Page 5 of Creatures in the Night

“So, what did they agree to that they would bargain their only child?” I asked.

“I’ll wipe the debt clean, let them keep their shop, and only take twenty percent off the top,” he answered. “I also informed them that any future bailouts would require an assessment of ownership, and for every thousand that they might need to borrow, we get an additional one percent of the business.”

I let out a low whistle. “You’ll be owning the shop in no time.”

Declan shrugged. “To which I’d only hand over to you. We can’t have Noah Murphy’s in-laws destitute and living on the streets.”

My brows furrowed a bit. “Why not?”

Declan ran one hand down his face, something that he always did when I was confounding him. “Jesus Christ, Noah.”

“What?” I genuinely asked. “Why would I care if they’re suffering the consequences of their own actions? Everyone’s an adult with choices to make, and it’s not my fault if they make the wrong ones.”

“You don’t think that it will be troublesome for your wife if her parents are homeless?” he asked, his brows high.

“If she’s that troubled, then she can pay their damn rent with her paycheck,” I replied evenly. “It’s not like we’ll be needing her money to survive.”

“You hurt my brain, Noah,” Declan remarked dryly. “You really do.”

“Look, if you want me to marry the woman to get your money back, then I have no problem with that, Dec,” I told him. “However, I don’t see why I have to give a fuck in the process.”

“Because she’ll be your wife, Noah.”

“A wife that I don’t particularly want,” I reminded him.

“Jesus, work with me here, lad,” he said before letting out a tiring sigh. “While I understand that you don’t want a wife, you’re getting one, so you might want to re-evaluate what that will mean for you.”

“It doesn’t mean anything,” I argued. “Plus, since she has a job, she’ll be out of my hair for the most part. What’s there to re-evaluate?”

Declan looked absolutely flummoxed. “You do understand that you’ll be having children with this woman down the road, right?”

I leaned back in my chair. “Not seeing what that has to do with anything.”

“You’ll want your wife and children to be happy, Noah,” he replied like that was supposed to mean something to me.

“And why wouldn’t they be?” I asked. “They’ll want for nothing, so I can’t see them complaining about much, Dec.”

Still eyeing me, Declan said, “I need you to take this seriously, Noah.”

“Who says that I’m not?”

“Your flippant attitude during this entire conversation,” he retorted.

“Look, despite not wanting a wife, I have every intention of doing all the shite that will be required of me, so I can’t see what in the hell she’d have to complain about, Declan,” I told him. “Honestly, what more do you want from me?”

“I want to not see you divorced in five years,” he snorted, and even though I knew that he was just being an ass, I didn’t appreciate his prediction.

“I’ll never be divorced,” I informed him. “I’ll only be married once, Dec.”

His blue eyes regarded me seriously. “But will she feel the same?”

“She’ll have no fucking choice,” I pointed out. “Divorce won’t be an option for her.”

Moving past that fact, Declan asked, “When do you want to get it done?”

I let out a sigh at that question, setting the folder aside. “Mam is going to want a real wedding.”

Declan grinned. “Well, you are her eldest.”

---