“Geez, girl. Must ye be so vulgar? I’m sure the lass can be of use. Even if it’s only to put some bloody plates on a table,” our mother retorts playfully.
“The only use she has is to bear Tiernan sons. Aside from that, I would rather not lay my eyes on her if I can help it.”
With that cold statement from our father, the temperature in the room declines to arctic levels, stealing any good disposition my mother and sister were trying to find under such trying circumstances. Iris’ brows pinch together at the center of her forehead, obviously bothered by his callous remark.
“She is not at fault for what happened to our family. Let it go, Athair. Otherwise, you are just going to make things more complicated for the rest of us that are trying their best to move on.”
I don’t agree with Iris, but I get where she’s coming from.
If each family puts blame on the women who are coming into our lives for the wrongdoings of the past, then we might as well not go through with the peace treaty since it’s bound to be a disaster anyway. Unfortunately, the forgiving sentiment is easier said than done. Old grudges are hard to overcome—especially in our world. I just pray that Alexi is of the same mindset as Iris and that he doesn’t hold what I’ve done to him in the past against my sister.
Athair doesn’t respond, going back to sit in his seat at the kitchen table and refreshing his cup of tea. He stares at his mug, spinning his teaspoon round and round, trapped in his perturbed thoughts and refusing to acquiesce to my sister’s way of thinking.
Not that I blame him.
These past years have not been kind to our father.
He’s suffered too many losses to count, and today he’s reminded that his losing streak can only truly come to an end by sacrificing yet another child. Only this time, the sacrificial lamb is his very favorite leanbh.
Iris anxiously looks up at me, silently urging me to be there for our father when she cannot. I offer her a clipped nod, her stiff shoulders instantly relaxing with the unvocalized promise.
“I hate to do this, but Iris really has to go. Her flight leaves in two hours,” I announce.
“Plenty of time for you and your sister to have a cup of tea with us and wait for Shay and Colin to come back from wherever they went off to so early this morning,” our mother interjects, walking over to her husband and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I swear those two boys refuse to sleep one night in their beds, and on the night they actually do, they are up at the crack of dawn to go see God knows who. I mean, how many single lasses can Boston have to keep them so entertained?”
Iris looks puzzled at me and then turns her attention to our parents once more.
“Máthair, we already said our goodbyes last night at the pub. Didn’t Tiernan tell you? Shay and Colin went to meet Alejandro Hernandez and his sister this morning.”
My mother’s eyes widen in shock. This time it’s my father who covers her hand with his to keep her docile—as much as Saoirse Kelly can be when she’s in a mood, anyway.
“I thought you said the Hernandez lass was only coming tomorrow, being it’s her wedding day and all?”
“You forget that Alejandro will also tie the knot this week. He wanted to make sure he was here to watch his sister walk down the aisle. And seeing as we still have to work out some pending issues, he thought it best that we have time to talk shop before the festivities.”
“Is that so? Hmm. Say what ye will about the Hernandez family, but at least Alejandro had the brotherly affection to make sure his sister was well taken care of.”
More like he wanted to make sure I say I do or he’d kill me on the spot.
I clear my throat instead of giving her a reply, since deep down I agree with mother. I should be the one to take Iris to Vegas and be there for her wedding day. Nothing would have given me more pleasure than to stare Alexi and his brothers in the eye and tell them if they fuck with Iris in any way, it would be the last thing they ever do—treaty or no treaty.
Unfortunately, a few months back, Iris came to me to ask that I not escort her to Vegas, since she wanted to do this on her own and was adamant that I stay back in Boston. To my bitter chagrin, I couldn’t find it in me to deny her this last request. This peace treaty has taken so much from her already, I’d give her whatever she asked of me, even if it goes against everything I stand for.
“No matter. I guess we will all have to live with the decisions you two make from here on out. I just have to hope that your father and I have given you both the skills and know-how to make good choices—even if we don’t agree with them. Now, sit down and have some tea with us. Let me enjoy my daughter and son one more time under this roof. Only St. Brigid knows when we’ll have this opportunity again.”
Both Iris and I do as we’re told, sending each other a knowing smirk as we take our respective seats. When Saoirse Kelly gets something in her head, there’s no point in arguing with her. But as the seconds pass, it dawns on me how true her words are. All we have now are these fleeting moments of a life that once was. After today, our reality will never be the same.
My sister will have to face her Bratva fate on her own.
And as the boss of the Irish mafia with a cartel princess as his wife, so will I.
Chapter 2
Rosa
“We will arrive at Hanscom Field shortly, Mr. Hernandez. Thirty minutes to be precise. Is there anything you need before we land?” our stewardess asks, batting her eyelashes at my brother, her voice thick with insinuation.
“Another scotch on the rocks will suffice,” my brother retorts, his attention focused on the screen of his laptop instead of the woman who is currently salivating at the mouth to get her hands on him.
“Right away,” she says, her disappointment clear as day. She’s about to turn around and fetch my brother’s alcohol when he grabs her by the wrist to halt her step.
“I didn’t hear you ask my sister if she wanted something. She should be your first concern.”
Her face instantly pales.
“My apologies, Miss Hernandez. Can I get you anything?”