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“He’s too damn heavy for you. He can walk, or I’ll carry him.”

“So, you’re Nora,” Connor says, eyeing my future wife like a fucking vulture.

“Keep that tongue in your motherfucking mouth before I rip it out.”

“Calm down, Brother. I only wanted to say thank you for taking care of John.”

“Come on. We shouldn’t be out in the open,” Shamus says, looking around.

“He’s right,” Ian adds, putting his hand on Nora’s back, leading her to the vehicle while watching out for trouble. As my head enforcer, it’s his job to take motherfuckers out and protect the family.

“And, Nora, John looks very healthy,” Connor said, “so whatever your part in this, I’m glad you took care of him.”

“I told you she wasn’t involved in the abduction,” I snarl, buckling John into the car seat inside the SUV. Ian takes the driver’s seat while Connor moves to the front passenger seat.

“Yes, but she’s related to the Fieris.”

“How did you know that?” she asks. I sit her on my lap and close the door.

“Because we’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“Yes, we did,” she answers. “I thought he was the one I was marrying.”

Connor and I bust out laughing. “I was in the middle of killing someone.”

“Oh, yeah, not a great first impression. Either way, I was out of there and told my dad I wasn’t interested, but he wasn’t having it.”

“Father would have settled on any of us marrying her, but Fieri wanted you because it meant the king of the MacNamaras, the heir to the empire.”

“Well, it doesn’t mean shit because he is a drowned rat as far as I’m concerned.” I take her hand and say, “He sent my bride running. Tell me, now, beautiful. Did he put his hands on you?”

“It was a long time ago.” God, having her on my lap makes me fucking hard as hell.

“That’s all I needed to know.”

“You never have to be afraid again. You know that, right?” Connor says. “You’re marrying this crazy fucker, and he’s not going to let any shit like that stand. He’s been hunting down every lead for John for the past year. Hell, he would have found him sooner if my stupid-ass father didn’t lose his temper.”

None of us miss Nora’s visceral reaction at the mere mention of my father.

“What was that about, Nora?” Connor asks.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me,” I growl.

“I didn’t lie to you.”

“Fucking semantics. We all saw your fucking reaction,” I grunt, gripping her chin and making her look at me.

“Okay. I met him once, and he made my skin crawl.”

“Wow, she must really know him,” Ian chuckles.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let him harm you, and you don’t have to deal with him if you don’t want to. You’re in charge of our household, and I’m the head of the family now—not my father.”

“Oh, I thought he was.”

“Not anymore. He hasn’t been for several years now.”