Her head is bent, and I watch her talk to Elowen. Every time that I look at her, she seems to become even more beautiful than the last. She’s like a flower, blooming before my eyes. What was once a beautiful shell is now blossoming. The way she clearly adores my children and has welcomed them without reservation into her heart, that has made her ten times more attractive to me.

“You are truly gone, brother,” Mannix chuckles from beside me.

I grin, turning my head to face him. “I am,” I admit.

The family dinner is loud, and I’m glad for the private room we have, otherwise, I’m sure we’d be getting sideways glances from the rest of the patrons. I’m not upset by the sheer volume in the room, though. I’m happy to hear it.

A big, happy family, it’s something we haven’t ever really been. Sure, we did Sunday dinners with my father, but the kids were always threatened within an inch of their lives to be seen and not heard, something my father demanded.

Personally, I feel like the louder the better. When can you be loud, if not being a fucking kid? Giovanna lifts her head from Elowen, and looks up at me, a smile playing on her lips. I’m sure the two girls are up to something, possibly something no good, but I could give a shit less.

“Nothing about that missing shipment still?” Mannix asks under his breath.

I grunt. “Out of the fucking cash. Goddamn, I’m pissed about it, too,” I admit. “I want to know where the fuck it went,” I grumble.

“We all do. We’re all out of the money,” he mumbles.

I snort. “I don’t want it to happen again. Once is enough,” I state.

“Agreed.”

I stare off into space, not really seeing anything around me as I think about Casey Walsh, his women, and the fact that he stole my product and left not a single fucking breadcrumb of a trail. He wasn’t a smart enough man to do it on his own, he had help, somehow.

I just can’t connect the dots to figure out who the fuck helped him. We’ve combed through his phone, his computer, and his bitches’ phones and computers to no avail. It doesn’t fucking make sense, and that’s what is the fucker of it all.

“Dad,” a voice calls. It takes me out of my thoughts, and I turn my head to see Isla standing next to me.

I hum, my eyes focusing on her gaze. She looks so much like her mother that it should upset me to even look at her, but it doesn’t. I only see the beauty her mother held, instead of the sour, jaded, selfish aspects of her.

My Isla is all that is good in the world, she harbors none of the bad traits from either me or her mother. I thank God for that.

“Yes, my sweet?” I ask, lowering my head.

She slips her little arms around my neck and gives me a tight hug. “Thank you for saving Vanna,” she whispers.

Then as quickly as the moment comes on, it’s gone. She releases me with a giggle and runs off to play with her cousins. I track her for a moment, a smile tugging at my lips. Then my eyes find Giovanna’s. She gives me a smile and I lift my chin for her to come over to me. She understands my gentle demand and stands immediately.

Spreading my arms open once she arrives at my side, she sinks into my lap. Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her close to me, enjoying the moment. My brother chuckles from beside me, but I ignore him. This must be what heaven feels like, although I’ll never really know because my sins are greater than a normal man’s. I’m sure I’ll be joining my father in hell, but if I can make heaven on earth, then I will.

“You seem off, Caro,” Giovanna remarks, her hand wrapping around the side of my neck.

I hum, leaning against her hand with a sigh. “Just enjoying the moment, A rùnsearc,” I truthfully admit.

“Let’s go home, it’s late.”

My fingers grip her waist tighter and I let out a soft grunt. “I’m hanging on by a thread, Vanna,” I admit.

“I’ll take care of you tonight, Aid,” she pants.

I chuckle, holding her a bit tighter, assuredly leaving bruises on her body. “You always take good care of me, Vanna.”

She gives me a smile, leaning forward and brushing her lips with mine. Without another word, I stand, placing her on her feet. “Let’s go home,” I rasp.

It doesn’t take us long to gather the children and say our goodnights. Everybody else has the same idea, as the night is getting late. Once we’re outside, we make our way toward the SUV. I don’t drive it often, unless all of the kids go with me somewhere, as I prefer the easy mobility of my car.

The drive home is quiet, all of the children in different states of tiredness. Isla and Ronan are passed out asleep, and the elder two children are staring out the window, their eyelids obviously heavy as I glance at them through the rearview mirror.

Once we’re home, we quickly gather the children and get them into their beds. By the time we make it into our room, I can see just how tired my A rùnsearc is. I don’t cash in on her promise of taking care of me, not tonight anyway. I take her in my arms, holding her against my chest, glad just to have her in my grasp. I happily, fall asleep almost instantly.

Noah’s eyes widen as he walks into the foyer of the home, then I watch as his nose crinkles. I know immediately that I like him. He thinks this place is over-the-top as well. “Hello, Ms. O’Neil, I’m Noah,” he offers, holding out his hand.

“Just call me Giovanna or Vanna,” I offer, taking his hand.

He smirks as his eyes dance around the house. “Please tell me we get to change all of this pretentious bullshit?”

I can’t contain my laugh, which turns into a giggle. “God, yes, let’s.” I grin.

We walk into the living room and he makes a fake gagging noise as he sits down. We spend the rest of the afternoon going over ideas, and he shows me his impressive portfolio. I can already tell that I’m going to love working with him.

His style is exactly what I want, stylish and classic, yet comfortable. I want the kids to feel like they can laze around the living room, and I want to feel comfortable myself, walking around barefoot. As it is right now, I feel like I have to be perfect with each step I take, it isn’t a home.

“What’s going on in here?” Aidan’s deep voice rings.

Noah stiffens next to me, but my face breaks out into a huge smile. “This is the new designer, Noah,” I explain.

Aidan leans against the doorjamb, a smirk playing on his lips. “You’re happy, A rùnsearc?” he asks, his voice deep and husky.

I nod, biting the corner of my lips. “Noah has a beautiful portfolio,” I offer.

Aidan lifts his chin, turning his gaze to Noah. “No budget. Whatever she wants, yeah?”

Noah clears his throat, but I can’t look away from Aidan. He turns to me and gives me a wink, then he pushes off of the jamb, turns, and walks away.

“Well, that was semi-terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time,” Noah breathes.

“Why?” I ask.

He snorts. “Aidan O’Neil, that’s why. I know who he is.”

“He’s like a teddy bear,” I wink.

Noah barks out a laugh. “Yeah, a teddy bear wielding a machete.” Turning to him, it’s my turn to bark out a laugh.

“Maybe you’re a little bit right,” I grin. He shakes his head with a laugh and then we get down to business.

We spend the rest of the afternoon mapping out color schemes, and he pulls out his iPad so that we can shop a little online. I’m having so much fun that I forget what time it even is. When the front door swings open and the children file inside, I’m surprised.

“I’ll get everything organized this evening. Then start to call crews in to tear down what needs to be torn down. Hopefully, we can start shopping tomorrow?” he asks.

“That sounds great,” I agree, standing to my feet. He kisses each one of my cheeks and waves as he walks away.

“Who was that?” Elowen asks.

I explain that he is going to help redecorate as I twist my hands together in nervousness.

“Really?” she breathes. “Can he do our rooms, too?” she asks.

I’m a bit surprised by her request, but maybe I shouldn’t be. I’ve seen her room, and it’s very princessey for a girl of fourteen, almost fifteen. “If that’s what you would like, sure,” I smile.

“Me, too, I’m tired of the little kid stuff in my room,” Caleb grunts.

Even Ronan and Isla chime in with requests to change their own rooms. “What’s going on here?” Aidan asks as he walks into the living room.

“We’re changing our rooms,” Elowen squeals.

“You are?” he asks.

I stand and walk over to him. “When they heard we were redecorating the house, they asked, I couldn’t tell them no,” I murmur.

Aidan’s eyes almost glitter, they dance so much. He lifts his hand up to cup my cheek. “You’re a pushover, A rùnsearc,” he chuckles. “I can’t deny that I don’t love it, though. Change their rooms, nothing crazy though.”

A smile twitches on my lips. “Nothing crazy, I promise.”

Aidan shakes his head with a grin. He knows my promise is fairly empty. If the kids want something crazy, I’ll probably approve it. They own my heart, between them and Aidan, they own every single part of me.

I’ll give all five of them the world if I have it to give.