“He’s fuckin’ lucky I let him live.”
“Feckin’ wanker,” Boner says. “I hate the plonker.”
“Same,” Nolan says on my right. His eyes twinkle at me. “Lucky for you, she wasn’t the one got hit with the ugly stick, aye?”
I snort. “Ah, no.”
“Told ya she was gorgeous,” Nolan says.
I give him a warning look. “You did, but that’s the last fucking time you’ll speak of my wife’s looks.”
Nolan sobers. “Aye, brother. Just pleased for you’s all. Hope to God she’s got more sisters.”
But he’s joking. We’ve done our duty and will have no more unions with the Martins.
We walk to the table, and I slide Aileen’s food in front of her. “Thank you,” she says with a small smile.
I sit beside her and grab a napkin.
“Cup of tea, Cormac?”
“Please. Thank you, lass.”
Keenan watches our exchange with interest.
My mother enters the room, her gaze coming straight to me and Aileen. She smiles, but her eyes look tired.
“Is mam alright, Keenan?” I ask him while she goes to fix herself a plate.
Keenan sighs and scrubs a hand across his brow. “Dunno,” he admits. “She’s been troubled lately. Worries about us, you know.”
“I’m telling you,” Caitlin says. “Let your mam watch over the baby. We don’t need that nanny. I don’t like her anyway. Always going on about educational opportunities and fine motor skills, when all the baby needs when so young is love and affection.”
I don’t miss the way Aileen’s eyes cloud for a moment, before she turns back to her food and tucks in.
“She got the best ratings, Cait,” Keenan says.
“Aye,” Caitlin agrees. “But from whom? College professors or real life mothers?”
Aileen snorts. “Good question,” she says. “The mothers will give it to you straight, won’t they?”
The girls talk about nannies and children and babies, and Keenan looks my way. He speaks in a low voice, so the girls don’t overhear.
“Heard you paid a visit to The Craic last night.”
“Aye.”
His gaze swings to Aileen. “Fulfilled your duty, then.”
I nod. Mam comes to the table and sits across from the girls. She pours cream in her tea, then sips it thoughtfully with an appreciative sigh.
“Mornin’, son.”
I nod. “Mam.”
“Will you be needin’ any of my help today? To show Aileen around the estate, maybe?”
“Aye, thank you.” I’ll have her do that while we have our morning meeting.
She nods and joins in conversation with the girls.
Keenan takes the opportunity and leans in to me, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Cormac, a word.” He stands and gestures for me to follow him. We walk back to the buffet. I know what’s coming.
Keenan crosses his arms and fixes me with a serious look. “Don’t blame you for lettin’ him have it, brother. But next time, do me a favor and ask me first.”
I nod. I reckon he’s worried about blowback. “He won’t retaliate,” I tell him. “Made it clear it would be the last thing he did.”
“Just the same, the Martins don’t play fair and never will. Don’t forget the only reason you have Aileen is because they paid tribute to us. Without your marriage, we’d be at war with the bastards. And they’ll do anything to save their own arses and pockets. Anything.”
He’s right.
“Aye,” I say with a nod. “You’re right.”
He grins. “Tell me you made him wet his trousers.”
“Made him feckin’ shite ‘em.” He nods with approval, and we go back to the table.
Mam’s talking in her quiet voice to the girls, while Keenan and I tuck in. Nolan’s telling a crazy story, waving his hands around like a madman, and the men around him are laughing so hard they’re wiping tears from their eyes. Boner slaps his back and catches my eye, giving me a wink. Tully sprays tea all over the place when Nolan catches him off guard and he busts a gut laughing.
These are my brothers. My family. My home. I grew up with these men. I knew that though we beat the tar out of each other and fought like dogs some days, that they’d have my back, and they do still. Mam oversaw the gentler side of our education, and Dad saw to the sterner side. We were raised to be ruthless, but we were raised to be loyal.
What was Aileen’s upbringing like? She’s already revealed much. Shock that I’d protect her. Awe at our house. Surprise that I call the men of The Clan my brothers. How did they treat her?
Aileen talks easily to mam and Caitlin, in between large bites of food.
“Do you tend the garden?” she asks mam.
“Some,” she says, with a bashful smile. “I’ve got help, but the flowers are all mine.” Though we have gardeners and staff that tend to our land, mam takes special pleasure in tending to the flowers.
“Could you show me?” she asks.
Mam looks to me, likely wondering if Aileen’s allowed. She knows how we work, and though she’s already asked if she can give her a tour of the estate, she needs my approval.