That Thing Between Eli & Gwen

“Yeah.” I took his hand. “Let’s go to bed, tomorrow we’ve got so much to do.”

He groaned and followed me towards our bed before jumping on top of me forcing us both to fall.

“Love you.” He snickered when I tried to wiggle out of his arms, but he held me tighter.

Sighing, I gave up. “Love you too.”

Like always, he fell asleep with ease. I, on the other hand, just lay there brushing my hands through his hair, wide awake and remembering the number one rule my father had always cautioned me to.

Never get comfortable because I will only know peace the day I die.

ONE

“I am an American, Chicago born – Chicago, that somber city – first to knock, first admitted; sometimes an innocent knock, sometimes a not so innocent."

~ Saul Bellow

LIAM

He was somewhere in the crossroads of being scared fucking shitless and desperately anxious. I had seen a lot throughout my life, and I say that knowing damn well I was only thirty-six years old. But thirty-six in mafia years had to be the equivalent to at least sixty years for normal people, give or take a year. Nevertheless, glancing at my son, sitting quietly beside me, his hands reaching up to fix the tie around his neck every few minutes, was still strange as fuck.

“Ethan.” I didn’t bother facing him, scrolling through the email Declan had sent me, but I heard as his whole body shifted towards me.

“Yes, dad?”

“Is something wrong with your bow tie?”

He paused before speaking “Uhh…I don’t think so.”

“You don’t think so?” I glanced over to him and he quickly answered.

“No. There is nothing wrong with my bow tie.”

“Then stop fidgeting.”

“Yes, Sir.”

I wasn’t sure which part confused me more—the fact that I was the father of a nine and half year old or the fact that I was the father of nine and half year old who looked completely identical to me, the same unruly brown hair, sharp green eyes, even my damn nose and ears, Ethan had them all. My mother sometimes would even call him my name by accident; even Neal and Declan had started to call him Liam Jr.

Each time they did, he stood a little prouder and in return that made me proud. However, if I wanted him to be named after me, he would have fucking been named after me. There was only one Liam Callahan, now and forever. I did not think this out of jealously or pride—I earned my name, my Melody earned her name, so he would have to do the same…starting now.

“Sir,” Fedel nodded to me as I stepped out of the Rolls Royce. Fedel had changed over the years; the death of Monte had really gotten to him. His black hair was cut in a buzz, his olive skin tone had gotten only a little lighter in all the years he had been here, but that nothing in comparison to his behavior now. He took no chances with anyone, he hardly spoke unless necessary and there was darkness in his eyes I was familiar with. Where I went, he went. He was now my right-hand man; Italian, Irish, it didn’t matter anymore; we were beyond that.

“Glass Emperor Hotel,” Ethan read when he stepped out beside me. He craned his neck up and stared at the silver skyscraper in front of us.

Without a word, I walked ahead with Fedel and three other bodyguards surrounding us. No one spoke to us as we entered, not the hostess or the valets, only offering a short nod before moving on to whatever they did for a living. Those in the marble lobby were confused but moved out of our way as if they were water and I was Moses.

“Out,” Fedel told the elevator attendant staring wide eyed at him.

“I…can’t leave my post,” she foolishly said.

Before Fedel could move, an older man with gray-black hair—George, his nametag read with the words manager underneath—stepped forward. “Keri, it’s time for your break.”

She raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything and stepped out. As she did, the rest of us stepped on.

“George…find another post for her,” I said. H mouth dropped open as the doors closed on her face and we shot up towards the penthouse suite.

“Why did I do that?” I asked Ethan.