Liam (The O’Sheas Fitheach #3)

CHAPTER 4

LIAM

It doesn’t take long for Adam and Johnny to start taking the piss out of me, and I can’t blame them. I’d teased them a little when they’d got together with their ladies and how they always seemed to need them nearby.

I wasn’t one to usually be all over a woman in front of family, probably because I’d not had a proper girlfriend since senior school. Don’t get me wrong, I had needs and had a mutual understanding with a few ladies that knew the score, but I didn’t flaunt it.

I’d never wanted a relationship because whoever I ended up with would have to be a particular type of woman. She’d need to be strong enough to help me keep hold of and build our businesses as well as be comfortable helping with running the crew of men and women that worked for us. While we were no longer running guns, we still got our hands dirty if we needed to, and whoever I was with would have to be comfortable with that. Somehow, both my brothers had found women that didn’t judge the way we worked if it came to the safety of those around us.

While we didn’t have the same amount of crew around us like we used to, there were enough of them that I still had to keep an eye on all of them to ensure that they were doing okay. We were a family, if a slightly dysfunctional one. It helped that most of the crew worked for us in various capacities.

It was lonely at the top making all the decisions, and while Johnny and Adam both helped, I didn’t want to lean on them too hard, so I tried to keep the pressure off by juggling as many plates as I could while keeping an eye on the bottom line so that nobody went without. For the most part, we were doing okay.

Sera had been an unexpected surprise but not an unwelcome one. I wasn’t going to be stupid and turn her away. If there was one thing about being quiet and observant, it is that you learned pretty quickly what to do and what not to do when it came to the women in our lives. I’d watched my three brothers, my cousin Tommy, and most of the Crow men as they fell one after the other for their ladies.

Before the night ended, I’d ensure that she knew she was my queen. If that meant I took a bit of teasing from my brothers, then that was fine too.

“Come on,” I say, sitting down in one of the chairs in front of Adam’s desk and waving a hand at them. “Let me have it. Get it off your chests now because I won’t have you embarrassing Sera.”

“Aww, we wouldn’t do that,” Johnny grins at me. “We won’t tease you much, but I have to say I was beginning to wonder if you batted for the other team. Not that there would be anything wrong with that if you did,” he assured me when I rolled my eyes.

“Just because I don’t fuck everything in a skirt like you used to doesn’t mean I wasn’t getting any. It just means I’m discreet about it,” I informed them.

“I think what Johnny’s trying to say is that we’re happy for you and that we like her,” Adam, always the peacemaker, glares at Johnny, who just smirks at him. How we haven’t got rid of him, I’ll never know. He was such a cocky little fucker.

“In fact, I like her so much I want to bring her into the security side of O’Sheas as a partner,” Adam continues.

“What now?” Johnny sits up, getting serious. If there is one thing I can say about both my brothers, it is that when it came to our businesses, they didn’t fuck around.

“Here,” Adam hands Johnny a sheaf of papers. “Look over her résumé. Plus, she comes with glowing references from Draco. Even the Crow brothers who didn’t serve with her say she’s trustworthy. And get this—she was part owner of a security company up in Leeds.”

“So why isn’t she still a part owner with them?” Johnny wants to know as he flicks through the paperwork.

“Because her brother is a dick,” Adam answers before going on to tell us about what her brother had done—stabbing her in the back in the worst way you could. It has always been unfathomable to me that family could do that, but then I suppose everyone has a black sheep in their family. Our black sheep is Andy. How he came from the same parents as Rhett, me, Johnny, and Adam, I’ll never know because he sure as fuck didn’t behave like us.

“What a shitehawk,” I growl out through clenched teeth, thinking of the way he treated my queen. “I’ll tell you here and now she’s my one, my queen, so do whatever you have to do to make her a partner.”

Adam and Johnny smile broadly. “Your queen, huh?” Johnny smirks.

Eyeing him, I nod my head, “My motherfucking queen, brother. Best you let all the crews know.”

“And does she know of her elevated status?” Adam smirks at me.

“Not yet, but she will. You saw her. If ever there was a woman who was born to be a queen, it’s her,” I state.

“I can see it,” Johnny nods in agreement. “She’s perfect for you. From the looks of her, she’ll not take any shit from anyone. And after reading the notes that were in there from the Crows, she’s seen and done stuff that not many would be able to stomach. Along with what Adam’s told us, I’m good with her joining the company as a partner. Let me know when you want me to sign the paperwork.”

“Fan-fucking-tastic. We can start working on getting that waiting list whittled down,” Adam claps his hands. “I’ll get onto the lawyers in the morning and get it written up.” Standing up, he grabs his keys and phone, “I’m fucking happy for you, Liam; there’s nothing better than having a strong woman standing next to you.

“Let’s get going. Tilly invited Sera and her girls’ squad for supper so that we can meet them all. Sera reckons her girls’ squad will be happy to give us a hand to get things up and running before they start looking for jobs of their own. I’ll speak to Sera about getting some of our crew trained up in the meantime.”

Slapping my hands down on the arms of my chair, I push myself up, for once happy I’m not working tonight. It was one of the changes I’d made recently. I’d hired a manager so that I didn’t have to work every night. So far, it was working out okay. If I could figure out where we were losing money, it would be even better, but that was a problem for another day.

Deciding to jump in with Johnny rather than take my own vehicle since we were all meeting back here tomorrow, I’d catch a lift back in with him in the morning. It wasn’t long before we were driving up towards the house, and I had to smile because, even as cold as it was, Jeanie, Ally, Jackson, and Emy were waiting outside for their dads to arrive.

My own Da was sitting on the veranda we’d added two summers ago with one of his never-ending mugs of tea in his hand. Next to him sat Tommy, our cousin whom we’d thought was lost to us until he’d unexpectedly turned up last Christmas, saved from a bike accident by his very own sprite.

Johnny chuckled and smiled at the excitement on Emy’s face when she saw him driving in. Ally, being the great big sister that she was, had a tight hold of her hand to ensure she didn’t run towards the cars. Emy was a proper daddy’s girl, and Johnny lapped that shit up. I didn’t see that changing anytime soon. As the only girl in their little family, he spoilt her. It helped that she was as cute as a button and sweet as pie.

Getting out of the vehicle, I followed along behind Johnny and Adam, laughing as they were tackled by their kids before they even thought of entering the house.

Skirting around them, I stomped up the veranda stairs; I’d got no further than the second stair when Da says happily, “I hear you met your queen.”

My eyes met Tommy’s to find them twinkling with humour before I met Da’s gaze. “I may have,” I agree.

“Mmh,” Da hums as he rocks back slightly. “Tilly likes her.”

Grinning at him, I reply, “Sera’s very likeable.”

“For fuck’s sake,” he grumbles, “what is it about you boys and not wanting to tell me about the lady that hooks your interest?”

“Don’t worry, Da,” I chuckle, sitting down next to him. “You’ll meet her soon. She’s coming for dinner and bringing four of her friends with her.”

“Really now,” Da looks off into the distance. “Maybe we need to invite some of Adam’s boys over for supper.”

My lips twitch with humour at the old man’s blatant attempt at matchmaking, “How about we just keep it to family tonight? We’ve not met her girls yet. It will be easier for you to matchmake once you’ve met them.”

Catching Tommy’s eye over Da’s shoulder, we both bit back a laugh as Da let out a loud harrumph, muttering, “Matchmaking, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course not,” I agree, settling back in a chair next to him. My brows raise as Adam takes off towards the main gate at a jog, phone to his ear.

Johnny walks up the steps, Emy in his arms and Jackson holding onto his leg like a monkey catching a ride.

“He’s gone to let Sera and her girls in,” Johnny explains before turning to the kids, “Come on, you lot, let’s go check what time supper will be ready.”

Ally and Jeanie followed behind him but not before stopping to give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“How’s my girls?” I ask them. “Did you have a good day at school today?”

“Yep,” Jeanie answers, and Ally nods. “It was good, but I’m glad it’s Friday. Are you still going to take us to the Crows for Halloween tomorrow, Uncle Liam?”

“Of course I am,” I reply, surprised at the question. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Ally shrugs and looks at Jeanie before replying, “Mum says you were interested in a lady, and we just wanted you to know that if you were busy, it would be okay not to take us.”

Sometimes I forgot that these girls had a shit stain for a father who hadn’t given a tinker’s damn that he hurt them. Beside me, Da had stiffened and Tommy sat up straight. Taking hold of their hands, I tugged them towards me so that I could wrap an arm around each of them.

“You girls listen to me. I said I’d take you and I will. It’s one of my favourite evenings of the year. O’Sheas don’t break their promises, and I promised you I’d take you. I love you girls, and nothing and no one is ever going to change that. You girls aren’t second best; you are one of the best things to happen to this family. Do you understand?”

When they both nod that they understand and look relieved that I wasn’t breaking my promise, I give them each a squeeze and tell them, “You’ll like Sera, I promise. I’d not bring anyone into our family that would do us any harm. It’s scary letting new people in, not just for you but for us too.”

Jeanie looks sceptically at me, “It’s scary even for you?”

Nodding, I tell her, “You bet. Sera’s bringing her friends with her, and I’m wondering if they’ll like me.”

“Why wouldn’t they like you?” Ally scowls. “You, Uncle Johnny, and Uncle Tommy are the best. They’d better like you. If they don’t, I’ll get granda’s shotgun and show them what for. Nobody gets to be mean to you, and O’Sheas stick together.”

Da’s shoulders are shaking with silent laughter; Tommy suddenly starts coughing. Chuckling, I pull her to my chest, kissing the top of her head, “I love you girls, and you’re right, O’Sheas do stick together.”

Hugging them tight until I have to let them go when Tilly calls for them, I can’t help but be thankful that their father was a right gobshite who didn’t know what precious jewels he had been given. Because the girls were ours now.

Once the girls are out of sight, I laugh, “Da, what the hell have you been teaching those girls?”

Da shrugs, “Eh, lad, they need to know how to defend themselves. Adam has them learning all that fancy self-defence stuff, and I’ve got them learning how to shoot. None of my girls are going to be defenceless.” He turns to me with raised brows. “What about your lady—will she need to learn how to shoot?”

“You mean they didn’t tell you everything about her then?”

“No, just that you and she couldn’t keep your eyes off each other. And she kicked you out of the office so she could concentrate.”

Tommy guffaws at that, and I couldn’t help but smile; it had been funny. “Da, my queen could probably wipe the floor with all of us. She’s ex-military and served with some of the Crows,” I hesitate before continuing because I know he’s going to love this bit of news, “she was a sniper.”

Da grins like a Cheshire cat at the news, “Amazing news, son, you did good. And her girls?”

“I think Adam said that some were ex-military but not all of them.”

“Excellent,” he claps his hands, rubbing them together. “Tough women I can deal with.”

Tommy and I lose it as we throw our heads back in laughter, only pulling ourselves together when we hear the roar of bikes coming down the drive.

“Are the Crows coming as well?” Tommy asks, standing up just as the first bike pulls into the parking area to the side of the house; three bikes follow it, with a Jeep bringing up the rear, Adam sitting in the passenger seat with a shit-eating grin on his face when he sees us.

“That’s not the Crows,” Da comments.

“Nope,” I agree, walking down the steps, tossing over my shoulder, “that’s my queen.”

“Holy fuck, Uncle Colm, I think Liam’s building himself an army of kickass women,” Tommy chuckles behind me.

I’m no longer listening. Why would I when the woman of my dreams has just ridden up on one of the sweetest rides, looking sexy as fuck, dressed in black leather with green trim. That she was wearing O’Shea colours without realising it had me instantly hard, and I wonder if I can persuade her to get our logo painted on her helmet.

My footsteps slow, and I have to bite back a moan as I watch as Sera takes off her helmet, and undoes her plait, tips her head forward and rifles her fingers through the strands before tossing her head back so her hair flows down past her shoulders.

‘Holy fuck, she’s so bloody sexy and has no clue.’

She’s saying something to the woman who’d pulled up next to her as she gets off her bike and puts her helmet on the seat. The woman that Sera’s talking to has short blonde hair. She says something, then tilts her chin at Sera, who whirls around.

Her eyes widen in surprise, and then a smile blooms over her face when she sees me and walks towards me. As soon as she reaches me, I waste no time in laying my mouth on hers; it feels like it’s been days since I saw her, not hours. Not that she demurs or pulls back—no, not my queen; she gives as good as she gets. Wrapping my hands around her thighs, I lift, and she automatically wraps her legs around my waist. It’s only when the wolf whistles and laughter penetrate that I tear my lips from hers, pressing my forehead to hers, I smile, “Missed my queen.”

Throwing her head back, she laughs, “I’ve only been gone two, maybe three hours tops.”

“Three hours too long,” I inform her, letting go of her thighs so she can unwrap her long legs from around me. Still smiling as she steps back but keeps hold of my hand.

“You, sir, are like my own personal catnip,” Sera utters under her breath to me. I’m happy with that. I like that I do to her what she does to me.

I’m drawn from my musings when, in a slightly louder voice, she states, “Let me introduce you to my girls’ squad. Fair warning, they know everything about me. We’ve been in each other’s lives since we were four, which means they know everything about today.”

Shifting my attention to her girls, who are watching us, and while they are smiling, I can see reserve in their gazes. Not that I blame them, they don’t know me from Adam—no pun intended—and here I was staking claim on what I’d come to realise was their unofficial leader.

“So,” Sera continues, waving her hand, “from left to right: the blonde bombshell is Joanna or JoJo Wise; her twin is the one with the short blonde hair, Evelyn or Evie Harrison; our red-haired firecracker is Belinda or Billie Malone; and the gorgeous brunette is Angela or Ange Woods. Ladies, this is Liam O’Shea.”

Stepping forward, I shook each of their hands, “Happy to have you join us.” Turning, I motion towards where Da was waiting with Tommy on the steps and say, “Come meet the head of the O’Sheas, and whatever he says, I’ll apologise for now.”

“Don’t you be filling those lasses’ heads with shite now, lad. Bring them over so we can say hello and go eat. Tilly’s just called us in.”

As a group, we walk over to where Da is waiting for us. Introducing her girls to him first, and, like always, he was the epitome of charm. And people wondered where Johnny got it from; he came about it honestly. When he’d greeted all her girls, only then did I tug Sera forward, “Da, I’d like you to meet Sera Heath.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, iníon ,” Da says, kissing her hand. Her red-haired friend Billie coughed slightly at Da’s choice of word. “I can certainly see why Liam’s enamoured by you. This is my nephew Tommy….”

“Tommy ‘Ricochet’ O’Shea,” Sera interrupts, an awed tone in her voice. Holding out her hand to Tommy, she says, “It’s an honour to meet you.”

My eyebrows rose as her girls’ voices rose, “No way.” “It can’t be.” “Holy fuck, we’re in the presence of a legend,” was the last sentence uttered.

‘What the hell?’ I frowned. ‘Tommy had a fan club?’

Tommy chuckled uncomfortably, running a hand down the back of his neck. “It’s good to meet you too,” he replies bashfully, taking hold of Sera’s hand and giving it a shake. “I can guess how you’ve heard of me.”

“You’re a legend,” Sera informs him. “Everyone wondered where you’d disappeared to after you resigned.”

Tommy shrugs, “I travelled a lot after I got out; I’ve only been home since Christmas last year.”

“Understandable,” she nods. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mr. O’Shea. I’m sorry I rudely interrupted you.”

“It’s Colm, lass,” Da waves a hand at her, “and it’s no problem. Perfectly understandable. Come.” And then the sneaky fucker takes her hand from Tommy and tucks it through his arm as he walks her towards the door. “Let’s go and have some supper, then you and your lasses can tell us all about yourselves. I have a feeling that you’ve all lived interesting lives.”

My gaze connects with Tommy’s, and we shake our heads at Da. Motioning a hand towards the door, I invite Sera’s squad, “Follow on behind the old flirt and head towards the kitchen; it’s where everyone else will be.”

Tommy and I bring up the rear, and I can’t help but laugh silently as three of the women throw looks of awe at Tommy. JoJo, the fourth, just rolls her eyes and shakes her head at them, pushing them in front of her. “Get a move on, you three; can’t you see the man’s wedding ring. His wife won’t want you three making goo-goo eyes at her man.”

“I certainly don’t,” Tommy’s tiny wife laughs from the kitchen doorway, “but I totally understand it. I ogle him all the time.”

“I’m so sorry,” Evie says apologetically, “that’s not why we’re looking at him like that. I mean, not that he isn’t handsome because he is… for fuck’s sake,” she sighs and looks up at the ceiling.

“What she’s trying to say is that it’s his shooting skills we’re impressed with, not his looks, although I can see the appeal,” Ange tells Lana matter-of-factly.

Lana’s laughing and Tommy looks like he wants to disappear; I guess he didn’t realise he had a fan club.

JoJo’s shaking her head and rolling her eyes as if she can’t believe what she’s hearing.

“Get your arses in here,” Da hollers, “we’re waiting for you.”

Sera’s girls squad laughs but seems to relax further after Da’s interruption.

“Guess you didn’t know you had a fan club,” I tease Tommy as we enter the kitchen.

“Fuck no, I didn’t,” he sighs, stopping to bend and kiss Lana on the lips before we continue to the table.

Da’s taking charge and introducing everyone. Jeanie’s explaining the table rules about women and children eating first as everyone starts dishing up. I slip into the chair on Da’s right, opposite Adam, and settle my hand on Sera’s thigh. Relaxing as I take a look around the table at all the people, I’m amazed at how much our family has grown in the last months. I can’t help but think my mum would have loved this.

Sera’s hand grips my hand resting on her thigh, and she squeezes it gently, asking me softly—not that anyone would hear anything with the amount of chatter around the table, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, mo chroí, I am,” I reply honestly, because for the first time since Rhett was sent down, I’m content.