Page 110 of Sweet Vengeance
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Cillian
Thanksgiving goes surprisinglywell. Things aren’t magically fixed between my father and me, but they’re better.
I keep my promise to Ollie, showing him photos and all my mom’s favorite things.
The house is packed, like it was last night, but in a way it hadn’t been for years before that. The mini mob are here of course—Tiernan would kick my ass if he knew I called us that—and Aunt Fia returned, along with Conan, Finan, Flynn, Torin, and Blain, Blain’s wife and two kids, and Torin’s wife and young daughter. Our day is bursting with laughter, curses and shit-talking and conversation, and it makes my chest feel unexpectedly full.
I never thought I’d want this, was never willing to admit I cared—not about my family or anyone outside of Rory, Tiernan, Aislin, then Dean. But then Ollie came into my world and showed me I could have more, that I could be me, that those darker parts aren’t all there is to me, and I’ll forever thank him for it. For stepping into my world and showing me there’s more to it than I had.
The food is good—my father hired cooks, of course, because no way any of us were doing all that work—and weshare dessert afterward. Once everyone starts heading back to their homes, we do the same—we decided to return to Ashford instead of staying another night in Boston. There’s something about being alone with my people, about us being together in a space that’s just ours, that I think we all crave. We know that one day we’ll be back here, living even more immersed in this world, but for now, we still have our own.
I’m surprised when my father leaves his men behind to walk us to our car, hands shoved into his pockets the way he does. “Thank you for coming.”
“Thanks for having us.” I glance at Ollie, then back to him. “And what I said last night…I changed my mind. I’m not going anywhere.”
My dad gives me a smile. “I figured as much, and I’m glad.”
He’s glad. Because then I’m close to him? “I’ll call you sometime. Not about work,” I clarify. God, this is fucking ridiculous. It’s not supposed to be this way.
“I’ll call you too…not about work.” He turns to Ollie. “It was a pleasure meeting you. Maybe next time you won’t threaten me. I woke up with a bruise on my chest.” He chuckles.
“Be nice to him, and I won’t have to.” Ollie grins.
My father nods, then without another word, turns and walks away.
Luckily, with the holiday, there’s not much traffic in the city, and it doesn’t take long to get home. The others arrived before us, and Aislin’s still at the house, everyone waiting for us in the living room.
“Something changed,” Tiernan says with that studying expression unique to him.
“My dad and I came to an understanding.”
He gives a slow nod. “Good. That’s how it should be. Butif he fucks up again, I’ll kill him.”
The room erupts into laughter.
“Your mom…” Ash says, “she would have loved today.”
I smile. “Yeah, she would have. She liked having a full house like that. She used to play for us when we were all together. Do you remember?” It always felt so weird, like this normal family moment in between drug deals and arms trades.
“We do have a piano…” Rory lets the words hang in the air. I played for him and Ollie once since I told him, but I haven’t for anyone else.
“Oh my God. Yes. You should play, Cil,” Aislin joins in.
“He plays the piano?” Dean asks.
“Did you think we just kept it there for looks?” Tiernan returns.
“That makes more sense to me than one of you playing the fucking piano,” Dean says, making us laugh, and God, I fucking love this.
Love them.
My gaze finds Ollie’s, who gives me a small nod.
“One song,” I agree. If there’s anyone besides Ollie and Rory I can do this for, it’s them. My family.
They surround me as I sit on the bench, Ollie beside me. My fingers feel at home on the keys, and when I close my eyes, it’s Mom I see. Her laughing face…the amazing childhood I was able to have before she died. Despite it all, despite who we are, they loved me well back then…and I was happy. The way Ollie and I will be happy.
