34. Rory
I’m finally getting a second wind when the intercom at the gate buzzes, and the Burkes show up.
It’s Declan and Gray, I presume, who are at the door, but I’m confused when Lara barrels past her brothers and hugs the man behind them.
He laughs out loud, and when the sunlight catches on his silver temples, I realize that it must be Patrick, her father.
Gray and Declan walk in, giving me a wide berth as if I’m a venomous snake that might strike.
I go to close the door before an irritated, breathless voice comes from the stairs.
“I forgot how steep these porch stairs were.”
As I recognize the voice, a grin spreads across my face, and I fling the door open to see my sister.
Her hair is frizzed, her expression frazzled, and she’s so heavily pregnant that I gape at her.
“I know,” she whines. “I’m fat.”
“You’re glowing.” I walk toward her, and she smiles as I hug her as tightly as I can, given her rounded belly.
She huffs. “Your nephew has orders to be evicted soon.”
I laugh, looking at her stomach in awe. It’s strange to see her so pregnant.
She chuckles and rubs her hand over it. “He’s sure earning his keep, kicking around in there.”
I keep hold of her hand as she steps into the house.
She looks around, her eyes glassy with tears. “God, it feels like it's been years since I've been back here.”
“I know the feeling,” I mutter, and Lara smacks Declan for something he said that I didn’t hear.
“Rory, this is Declan and Gray, my brothers.” Lara points to each of them.
I throw up a little wave, and Declan waves back, but Gray just looks at me with cool eyes.
“Gray,” Lara growls, pinching his upper arm, and he yelps, jerking away from her.
“Hi,” he finally says in a low tone.
“It's nice to meet you, son,” Patrick says warmly, and he walks up to me and envelops me in a bear hug that I’m definitely not expecting.
I chuckle and clap him on the back before he pulls away.
“Now, I know we need to talk business,” Patrick says. “But I’m as hungry as a bear. Why don’t we all go out for dinner?”
Lara looks at him warily. “Are you sure you’re up for it, Da?”
“I’m right as rain, a’stor. Ask your brothers.”
Gray nods, stepping forward. “Doc gave him the okay.”
Lara softens and then loops her arm through Patrick’s.
“Then let’s go. I'm so ready to get out of this house.”
Patrick chuckles, and Lara and I get into a car while the Burkes get into theirs.
Declan and Bree have brought their car, and Gray and Patrick have ridden together.
Lara looks over at me when I start the car.
“Are you okay with this?”
“With what? Going to dinner with your family?”
“All of it." She waves her hand to gesture ‘everything.’ “My family isn’t just taking us to dinner, they’re… taking over. And if you want to talk about it?—”
“I don’t.”
She looks at me, frowning slightly, and I cup her face in one hand and kiss her softly.
“I don’t care about all of this, honey. I haven’t in years.” I take a deep breath. “Honestly, my father hasn’t been a part of my life for so long, he was not in it anymore long before he was actually gone, and I’m just glad to have it all off my shoulders. I never wanted to be an heir. I didn’t want things to end up the way they did, but at least everything is really over.”
She takes my hand, holding it in her lap as we drive out of the estate, following Patrick’s car to a nearby restaurant. Lara blinks when we pull into the parking lot.
“This is Natalia’s.”
I look at her blankly. “Yeah?”
“This is where my father was shot.”
She nearly bolts out of the car, rushing to her father as he gets out of the driver’s side.
“It’s okay , Lara. I've talked to the owners, everything is all right. Besides...” He glances over at me. “We have nothing to fear from a Murphy anymore, do we?”
I shake my head. “Nothing at all.”
Lara sticks by his side as we head into the restaurant.
Once we’re seated and have a bottle of wine on the table that Bree is glaring at as if it offended her personally, Patrick puts his hands together, looking at me curiously.
“Bree says you want no part of this.”
“I don’t.” I keep his gaze, knowing that Patrick is the kind of man who needs to see that you mean what you say. I’m sure he’s already biased against me because of who my father is.
“Why not?”
“I’ve never wanted to be a part of it,” I try to explain, sipping my water before placing the glass back down on the table. “I left when I was young, started my own life. I’ve never really been part of the clan, at least not until now.”
“And you’re not going to change your mind?”
I bark out a laugh. “Absolutely not, sir. I’m not built for this kind of life.”
I nod toward Bree. “She’s the one who always had the patience for the business. She ran our books for years after Ma...” I pause. “After Ma passed.”
Bree looks up at my words. “I did. I scheduled all his appointments, too.”
Declan smiles at her proudly, putting an arm around her. “That's my girl."
“Aye, but Bree is going to be indisposed pretty soon.” Patrick gestures to her belly. “And we’ll need someone who can run the Murphy side of things.”
“It’s not the Murphy side of things. Not anymore. It’s yours.”
Patrick blinks. “What do you mean?”
“I’m my father’s first born. His only son. Everything he owns will come to me, and I’ll sign it all over.”
“No conditions?”
I glance at Lara, and then back at Patrick. “Only one. My best friend, Duncan. He wants a place in the clan. He’s loyal, and he’s always been a good man. Also, everyone who wishes to remain, as long as they prove loyal, should be allowed to stay."
Patrick frowns. “That’s it?”
I shrug. “That’s it.”
“Aye, of course! We can always use more loyal people.” He grins, settling back in his chair. “Now, let’s order.”
The server goes around and gets everyone’s orders, and Bree and Lara chat idly about the baby while Gray keeps staring me down.
Finally, I huff out a breath and look at him. “What’s your problem with me, Gray?”
His shoulders stiffen. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Lara frowns at him. “Gray?—”
I hold up a hand to stop her. “I’ve got this,” I whisper to her, nudging her knee with my own, and she shuts her mouth, although she’s still glaring at Gray. I turn back to her brother. “It’s because I'm a Murphy. Because I'm Niall’s son."
Gray doesn’t speak, but he nods tightly.
I nod back. “Listen, I get it. I was taught my entire life to hate your family. Even after I met Lara, it was hard to get past everything my father told me. But you’ve accepted Bree into your life. She’s as much our father’s child as I am.”
Gray opens his mouth to argue, but then shuts it again, seeming to think before speaking.
“You’re right. And since you’re the one who took him out, it’s not fair of me to think of you badly.” His face softens. “Not to mention, you’ve kept my sister safe.”
“And I always will.”
Lara smiles and takes my hand under the table.
Warmth spreads through me as the dinner goes on.
The Burkes are all as bright and kind as Lara, and they’re funny, too. I’ve laughed more during this dinner than in the last decade of my life.
I end up actually having a good time, which is crazy, considering all that happened in the past few days.
Patrick offers to order dessert. but everyone groans after the big meal we’ve just eaten.
I pat my stomach. “I couldn’t eat another bite.”
Bree huffs. “Speak for yourself. I’m eating for two.”
Declan laughs and kisses her temple. “We’ll get you some cheesecake to go.”
Bree beams at him, and I guess I’ve never thought about my little sister falling in love, but I’m glad she has, and I’m glad she’s happy.
Patrick pays the bill, even though I offer to split it, and Declan stands first.
“I think we’ll be heading out.”
Bree gets up with difficulty and comes over to wrap her arms around my neck. “I love you, big brother.” Her mouth comes to my ear. “You did the right thing.”
“I think I’ll stay a bit. Have a conversation with my new son-in-law,” Patrick drawls, and Lara squeaks.
“Da, please.”
Patrick just gives her a hard look, and she hangs her head.
Gray excuses himself and nods goodbye to me.
Lara comes over and kisses my cheek. “I’ll wait in the car. Don’t let him intimidate you.”
I look at her, eyes widen. “He’s going to intimidate me?”
She pats me on the shoulder, shaking her head, and leaves, taking Bree’s hand as they exit.
Patrick waits until they’re all outside before turning to me.
“My daughter says that you’re a good man.”
“I like to think I am.” My voice sounds weak even to my own ears.
I used to think I was a good man. These days? I’m not so sure.
“I know what you did for her,” he says quietly. “I know your father. I know the kind of men he employs, and I know that if you hadn’t stepped in...”
He shakes his head. “Well, I don’t even want to think about what might have happened.”
“I’ll never let anything hurt her,” I promise, and I mean it, with all my heart.
I try to put all of it into my eyes since he’s staring at me intently.
“I don’t know you well enough to trust you.” He pauses. “But I trust her . I trust my daughters to make the right decisions, to choose the right men. But I will tell you one thing–if you fail to protect her, even once... I’ll kill you myself.”
“I’d do the job for you, sir.” There must be some manner of truth on my face, because Patrick’s shoulders relax.
He smiles. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
Patrick gets up, seeming in good health even though my father had talked like he was at death’s door.
I follow him, and nearly run smack into Lara, who stands right by the door, all but wringing her hands.
“Jesus.” I put a hand to my chest. “You scared me.”
“What’d he say?” She drags me to the car.
“He was very intimidating.” I laugh, but I don’t unlock the car.
She tries the handle and then frowns up at me, her mouth in a little pout.
There’s no one else in the parking lot. We’re alone, under a big yellow streetlight, and it illuminates her features.
She’s so beautiful it makes my chest hurt.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
Lara takes a couple of steps toward me, clearly worried.
“What is it? Whatever it is, we’ll get through it.”
I drop down on one knee, and her green eyes widen. “You already have the ring, honey, but I wanted to ask you for real. Will you marry me? For real and forever?”
Lara’s eyes swim with tears, and she throws her arms around me, nearly knocking me over.
I groan and laugh at the same time, kissing along the side of her face as she sniffles and sobs.
“I always wanted a big proposal. Always wanted it done in front of my friends and family, but, Rory... Rory, this was perfect .”
“Yeah? That’s good, because I only planned it for about thirty seconds.”
She laughs and stands up straight, and I kiss her soundly before opening the door of the car for her, and she slides inside, smiling at me dreamily all the way home.
It’s the best way this horrible ordeal could end.