Unshackled

“All my life, I heard about the Sons of Munster. Dad and Liam called it an organization, a business—nothing illegal. Obviously, I know that’s complete bullshit now—”

I coughed around a laugh.

“We’re talking rumors around school, the whole shebang,” she continued. “But I never heard of the Daughters of Munster until this summer. What is it?”

This one was easy. “It’s absolutely nothing—yet. The two women behind the initiative have been busy popping out kids.”

Nessa grinned faintly and quirked a brow. “Emilia and Luna?”

I inclined my head. “It’s a new era, I guess. Emilia and Luna were heavily involved with our work last year because the Italians didn’t give us much choice, and now the ladies think it’s a great idea to start a sister organization. In short, they wanna get their manicured fingers dirty because they’re turning out to be adrenaline junkies. But we won’t let them take too many risks.”

“There’s that sexism again.”

“Call it whatever you want, toots.” I chuckled and took a swig of my beer. “I’m sure you’ll make a great Daughter one day, but you’ll always have the Sons watching every step you take. It’s our responsibility to keep you safe.”

“Because we can’t possibly do that ourselves?”

I grinned. “Do me a favor and run that question by Finn.”

She jutted her chin. “I will.”

I’d make sure to be there.

“Last question,” she announced. “What exactly is it that the Sons of Munster do?”

Ha!

“Pass.”

“What—no!” she exclaimed. “You have to tell me, Kellan.”

“I sure as fuck don’t,” I laughed. She was out of her damn mind. “This isn’t some free buffet, Nessa. I’ve already told you more than what Finn would’ve. Hell, Emilia too.” Not to mention Shan. “I promised you three questions, not that you could ask whatever you want. Ask something else.”

“But I already know people died last year,” she protested. “For someone to die, there has to be a killer. What’s worse than murder?”

Self-defense wasn’t murder, goddammit. Perhaps not every death had been self-defense on our part, but that was neither here nor there.

“Do you steal?” she prodded. “You steal, right? I’m pretty sure you guys steal.”

I didn’t reply.

“Do you deal drugs?” she asked next.

I folded my arms over my chest. “Finn owns a security business. Colm is the head of Pat’s garages. Eric is one of Finn’s employees. Liam, your own brother, works in real estate. You know Shan is a shrink and a former field medic in the Army.”

Nessa could not roll her eyes any heavier. “I’m not an idiot, Kellan. I know you guys are still under investigation from last year.”

So?

We were always under investigation.

“Are you gonna pick another question?” I reached for my smokes and lit one up.

Annoyed she wasn’t going to get me to budge, she stewed for a bit before she shook her head and said she’d come up with something later. Now she wanted to get back to Luna and the baby.

Nessa wasn’t only sharp and ballsy and sweet and all things nice; she was also spoiled rotten, and it showed sometimes. She hated not getting her way.

She came around eventually, though, and she was mature enough to always apologize when she’d crossed a line. I just had to give her some time.

I turned twenty-six on December 16, a day that didn’t mean a whole lot to me. Luna came upstairs with my screaming nephew and a cake she’d made herself, so that covered my breakfast needs and shattered my eardrums once more. As always, my sister’s gift for me was a home-cooked meal whenever I wanted it since my skills in the kitchen left a lot to be desired, and something for my wardrobe, this time four pairs of socks and a nice button-down.

Emilia called around noon to wish me a happy birthday and to demand my attendance for a birthday dinner in a couple days. Then she said she was sending her husband to give me a “big kiss and hug” after work. Apparently, I was meeting up with him for a pint at five, and that was actually nice. We hadn’t met up outside of work in a minute.

My parents didn’t call, of course. They never did.

On the flipside, having a top position with the Sons now resulted in more gifts. All afternoon, as I drove around the city to meet with crew bosses and get shit done, I was handed envelopes with cash. I wasn’t going to claim they rivaled the envelopes Finn and Emilia received at Ryan’s christening, but I felt celebrated, nonetheless.

I might even buy that expensive wool jacket I’d seen when I was out with Nessa. I hadn’t been ready to spend six grand on a jacket at the time…

Funny how that worked, really. On my way back up to my apartment, I flipped through a catalogue from Audi, ’cause this motherfucker was in the mood to treat himself to a birthday gift, and I’d been eyeing a certain car for over a year that would make a six-grand jacket look like a tissue.