Brenda
The recounting of how Sean and I met made me long to be alone with him. It wasn’t just for sex, though I wouldn’t say no to that. It was so we could be skin-to-skin, soaking each other in. It didn’t matter how long it had been or what hardships we faced. We always had each other.
And there had been plenty of hardships. After we married, it wasn’t long before the men began talking of legitimizing the rest of their holdings.
They knew it would take time, finesse, and wouldn’t be easy.
The constant danger we lived in and the need for bodyguards wouldn’t lessen.
The threats grew even though we were trying to leave the Mafia world behind.
Those who were part of the other Mafia families, not just the Irish ones, had been uneasy.
They wondered what it would mean to them.
Some wanted to use it as a way to take territory away from the O’Sheeran family.
Those outside the Mafia had become wary about associating with the family.
There was considerable skepticism about whether they would actually become legitimate.
It was seen as a ploy to make people drop their guards.
Then the O’Sheerans could swoop in and take over their businesses and territories.
Slowly, over time, that eased, but to this day, we still have those who thought we were dirty.
There had been more than a few attempts on the lives of Conall, Sean, Cormac, and Patrick.
And a few times, kidnapping attempts on the children and us.
It was early on. In anticipation of this happening, the family purchased the vast tract of land that now made up the commune.
They knew they had to have us all together in a place that could be defended.
The main house was built to house all of our children and us, along with Seerie and Conall, while other buildings and the guards’ bunkhouse were added afterward.
And in the dark of night, the underground tunnels, complete with escape routes and a command center, were secretly constructed. Nothing was left to chance.
Despite all of that, if I had the chance to go back and do it all over again, knowing what we’d face, I would do it again. At the end of the day, Sean O’Sheeran was my anamchara. I could live through anything and be happy with him at my side. It was another fantastic Christmas in Aran.