Cathal Chapter 14
The past forty-eight hours had been stressful in many ways.
One of the big reasons was the whole conversation with Bronagh about my club and what I liked sexually.
When she didn’t get up and demand I let her leave, I was relieved.
When she agreed to stay and marry me, I’d been so fucking happy I almost passed out.
We’d kissed for a long time until I knew we had to stop before I stripped her naked and fucked her on the loveseat, the floor, the bed, hell, the wall. I was so desperate for her, but I held back. The reason was that we had to settle Faolán. And I knew it wouldn’t be easy. It hadn’t been.
Bronagh and I entered the main house, hand in hand.
I’d driven us there since she was still recovering from her sugar spell, and I didn’t want to tax her.
We found them gathered in the less formal family room rather than in the large living room used for strangers or less-known guests.
Both were very nice, but the family room was more comfortable.
My family count had grown. Patrick, Sean, and Alistair were there.
I noticed none of the women or kids were visible.
Those on the commune would no doubt be safely tucked away.
No chances would be taken with them. The visible guard count remained the same, but I knew everyone on the estate was on high alert, and some were hidden nearby or possibly in the house, though the five inside, along with my family members, could handle anything they tried to do.
When Faolán saw us, he came to his feet. His gaze noted our hands. He scowled.
“Bronagh, it’s about time. We’ve stayed here long enough. Where are your bags? We’re leaving. We need time to get to the safe house before dark.”
“Daidí, I’ve decided not to leave. I’m sorry that you did all that work for nothing. However, I think you should move to the safe house you prepared. You’ve remained in the same place too long. It’s past time you move.”
“I’ll do no such thing. You are coming with us. I know that Cathal has threatened you into saying this. Don’t be afraid of them. I have people who’ll back us up. If they keep you here, I’ll go to the cops and report that they kidnapped you and are now holding you hostage as leverage.”
My family wasn’t pleased, but the way they didn’t react to his threat, I knew he’d already told them.
“Faolán, we’ve told you. If you go to the police with such a lie, we’ll withdraw all help we’ve been giving you.
Not only have we guided you on how to transition your illegal businesses into legitimate ones, but we’ve also done more, and it’ll stop, too.
We don’t involve the cops in our disputes,” Darragh reminded him.
It was true. No matter what happened between families, the police weren’t brought into it. It was an unwritten rule in the world we were still somewhat a part of.
Her dad whipped his head around to stare at Darragh. “What the hell are you talking about, other help, O’Sheeran? You’ve given guidance, that’s all,” he snapped.
“No, that’s all you were aware of. We knew from personal experience, and our knowledge of your family’s financial standing, that you couldn’t afford to make the changes without an influx of monetary backing,” Dar continued to explain.
“And we obtained that. The bank gave us the loans we needed. I’m keeping those paid. You can’t threaten to have those taken away,” Faolán snarled.
“The bank gave you those loans because we promised to be a guarantor for their repayment. After they gave you the loans, we bought up your debt. We intended to ensure they wouldn’t pressure you or demand forfeiture of the assets you used to guarantee them: your homes and businesses, if you hit a bad patch, which was likely.
They wouldn’t care about the reason why you missed a payment or two.
They’d foreclose. By us buying up your debt, we now service your loan.
And we decide what happens if you miss payments,” Darragh informed him.
It wasn’t done coldly, just matter-of-factly.
I heard Bronagh gasp. Her hand tightened on mine.
“Cathal, is that true?” she asked hoarsely.
“It is, but it wasn’t for the reason you think,” Patrick answered before I did.
“Faolán, we didn’t do it to harm you or to hold it over you as leverage. We truly want to see you succeed. Banks don’t give a damn if they take everything you own. You’re working to change your family for the better. We know how hard that is. And you have fewer resources to fall back on than we do.
“When you asked for the marriage, Darragh said no, but we met as a family to discuss what other options we had to assist you. Then you asked us to protect Bronagh for you, and we did so without hesitation. We brought her here despite the risk of bringing heat down on us. Again, we did that to help you succeed. And we can’t let someone innocent like Bronagh be hurt.
“However, my nephew took one look at your daughter, and he decided marriage was the solution. And we’ve watched over the past few weeks as they’ve grown closer, gotten to know each other, and fallen in love.
They hit a rocky spot. Bronagh panicked and called you, as expected.
But now, it appears that they’ve calmed down and had a chance to talk it out.
And she’s decided not to leave.” Patrick turned to me as he finished his speech.
“Should we assume that the wedding is still on for Saturday?” Patrick asked.
“Yes,” Bronagh and I both said at the same time. We smiled at each other. I kissed the back of her hand I held.
“Good, then there’s no reason to blow this partnership up.
We’ll soon be family, Faolán. And we take care of family as long as they don’t betray us or go back on their word.
We don’t want to cut off our support, but if you go to the police and try to remove Bronagh by force, that’s exactly what’ll happen.
” Darragh was the one to finish off the explanation and warning.
The silence in the room was heavy. Tension stretched out. You could read the various emotions that flickered across her dad’s face as he thought about what was said, and he studied us. It was a good two or three minutes before Faolán said anything.
“Bronagh, tell me the truth. Swear on the soul of your poor, dead mother that you’re staying and marrying him because you love and trust him.
That you aren’t doing it because you’ve been threatened.
That it’s not even due to what you just heard, to save the family.
I won’t trade our family’s survival for my daughter’s life and happiness.
You mean more than everything. If you want to go, say the word.
We’ll die to get you free.” His voice was raw with emotion and truth. Faolán meant every word.
She let go of my hand and walked over to her dad. His face looked defeated. She reached up and cupped his face.
“Daidí, I swear on Mama’s soul that I’m not staying because I’ve been threatened in any way.
I want to marry Cathal. I love him. And I overreacted when I should’ve calmed down and thought everything through.
I love you for coming and for being so willing to sacrifice everything for me, but it’s not necessary.
I want our two families to get along and not be barely civil enemies.
They’ve been helping for over a year. You trusted them with me in the first place.
I know you wouldn’t have if deep down you didn’t know you could trust them. I want to be Cathal’s wife.”
Faolán stared at her for several beats, then sighed, pulled her close, and whispered in her ear. She kept nodding and whispering back. After a long minute or more, they parted, but he kept his arm around her waist.
“Okay, I agree to allow her to remain here. Bronagh assures me she wants to proceed with the marriage. I have one request. I want to be here for the wedding and walk her to her future husband.”
“We can do that. And there’s no need for you to leave, then return in a few days. It’s too risky. You and these three may stay here. However, I suggest the ones you have staked outside the walls, waiting for your signal to leave, might draw unwanted attention,” Darragh said, dryly.
“How did you…” Faolán started to ask, then didn’t.
“It’s what we would do. We’re not stupid,” Patrick informed him, smirking.
We’d talked longer, but in a much more relaxed way. Faolán called off his other men. He and his guards were given rooms in the main house and treated as honored guests. We had a large, informal dinner that night.
Mam and the others had done what they promised and arranged the wedding.
We were having it at the compound, out in the flower garden behind the main house and pool.
It was professionally designed and beautiful with walkways and private nooks.
And in the center was a large section of lawn with flower-covered arbors.
That was where we would hold the actual ceremony.
As soon as Bronagh said she’d marry me originally, she gave her measurements to Siobhan, who promised that, based on what Bronagh had shared as her ideal wedding dress, she’d make it happen.
We knew wedding gowns usually took months, especially if you custom-ordered one, but I’d known the women in my family to perform miracles, so I convinced Bronagh to let them do it. She had.
Monday, after we calmed her dad down and he agreed to stay for the wedding, they’d dragged Bronagh off that evening to show her the gown they’d gotten. She came back with sparkling eyes and told me it was gorgeous, but I had to wait to see it. I could barely wait.
When it came to Bronagh’s wish to go to Wicked Desires, I first intended to take her there on Tuesday evening, but I insisted she take an extra day to rest. She still looked too tired to me. She hadn’t wanted to, but she agreed.