Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Annie
As I made my way downstairs for breakfast the next morning, my stomach fluttered with nervousness. Ciaran had gone ahead of me, presumably to ensure all evidence of last night’s horrors had been erased. While I wouldn’t forget what happened anytime soon, I refused to dwell on it. Letting it color my worldview would be handing victory to the men who’d attacked us.
After we’d made love several times, Ciaran and I talked long into the night about his life and how he would ensure I was kept away from the less pleasant aspects of it as much as possible. He’d eased a lot of my fears about uprooting my life and moving to a new country to marry a man I’d met less than a week ago. His promise to have a long engagement had helped to put my mind at rest.
When I woke, Ciaran had been gazing down at me with such reverence I’d known I made the right choice when I decided to give him a chance. He’d asked me to affirm my acceptance of his proposal, as if he was afraid I’d come to my senses during the night. I assured him I hadn’t changed my mind. People might think I was crazy, but I knew I belonged here, not just with Ciaran, but with his entire family.
My anxieties about breaking the news of our engagement to the rest of his family slowed my pace as I headed along the corridor. Would they think it was a terrible idea? What if they didn’t accept me?
When I reached the breakfast room it was empty. Assuming everyone must be in the kitchen, I made my way there, but before I reached it, I heard chatter coming from the dining room. I paused outside the door to take a steadying breath then entered.
Straight away, I saw why the smaller breakfast room hadn’t been suitable this morning. All the Reilly siblings were there, along with Max and Jace. Ciaran sat at the head of the table, the vacant space to his left presumably for me. Sean sat to his immediate right, and then came Will, who looked like death warmed over. Jace and Max took the remaining seats on that side of the table while Emily and Erin sat opposite.
Deep in conversation, they didn’t notice me until I approached my seat. Then they all stopped talking.
“Sweetheart!” Ciaran got up and rushed over to me. He kissed my cheek then guided me into my seat.
“Good morning,” I greeted as I sat down.
The chorus of good mornings that came back to me reminded me of my class back in Scotland. I felt a brief pang of regret that I’d have to leave my job, but I banished it as Ciaran laid a croissant down in front of me and Emily poured some coffee into my mug. I could get used to being looked after like this.
“How’s the shoulder?” I asked Will.
“Not too bad. The bullet went straight through and didn’t hit anything vital.”
“If they were trying to blow his brains out, they’d have aimed lower,” Sean said wryly.
“Leave him alone,” Erin said. “He was a hero for all of thirty seconds before Emily saved the day.”
Will threw a piece of bread across the table at her, and she laughed. I guessed their banter meant that all was well this morning.
“Will there be any consequences for last night?” I asked.
Ciaran shook his head. “Not legal ones. The police know better than to get involved, but Sean had to smooth things over with Jimmy Cleary last night.”
I had no idea who that was. “Jimmy Cleary?”
“Mulhearn’s boss.”
“Oh, right, and did things get smoothed over?”
“Sean was about to tell us when you walked in,” Max said.
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense.” I slathered some butter on my croissant and took a bite.
“He’s only got a couple of months to live so he doesn’t want a fight. He suggested I marry his daughter, merge our families before he dies.”
“Woah!” Erin leaned forward. “What did you say?”
“I said I’d think about it. The girl sounds like a pain in the ass. She’s in Edinburgh, refusing to come home.”
“Even though her dad’s dying?” Emily’s disapproval was evident.
Sean shrugged. “The man’s a bastard. Can’t imagine he’s daddy material.”
“Would make good business sense to marry her,” Max said.
“Then you do it.” Sean jabbed a finger at him.
I felt Emily tense beside me and Max shot her an inquiring look. There was definitely something going on there, even if neither of them would admit it.
Sean’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen. “Vincent’s here.”
“Shit,” Erin cursed. “He’s going to be pissed.”
Erin looked up as a tall, dark and incredibly handsome man walked in, his face a mask of fury. She plastered on the fakest smile I’d ever seen. “Vincent. How nice to see you.”
“Do you know how long it took me to get out of that fucking room?” he demanded.
Erin glanced at her watch. “Allowing two hours for the flight, I’m going to guess eight hours.”
As Vincent marched toward her, Sean flew out of his seat to intercept him. Though they were evenly matched in size and build, Sean easily shoved the other man up against the wall. I gasped, but none of the others even batted an eyelash.
“Erin’s bodyguard,” Ciaran explained, though I already knew that.
“Where the fuck were you last night?” Sean demanded.
“Locked in a fucking closet.” Vincent tilted his head toward Erin. “That little brat drugged me.”
“It was just a couple of sleeping pills,” Erin muttered.
“She could have died last night,” Sean spat. “You’re fucking useless. I should shoot you now.”
“No,” Erin protested, suddenly contrite. “I was the one who was stupid enough to walk in here, even though I knew we were under attack. It wasn’t his fault. It’s like he said. I drugged him.”
“Yes, it is his fucking fault,” Sean barked. “He should know better than to let you get one over on him. If he can’t protect you, what use is he? What’s the number one rule? Protect our weak spots.”
“Weak spot?” Vincent scoffed. “Erin? She’s a fucking viper.”
“She’s a kid!” Sean thundered.
As he pulled back his fist to punch the other man, I surged to my feet.
“Stop it!” I had no idea where I found the nerve to yell at Sean like that. “Your sister, both your sisters, were nothing short of heroic last night. They didn’t need you or Vincent or any other man to protect them. Erin held her own, and Emily finished the job.”
“I helped too,” Will interjected.
“Yes, you did.” I smiled at him. “And I’ll bet none of these alpha assholes told you they were proud of you.”
“I’m proud of him.” Jace winked at me, and I sighed.
“Cut that out,” I scolded, using my best schoolteacher tone.
Sean snickered, and I turned back to him. “And you, sit down and shut up.”
He burst out laughing. “Knew I liked you for a reason.”
He released Vincent, who brushed down the front of his shirt in a gesture designed to show he was unruffled by what had just happened.
“Sit down, please, Vincent.” I pointed to the free seat next to Erin which I suspected was the last place he wanted to be right now. “You’re here now so you might as well join us.” I sank back onto my seat.
Ciaran took my hand and whispered. “Do you know how turned on I am right now?”
My cheeks heated.
“Who is she, anyway?” Vincent asked Erin as he sat next to her.
“My future bride,” Ciaran announced. “Annie has done me the honor of agreeing to be my wife.”
A knot formed at the pit of my stomach as silence fell. For several long seconds, nobody spoke, and finally a chorus of congratulations erupted all around us.
“This calls for champagne,” Emily said, getting to her feet.
“It’s 9 am,” Max pointed out.
“Oh, lighten up for once in your life.” Emily shook her head despairingly. She ducked down to kiss my cheek and then disappeared in search of champagne.
“Maybe you can have a double wedding with Sean and… What is Cleary’s daughter called?”
“Aoife.” Sean snorted. “And no, we will not have a double wedding.”
“Poor Annie,” Jace said. “She came looking for her family and got stuck with you lot.”
“I like this lot,” I muttered defensively.
As wedding chatter broke out around the table, Ciaran pulled me up from my seat and settled me on his lap. The dark gleam in his eye made me shiver with delight.
“You know, there is still the matter of punishment for last night.”
“What?”
“Emily told me everything. You should have stayed in the safe room, but instead you put yourself in danger.”
“So did the others.”
“But I can’t very well spank them, can I?”
“I mean, you could, but I doubt Will would respond well.”
Ciaran laughed. “I am going to fuck you senseless when we get rid of this lot.”
As Emily returned with two bottles of champagne, I got the feeling that wouldn’t be anytime soon.
“Bring it on, my love,” I murmured as I snuggled closer to him. A wave of contentment washed over me. This felt right. “Bring it on.”
The End