40. Cormac
Chapter Forty
CORMAC
It’s been one month since the riot at the prison, and still we’ve heard nothing from Lorcan. Not a single whisper. Not one sign that he’s resurfaced or made a move.
But that doesn’t mean he’s gone.
I know he’s out there somewhere, biding his time.
In the meantime, we’ve all learned to live around it, like it’s background noise for the sake of the children, even though my brothers and I both know it isn’t. It’s a storm that hasn’t arrived yet, and I can feel the tension coiled under the surface, ready to explode at any moment.
But tonight, Lorcan doesn’t exist. The only thing that matters is the smile on Fiona’s face as she flits around the living room, showing off her engagement ring to everyone she passes.
We weren’t planning on having an engagement party, but Ciara insisted, so here we are, drinking champagne and toasting to a future we almost lost.
I can’t deny that any excuse to admire Fiona in a form-fitting dress is a night well spent.
She looks radiant as she chats away with Riley and Zoe, that soft pink blush I love so much creeping up her neck and cheeks as she sips on her champagne.
“Someone’s a little lovesick.”
I look over to find Ronan at my side.
I smile. “Can you blame me?”
He claps me on the shoulder. “You’ve found a good one.”
I turn my attention back to Fiona.
She’s been through so much, and she deserves the absolute world. And I will try my best to give her just that.
“Watch out, Scout,” Ronan warns as he almost crashes into us.
“Oops, sorry, Uncle Ronan!” he yells as he chases after Amber and Skye.
Scout is completely taken with the girls and already refers to them as his cousins.
They’re all similar ages, and they immediately hit it off, shrieking and giggling as they chase each other around the living room.
I’ve never seen my son look so happy.
Kieran appears at my other side. “I never thought I would say this, but this house is starting to feel too small.”
I smirk. “Is that code for you want us out?”
We’re still yet to move back to the penthouse.
While Scout and Fiona seem settled here, and Riley adores having as much of the family here as possible, I can’t deny I miss the days when it was only Fiona, Scout, and myself.
But somehow, the idea of taking them back to the penthouse in the city doesn’t feel right. Not when the rest of the family is out here in Washington Heights.
Maybe Kieran had it right. Maybe a house outside the city isn’t such a bad idea after all…
“You know Riley wouldn’t let you even if you wanted to.”
“This is true.”
Suddenly, Kieran lets out a string of curses.
“What?” I ask, immediately on alert.
Kieran scowls. “Ronan, can you please tell your wife to stop supplying the kids with sugar unless she plans on taking them all back to your place tonight?”
I look around to find Ciara bringing out yet more trays of food and setting them down on the table that she had brought in specially for the occasion.
According to Ronan, for the past few days, she and Elena have been locked away in the kitchen baking all of Scout’s favorite treats. Though from the way Brennan and Kieran keep hovering over by the food, I’m not sure there will be much left for Scout.
“On it.” Ronan stalks away.
Fiona’s eyes keep flicking toward me, a silent smile that makes my chest tighten.
She knows I’m watching, but she makes no attempt to tell me to stop. I think she secretly enjoys how possessive I am, and not just in the bedroom.
When she catches me looking for the third time, she excuses herself and walks toward me, making sure to sway her hips in a way that makes my mouth water.
“Was there something you wanted, or do you just like staring at me?”
Kieran scoffs. “And I’m out.”
I chuckle under my breath as Fiona settles beside me and leans her head against my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her even closer as I press a kiss to her hair. “I can think of a few things I want.”
“Well, they’ll have to wait because I’m incredibly popular. And my time is valuable.”
I squeeze her waist. “I’ll make sure not to take up too much of your time.”
“So, are you going to tell me what you were thinking about?”
“Huh?”
“You looked like you were lost in thought.”
“I was thinking about houses.”
“Houses?”
“Mmm…”
“As in, buying a house?”
I shrug. “Maybe. I mean, I know we have the penthouse, but I like the idea of Scout being close to his cousins. Plus, I know he would love a yard.”
Fiona looks up at me. “Cormac Sullivan, are you suggesting we permanently move to the suburbs?”
I dip my head to press a kiss to her lips. “Just something to think about.”
“Uncle Cormac!”
I look around to find Amber, Skye, and Scout all barreling over to me, and I barely have a chance to brace myself before they collide with my legs.
I chuckle. “Whoa, slow down.”
“Uncle Cormac, can I go on your shoulders?” Skye blinks up at me with her huge blue eyes.
I swear this kid actually melts me.
I happily comply, lifting her onto my shoulders, and Amber and Scout immediately follow suit. Suddenly, I’m a walking, stumbling tower of kids.
Fiona chuckles, but her eyes are too wide. “Cormac, careful! You’re going to drop them all!”
“Don’t worry, my daddy is the strongest!” Scout declares as he tightens his arms around my neck to the point where I almost can’t breathe.
“I beg to fucking differ.” Brennan sets down his champagne flute and flexes his arms.
“Brennan, language!” Ciara scolds.
“Oh, shit, yeah. Sorry.”
“Brennan.”
“Crap, sorry!”
Scout laughs. “Uncle Brennan said a bad word.”
Brennan grins. “That’s because Uncle Brennan is cool.”
Kieran scoffs. “I beg to fucking differ.”
“Kieran Sullivan!” Riley scolds, and I choke on a laugh at the look on Kieran’s face.
Brennan claps his hands together. “Right. I’ve been thinking.”
I set the kids back down on solid ground. “That’s never a good sign.”
Brennan ignores me completely. “I think it’s time we settle something very important. Ready, kids? So… Who’s the favorite uncle?”
“You are!” Scout says, without hesitation.
Brennan beams. “See? Kid’s got taste.”
Ronan seethes. “Absolutely not. You bribed him with that stupid drone.”
Brennan huffs. “It was a gift. Out of love.”
“What does bribe mean?” Skye asks.
“Nothing,” I say quickly.
“It means, I’ll buy you anything you want if you say I’m your favorite.”
“Really?” Skye gapes.
“He’s kidding,” Fiona says, and Skye’s face falls.
“I’m not,” I say, and Skye beams at me.
“You’re a sucker, you know that?” Fiona says under her breath.
“Oh yeah, I’m aware.”
““Uncle Cormac is my favorite!” Amber exclaims, throwing her arms around my legs.
“Mine too!” Skye agrees.
“This game sucks.” Brennan scoffs, snatching up his glass and stalking away.
Fiona throws her head back and laughs, the sound light and unguarded. And for a second, I just stand there watching her, this woman who has somehow slotted herself into the chaos of my family like she was always meant to be here.
Kieran catches my eye across the room, and I can tell something is on his mind.
I pretend not to notice, but I’m acutely aware of him heading over to us.
“I don’t really know how to say this, so I’m just going to come out and say it.” He exhales, scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “I know I was an asshole at the beginning.”
“That’s one word for it,” Fiona says, but there’s no bite to her tone.
“I didn’t make it easy. For either of you. And I was wrong.”
The admission hangs heavy between us because I know Kieran doesn’t make them lightly.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he says simply. “Both of you.”
Something in Fiona’s expression softens. She reaches out and squeezes his arm. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
Kieran nods once, then clears his throat and retreats before the moment can turn uncomfortable.
I watch him go, a faint smile tugging at my mouth.
Eventually, Zoe comes over and hijacks Fiona, so I take the opportunity to go and refill my glass, only to be intercepted by Ciara, who is bringing out a tray of cupcakes for the kids to decorate.
“Cormac, we really need to talk about venues and dates. Fiona’s given me a list of ideas, but I need to know what you want.”
I groan, rubbing my temple. “Is that really necessary tonight?”
She grins at me, which tells me there’s no point in trying to fight her.
“Ciara, you already have my credit card. You and Fiona can go nuts. Just…leave me out of it.”
“But—”
Fiona appears with a cupcake covered in frosting the color of Zoe’s hair. “I did try to warn you.”
“Of what?” Ciara asks.
“That Cormac is a Grinch when it comes to fun,” she teases as she dips her finger into the frosting.
I narrow my eyes as I watch Fiona wrap her lips around her finger and suck the frosting off.
I turn to Ciara. “I have one request.”
“Really? What? You can have anything.”
“I want a cake covered in frosting. So I can do this.” I wrap my arm around Fiona and dip my head to take a bite of her cake.
She squeals, batting at my chest, but I don’t let go until my lips are fully coated in frosting. And then I kiss her.
“Okay, yeah,” Fiona gasps against my mouth. “Frosting is a must.”
“Okay, I’m clearly getting nowhere,” Ciara grumbles, walking away to leave me alone with Fiona.
“Fiona!” Scout calls from across the room. “We need you!”
“I’m being summoned,” she murmurs against my mouth.
“My son is very demanding.”
“He takes after his father.”
I nip at her lower lip. “What can I say? I know what I want.”
“Well, whatever you want will have to wait.”
I let out a groan before releasing my hold on Fiona.
It’s pure torture watching her walk away in a dress that hugs her ass so perfectly, so I make a mental note to torture her right back once we are alone.
When the sugar crashes finally hit, and the older kids have all been put to bed in Scout’s room, Fiona and I head back downstairs to join the rest of the party.
She chuckles. “They’re going to be impossible tomorrow.”
I snake an arm around her waist and pull her flush against me. “Even if they are, we’re officially off duty for tonight.”
“Oh, yeah? Says who?”
“Says Brennan. He offered to babysit.”
“And you trust him?”
“No, but my need to get you naked thoroughly outweighs my desire to parent tonight.”
“Cormac.” Fiona laughs, swatting at my chest.
I nuzzle at her neck. “Something wrong?”
“Get a room!” Zoe yells, and Fiona laughs, which only makes me nuzzle her neck even more.
She hums. “I think the other love of my life is needing some attention.”
“You better be joking.”
“Even when we’re married, I have duties to attend to.”
“Like what?”
“Like being Zoe’s personal hairdresser. Your trust in Brennan to look after three kids under six is way greater than my trust in Zoe with a packet of bleach.”
I shake my head as Fiona grins up at me.
Though, as I press a kiss to her hair, my eyes flick to Brennan, and that’s when I notice him checking his phone.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
And just like that, the illusion of peace cracks.
I leave Fiona with Zoe and cross the room to where Brennan is leaning against the wall.
His earlier amusement has faded completely, leaving behind the version of him I know he only brings out when something is very, very wrong.
“Brennan. What’s going on? You’ve checked your phone three times in the last two minutes.”
He freezes. “It’s…nothing. Just, you know, work stuff,” he refuses to look at me. “It’s your engagement party.”
I grip his arm. “I don’t care. Something has changed, I can see it all over your face, so spill.”
He exhales slowly as he rakes a hand through his hair.
“One of my contacts in Budapest was assassinated last night.”
Freddy’s words echo in my mind.
Lorcan is planning on targeting Brennan’s international network.
Is this the move we’ve been waiting for him to make?
“And?” I press.
Brennan deflates. “And the ballistics report came back just now. It’s the same gun that killed our father.”
I don’t need to say it out loud.
Brennan and I both know who was behind this.
My fists clench at my sides as I survey the room.
“This is his declaration,” I mutter as my gaze lands on Fiona. “He’s making his move.”
Brennan nods. “It is. But if Lorcan wants a war, then a war is what he’ll get.”