Cathal
Mackenna O’Sheeran entered the world at eleven fifty-nine p.m. It was twelve thirty in the morning when Rian came out to announce her birth, what time she arrived, and her other stats.
Gia’s dad, Alphonso, and her brothers, Luciano, Gerardo, and Rocco, were there with us.
Or as we called them, Fonso, Luc, Rardo, and Roc.
The first to go back to see them when Mom and baby were ready were Fonso, Patrick, and Maeve.
After them were Rian and Gia’s siblings, and finally the rest of us.
Bronagh had fallen asleep leaning against me around ten o’clock.
I held her close. We’d been seated on a double chair.
When the cheer due to the news came, it woke her up.
She yawned and stretched like a kitten. After everyone had settled, she apologized for sleeping.
But I wouldn’t hear of it. She wasn’t the only one who had.
As the first rounds of people went back, Bronagh glanced over at me.
“I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be back.”
“I’ll go with you,” I said.
“Cathal, you don’t need to do that. I know where it is. And we’re safe here.”
“I know all that, but what if I want to come with you?”
“Okay, fine.”
While she was doing her business, I used the other bathroom next to it. When she didn’t come out after five minutes, I knocked.
“Bronagh, are you okay?”
“Yeah, sorry. Hang on,” she called back.
A few moments later, the door unlocked and opened.
“I’m tidying myself up. Brushing out this mess,” she said, gesturing to her hair that was hanging down her back in a tousled mess.
She’d released it from her bun. Without missing a beat, I gently pushed her backward so I could step into the bathroom. They were all unisex and single-use. I turned the lock.
“Turn to face the mirror and let me have your brush,” I directed.
She gave me an uncertain glance, but then she did it. Holding her hair at the roots, I began brushing the ends, working my way to her scalp, removing tangles and a few knots.
“You do a good job. I’m afraid to ask how many women’s hair you’ve done this to,” Bronagh murmured.
“I’ve brushed Mam’s, Cara’s, Siobhan’s, Aisling’s, and now yours. I’ve never offered to brush a lover’s hair. This is special. And if one day I have a daughter or daughters, they’ll get this treatment.”
Suddenly, she pulled on her head until I let go, then Bronagh twirled around to face me.
Her arms came up to encircle my neck, then she pulled.
I took the hint and bent. Her mouth landed on mine.
The kiss was eager and filled with what I thought was longing.
I groaned as I kissed her back. It was getting harder every time we kissed to hold back.
I wanted to beg her to let me take her to bed and ravish her.
My self-control, which I prided myself on, was about to splinter.
It was pounding on the door that brought us back to where we were. Reluctantly, I peeled away from her lush mouth and called out gruffly, “What?”
My brother, Tiernan, answered in an amused voice. “We’ll be getting our turn soon. You might want to make yourselves presentable. Unless you prefer to stay in there all night.” He chuckled.
“Fuck off. We’ll be out in a couple of minutes,” I replied.
I watched her face as I spoke to my brother. It was flushed pink. Her pupils were dilated, and she breathed in soft pants. I felt hot all over, and my breathing was rapid. Her hair, which I’d managed to brush a little, was back to being messy.
“Let me finish your hair. If you’re agreeable, once we see them, we’ll head back. And if you’d like to repeat that kiss, I won’t say no.”
A faint smile edged her lips as she answered. “That sounds intriguing. I’ll have to think about it. And feel free to brush away.”
She turned her back to me and watched in the mirror as I brushed her hair out.
She wound it into a bun with a few practiced flicks of her wrists.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips dark pink and swollen.
There was no need for makeup. Bronagh took a deep breath before I unlocked and opened the bathroom door.
Thankfully, no one was waiting outside it.
However, when we reentered the waiting room, we got knowing looks, but no one said anything.
They did that for her benefit, not mine.
The family was being careful in introducing her to the real us.
Everyone wanted this marriage to last. Several of them told me that privately, including my parents, Darragh, and my uncles.
Ten minutes later, it was our turn to see the happy family. Bronagh tried to stay behind.
“You should go with them. I’ll be fine out here,” she said.
“You’re family, my fiancée. I know you don’t have the ring yet, but it’s on the way. They’ll wonder if you don’t come with me.”
Bronagh gave in. As we made our way to the delivery room, I wished her ring was ready, but I was having Cian make a custom one for her at Divine. He managed Divine with Ashlynn’s help. She’d worked in another jewelry store when she met Darragh.
We entered the room with Aisling, Alistair, Tiernan, and Kynedi. Gia, despite her exhaustion, glowed with happiness. Rian wore a proud grin. He held Mackenna protectively in his arms.
Aisling squealed softly and rushed ahead with her hands out, calling, “Gimme.”
Her actions caused all of us to laugh. Rian handed his daughter over. The rest of us moved close enough to see the tiny face. Her eyes were closed, and her little lips were pursed.
“She’s beautiful,” Kynedi said with a deep sigh.
“She is very beautiful,” Bronagh agreed.
“Another girl to keep locked behind the walls,” Tiernan stated.
“We’ll share our security plans with you,” Alistair told Rian.
I chuckled. All three men were fathers to daughters. And in our family, whether they liked it or not, girls got more protection.
“Tell me they’re joking,” Bronagh said to Kynedi.
Kynedi shook her head. “No, they’re not.
After we had Quinn, I watched Alistair and Tiernan get together the first week to review the plan.
Alistair had developed it after Cian and Miranda had Caitlin, and Aidan’s Khloe was brought into the family.
He added to it when Aisling had Sheena, and I had Quinn.
It’s no doubt being revised now that we have Mackenna.
Just be ready. If you and Cathal have any girls, he’ll be brought into the father-of-daughters club and add to it. ”
Bronagh glanced up at me. I smirked and nodded. She shook her head.
“I can’t believe you guys. You have more security than the president of the United States, yet you add more to the girls? How are they allowed to breathe?”
“Surrounded with guards and protection,” Alistair stated.
“Have you ever thought of teaching them how to defend themselves? I know Cathal has been trained. He told me. And I saw the weapons that all the men carry when they’re not at home.
I’m assuming all the guys have self-defense training like Cathal.
And while they have bodyguards, they’re not smothered,” my woman stated.
“True, but see, females in this family have more protection because outsiders will see them as easier targets. It’s the way the world works.
And while, yes, they will be trained just like sons, they have to be more secure in some ways.
We don’t risk them. Not to say we risk our sons, but you know that the world is misogynistic.
Your dad hid you away to keep you safe,” Alistair reminded her.
“Yes, he did, and that isolation hurt, even though I knew why. And before you talk about the guards I escaped from, it was suffocating. I had no way to be free to develop my life or personality. I’m not saying don’t protect them, but don’t forget they need space, too, and it’s not only locked behind walls.
I was trained in martial arts from a young age.
Then, when I got older, I learned how to handle firearms and defensive and offensive driving.
The world isn’t without risk, no matter how well guarded you believe something or someone is,” Bronagh told us.
Before anyone could reply, Bronagh added more.
“But this discussion is for another time. Right now, we’re here to see gorgeous Mackenna.
She’s perfect. Thank you for allowing me to join the family for this.
I’ve never been around for a baby’s birth.
When my cousins had them, I was shown a picture later, if they remembered to send me one. ”
Her smile was genuine, and I knew she felt joy at the inclusion, but underneath, I knew her family’s exclusion had hurt her.
“Well, damn, after that speech, I have to let her be held. Here you go, Bronagh, you’re next,” Aisling said, coming to stand before us.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to take her away from anyone or to hold her. Family should do that,” my fiancée hastily stated.
“You’re family, Bronagh. You’re marrying our brother. Now, take her,” my sister ordered.
Bronagh held out her arms. I saw how carefully she took Mackenna.
Her movements were a tad stiff, as if she was unsure how to hold her or wasn’t used to it.
I wrapped my arms around hers, cradling them both.
I stared down at my sleeping second cousin.
I was struck by the vision of Bronagh and me holding a child of our own like this. My need to marry her grew.
Unable to resist, I lowered my head to whisper into her ear. The others were talking to the new parents.
“Just think, we can have this one day. I can see you like children. I’ve watched you with the other kids. Think about us having several of them.”
Bronagh’s head turned far enough that she could catch my gaze. I saw no denial on her face.
“Exactly how many are several? If you think I’m having a whole baseball team to fill your house, you’re crazy.”
I chuckled. “How would at least three be, though honestly, if you agreed, I’d take more. We can cap it at five, like I was. It was a good number. Mam always claimed once you hit three, adding more wasn’t a big deal.”
“Not a big deal! Remind me to speak to Cyndi and ask her when she became certifiable,” she smarted back.
I laughed aloud. That got the others to look at us and smile before resuming their conversation.
I was content to stand there holding both my woman and the baby.
We got five minutes before we passed MacKenna to Kynedi.
We spent a few more minutes speaking with Rian and Gia before we excused ourselves to let the next bunch in.
After returning to the waiting room, I announced that we were heading home.
Goodbyes were swift. Those who had gone ahead of us to see the baby had already left.
I texted to let Troi know we were coming down.
This time, Dario, a foot soldier, escorted us out the back entrance to Troi and the waiting car.
Once we were safely inside, Dario reentered the hospital. It was early morning. There was no traffic to fight, so the drive home went quickly, but even though it did, Bronagh fell asleep leaning against me. She sat in the middle, so I wrapped my arm around her and held her tightly.
When we got home, I made a decision. Instead of having Troi drop us off at the main house and then me walking home, I directed him to go straight to my house. If Bronagh got upset, I’d deal with it. But tonight I needed her under my roof and in my bed, even if all we did was sleep.