Page 52 of Her Michigan Mob Boss

Annie

As I made my way downstairs for breakfast the next morning, my stomach fluttered with nervousness. Ciaran had gone ahead of me, presumably to ensure all evidence of last night’s horrors had been erased. While I wouldn’t forget what happened anytime soon, I refused to dwell on it. Letting it color my worldview would be handing victory to the men who’d attacked us.

After we’d made love several times, Ciaran and I talked long into the night about his life and how he would ensure I was kept away from the less pleasant aspects of it as much as possible. He’d eased a lot of my fears about uprooting my life and moving to a new country to marry a man I’d met less than a week ago. His promise to have a long engagement had helped to put my mind at rest.

When I woke, Ciaran had been gazing down at me with such reverence I’d known I made the right choice when I decided to give him a chance. He’d asked me to affirm my acceptance of his proposal, as if he was afraid I’d come to my senses during the night. I assured him I hadn’t changed my mind. People might think I was crazy, but I knew I belonged here, not just with Ciaran, but with his entire family.

My anxieties about breaking the news of our engagement to the rest of his family slowed my pace as I headed along the corridor. Would they think it was a terrible idea? What if they didn’t accept me?

When I reached the breakfast room it was empty. Assuming everyone must be in the kitchen, I made my way there, but before I reached it, I heard chatter coming from the dining room. I paused outside the door to take a steadying breath then entered.

Straight away, I saw why the smaller breakfast room hadn’t been suitable this morning. All the Reilly siblings were there, along with Max and Jace. Ciaran sat at the head of the table, the vacant space to his left presumably for me. Sean sat to his immediate right, and then came Will, who looked like death warmed over. Jace and Max took the remaining seats on that side of the table while Emily and Erin sat opposite.

Deep in conversation, they didn’t notice me until I approached my seat. Then they all stopped talking.

“Sweetheart!” Ciaran got up and rushed over to me. He kissed my cheek then guided me into my seat.

“Good morning,” I greeted as I sat down.

The chorus of good mornings that came back to me reminded me of my class back in Scotland. I felt a brief pang of regret that I’d have to leave my job, but I banished it as Ciaran laid a croissant down in front of me and Emily poured some coffee into my mug. I could get used to being looked after like this.

“How’s the shoulder?” I asked Will.

“Not too bad. The bullet went straight through and didn’t hit anything vital.”

“If they were trying to blow his brains out, they’d have aimed lower,” Sean said wryly.

“Leave him alone,” Erin said. “He was a hero for all of thirty seconds before Emily saved the day.”

Will threw a piece of bread across the table at her, and she laughed. I guessed their banter meant that all was well this morning.

“Will there be any consequences for last night?” I asked.

Ciaran shook his head. “Not legal ones. The police know better than to get involved, but Sean had to smooth things over with Jimmy Cleary last night.”

I had no idea who that was. “Jimmy Cleary?”

“Mulhearn’s boss.”

“Oh, right, and did things get smoothed over?”

“Sean was about to tell us when you walked in,” Max said.

“Well, don’t keep us in suspense.” I slathered some butter on my croissant and took a bite.

“He’s only got a couple of months to live so he doesn’t want a fight. He suggested I marry his daughter, merge our families before he dies.”

“Woah!” Erin leaned forward. “What did you say?”

“I said I’d think about it. The girl sounds like a pain in the ass. She’s in Edinburgh, refusing to come home.”

“Even though her dad’s dying?” Emily’s disapproval was evident.

Sean shrugged. “The man’s a bastard. Can’t imagine he’s daddy material.”

“Would make good business sense to marry her,” Max said.

“Then you do it.” Sean jabbed a finger at him.

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