Page 24 of Praying Mantis

“I’m sorry we didn’t get here sooner.” I kiss the top of her head. She’s a foot shorter than me.

“I sent Colin to your apartment but you weren’t there,” she whispers. I help her over to the chair and I hold the second one for Louisa to sit on. I stand beside my mom rubbing her shoulder.

“He was at my place last night. I’ll give you my address so if anything like this happens, you’ll be able to get a hold of us. We didn’t put the phones on the nightstands last night. I’m sorry. What’s the doctor saying?” Louisa holds my mom’s hand. She’s so gentle with her and she makes my heart beat faster. I’m falling even faster for this woman.

“He suffered a heart attack. He has a one hundred percent blockage. He needs triple bypass surgery. They’re running tests. I don’t understand everything.” She sighs, wiping the tears off of her cheeks. “Sean, I’m not mad that Colin couldn’t find you. I’m glad you’re here now. No one could’ve expected a heart attack, a bomb or a gun shoot out sure but this natural causes doing this, unheard of.” My mom crinkles her nose and I’m not sure why. Then I see how her eyes move to Louisa who is now looking at me with a twinkle in her eye.

“Máthair, I told Louisa about dad and the family business.” Louisa squeezes my mom’s hands in reassurance. “Athair is strong, I’m sure he’ll be good. Do you know why they’re running the tests?” She shakes her head. “I can walk out and find out.”

“Buachaill, is that you?” My dad’s gravelly voice breaks the conversation.

“Athair of course it’s me. Who else would be here? I came to brighten your day.” I smile at him. “I need to let the doctors know you’re faking it to get máthair to play nursemaid to you.” I wink at my mom who blushes and knocks my hand away from her.

Louisa

My boyfriend is not only an FBI agent hunting the Praying Mantis but he’s the son of a mob boss? How is this my life? I feel like I’m in some thriller novel. What else is going to happen to us, is there a clown coming to kill us now?

“Who is that?” Sean’s dad points at me. I stand up and walk to the bottom of the bed.

“Fear céile,” Sean’s mom gets her husband’s attention by saying husband to him instead of scowling at me like I’m an intruder. “This is Sean’s acushla. You would’ve met her last night if you didn’t have the meeting with Colin. Louisa, this is my husband, Patrick.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances.” He stares at me before moving his attention to his son. I smile at Cara and go back to sitting next to her.

“I need you to cover some work for me while I’m here,” Patrick states. Sean’s jaw clenches. “Colin will go with you. There are some men from out of town coming in and I need an O’Hannon representing us.”

“Athair, I’m here to visit you not to run the family business. Colin can do this.” He sighs, gripping the bed rail. Why does Sean hate the family business so much? I could see him running the mob but I also know he has a good heart. I know my heart belongs to him, like my body, mind, and soul does. I need to end things, but I can’t do it because I love Sean too much. I should confess who I am or leave before it gets too painful. It’s the same internal fight over and over again.

“No work talk right now.” Cara scolds Patrick. He glares at his wife before softening at her.

“Yes, dear.” Patrick closes his eyes. The doctor and a nurse come in and begin talking to us about taking him for surgery. The nurse tells us where the surgery waiting room is and we thank them. I step out into the hallway so Sean and Cara can have some time with Patrick. This feels like one of those times where it’s a family moment and I’m an intruder looking in from the outside. The doors open up and they wheel him away while Cara stands there crying in Sean’s muscular arms. I smile at him but it doesn’t do much for him. I don’t know how to help.

“Let’s go up to the surgery room and we can see about getting some food for you okay? You’ll need your strength to keep up with the old coot.” He teases his mom. We walk out and all the men from earlier stand and come to stand near Cara and Sean.

“I need to go wash my face, Louisa can you come with me?” I nod. We walk to the bathroom and a man I don’t know follows us.

“Daniel, stand down. We’re going into the bathroom.” Cara tells the man who nods. Once we’re behind closed doors she breaks down in my arms.

“He will not make it. He was saying his goodbyes to us when you stepped out. He’s not even going to fight for me.” I hold her as she cries. She couldn’t break down in front of Sean or those men. She needs to be strong for everyone; she’s the matriarch.

“What can I do for you?” I whisper as I rub her back holding her like a scared child in my arms.

“I don’t know,” she sighs, “kick my husband’s ass.” She chuckles.

“I can do that. I am trained in martial arts. I can make a grown man cry.” I tease.I can also kill a man or woman and they wouldn’t even know it.I say inside my head trying not to scare this woman who I hope could be my mother-in-law someday.

“Should I be scared for my son?” She giggles as she moves out of my arms.

“As long as he treats me like the princess he does now then we’re good.” I wink at her. I help her over to the sink to help her wash her face. “If anything happens to your husband, will Sean step up?” She shakes her head with a frown. “Colin will step up then?” She shrugs. I don’t know about mafia life, only what I read and see in the news.

“Most mafia or mob however you want to describe it is always blood relations being the head of the family. At a young age, Sean wanted nothing to do with it because he lived a very secluded life.” We sat down on the bench so she could talk. “He never went to school without a bodyguard and through high school, he learned to ditch them or so he thought he had. When he turned eighteen, he went to join the military behind our backs. He broke my husband’s heart but told him he had four years to explore life and come back to the family business. Well, you see how well that turned out. It’s been the same fight for my husband, son, and Colin ever since. Patrick doesn’t want Colin running the business because it belongs to Sean and Colin thinks he deserves it since he’s been here working and supporting Patrick. He also hates my son.” She winks at me.

“What do you want Cara?” It was a simple question but the worry in her eyes tells me it was not a simple answer. “I’m sorry if it’s too personal or out of line.”

“Mo stór,” Cara calling me my dear as she pats my knee makes me smile. “You love my son, nothing is personal or out of line.” I swallow hard at the realization she sees what I’m afraid to say out loud to anyone but Sean. “I want Sean to be happy and I also want him to be an O’Hannon.” I open my mouth to speak when the door flies open and two men barge in. I jump to my feet and punch the one man who rushes to us right in the nose. I hear bones crunching underneath my fist.

“Bitch!” He yells as he cups his nose.

“What is going on here?” Sean comes running in.

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