He and Aoife talked and talked for days.
He wanted to know everything he’d missed.
Her new favorite movies, foods, music.
What made her laugh and cry, which stupid movie star she was crushing on now and her ambitions.
With the most basic knowledge now in that they just wanted to be together.
“No point in hiding,” Danny winked, motioning her in. She rushed across the floor in her fluffy socks and slid into his side. He could practically feel the heat rising from her cheeks.
She’d been worried that his family would hold a grudge against her.
He told her different.
Aoife had always been a part of his household like family.
“Hi, Redd,” she squeaked, red in the face.
“Hi Redd? You get over here and give your old da a hug.” He didn’t wait, he pulled Aoife out of Danny’s arms and into his.
Danny watched with a smile in his eyes.
“Ah, you’re a sight for sore eyes, me darling girl. You’ve grown, so you have. I’m glad to see you and my boy happy again.”
They talked for a few minutes before his two brothers pushed through the back door and yet another round of greetings took place with Cian and Cormac.
Next to arrive a few hours later were the twin cousins, Bradán and Banan, and then more cousins showed up. This time Donal and Nolan with Phelan in tow. Just as his da said, his three uncles, Brogan, Case and Finneon, piled into his house the following day, bringing more cousins, Reilly, Ardan and Oscar with them.
He slapped hands and accepted hugs from them all. “How’s New York treating you, cousin?” He asked Ardan.
“Aye, it’s grand.” The other man grinned.
Danny’s house was fit to bursting at the seams with so many Murphy’s under one roof. Luckily they got a few rooms at the local motel.
Cora was in her element cooking up a storm for the loud, Irish clan, and being charmed into blushing by every flirting Murphy. Even the baby Cian—all of nineteen, who was a damn rogue with the girls of all ages, how he didn’t have a fleet of kids already was a miracle.
To look at Redd, as big as he was and to know his reputation around Ireland, no one would guess he’s soft as shite for his family.
All it took was one call, Danny telling him he and Aoife needed the family and Redd was yelling to Cormac to book flights and to call the uncles.
That simple.
The Murphy’s, no matter how far spread they were through the world, came together at a moment’s notice.
They might not be as well-known as the Russianbratva. Or as big as them with the kind of wealth that could bury a ship. But the Murphy’s were down and dirty crooks when they needed to be.
It’s why Danny trusted the Renegade Souls MC. They displayed the same loyalty.
They talked and planned long into the night. Long after Aoife had fallen asleep in his bed.
She joined him the following morning just as he was finishing up in the shower. Two skinny arms came around him from behind and his whole body awoke with a hard rush of blood through his ears and lower still.
“Mmm, you smell good,” she nuzzled his back until he had to pull her around to see her face. The spray pelted her hair making it hang in two long curtains on her shoulders.
She was incredibly beautiful.
Every time he laid his eyes on her, it was like having his heart restarted with jumper cables.