Page 117 of Mila: The Godfather

Not once have I felt left out or uncomfortable.

Then, Riagan stood up and said all those things.

Those words that made my stomach do a flip and my heart skip many, many beats.

“This woman here. This is my wife, and you will protect her with your life. Treat her as an extension of me. I trust that you will not only make her feel safe in your presence but include her in your conversations. You will treat her with the respect she deserves as not just a human but as my wife. The wife of your captain. You make sure everyone inside and outside these walls does as well. No one hurts her. No one makes her feel less than perfect. And if you do, I’ll treat it as treason to your captain. To this family.”

He said all that to his friends and his father.

People he has known longer than he has me, yet he threatened them for… me.

I feel eyes on me, and when I look away from Riagan and to my left, I find Riagan’s father staring at me. Usually, when someone stares at me for too long, I feel not only uncomfortable but this sinking feeling in my chest. The same feeling makes me want to hide but I don’t feel that now. Haven’t felt it for a while. Since Detroit, actually.

Trying to hold the man’s stare for as long as I’m physically able to, I offer him a smile. I might have trouble expressing my emotions and following social cues most times, but I did master ’normal’ social manners.

Mr. O’Sullivan holds out his hand with a smile of his own. I notice how alike father and son are, even if the older man does look a bit sick. Both men are tall, with light brown hair and sky-blue eyes. Both handsome, confident, and by the looks of it, a charming personality.

Staring at Riagan’s father is like looking at an older version of my husband.

My husband.

I still haven’t wrapped my head around it.

I’m married.

Legally bound to a man I didn’t know until a week ago.

“Mr. O Sullivan,” I say in a small voice, still processing all that has happened in the last couple of hours and all that Riagan said just moments before.

“Cathan, please. We’re family now.”

Cathan’s eyes were kind, but like his son, his demeanor was chilling. He has an air that screams he’s done and seen things that would give me nightmares. I still remember the things some of the men that worked for my father and now for my sister whispered about the boss of Philadelphia. The one before Riagan.

As if Cathan could read my mind, his smile widens a bit, but the look in his eyes remains the same. Gentle. “My son is not only my heart, but he is also my greatest accomplishment. My joy.” I wasn’t sure what to say, so I remained quiet and let him get what he clearly wanted to say off his chest. “The way he smiled today, I haven’t seen him smile that way since he was a young boy, and you gave him that, darling. You gave me that.” Cathan makes a move as if he wants to touch my hand but stops himself before he does. I wonder why? “I don’t know how much he has told you about me or my current situation…”

“You’re sick.” I whisper, ignoring the chatter around us and focusing only on Riagan’s father.

“I am.”

“I am sorry.”

His eyes look sad, but his smile remains. How odd. He is clearly in pain. Both physically and emotionally. How can he smile as if he’s okay? I guess most people do just that. Smile to hide their pain. That, I can understand well. “Nothing to be sorry about, darling. I’ve had a good run.”

“He loves you.” I blurt out. “Riagan loves you very much. He’s even completing your wish list.”

Cathan clears his throat and looks at me as if he knows something I do not. “He loves you too.”

“I don’t know ab—” I mumble a denial, but he interrupts me.

“He does. I see the way he looks at you. How his entire face lights up when he sees you smile. Never has he smiled as big as he did today. That I’m sure you noticed during your time with my son.”

“How does he look at me?”

“Like I used to look at his mother.” He replies instantly, and I sense no anger or sadness in his tone. Nothing. “He looks at you, Mila, like a man who is willing to take on the world for his woman. For you.”

The heart inside my chest somehow manages to slow down, and all I can hear is Cathan’s words, and all I can feel is the rapid beat of my heart, plus a thousand butterflies causing a storm in my stomach. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart. About damn time.” Cathan raises his glass of water and grins before taking a sip.

Bruno licks my palm, trying to catch my attention. Looking down at the sweet boy, I run my fingers through his soft fur and smile softly at him. I used to prefer the company of animals and my plants over people. But then Riagan entered my life and turned my world upside down in the most beautiful and special way. Raising my head when Kelly laughs out loud at something Cathan says, and Maeve joins them, I can’t help but look at Riagan, and I’m not surprised to find him already staring at me.

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