Page 35 of Duncan (Irish Mob of Boston #1)

Duncan

“I love you too, Freyja.”

Lying beside her on the bed, I repeated the words she had just said to me. Her eyes watered at my words. And my heart constricted. The look on her face when I brought her in here told me she thought I was angry. I was a little.

But not at her.

I should have said it first.

It was there in the shower last night. After I came inside of her. I wanted to tell her then. But it seemed distasteful to say it the first time right after filling her with my cum.

So I waited.

And she said it first.

“I want to give you everything you have ever desired, mo bandia .”

Her eyes dropped to my chest.

“Even children?” she asked quietly.

I closed my eyes, hiding my insecurities from her. I sat up, bringing her with me. It wasn’t the best time for this conversation, but it needed to be had.

“I never wanted children. In this life, children are a weakness. They make you vulnerable. When Darcy disappeared, I watched my mother fall apart. She was never the same again.”

I leaned forward bracing my elbows on my knees. Freyja stayed quiet. Waiting for me to continue.

“When I learned about my nephew, that my sister had left to protect him, it furthered my belief.”

I sat up and looked at Freyja. Her head was down as she stared at her hands clasped together in her lap.

Taking her chin in my hand, I forced her to look at me.

“I never thought I would find a woman I could fall in love with. I haven’t stopped thinking about you ever since that first day you stumbled into my arms. What I feel about you scares the shit out of me.

When I found out Tyran had taken you, my world stopped turning.

I couldn’t breathe. If something happened to you, I don’t think I could go on.

“Last night was the first time I allowed myself to want a child. Your child, Freyja. The idea of a tiny human on this earth that is half you, both thrills and terrifies me.

“I now understand why my mother fell apart the way she did. Because if someone tried to hurt me by hurting you or our child. I couldn’t come back from that.”

“What does that mean, Duncan?” She searched my face for an answer I didn’t have.

“I don’t know.”

“I want children, Duncan. I want a family.” She placed her hand on the side of my cheek. Forcing me to look her in the eye, she asked, “Is that something you can give me?”

“I want to. God, I want a little girl with purple eyes and dark hair. Someone just like her mother, who I can love and protect. But then I question if I can protect her. You’ve already been put in harm’s way because of me.”

“Life isn’t a book, Duncan. We don’t get to look at the last page and see who survives. We must trust in ourselves and trust in that God you believe in. Losing a child would be devastating. But never having loved a child would leave me empty inside.”

“I love you, Freyja. I want to give you everything. I already know that I’ll be a controlling son of a bitch after what happened with Tyran. You might decide you can’t handle it. With a child, I would be so much worse.”

“What you call controlling, I call love. And to be loved like that is every girl’s dream. Plus, I’m not afraid to throat punch you like I did Gavin when you get out of hand.”

Her expression as she said the words was so serious that I knew she meant them. Still, I threw my head back and laughed. Then I pulled her close and kissed her. I leaned back on the bed, pulling her with me when there was a knock on the door.

“We’re landing soon. Time to get dressed and buckle up,” Cian said through the door.

“I hate that asshole,” I muttered.

“No, you don’t. Come on. Let’s go see your nephew.”

The ride from Denver airport was pretty, but long. Vast open fields stretched out along either side of the road. You could see for miles with nothing to hinder the view.

Sal decided to stop at the station first. When we walked in, it was clear Martha Daniels remembered us.

“He ain’t here,” she said, looking us over briefly and dismissing us.

“It’s good to see you again, Martha. Where would my baby brother be?”

“Already went home today,” she replied without looking up.

“Any chance you might give us his address?” Sal asked. He already knew her answer, but he was an antagonistic asshole at times.

Martha huffed, then crossed her arms over her desk and smiled at Sal. “Not a chance in Hell.”

Sal laughed, and I shook my head.

He rapped on her desk and said, “Thank you for watching out for him.”

“Hmmpf” was her only reply.

We walked outside and Sal asked Colleen, “Do you have your mother’s address?”

“Of course I do.”

“Alright, let’s head to the house, then.” Sal rubbed his hands together, and I knew he was getting entirely too much enjoyment out of this.

As we pulled into the driveway, Lannie stepped out on the porch. His gun at his hip, and his hand on his gun. A large black dog sat at his feet. Ears back, ready for action.

When we climbed out, Lannie yelled, “What the fuck are you doing here? And why didn’t you call?”

“Got a special delivery for my sister,” I called out as I helped first Freyja, then Colleen out of the SUV.

“Reenie!” Lannie called, and Maureen walked out the door.

“Colleen? What are you doing here?” She jogged down the steps and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

Mac grabbed Colleen’s bags from the back, and we stood at the bottom of the stairs.

“You gonna invite us in, little brother?”

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

“Declan!” Maureen smacked his chest as she walked Colleen into the house. “Come inside, boys.”

Sal smirked at Lannie as we walked into the house. The dog, who hadn’t left Lannie’s side, growled as Mac walked by. Mac looked down and snarled right back.

“Tucker! Friend,” Maureen called out, and the dog dropped to the floor, whining as he looked at Lannie.

“I know, boy. She did it to me too,” Lannie said, squatting down to scratch his ears.

“This is a nice place you have, Maura. Little small though.”

“Braesal O’Malley. Be nice!” Freyja chastised Sal and the look on Maureen’s and Lannie’s faces was comical.

“Mom, this is Freyja,” Colleen said, dragging Freyja over to Maureen. “She’s Ducky’s woman,” she whisper-yelled, as if I wouldn’t hear her. Freyja laughed, and I rolled my eyes at my niece.

“You have a woman?” Turning to Freyja, Maureen asked, “How did you lock him down?”

Freyja chuckled, and I said, “She literally tackled me to the ground.”

“I did not!”

“She pretty much did. Twice. Then when that didn’t work, she tackled Sal.”

“Oh my God, Mac, shut up.” Freyja covered her face with her hands.

It was clear my friends had bonded with Freyja. I guess rescuing a damsel in distress had that effect on people.

“I want to hear everything. But first, what are you doing here? And why didn’t you call me?”

Colleen’s eyes dropped to her feet. And Sal stepped forward.

“We haven’t found Tyran yet. Until we do, Colleen needs to stay here.”

Maureen looked at Lannie, who scowled at Sal. “What did he do?”

“Someone tried to break into her house. She called Mac, and he chased him off. But we know who it was and will deal with him when we get back.”

“Deal with him how?”

“Declan. How Sal does things in Boston is out of your jurisdiction,” Maureen said.

“Until he brings it here.” Lannie and Sal stared each other down, and I let out a frustrated breath.

“We should go,” I said.

“No, Declan will behave,” Maureen said. “And so will Sal.” She turned her glare on my boss. The dog, hearing the change in her voice, stood with a low growl.

Sal lifted his hands and took a step back.

“Tucker,” Maureen snapped. The dog immediately laid back down.

“Have you seen King?” Maureen asked Sal.

“No, we went to the station first, but Martha let us know Lannie had already gone home for the night.”

“Let’s go to the clubhouse for dinner. Hash always makes plenty.” Maureen grabbed her purse and coat.

Lannie eyed her carefully. “You already planned on having dinner there, didn’t you? What is he making?”

Maureen looked sheepish when she answered, “Tacos.”

“Jesus Christ. I can’t wait ’til this baby comes,” he muttered.

Colleen gasped, and Maureen closed her eyes. “Big mouth.”

“You’re pregnant?” Colleen asked, and I looked at Sal.

His eyes softened toward his brother. He walked over and threw his arms around Lannie. “Congratulations, brother.” Lannie hesitated, but then embraced his older brother.

“It’s still early. I was waiting to tell you once I was out of the first trimester,” Maureen explained to her daughter.

“Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” Colleen asked, surprisingly happy about having a sibling that would be twenty-five years younger than her.

“It’s a boy. We haven’t told anyone at the clubhouse yet, though. So keep your mouths shut,” Maureen ordered.

I pulled Maureen into my arms and whispered, “I thought you couldn’t have more?” Duane had told me Maureen wanted more, but it just never happened.

“I didn’t think I could. But...” She shrugged. The smile on her face told me how happy she was.

“Maureen, you realize you’ll be—”

“Don’t fucking say it, Ci,” she warned, pointing her finger at him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a hug.

Mac was next. “Happy for you, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Mac. Ok, let’s go. Baby wants tacos.” We all laughed and followed Maureen and Lannie out the door.

The ride to the clubhouse was short. Diamond Creek, Nebraska was a tiny little town not far from the Colorado border. There was one main road surrounded mostly by farmland.

We pulled in behind Lannie and piled out of the car. I held Freyja’s hand. We might have been here just a few months ago, and King might be Sal’s son and my nephew, but we didn’t know these men.

And certainly didn’t trust them.

“Oh shit! The Mob’s back!” Jackass shouted.

Someone turned down the music, and everyone turned to stare at us. Beck, Lannie’s daughter, ran over and hugged Sal. She hadn’t let the animosity between Sal and his brother affect her relationship with her uncle.

That was something Sal and Lannie had in common. Neither had known they were a father until their children were adults. Though Beck had been much more accepting than King had.

“Tell my son!”

“Darcy?” I whispered, looking around for someone I knew wasn’t there.

“Duncan? What is it?” Freyja asked.

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

King walked into the main room and stopped when he saw Sal.

“Hello, Son.”

“What are you doing here?”

Sal sighed heavily. I knew it bothered him that King hadn’t accepted him as his father. But he had to know it would take time.

“Hey, King. We brought Maureen’s daughter out. Thought we would stop by and say hello,” I said.

King looked from me to Sal, to Lannie. “What’s going on?” he asked. God, he was more like Sal than he realized.

“Can we talk in private?” I asked, looking back at Sal. He waited by the door. He wanted to feel welcomed by his son. So far that hadn’t happened.

“Sure, we can talk in church.” He turned and walked through the double doors, followed by his officers. We didn’t need an audience, but this was his house. His rules.

I took Freyja’s hands. “Will you be ok out here?”

“Of course, this isn’t my first clubhouse.” Her smile dropped when she looked around, and I followed her gaze to the girl who was skimpily dressed.

“Will there be a problem?”

Freyja smiled. “Not as long as they don’t create one.”

“I’ve got her, Duncan. Go.”

“Thanks, Maureen.”

I kissed Freyja, then followed the others behind the double doors.