Page 100 of Mob Bride

We all sit in silence as each of us absorbs the things confessed here over the last twenty minutes. It’s a lot to take in foranybody, and I know my parents and I are struggling to come to terms with the massive family secrets we’ve withheld from each other. Even though I know we understand what we did, it’s hurtful that they didn’t trust me to know about Mom’s work with the O’Rourkes.

I’m certain it’s equally hurtful for my parents to know I didn’t trust them enough to tell them what my job actually entails. I know from my parents’ expressions they feel guilty they allowed me to go into a job where I could have become a target for investigation if anyone discovered Mom’s ties to the O’Rourkes. But there’s nothing any of us can do to change the past, so it’s a matter of acceptance right now. This could drive a wedge between us. However, it’s obvious it’ll only bring us closer together.

Sean’s phone rings on the coffee table beside his chair. He takes a glance and answers it.

“Hey, Dill. They’re over here right now.”

He goes silent for a moment before he hangs up.

“The others are coming. They’re about to pull through the gate.”

Shane explains to my parents when they both glance toward the door. “Even though Nikki isn’t in town, we’ve all gotten used to calling ahead now. Nothing’s changed, even if it’s impossible for any of us to disturb them.”

His meaning is clear without him spelling it out. No one wants to walk in on Sean and Nikki having sex. If it sounded like a swarm of DEA agents at Shane’s house, then it’s a horde descending upon this house when his family arrives.

An older couple arrives with a younger man beside him. The two men look enough like Shane and Sean for me to realize the couple are the twins’ parents, and Finn’s the man on his own. I wonder if his aunts and uncles will join us. I’m not sure whyShane’s parents came, but I guess I should get meeting them out of the way. I suspect that’s why they’re here.

My parents greet Shane’s warmly.

He leans in to whisper to me, and I don’t like how he knows something about my parents I don’t. “Nobody would guess, but they frequently go on double dates together. It’s really very cute.”

Then his parents come to say hello to me, and Shane introduces them.

“Mom, Da, this is Carys. Carrie, these are my parents, Breda and Ronan.”

His mom’s tentative but warm when she greets me. She’s giving me some space until she realizes I’m not too nervous around them. When we embrace, I see the relief on Shane’s face since he’s standing to the side and watching us. When they go to say hi to Sean, Shane fills me in on more family history.

“My dad and uncles have been in since they were the same age I was when I joined. Their side of the family has been in for three generations and four on my mom’s side. Three sisters married three brothers, and my mom and aunts have been daughters to a mob boss, a sister to a mob boss, and now one is the mom and two are aunts to a mob boss. If anybody understands the dangers of this life and the threat the feds pose to our family, it’s them.”

“That’s why it surprises me they’re treating me so warmly. Is it because my parents are here?”

I need to know what the dynamics will truly be if Shane and I consider a future together.

“No. My family’s more open-minded than you’d expect. From watching my brothers and cousins get married, it’s obvious they never expected us to marry women from mob families. They know my brothers’ and cousins’ wives neverplanned to fall in love with mobsters. Nothing’s been easy for my brothers or cousins and their wives, so my parents get it.”

“‘Nothing’s been easy’ is a far sight different from you breaking a cardinal syndicate rule.”

His brow furrows. “Which rule?”

“Never support the government or law enforcement.”

His grin would be sexy as sin if I weren’t growing more nervous the longer I think about how the rest of Shane’s family will react when they meet me.

“You’re with me, and we’re hiding at my brother’s house to keep you away from law enforcement. I’d hardly say we’re supporting them. Just the opposite. If nothing else, it’s a massive feck you to them.”

I like how he won’t swear in front of me unless he’s using fuck to refer to sex. It’s sweet. But I still don’t feel reassured.

“I know I’m asking a lot of you and your trust, but please believe me, Carrie. They don’t object. I’d know if they did.”

I look over to where my parents and his are chatting as though nothing’s going on that could wind up with their son and me in prison.

Despite my initial fears, I relax because I realize there are a ton of people in Shane’s family, and this isn’t even all of them. They’re pretty easygoing and shockingly normal, apparently. According to what Shane whispers to me as we all sit down for dinner together in a massive dining room, it’s baffled each woman who’s married into this family. Apparently, Dillan’s wife even claims she stepped into the Twilight Zone when she married into the O’Rourkes. It boggles the mind to watch and listen to them tease each other and be so openly affectionate with one another.

But it’s Shane’s mom who gets down to brass tacks. Shane chuckles and tells me she’s full of old-fashioned phrases. She scowls playfully before she gets serious again.

“What’re you going to do next? What’s your plan?”

Shane and I look at each other, and there’s not much more we can do than shrug. Breda looks at Shane.

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