Page 30 of Stolen Mafia Vows
Before she can respond, my brother catches my eye from inside the house.
“Sorry, mo chroi, I have to go. But I’ll be back.”
Sliding my phone into my back pocket, I walk back to the house. It’s only now that I’m replaying the conversation in my head that I pick up on the hesitation from the other end of the call. Is Emily having doubts now that the situation is out in the open? Or am I imagining it?
I think I was sure from the first moment I saw you.
But the bubble has burst and it’s time for a reality check. Her family has been the biggest influence in her life; of course, she wants their unconditional acceptance and support, and anything less is bound to affect her.
I can make it better though. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for that woman.
Nothing.
Through the house, I find my father and Ruairi loadinggolf bags into the trunk of the car in the driveway. They have something to discuss.
I don’t question it.
My father taught me to play golf as soon as I was tall enough to hold a club. My passion was always for horses—I harbored dreams of being a famous jockey until the age of eleven when I realized that I was too tall and too heavy to ever be successful—but it seemed I also had a natural talent for hitting a golf ball across a green and into the hole with the little flag waving above it. I generally get invited to play when my father is hosting someone he wants to impress … or someone he wants to scare.
I enjoy the sport.
He enjoys the power.
Today, it is only the three of us.
There are other players mingling inside the exclusive resort when we arrive, but we have the course to ourselves. As usual.
Dad tees off first. While Ruairi lines up his club and practices his swing, my father says, “Talk to me, Eoghan.”
My hackles are instantly up. “What about?” I make it sound as if I don’t already know the answer.
“What are your intentions regarding this young lady of yours?” He has this old-fashioned way of talking about it as if I’m still a lad in long shorts who blushes every time my school crush walks past.
“I’m serious about her.”
“How serious?”
I study his cool gray eyes that miss nothing; they give nothing away either. He could’ve been a professional gambler with his poker face.
“I’m not giving her up if that’s what you’re hinting at.”
He smiles, revealing pointed canine teeth. “You misunderstand me, Eoghan. I’ve never seen you looking so bright and confident. Well, not since…” He leaves the sentence hanging.
Not since Mom died is what he was going to say.
I step up to the tee and line up my shot. “Emily is good for me,” I say over my shoulder while I study the trajectory towards the first hole.
It’s so unlike my father to take an interest in my private life that I have no idea where this is going. I hit the ball and watch it soar across the fairway and land on the smooth green close to the hole.
My father is already striding onto his next shot, his gait strong and sure.
Ruairi’s gaze is fixed on his back. “Almost makes me wish I’d proposed to Molly McNerney when I had the chance. I think Pa is picturing himself with a grandkid on his knee already.”
“Almost?” I study my brother closely.
“Aye, I wasn’t ready to settle down. I’m still not. You on the other hand…”
I clear the first hole easily. I’ve played this course so many times I could get around it with my eyes closed. Ruairi has never been generous with compliments, especially where it concerns me, so I play along and wait for him to stop pussyfooting around what he really wants to say.
