A Bloody Kingdom (Ruthless People 4)

“I’m fine. What did I tell you, Murphy? I’m not like past governors, and you don’t need to hover, especially in one-on-one situations” I said. It was times like this that I wished I still had Fedel and Monte beside me. Since becoming governor, everyone on my staff needed to be squeaky clean to the point of annoyance.

Like all-American boy Huston Murphy, 31, a decorated Marine and recipient of the Medal of Honor, born and raised in Chicago, black hair, blue eyes, and 6’1”. He was also voted most popular in high school—cue eye roll. No arrests, no tickets, just a few unpaid student loans. When his file came across my desk two months ago, I wanted to shred it. Anyone with that clean of a record had some secret. I didn’t trust him with my shoes, let alone my life. However, Mina insisted.

“Ma’am, your family is heading to the cars,” he said to me.

Ma’am.

Ma’am.

Ma’am.

The more he said it, the more I heard Ethan’s voice in my head saying “Dad’s the boss.” I spent twelve hours pushing his hairy head out and he goes and stabs me in the fucking heart.

“Ma’am—”

“Governor. Just call me governor!”

LIAM

When she left, both Neal and Declan cringed at the prospect of what would only be one hell of a fight tonight. I was partially excited, but then I remembered the look in her eye as Ethan spoke.

Grabbing him by the bow tie, I crouched down right in front of him.

“Dad?”

“Hold your ears,” I said seriously and I waited. Frowning he did what I asked. “To everyone you meet, I am the boss, the Ceann na Conairte, Don. There is only one person alive who is the exception to this and it is your mother. The reason being is that she is the boss, the Ceann na Conairte, Don. Everything I am, she is. Saying anything less than that is an insult. Are we clear?”

I could see he looked hurt and confused, but nodded. His head dropped down. I stood back up and put my hand on his head, rubbing the back of it when he dropped his hands.

“Ethan, will you walk with me and wait for your mom?” Mina asked with a smile. He nodded and stepped over to her left, and as always Neal stepped up just a little bit in front of her like he was going to guard her with his body. He’d been doing it for so long that I don’t even think he realized it.

“If only Mel was around to hear that little speech,” Declan said beside me.

“Not even that would help me. She needs to get a few hits in at me first.” Once Ethan had said it, there was no going back. Plus, on top of taking him on the “job”…tonight was not going to go at all as planned. I could feel it. God fucking damn it.

“Look on the bright side,” he said when we got on the elevator.

“What’s on the bright side but sunburn?”

He snickered and leaned against the paneling. “After all these years, she running out of places to not lethally shoot you.”

Neal laughed out loud causing Mina to elbow him in the ribs, but it didn’t stop him.

“Fuck you both,” I muttered under my breath. The doors opened again and we were in the cream and gold hotel lobby. Across from us, another pair of elevators opened and even though I knew she was pissed off at me, I couldn’t stop the small smirk from forming on my lips as she stepped out—an army of black suits behind her.

She was so stunning; no one could look away from her, their eyes filled with lust, jealousy, respect, and fear. She walked into a room and commanded all of with one glance. Her place was at my side, but instead of coming to me, she walked over and placed her arms on the shoulders of our son, not even sparing me a glance.

“Looks like we’re going to fight tonight,” I muttered to myself, my jaw tensing up. The two clowns beside me grinned.

“So—”

“Don’t make me hurt you,” I said to Declan. Strolling right up to her side, I wrapped my arm around her waist.

Her brown eyes focused on me, eyebrow raised. We’d been married for so long I could tell what she was thinking “You’re really going to touch me when you know I’m pissed off at you?”

I smiled and winked at her. Her nose flared because she knew what I meant. “Yes, I know what I’m doing. Get over it, sweetheart.”

“You’re not tired?” She ignored me and focused on Ethan as we walked to the car.