Fuck.
If I wasn’t their boss and blood, I’m sure the fuckers would have killed me just to get to her.
That’s what I would have done.
Shame like I’ve never felt before pollutes my bloodstream with the realization that my selfishness was causing pain for not only my wife, but also for my baby brother and beloved cousin.
“I’m sorry,” I say in the way of an apology, but it feels too unworthy of a word to make amends for what I’ve done.
“What are you sorry about?” I hear Ma ask as she comes out of the dining room, Athair and Father Doyle right at her heel. “If you’re apologizing for not showing your mug here for over a month, and keeping my daughter-in law-away from the rest of us, then aye, apologize all you want, but I’m still cross at ye.” My mother slants her eyes at me and then pulls Colin’s arms off my wife to give her a hug of her own. “Let me look at you, child. I was almost certain my wicked son had you tied up to his bedpost just to keep ye from straying. Kelly men have always had an obsessive streak about ‘em. After I married my Niall, my own mother didn’t set eyes on me for almost half a year. Man damn near killed me trying to put Tiernan in my belly.”
“Geez, woman. Don’t go telling our boys our business. Father Doyle also doesn’t want to know such things.
“Our boys have been sniffing up skirts since their balls dropped. I doubt them knowing they take after their Da in the bedroom is news to them. And Father Doyle, I mean no offense, but you’ve baptized enough babies to know where they come from.”
She laughs, pretending to give the evil eye to my pink-cheeked father, and then turns her attention to my rose once more.
“Now let me look at ye,” she coos, staring at my wife and scanning her every facial feature.
“Well, I guess my Tiernan one-upped his Da. It took six months for my Niall to get me pregnant, whereas Tiernan only took three.
One, but who’s counting.
“You’re pregnant?” Shay asks in utter shock.
“Aye, she is,” I confirm.
“So, it’s yours?” he rebukes, pissed.
“What kind of question is that?” my mother interrupts, confused. “Of course it’s Tiernan’s. Whose did you think it was? Another miraculous conception?”
We all stare at each other, my brother’s resentment and my cousin’s sadness making the air in the room so thick you could cut it with a knife.
“Saoirse, do you mind if Tiernan and I talk to Shay and Colin in private? There’s some things we need to discuss.”
My mother looks reluctant to leave us alone, but it’s Athair that comes to our rescue.
“How about you kids go upstairs and talk it out? Come, Saoirse. Our dinner is getting cold, and we’re being rude to our guest.”
He wraps an arm around her waist and physically pulls my mother away, Father Doyle taking the lead back to the dining room.
“Come on,” I order, walking up the stairs, not wanting anyone to eavesdrop on our conversation. Rosa follows my lead, Shay and Colin right behind her. I walk over to my old bedroom and close the door once everyone is inside.
“Let me guess,” my brother is quick to shout, already bursting with rage. “This is the bit where you tell us that Col and I are no longer needed, isn’t it, you fucking prick?”
“No, it’s not,” I tell him, shrugging off his insults while taking off my suit jacket and throwing it to the floor. I look at the piece of discarded clothing and cringe. “Did you know I fucking hate this suit? That this tie I put on every morning feels like a noose around my neck? I hate it so much I sometimes fantasize about using a blowtorch to set my whole wardrobe on fire.”
“So don’t wear it,” Shay mutters, confused. “No one is putting a gun to your head, forcing you to wear that shit.”
“You’re right. From here on out, I won’t.”
“Are you drunk right now, Tiernan, because you aren’t making any sense? What does that have to do with anything? What does it have to do with us? With petal?”
“Everything,” I let out an exaggerated exhale, slumping my shoulders. “After Patrick died and I had to take over for Athair, I lost myself in my grief and in the role of Boss. And somewhere along the line, I also lost who I was. This suit, the big corner office, all of it isn’t me. But I put it on and did a job I hate, just because the world expected it of me. I’m tired of living a lie, brother. I want to live a life that’s full. Truly full. And it took me marrying the daughter of my enemy to realize that.”
Rosa beams her big bright smile at me, standing at my side and entwining her hand in mine. I lift her chin to me and kiss her lips.
“I didn’t realize how dead I was before you breathed life into me. I can never truly express how grateful I am for you, but I will try and show you every day what an honor it is to have you as my wife.”
“I love you,” she mouths, squeezing my hand in hers.
“The fuck?! Is this why you wanted to talk to us? To rub it in our faces that you two are now together?” Shay exclaims, pulling out strands of his hair.
“I don’t think that’s why they are here,” Colin answers for me, hope making his green jeweled eyes glimmer.
“You always were a quick read, Col. My brother here isn’t as fast at catching on to things.”
“Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on here?!”
Rosa unlocks her hand from mine, walks over to my brother, and presses her flat palms on Shay’s chest until he is forced to sit on the bed. She then sits on his lap, shocking him silent when she plants a kiss to his lips. Of course, the greedy fucker deepens it, jamming his tongue down my wife’s throat so all of us can see. When they pull apart, my wife is wearing the cutest little blush on her cheeks, and Shay is no longer the belligerent fool he was acting like a few minutes ago.
“He’ll behave now,” she singsongs, nestling her head on his shoulder. “Continue, husband.”