Page 123 of Mob Knight

“We’ve let the other families underestimate us for years. We’ve let them think we’re stereotypical undereducated—though we all went to Ivy Leagues or top tier universities—pipe wielding, dock working, poor—relatively speaking, of course—Irishmen. It’s suited us. That shite ended today when I discovered they’ve targeted my womanfor years.”

We turn back to our cousins and head to the vehicle. When we join Finn, Sean, and Shane, I say what I’m certain we’ve all thought since we realized they were behind all of this.

“The bratva swears up and down they’ll never target women and children because of what their moms faced while in Russia. They swear they’d never be like the men their fathers ruthlessly protected their moms from when the women faced sex trafficking. They might not have planned to sell Joey to a brothel, but they still planned to sell her back to her father. That’s what a ransom is. It’s selling a person.”

Not today, Satan. Not today.

“Too bad those fuckers won’t get to see this burn.” Dillan gives me an unrepentant shrug as he speaks, and I just grin.

By the time they get here, some of their men who live closer will have put the fire out. There’ll just be ash and rubble. It’ll take them a while to figure out how we did it. Let them stew on it.

“Are you satisfied?” Finn’s looking past my shoulder.

“As satisfied as I’m going to get while they’re still breathing.”

Seamus bumps shoulders with me. “Let’s go home to our women.”

We go straight back to my parents’ house, parking in the garage.

Mair, Ally, Nikki, Tiernan, Carys, and Joey jump out of their seats in the living room as soon as we file into the house. Ourparents hang back, letting us greet our wives. Joey’s as good as my wife after tonight.

“Cailín, it’s done. No one’s coming near you again.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No. Not even a hair out of place.”

Reassured I’m hale and hearty, Joey dives in for a kiss that makes my toes curl in my boots. If I didn’t know all the other couples were sharing kisses like this, I might worry it was indecent. None of the guys worry about our parents seeing us with our women like this. Who else did we learn it from? We all remember what it was like after our dads hugged each of us. The way they kissed our moms was just as scandalous.

The moment each couple pulls apart, the wives hurry to step aside. It’s our parents turn. There will never be a day in my life when a hug from my parents doesn’t make the world better. Joey’s arms are home now, but my parents’ embraces will always remind menothing evercomes before family.

Epilogue

Joey

Cormac’s a never-ending wealth of surprises. The creative ways he found for us to make love when he got back from the mission left me speechless because I was breathless. The engagement ring he gave me a week later while we were on vacation in Malta blew me away. The speed at which we closed on our new house—five days after a cash offer was accepted—shocked me.

But nothing tops today.

Martha abruptly quit her job. She never officially reported me. She just threatened to. Since I still have an immaculate record with plenty of commendations, the Department of Social Services promoted me. I had a last-minute chance to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony in Queens, so I’m here to represent the Staten Island social workers.

I’d know that red hair in my sleep. The pair of emerald eyes watching me widen as I walk toward him.

What is my fiancé doing here?

“Joey, what’re you doing here?”

“I was about to ask you the same. I?—”

“Mr. Cormac, did you know the new building has a jungle gyminside?”

A little boy of around seven grabs one of Cormac’s hands and tugs him toward the door that’s still blocked by the ribbon.

Mr. Cormac?

“Hi, Mr. Cormac.”

If that girl were over eighteen, she and I would have problems. She’s looking at my man like he’s her next meal. Cormac barely glances at her and nods as the little boy keeps tugging on his hand.

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