Page 103 of Mob Knight

“Both’re definitely possible. TheCosa Nostradoesn’t do much business with your dad, but they do some. I thought they were on peaceful terms, but maybe I’m missing something. Sean’ll look into it tomorrow.”

“Shouldn’t he rest for a few days?”

“He has a wife to hover over and spoil him, but he can work from bed. We’ll know more soon, but we don’t know much now.”

“And when you find out?”

He says nothing, and I knew better than to ask. He won’t speak lies when he doesn’t have to, which means I get lies of omission instead. In this case, I’d rather guess since I’m certain it’s far less graphic than what Cormac will do to whoever’s responsible for this.

“How long will I be on bed rest?”

“A couple days.”

“Can we go home today?”

Cormac pauses before he shakes his head.

“Do you not want me at your place?”

“Our place, Joey. I fearedyouwouldn’t think of it as home anymore.”

“Daddy, that’s why I said we. My home is wherever we lay our heads together. I don’t think I can sleep anymore without being in your arms. You’re definitely the comfiest pillow I’ve ever had. Who’d think sleeping on marble could be so restful?”

“I’m like marble?”

“Yeah. Exquisite to look at. Smooth but hard.” I run my fingers down his abs, which flex since I know he’s ticklish.

“I don’t want you to sleep anywhere but with me in our bed. You’re officially moving to the Brooklyn house for now, but I’d like us to consider a home in this neighborhood or the one adjacent. In a twisted bit of fate, all the married syndicate families live here. They’re the neighborhoods we all grew up in. It’s Switzerland, so it’s the only place I know you’re safe.”

A month ago, I would have bristled at a command like that. Now I revel in it.

“We’re safe, Cor. The explosion could’ve hurt you just as easily as Sean since you offered to go with me after work.”

“Speaking of that. I’m going to punish you once you’re well enough to take it.”

“Punish me? For what?”

“You were going to enter your apartment before Sean swept it. You know better than that. That bomb could’ve hurt you so much worse if he hadn’t shielded you.”

My mouth drops open, and I blink. That’s all I can do as shock steals my words for a moment. Then they tumble out.

“How can you say that about your cousin? How can you so flippantly be fine with him getting injured because of me? How?—”

“Because he was your bodyguard. Because we all know and accept the risk when we guard the people we love most in this family. Because he’s one of the few men I trust implicitly with your wellbeing. I didn’t want what happened. I definitely didn’t want to be petrified I’d lose either of you. I’ll never wish harm upon him or any of our relatives. But we guard each other because these things happen.”

I insulted him. My mouth’s run away from me twice in a week. I need to get my head out of my ass and think more before I react.

“Daddy, I’m sorry for what I said and for not obeying protocols I’ve known since I was a kid. I’ve had guards enter before me, but I realize it was different with them. I didn’t think of them the same way I do your brother and cousins.” Something else registers with me. “You said ‘our relatives.’”

“You’re going to be my wife soon. You’re already accepted as the newest O’Rourke. They’re your family now, too. When we talk amongst us, we don’t use qualifiers like in-law. We’re just parents, siblings, aunts and uncles, and cousins.”

“Are you proposing while I have a head wound? Do you think being concussed guarantees a yes?” I tease him, smiling to let him know my questions are jokes, not accusations.

“No, that isn’t a proposal. It’s fact.”

I release a puff of air, which isn’t quite a sigh. It’s more resignation that things aren’t that simple.

“I have to tell my father about us. He’ll expect you to ask for my hand. Not just because it’s traditional, but because he could have arranged a marriage for me I don’t know about.”

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