Chapter Three
Callum
"Well, look what the fucking cat dragged in." I grin as Cormac and Bella stride outside hand in hand. "It's about damn time you two decided to show up."
"Fuck off, Callum." Cormac discreetly flips me off, scowling. "We were busy."
"You giving him hell again?" I ask Bella, cocking my head to the side.
"Only every day."
I laugh quietly, shaking my head. She isn't fucking lying about that. She's been giving my cousin hell since the day they met at the airport in Houston two decades ago. It's not like his big ass is complaining or anything. He lives for that shit. They're two goddamn peas in a pod.
"What's up, fucker?" Ciaran asks, hauling himself away from glaring at Ivy's boyfriend, Austin, long enough to hug Cormac as my sisters surround Bella, pulling her in for hugs.
"The old folks are bickering again," Cormac says. "Figured we'd join the young'uns out here."
"Don't let my dad hear you call him old, motherfucker," Ciaran warns, nodding at Uncle Zion who is at the far end of the pool with Aunt Kenzie, scowling daggers at Austin. "He still threatens to stick a boot up my ass at least once a week." He scrubs a hand through his hair. "Pretty goddamn sure he could still do it, too."
"Shit. My dad could definitely still kick my ass," Cormac mutters. "I will not be telling him that shit, though. He already smacked me upside the head as soon as I got here."
I roll my eyes at him. "If you wouldn't fucking yell as soon as you walked through the door, he wouldn't do that shit."
Cormac grins, his gray eyes light with humor. "I only do it to annoy the fuck out of him."
"Of course you do." Ciaran shakes his head.
"He calls me at least once a month, asking for me to help someone with some shit I don't want to fucking do," Cormac retorts. "You're damn right I'm finding ways to annoy the fuck out of him at every available opportunity. It's not like I can tell him no."
"It's not like you want to tell him no," I correct. We all know Cormac would do anything for his family. Hell, there isn't much he wouldn't do for anyone. He's got a heart as big as the rest of his giant ass body.
Cormac flashes me an unrepentant grin. "He doesn't have to know that. It's more fun for me if I get to annoy him in exchange for doing him favors."
"Speaking of favors " Ciaran cuts his eyes at his daughter, Ivy, and her boyfriend. He's mad as hell that she's dating this guy, though he seems like a good kid to me. "Think one of you can look into this asshole for me?"
Cormac glances over at the couple, sobering. "Shit, man. I can't believe she's already twenty."
"Don't fucking remind me," Ciaran growls.
"He looks familiar," I mutter, casting another glance at the boy. I've been trying to figure out why all goddamn day.
"He should." Ciaran scowls. "He plays football. Was drafted by the Turbulence last year."
I blink in shock. "Jesus Christ. That's Austin Eller? Our wide receiver?"
Ciaran jerks his chin in a nod.
No goddamn wonder he looks familiar. I've been watching his ass play all goddamn season. The kid is good.
Cormac narrows his eyes on our cousin. "Why can't you look into him?"
Ciaran scowls daggers at our cousin, refusing to answer.
"He pinky promised Ivy that he wouldn't," I say, chuckling when Cormac looks at me for an explanation. "So now he's resorted to begging us to do his dirty work for him."
"You told him no?" Cormac asks me.
"Damn straight I told him no. Hope will rips my balls off if she finds out I helped him break a promise."
"Shit." Cormac scrubs a hand through his hair, his gaze flickering toward Bella.
"She doesn't have to know," Ciaran says.
Cormac and I snort at the same time. He knows damn well that marriage doesn't work that way, especially not in this family. The women in this family know every-fucking-thing. Their little network of information works without fail. It's equally as impressive as it is terrifying. They know more than the goddamn FBI. Hell, they find out shit faster than we do, and we run a security firm and have a fucking hacker at our fingertips. It's ridiculous!
"Yeah, fuck that," Cormac says. "You're on your own, man. I'm not pissing off my wife because you don't trust your daughter."
"Who said I don't trust my daughter?" Ciaran growls.
Cormac shoots him a pointed look. "You want us to look into her boyfriend, man. What do you call that?"
"Looking out for her."
"Right," Cormac says, doubt heavy in his voice.
Ciaran throws his hands up, scowling. "Fuck you both."
"Love you too, man," Cormac says, laughing quietly as Ciaran stomps away.
"You going to look into him?" I ask as soon as Ciaran is out of earshot.
"Uh, fuck yeah," he says. "But I'm not telling Ciaran what I find unless it's serious. Ivy will be mad as hell if she finds out, and the last thing he needs is his daughter feeling like he doesn't trust her."
I clamp him on the back. "Smart man."
"Why the fuck wouldn't you look into him?"
"I like his team," I lie. "If I find out he's an asshole, I may be less inclined to like his team. That'll just piss me off."
"You are so full of it. Hope threatened to shiv you, didn't she?"
I shrug, grinning. "What can I say? I like sleeping with my wife, man. Besides, I knew your nosy ass would look. You can't help yourself."
"Jesus Christ." Cormac shakes his head. "How the fuck are we related?"
I nod at our fathers who have come outside and settled into loungers, our mothers on their laps. "Ask them. It's their fault."