23. Twenty-Two
Twenty-Two
Erik
K ayleigh remained in the hospital for a week to keep an eye on her and the baby. As of now, the baby is healthy, but as Kayleigh gets further along in her pregnancy, there is a good chance she will become high risk.
They wanted to keep her longer, but she was at the end of her patience, and we had the doctor agree to release her since Daniel, one of Cillian’s high-ranking Mafia members who is also a doctor at the same hospital, agreed to check in on her. I have an OB/GYN coming to check on her at home as well.
She is now dozing off against my shoulder. She tried to push me away and lean against the window, but I wasn’t going to be having any of that shit.
I gently run my thumb over the side of her stomach. I can’t keep the smile off my face as I imagine her big and round, walking around our home in Scottland. I never understood why my brothers were constantly giddy when Freya and Ember were pregnant; now I completely do. I want to yell it to the world that Kayleigh is pregnant and, at the same time, I want to lock her in an ivory tower away from anyone who would try and hurt her. If anyone thinks of laying a hand on her or my child, they better pray I never find them because the way I would torture them, not even Satan himself would be able to stomach.
I already have a list of people who will be dying at my hands for what they did to Kayleigh, and soon I will be eradicating them. No one on earth will be as protected as my seamrag bheag and ar leanabh beag.
Between the Duncan Mafia family and the O’Sullivan Mafia family, we have six SUVs filled with armed men taking us back to the O’Sullivan family estate. Darius is driving us while Rowan is in the passenger seat, and two guards are behind us. My phone pings in my pocket. I pull it out and see a text from Peter.
After you get Kayleigh settled, meet me in my office.
Okay.
I’m definitely not Peter’s favorite person right now, not that I blame him. If I was in his position, I would be more than livid too. But I’m a stubborn motherfucker and nothing he says will make me leave Kayleigh’s side.
“I need you two standing guard over Kayleigh when I meet with Peter after I get her settled.”
“Are you sure you don’t want one of us to go with you when you meet with Peter?” Darius asks.
“No, I’d rather you keep Kayleigh safe and as stress free as possible.”
“Okay, but try not to anger him. He is already planning twenty different ways to kill you.”
“I won’t purposely anger him, but he isn’t keeping Kayleigh away from me.”
“If we need to, we can sneak the both of you out.”
“Hopefully we don’t have to do that but start making a plan just in case.”
“Will do,” Rowan says as we pull up to the iron gate. I chuckle when the gate guard talks to the other man, and he is pointing to the line of SUVs. The O’Sullivan men are in the first SUV. I watch as one of the men talks to Peter, the guard nods, and steps back. We all follow as Peter pulls through the gate and around to the back where a three-story building is, which I know is their parking garage. Seems a bit much, but they have seven children and multiple bulletproof vehicles. I guess having a huge parking garage is a good idea. We are guided to where we need to park closest to the door, and once Darius parks, I’m jumping out of the SUV and going to Kayleigh’s door. I gently lift her into my arms.
“Huh?” she asks sleepily.
I kiss her forehead. “We are back at your family estate, ar leanabh beag.”
“Oh, I should tell you to put me down, but I’m too tired and comfortable,” she says as she snuggles further into my chest.
“I will carry you anytime you want.” She doesn’t answer, just sighs and relaxes in my arms. I give the top of her head one last kiss and start walking toward the door where Cillian is watching me, and he motions me to follow him. We pass Grace and Peter on the way up. They are quietly talking. Grace gives me a small smile. We had a chance to talk while Kayleigh was in the hospital, and she asked me questions that the men in her family didn’t bother asking, like when I started pursuing her.
I told her everything that happened, and she asked questions like how serious I was about Kayleigh and if I really wanted to be with her or if it was just because she is pregnant with my baby. I told her I was already making plans to come and convince Kayleigh to move back to Scottland or at least stop ignoring me.
She asked me if I was the one sending Kayleigh gifts. I told her I was; I wanted Kayleigh to know just because she wasn’t with me didn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about her. She told me Kayleigh hadn’t told anyone it was me who broke her heart. I hated that her heart was broken, but if my stubborn ar leanabh beag would have stuck around, I could have explained everything. But I’m also at fault for making it seem that Eva was more important than Kayleigh. A mistake I will never make again.
Anyway, back to now, Cillian opens Kayleigh’s bedroom door, and I smile. It is just as I imagined, soft baby blue walls and rugs, white and gold furniture. On her desk are medical books, notebooks, and her laptop, all neatly organized. She has lots of family photos on her dresser and even one with Emilia De Luca. That is a friendship I’m not sure I enjoy my seamrag bhea having, but seeing firsthand how protective and supportive Emilia is of Kayleigh, I will tolerate it. I’m not sure it would do any good if I told them they couldn’t be friends anyway. That woman is unhinged and scary as fuck. After hearing the rumors of what she has done to her enemies and to her husband’s cousin, I prefer to stay on the good side of that woman.
I walk over to her bed, Cillian has already pulled back the covers, and gently lay her down and tuck her under the blankets.
“Erik?” she says sleepily.
“Yes, my seamrag bhea?”
She opens her eyes and looks around. “Oh, I’m home.”
“Yes, you are. Your father wants to meet with me. Do you need anything before I go?”
“No, don’t get shot.”
I chuckle and kiss her cheek.
“I’ll do my best. I will be back, and until then, Darius and Rowan will be outside your door if you need anything. My men are also scattered around the estate.”
“I’m safe here.”
“I know, but I’m still not taking any chances with either of you.”
“Why do I think you are going to drive me insane while I’m pregnant?”
“Oh, this security is how it is going to be like for both of you from now on.”
“Overkill much?”
“Absolutely not. Now close your eyes and rest. I will be back soon.” I give her a quick peck on her lips, needing a small taste. It’s not enough, but I don’t think Cillian would appreciate watching me make out with his sister. I walk away, giving her one final look over my shoulder before I close the door behind me. I nod at Rowan and Darius; Rowan is standing outside her door while Darius is at the end of the hallway. No one is getting to Kayleigh without getting through those two.
I follow Cillian to the other side of the estate to Peter’s office. Cillian knocks once.
“Cuir isteach,”we hear and step inside. Peter is already behind his desk; he sets his glare on me. I walk in and take a seat across from him while Cillian stands behind him with his arms crossed over his chest. I break the tense atmosphere.
“What can I do for you, Peter?”
“Do you want to explain to me why you had four SUVs full of armed men escorting Kayleigh back to the estate when I was already providing more than enough security for her?”
“Because my men will always protect my queen and future heir.”
He scoffs. “She is just the mother of your child.”
I stand up and take a step forward, placing my hands on the desk.
“You know damn well she is more than that. She is the future Mrs. Erik Duncan, the queen of the Scottish Mafia. I have kept my hands off you out of respect for Kayleigh, but if I hear you disrespect her value and her place in my life even one more time, I will not have an issue breaking your jaw.”
“Who says she will be your wife? The English Mafia has reached out interested in an alliance through marriage. I can call them, and she can marry into their family.”
“You better not consider it. Especially to those sick motherfuckers. You know damn well they have a hand in the skin trade. Kayleigh will be nowhere near that shit. They won’t even look at what’s mine.”
“Hmmm, seems you actually do care for her.”
“As if the other five hundred times I have told you this didn’t sink into your head. Stubborn old fuck.”
“Says the man who is twelve years older than my daughter.”
“Yes, but you are still ten years older than me.”
“I had to make sure you were serious because, alliance or not, if you make her cry, I will destroy you and your whole empire.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I plan on spoiling her for the rest of her life.”
“What about her wanting to be a nurse?” Cillian asks.
“She can get her degree, but I will have men at the hospital when she is working. I won’t take a chance of something happening to her while she is at work.” He nods, happy with my answer.
“I’m not here to take away her dreams. If anything, I want to support her. If she needs to do it online or if I need to hire private tutors, then that’s what I will do.”
“Good, good. I may actually like you again in time,” Peter says with a smug grin, which I return.
“You know you want to. You also know that Kayleigh and your grandchild will be safe and protected under my care,” I say, waving my hand toward the window which faces the garage.
“You better hope so.”
“They will, now do you need anything else?” I ask impatiently because I am itching to get back to Kayleigh. I didn’t get to lay with her while she was in the hospital, and besides a few hugs, I have not held her in my arms. I’m about to fix that.
“No, get out of here. Our maid Molly will be bringing food up for the both of you to eat. I should give you separate rooms, but you already got her pregnant, so it’s not like you can do any more damage. Unless she wants you to sleep in another room. Then I will put you in a room on the other side of the estate.”
“Okay,” I say with a smug grin, knowing he could try but it wouldn’t work.
I leave his office and make the trek back to her room, only to chuckle when I see a note taped to her door that reads. I’m napping. Disturb me and I will stab you.
Rowan chuckles. “She told me to tell you to read the damn sign and stay out. She locked the door too.”
“Such a brat,” I chuckle while pulling my lock pick kit out of my pocket. I had a feeling I would need this. Not the first time she has locked me out of a room, and I doubt it will be the last time.
“I have already had it set up to send replacements for you two in a few hours.”
“Will do. Get some rest; you look like shit.”
“Asshole,” I mutter before I lock the door behind me. I smile when I see Kayleigh snuggled up in the bed, looking so precious. Fragile yet so strong. I undress until I’m only in my boxers before climbing in bed behind her.
“Can you not read?” Kayleigh grumbles as I move her into my arms.
I kiss her head. “Yes, but I missed holding you, and I wasn’t waiting a moment longer to get you in my arms.”
It doesn’t take long until she is back asleep. Being careful of her bandage, I ran my thumb over the side of her stomach.
“Hello, little one. I missed your first two months, but I promise you right now that you will never have a day where you won’t hear my voice. I can’t wait to watch you grow in your mommy’s tummy and, when you get big enough, to feel you move around inside her. I can’t promise I will be the perfect father, but I promise I will always love you and be there for you.”