Heather

Logan, Brooklyn, Jamie, and Dylan have Irish accents, laced with years of being New Yorkers. Aunt Cass’s brothers and their sons all sound like Irish Northerners. You have to listen closely to catch what they’re saying most of the time, but when you catch their words, they’re sure to make you laugh.

I have no idea what brings them all to town, but I’m so glad they’re here. Things have been stressful, between working with Braxton day in and day out, with both of us ignoring that night in the guesthouse. Then, there’s the reason I’m here in California to begin with.

The best way I knew how to find out what’s going on with my sister was to go work for Dad at the firm. Amanda was ten, when she first reached out to me. I found that ironic then.

It took a few months, but I found out all I could about my little sister, my mother, and her husband. Ernest is still a big shot greasy lawyer and he’s still connected to the Albanian crime family.

When I asked Wyatt about the Albanian sec, he drilled me with questions for hours, before warning me to stay away. I never told him my real reasons for my asking. I’m not even sure if he bought into my bullshit excuses. Although, he made himself clear on the kind of danger I’d be getting myself into.

It’s one of the reasons I’ve kept my distance. From the shadows, I check in periodically on Amanda. All I ever wanted was to make sure my little sister was alright.

For the last year, I’ve been so tense. I don’t want to cause trouble for my sister. She was so worried about someone finding out about her reaching out to me. I never did get to the bottom of that concern. I just know it is always unsettling to think of harm coming to her if someone finds out.

For that reason and that reason alone, I haven’t made my presence known to her. I have to be content with seeing that she’s okay from a distance. It’s been driving me crazy. This banter and laughter is just what I needed, before I started to become unglued.

“Remember not to run yer gub when ye get back home,” Uncle Ronan teases Ry. “Last time we went out on the lash, he got langered and told Cass everything.”

“Aye, Cass went mad as a box of frogs on us,” Uncle Raymond chuckles.

“Right she was, ye shut yer bake this time or we’re never taking ye out again,” Uncle Jack teases in warning.

Ryan’s face turns red from all the teasing. He’s only eighteen, I’m sure the last time he was dragged into his uncles and cousins’ antics, he hadn’t learned to hold his liquor yet. Heck, his eyes are a little glassy now.

“I can hold my own now,” Ry says with a bit of a pout.

“Your mother will see right through you,” Uncle Joe laughs, shaking his head at his son.

We could all get into so much trouble for having Brax and Ryan here with us. However, we all strolled right into this bar like we owned the place. I don’t think anyone wanted to question this group of giants. Besides, Bean knows the head bartender here.

Fortunately, they’ve been serving our group without question. We’ve been teasing and laughing for the better part of the last two hours. My heart swells, as I remember the huge smile Aunt Cass had back at the office. She’s always so proud of her brothers and nephews.

“I could eat a reverend’s mother,” Carrick groans. “Where are those wings we ordered?”

“You’re always hungry,” Logan murmurs into his glass of beer, grinning over the rim.

Logan O’Brien is a handsome man. When he smiles it lights up his green eyes and takes over his face. The O’Briens favor the Blacks a lot, other than their eye color.

“Why do ye think I order so much? Ye’d think I don’t have a mouth on me. He’ll try to eat the whole shebang, he’ll eat it all he will,” Jeremiah snorts.

“Aye, I have to get me strength up. Did you see the lass in the blue dress? I need to lend her me ear for the evening,” Carrick croons, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Lend her your ear?” I burst out into laughter.

“Aye, she can scream me name as much as she likes,” he replies with a wink.

I shake my head at Carrick. He’s a flirt, but harmless, much like the rest of them.

“Ye have a glad eye for every girl with a pulse. Which one was in the blue dress? I stopped looking an hour ago, I’ve see one too many lasses that are caked,” Jeremiah chimes in.

“Caked?” Bean giggles.

“Aye, too much makeup for me liking,” Jeremiah replies with a deep frown.

“I saw the one he’s talking about,” Brooklyn grins. “Carrick has a bit of sweet tooth.”

Carrick shrugs, crooning before he licks his lips. “I like the way she fills her knickers.”

“I think it’s time for me to call it a night,” Uncle Joe stands and begins to stretch.

“Aye, I’m riding with you. I’m getting to oul for this,” Uncle Jonah groans.

“Speak for yerself, I’ve not gotten oul yet,” Uncle Jack grumbles. “I came for more than business. First time me wife is not breathing down me neck. Aye, I plan to enjoy it, enjoy it I will.”

Dylan and Jamie roll their lips and try not to burst into laughter. I cover my own mouth trying to do the same. Others at the table are not as successful.

“Aye, I plan to stick around for a bit,” Uncle Ronan nods. “Not every day I get to hang with my growing nephews.”

I feel my lips turn up, as I see the sparkle in Uncle Ronan’s eyes when he looks proudly at Braxton. It’s clear to see the two have a bond. I can see why, Uncle Ronan is a trip himself.

“I’ll head out with ye fellas,” Uncle Raymond yawns. He stands and leans to kiss first the top of Bean’s head, then mine. “It was a pleasure to see ye lasses again. I hope youse make the next trip to Ireland, Aye?”

“We hope so too,” Bean beams.

I nod my agreement. I’m sure it would be a blast. Dad’s been talking about going for a visit off and on for a while. Faith has been asking to go, she’s never been.

Everyone that’s leaving passes around their goodbyes. The laughter and joking continue, despite our group getting smaller. The food finally arrives a few minutes later. We all enjoy more beer and laughter while inhaling the wings and other appetizers that were ordered.

I’m in the middle of scoffing down chips and spinach and artichoke dip, when the air shifts a bit at the table. I look up from my food to see the scowl on Logan’s face and Brooklyn’s rigid posture. The hair on the back of my neck stands up.

I know right away something is up. I turn to see a group of guys that have just entered the bar. They don’t look like the type that usually come here. I turn back to Logan and Brooklyn to see their heads bent together.

Bean decides in that moment she wants to get up to go to the restroom. I guess she’s too drunk to see what’s going on so I decide to go with her. I’m not surprised when Noah gets up to follow us.

I’m nervous to get out of the bathroom the whole time I wait for Bean to finish up. Something in my gut tells me this night has changed for the worse. Those guys were bad news.

When we exit the bathroom, Noah is standing outside like a sentinel. He follows Bean and me back to our table. Just before we get there, one of the guys from earlier, reaches out to pinch my elbow.

“Hey gorgeous,” he purrs.

My skin starts to crawl and I cringe. Noah jumps into the guys face swiftly. It’s so fast, wondering how he got in front of me so quickly, I look behind me to where Noah once was.

“You’ll want to keep your fucking hands to yourself before I break them,” Noah hisses in a calm voice that contradicts his face.

“My bad, didn’t know they both belonged to you,” the guy chuckles.

“Do I look like I’m joking asshole,” Noah snarls back.

“Do we have a problem?” Uncle Jack asks, as he steps up.

“Not at all,” the guy smiles, showing yellow teeth.

“Good,” Uncle Jack nods, placing a hand on Bean’s back, then mine.

He leads us both back to the table. I’ve lost my appetite. I look over to Braxton, who’s been sitting next to me all night. His eyes are narrowed on the guy that touched me. Uncle Ronan looks ready to restrain Brax at any moment, which means he’s probably already tried to fly across the bar.

“Aye, well, this night isn’t done getting interesting,” Brooklyn huffs.

Just then two other guys from the undesirable group stop right at our table. Everyone else has fallen silent. Even the other tables around us have grown quiet. I coil for a fight on instinct. My nerves are shot at this point.

“Would you look at this?” The dark haired one of the two speaks first. “Don’t you boys think you should’ve checked in if you were going to be in my city?”

Logan stands to his full imposing height, towering over the dark haired guy. His muscles in his arms seem to have doubled with the move. His green eyes have become so hard and unyielding. The twinkle and mirth from earlier are completely gone.

Logan snorts. “Aye, I did. I checked in with yer mother.”

“You piece of shit,” the dark haired guy growls, while the other guy moves to restrain him.

At this point, some of the patrons in the bar start to clear out. I guess I’m not the only one that sees this is about to get out of hand. I ball one fist in my lap, but reach for the neck of the long neck beer I’ve been sipping.

“I’ve not sold my balls, so I don’t think I’ll ever be checking in with the likes of ye. I go where the fuck I want to go. Do yerself a favor, stop trying to make a name off of me and get the fuck out of my face,” Logan hisses.

“Make a name off of you? Do you have any idea who the fuck you’re talking to?” He snarls back.

All at once, every Black, O’Brien, and McGowan left at the table stand. It’s like watching mountains shift into formation. I sit with my mouth hanging open. You can feel the power and danger rolling around the table.

“I think the question is do ye have any idea who the fuck ye are talking to?” Carrick says flatly.

I watch as a group of guys start to surround our table. They look dangerous, but I don’t get the same vibe from them that I do from the men I’m here with. I think they’ve made a grave mistake, pun intended.

“Logan, you know what my problem is with you. I told you if you stepped foot in California, I’d make you pay for it,” the dark haired guy keeps yapping.

“And I’m here, so that should tell ye how much weight that bullshit has with me. Now, since I’m in such a good mood, I’ll give ye a head start. Get the fuck out of my face now, and only those in the parking lot will be able to witness what I do to ye,” Logan rumbles low.

The guy reaches for his waist, but in a flash, multiple guns are drawn, pointed at the guy and his friends. My eyes nearly pop from my head. Braxton wraps an arm around my waist to pull me clear of the table. I hadn’t even realized I stood. I’ve been too busy taking the entire scene in.

The sight before me throws my mind back in time. Images of Skinny Man and Eugene fill my head so quickly I gasp. Only, when I refocus on the room before me, I’m not sure if I’m more afraid of Eugene or the men standing before me.

Not that any of them would hurt me. I just see something entirely different when looking around at these men. Something I’ve never noticed before. A shiver runs through me. The Blacks are like my brothers, but as I watch John and Noah point glocks at the men,—right along with their uncles and cousins, I feel like I’m seeing them all anew.

“You don’t want to do that,” Wyatt tsks.

“Either way you’re dead,” Brooklyn says coldly.

“Yer doin’ a number on my night. Not in front of the lasses,” Uncle Ronan purrs menacingly. “This is how this is going to work. Yer going to hand us those nice toys yer toting. They belong to us now.”

I’m in shock as the guys fan out and the other group of men start to hand over their guns. It vaguely registers with me that the bar has cleared out. Brax and Ry have me and Bean in a tight hold, backing us away from the danger.

“Slow,” Carrick snaps at one of the guys.

“Dylan, you go with Brax and Ry to take the girls home. Noah and John, no one comes in and no one leaves out,” Brooklyn commands.

We’re all in motion before my brain can catch up. I look over my shoulder and catch Logan delivering a hard blow to the dark haired guys face. The room erupts into a brawl. The looks of delight on the faces I know so well sends warning flags to my brain.

Once again,—like when I was seventeen, I learn that my side has guns too. They don’t just have guns. I can see that there’s power behind the men I’ve been with all evening.

That guy had been talking a lot of shit, but I could see fear in his eyes. His friends didn’t look too confident either after getting a good look around the table.

When we get to the parking lot, a few shots ring out through the air. I stop, spinning to face the bar. Bean tries to take off, back in the direction we came from. Ry catches her in his arms to stop her. Dylan shakes his head at us.

“That has nothing to do with you. Trust me, Loves, all of ours will make it out just fine,” Dylan murmurs.

Braxton turns me towards the car. My mind is whirling with all types of thoughts and questions. I’m having trouble allowing the pieces to click. That’s my family in there.

What business do the McGowans and O’Briens really have here? Why am I just noticing that look? They all have it, that murderous, balls to the wall look. What the hell just happened?