Chapter 14 Sully
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SULLY
Isensed Autumn’s subtle anxiety and withdrawal the rest of the evening. I cursed Kevin, the chance encounter, and my own stupidity for letting my anger get the better of me and calling O’Leary in a parking lot to tell him off.
She smiled and chatted with the three women, letting them drag her to the dance floor to teach her some Irish steps. Roisin returned, sitting down and taking a long drink of her Guinness. She regarded me. “Okay, Sully?”
I sighed. “I didn’t expect a confrontation tonight.”
She nodded. “I know. You prefer a low profile, but I think it will send a message.” She glanced at the dance floor. “Tonight has upset your girl?”
“She’s anxious. She heard me say I should have killed Kevin.”
She scoffed. “You wouldna done that for his stupid behavior. She must know that.” She paused. “She knows of Finn and Niall, yes? Your connection?”
“She knows we’re cousins. I haven’t exactly spilled all my secrets.”
She tutted. “Honesty is a keystone to a good, strong relationship, Sullivan Black. Be it friendship, lovers, or marriage.”
“I know. I’ve been trying to figure out how.”
“If you are serious, you have to tell her.”
“I know.”
She shook her head. “Men. You’re all daft.”
“What?” I asked, confused.
“You meet her and fall hard. Talk marriage in only a few days. Bring her here to meet me. Look at her like she sets the sun. But you don’t tell her about your family.
About what you do to aid them. Your past. Your ties that you will never sever completely.
” She frowned. “She saw the way that boy responded to your name, and she knows something, Sully. She’s smart.
Clever. She is also going to think the worst before you are honest. Don’t be a coward.
If you trust her with yer heart, then trust her with this too. ”
“And if she can’t handle it? Even if it is a small part of my world, it’s still there.”
“Then better you know now than before there’s a ring on her finger.”
The thought of Autumn walking away made my chest ache. I knew Roisin was right, but I was worried. She had grown up with this world. Knew what her son and Finn did in Canada. Knew my involvement, however small it was.
But Autumn had no clue.
And how she would handle it, I had no idea.
And Roisin was right. I was a coward for not telling her.
“I’ll tell her when we go home. I need privacy to do it.”
“Good. She loves you, Sully. You may have to give her a little time, but I think she’ll be fine.”
I heard Autumn’s laughter over the music, and I stared at her, her simple beauty taking my breath away. Smiling, lifting her skirt to watch her feet, and failing miserably at a jig, she was stunning.
And mine.
And I refused to believe any different.
Later, in bed, Autumn lay on her side, quiet and still. I knew she was awake but not wanting to be intimate. She had already told me that before we’d arrived earlier, so that didn’t surprise me.
“We’re not getting frisky in your aunt’s home,” she warned me.
“Frisky, lass?” I laughed.
“You know what I mean.”
It was only one night, and I didn’t want to do anything that made her uncomfortable, so I had only nodded. But there was a greater distance between us than I expected.
I didn’t like it.
I slid closer, slipping my arms around her and pulling her back to my chest. She stiffened for a moment, but I waited and she relaxed.
“Talk to me, mo fhiadh beag. I can feel your worry, and I don’t like it.”
“Those men tonight…” She trailed off.
“Local wannabe gangsters. Think they’re tough.”
“How did they know your name? Why did they look so frightened?” she asked quietly.
I blew out a long breath. “I grew up not far from here, Autumn. I was young, stupid, and got involved in a gang, and I became one of the leaders. I was well-known.”
“And?” she pressed.
“I left that behind me, but I keep in touch with some of the more current members who were friends. I recognized the name and called their boss to tell them of the behavior. The attitude of some has changed, and gangs aren’t roving the street and causing trouble but, instead, affecting positive change. ” I sighed. “Not everyone likes that.”
“You said you wanted to kill him.”
I rolled her onto her back and hovered over her.
“He touched you, and I was angry. I wouldn’t kill someone for lack of manners, but I hated that he was even near you.
You’re mine, Autumn, and I protect what is mine.
I will never allow someone to frighten, intimidate, or hurt you.
Not if I can help it. I would do the same for anyone I loved, but especially you. You’ve already been through enough.”
Her eyes searched my face. “You punched him.”
“He was being an arse and mouthing off because he thought I couldn’t hear him. I taught him a lesson when he swung at me.”
“Protecting me.”
“Yes.”
“No one has ever protected me before.”
“You have me now.” I paused. “I think?”
“You scared me,” she confessed. “You looked so icy and furious.”
“I told you once, when I get angry, I’m an ogre. It’s rare, but he deserved it. I needed him away from you, Roisin, and the pub. He was a problem, and I took care of it.”
She nodded, absently cupping my face as she lost herself to thought. I bent and brushed my mouth across hers.
“I would never hurt you, love. Ever. Don’t be frightened of me.”
“I’m not. It was just such a shock to see you that way. Cold. Angry. Dangerous.”
“I’m sorry. It’s infrequent. I promise.”
She bit her lip. “You were very sexy, though, defending us.”
I felt relief flood through me. “Oh yeah?”
“I’m not condoning it. Scaring people. Punching someone.”
“Of course not.”
I lowered myself to her, feeling her curves melt into my hardness. “Sully,” she warned.
“I’m just showing you how sorry I am,” I murmured, dropping my head to her neck and kissing the soft skin, smiling as she shivered.
“Your aunt is down the hall.”
“And snoring. She’s out for the night after all that Guinness. And we can be quiet.” I bit down gently, sliding my hand along her leg and bunching up the nightshirt she wore. “Let me love you, Autumn. I need you.”
She whimpered and pulled me to her mouth.
I should feel guilty. I hadn’t told her everything.
In fact, I’d told her very little. I should have shared more information, but the coward I was, I hadn’t.
I let her change the subject, focusing on my protectiveness.
She’d accepted my explanations and moved on.
And I needed to be close to her, be deep inside her, and feel her wrapped around me.
And hope when I told her the rest, her understanding was as freely given.
The next day, Autumn was more herself, her smile easy and her disposition sweet.
Roisin insisted on a proper Sunday lunch before we left that afternoon.
Autumn spent some time in the kitchen with her while I read a book, simply enjoying the sounds coming from down the hall and savoring the aromas of roasting meat and savory vegetables wafting in the air.
We enjoyed the meal, Autumn exclaiming over the abundance of it. “Sunday lunch for me is usually a sandwich. Maybe some soup,” she confessed.
“Och, no,” Roisin protested. “Sunday lunch is sacred. I make one or Connie does. Maggie hates cooking—always has. We do the pub lunch her week.”
“You make this much every Sunday?” Autumn asked, her eyes wide.
“Maybe a bit smaller. But the basics are the same. Leftovers for a few days. Unless we invite some of the local lads around. We have a group of them down the lane, and they are good to us. Cutting grass, carrying our bins to the road, helping if they see us with bags. So we feed them and send the leftovers with them.”
“That’s so kind.”
“Ryan is a lovely lad. His grandfather, Seamus, is an old friend of Sully’s. Seamus bought the house for Ryan, and a few lads share it, which helps. They work locally, so it’s nice. And Ryan is good to Seamus.” She looked over at me. “You should go see him. He’d enjoy a visit.”
I nodded. “Maybe next trip.”
“Go this afternoon. Autumn and I can spend some time together.”
I glanced at Autumn, who nodded, so I shrugged. “Sure.” Then I grinned. “So Seamus is a grandfather now, is he? To a grown man?”
She laughed. “His daughter had a baby young. A good mum, but she relied on Seamus for a lot. He was a single da, so he knew how hard it was. He is more a da to Ryan than grandpa, but that is what he is.” She shook her finger. “Don’t be teasing him too hard. You’re the same age.”
She was right, and had my life been different, it could have been me. But it wasn’t, for which I was grateful. I liked my life. Especially now that I’d found Autumn.
“I’ll be easy.”
She snorted. “We’ll see.”
AUTUMN
“What did you and Roisin do all afternoon?” Sully asked as we sat waiting for the plane to taxi down the runway.
“She showed me baby pictures of you and your cousins.” I nudged him. “Your arse was nice even then.”
He groaned. “She didna.”
I laughed. “She did. And she told more stories of you growing up.”
“I am certain she exaggerated.”
“Maybe, but I enjoyed hearing them. She talked a lot about Niall and Finn. Their wives. She loves them dearly.”
“And they her. She adored you.”
“I liked her a lot. She made me very welcome. She didn’t seem shocked over our relationship at all.”
“You expected her to be? Even after I told you how fast Finn and Niall fell for their women? It didn’t faze Bonnie either.”
“No, I guess it didn’t.”
“Roisin fell pretty fast for her Rory. And my da met my mum at a dance on Friday and had proposed by Sunday, from the stories I was told. And even though he turned out to be an arse, her sister, Finn’s mum, fell quick for his da.” He rubbed his chin. “It’s in our genes, I think.”
“Well, something is in your jeans,” I joked.
He leaned over the armrest and kissed me. “I’ll show you later, lass. Trust me, you’ll like it.”
“I already know that.”
I changed the subject. “How was your visit with your friend?”
“It was good to see Seamus. He is well. Looks healthy. He’s seeing a lady from his parish.
Seems smitten. He’s a foreman at the local plant.
His grandson, Ryan, works there too, but he plans to go back to uni and get his teaching degree.
” Sully looked thoughtful. “I might see what I can do to speed that up.”
“How?” I asked, intrigued.
“A scholarship of sorts. Something to help. Seamus wants more for Ryan. Not the never-ending monotony of the plant. He says Ryan has always wanted to teach, but things haven’t gone his way. But he’s a good lad, and he helps Roisin and the troublemakers.”
I squeezed his hand. “You’re a good man, Sully.”
He looked at me, intense and serious. “I try to be. I fail at times, but I try. I’ve been lucky, Autumn. I have a great career, no money trouble, and a good life. Not everyone I grew up with has that. I try to help those I can, but I do it quietly. Behind the scenes. Not everything is visible.”
I smiled, getting the feeling he was trying to tell me something, but I wasn’t sure what. I cupped his cheek and kissed him.
He kissed me back, his mouth claiming and hard. Then he drew back, his gaze locked on me. “And my life is complete with you in it now, mo fhiadh beag. You mean more than you know, and I will do everything I can to be the man you deserve.”
The flight attendant appeared before I could speak, offering us a drink. Sully took a whiskey, and I asked for water, sipping it as he shut his eyes, leaning back into the seat with a quiet sigh.
I had asked Roisin earlier about Sully and the gang he was in when he was younger. She had stayed silent for a moment before she spoke.
“That’s his story to tell you, lass. Growing up where we did wasn’t easy.
Gangs were prevalent—some worse than others.
Sully did what he had to, I think. My Niall was deep into the life when Finn took him to Canada, which I was grateful for.
Sully moved on and found his own path with his career. Moved away to escape it. Some didn’t.”
“Like the ones last night?”
She shook her head. “That’s more an attitude.
Young pups who think they know everything and that the rules don’t apply to them.
I’m glad Sully was there and put them in their place.
We don’t have many. Since Finn and Niall bought me this place, life is more peaceful.
It’s a lovely village, and what happened last night was rare.
Just a bunch of arses trying to be more than they are. ” She patted my hand. “You’re grand.”
I frowned, and she smiled. “That means not to worry.”
I nodded in understanding. I was learning lots of little Irish phrases I could use. Sully would love it.
A hand folding over mine brought me out of my musings.
“You’ve yawned twice in the past ten minutes.”
“I’m tired.”
“We’ll be home by eight. I’ll tuck you into bed early.”
“I was going to unpack.”
“Do it tomorrow. You can have a bath when we get home and get a good rest.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. I liked the sound of that.
SULLY
I yanked a hand through my hair in vexation. “I just got back from Dublin. Now you want me to go back?”
My boss, Archie, regarded me steadily. “Unfortunately, yes. I need you there for this. McFadden is ill and can’t go. Zoom won’t work. It needs to be in person.”
I wanted to thump my head on the desk and say no.
But I couldn’t. I knew how important this was to the firm.
But it meant a couple nights away from Autumn, and our time together was dwindling fast. She had barely settled into my place, and even though I knew she’d be back, the thought of her leaving loomed in my head constantly.
“You can fly there later tonight and home on Wednesday,” Archie offered.
“As long as things go well.”
“And with you there, I know they will.”
“Fine. I’ll catch up on what I can and go home to pack. I’ll get Lloyd to book me out on the late flight.”
He nodded and left, and I shouted for Lloyd, telling him what I needed.
“On it,” he assured me.
Then I called Autumn and told her the news.
“Oh, okay,” she said. “You’re grand.”
“What?”
She giggled. “Roisin taught me that one. It’s fine, Sully. Except I have a meeting at five I can’t get out of, so I won’t see you.”
“Dammit.”
“I’ll see you Wednesday,” she soothed. “Bonnie and I were going out for drinks tomorrow anyway. Everything is good.”
“I’ll miss you,” I grumped.
“I’ll miss you, but I will see you the day after tomorrow. That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”
“It’s fine.”
“Call me from your hotel.”
“I’ll probably call you from the airport.”
She laughed softly. “Fine.”
“I love you,” I murmured, looking up to see Lloyd coming in. “I’ll call you later.”