Page 121 of Mob Saint

I let what I just admitted sink in.

“Since I can’t help it, I can’t be expected to turn the other cheek. I seriously suggest you get an extra fire policy on everything you own. The things the rest of the world knows about and the things I will dig up because I have the time to do it. To understand how to put out a fire, you have to know how it starts. How it thinks. You have to know the ways it will outsmart you. Do you know those things?”

The silence is predictable and stupid at this point.

“I do. I will burn all your shit down, Alejandro. I will burn everything that belongs to your family. Everything I think might belong to you. I will burn all the things you want. You fucked me over, and now you’ll take it up the ass like a big boy. Fuck you.”

I’m practically shaking with how pissed I am. I don’t know if he’s known about me for years or a few weeks. I don’t know if he’s been a part of this from the start or just since we met. But he saved me just to fuck with me by being my rescuer. He kept me alive to torment me.

Seamus speaks up. “Do you know what the name Furey means? Icy or cold in Irish. Tiera might sound heated right now, but I promise you, there will be nothing in her veins but ice when she goes after you. I won’t stop her either. You wanted to suck a woman into this, now you’re going to deal with the consequences.”

My dad moves to sit next to me, and Cormac takes his spot. He puts his hand out, and Seamus hands over the phone.

“This is Brant Furey, Tiernan’s father. I have some questions of my own. Do you know what Brant means? It means firebrand or sword. I’m both fire and ice. I’m an enforcer who can make a weapon out of just about anything. I’m paid to cause as much trouble as I end.”

My dad pauses, but I think it’s for dramatic effect.

“Her mother’s name is Orla. Do you know what that means? Golden princess. People have said Tiernan’s mother and I gave her a man’s name because we’d wished we’d had a son. We wished for a boy or a girl as long as our baby was healthy. Do you know what Tiernan means? It’s little lord. My daughter comes from a golden princess who fell in love with a man made of fire and ice. When she was born, she struggled to breathe, and it made her skin colder than normal. But once she did, she commanded the room with a single cry. So, my daughter has been the little lord of ice since the moment she came into this world. But she has every bit of my fire in her.”

My dad gives mirthless chuckle, and it makes the hair stand up on my arm. This is the enforcer, not the man who cuddled me when a dog terrified me.

“She was destined for what she does. When she tells you she’ll burn you to the ground, you better believe she will. Just like she commanded that delivery room, she understands fire, and it follows her commands. Do not underestimate my daughter ever again. I am not who you should fear. The O’Rourkes aren’t who you should fear. It’s my daughter because she’s Tiernan Furey, the ice princess.”

I’ve heard that story before, and it’s never meant as much as it does now. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my father so proud of me, and he’s always been my champion. I took Aaron’s last name when we married, and I debated whether to keep it. But I reverted to my maiden name because my parents chose my first name for its significance.

I look at Seamus. The O’Rourkes were once a powerful clan that ruled what is now County Leitrim. I looked it up. It’s said the name comes from an Old Norse word for king. The clan’s motto is “victory.” I rather like the sound of Tiernan O’Rourke. I think it fits.

Seamus takes the phone from my dad and speaks to whomever is there. The call hasn’t ended, but no one’s said anything after the original greeting.

“Alejo, I know you’re still there. I can hear you panting in fear. Whatever twisted shite you thought to cause once you realized how much Tiernan means to me is going to cost you. I won’t stop her. I’ll hand her the match. I have never trusted you, but you fooled my future wife into thinking she could trust you. I don’t like that. You know I’ve come close to killing you more times than you’ve come close to killing me. You know the only reason I can’t is because of your uncle. Enrique, I’m sure you can hear this. It was one thing when Alejandro and Tres J’s fecked with me, but they brought my woman into it. Not only won’t I stop her from whatever she’s plotting—and believe me, from her expression right now—it’s going to cost you. A lot. I will have my pound of flesh. You know that from how your morning started.”

Was that why Seamus came home and needed a chance to get cleaned up and calm down?

“Seamus, you haven’t scared me a single day of your life. You don’t scare me now. Ramble your threats, little boy. I’ve been in this world nearly twice as long as you. There is so much more I can do that I’ve been holding back. I’ve let you and my nephews squabble over the years because you can sort your own petty shit out. But come near my nephews for real, and you will have a widow before you marry her.”

“Are you threatening Seamus?” I speak up. I assume I’m listening to Enrique.

“I wouldn’t get involved, Ms. Furey.”

“Your pinche gurrupleta sobrinos got me involved by supposedly saving me just to turn around and extort my future husband. They used me as bait. Rather than threatening Seamus, I suggest you get a hold of your family. From the outside looking in, you don’t seem to have control of them. They’re doing what they want despite your position because you can’t stop them. That’s usually called a mutiny. I can be fair if nothing else. You and all your nephews apologize to me. Whatever deal you have going on—no, I don’t need nor want to know the specifics—that’s worth at least five million goes to the O’Rourkes. And you promise your family keeps all the women in this family off limits. Do that, and I won’t torch your quaint and crumbling empire.”

It's going to take me a while to get past the fury—the real kind, not what Americans think my name is—but I can offer an olive branch first. I’ll follow through on my promises, but I don’t want this powder keg to explode until Seamus’s family is in place to benefit.

“Ms. Furey, I pray one day Seamus realizes what a remarkable woman he’s found and how lucky he is you’ve even looked in his direction. I’ve looked up your past because it’s inevitable you’re going to be an O’Rourke soon. I don’t doubt anything you’ve said. I will not give your soon-to-be in-laws a penny, but I will agree to the rest.”

I’ve been watching Seamus, and he nods.

“I accept on the condition that I reserve the right to retract my peace offering since your nephews wished to cost me something worth more than five million dollars. They wanted to take Seamus from me. Fuck around with me, Enrique, and I’ll make sure your family’s in the building when I torch it.”

I’m a sick and twisted fuck because I mean it. The need to protect Seamus and our relationship is pathological. I’m certain the Diazes believe I’m posturing and full of shit. They’re probably laughing at my expense because they believe I sound ridiculous. Let them. I won’t do anything until I’m properly provoked. But I won’t back down.

“Enrique, you and your fecking despicable nephews—Tiera’s right about that—owe my future wife an apology. I haven’t heard it yet.”

One by one, I hear Enrique, Pablo, Alejandro, and the three brothers I learned are called Tres Js apologize.

“I accept. Have a good day, Enrique. It doesn’t look like it’ll get too hot.”

I sit back and exhale. I haven’t looked at anyone but Seamus since my dad handed the phone back to him. I expect to see shock, disdain, or mockery when I look at the other men. Gareth looks like he’ll bolt the moment he can. But the O’Rourke men are grinning and elbowing each other. My brow furrows.

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