of Munster.”
I smirked to myself and kissed his shoulder. West and I were…scheming.
Step one, start uploading more family photos on Instagram, an app Mom had downloaded—with assistance—in order to catch updates about Trip and Ellie. Not to mention her siblings’ children. Most recently, I’d uploaded a photo of Liam, Nessa, and me. Liam and I were flanking li’l Nessa outside the pub. In short, make Mom see how West and I viewed them. Not as mobsters but as family members.
Step two, wait for Mom’s resolve to shatter.
We’d already seen some results. Over Christmas, she’d asked about Finn and Emilia’s kids. Liam’s too. And she’d expressed wanting to see more of Colby, now that he was part of the family.
“Speaking of, how is the latest Son faring this fine evening?” West asked.
“He’s faring very well.” I squeezed his hand. “But you know it’s mostly you, right? For as happy as they make me, it’s getting back together with you that’s made me the luckiest bastard alive.”
He smiled and shook his head. “You don’t have to say that, baby. Unlike my family, the two you come from know how to make others feel welcome and included. And…when a family does that, the man who could’ve potentially worried he might become an outsider relaxes and begins to consider them family too.”
Fuck me, he always knew what to say. I stopped right there on the sidewalk and pulled him down for a hard kiss.