Page 109 of Alfie: Part Two

“You have proven to be a loyal man I’m happy to call cousin and brother-in-arms,” he told me. “You’re the right amount of batshit for this family, you’re already a top earner, you’ve brought more kiddos into the fold for future corruption?—”

I exhaled a laugh and caught West shaking his head and mouthing, “Fuck no.”

Finn chuckled. “And lastly, your man’s become my dad’s favorite playmate.”

“Hear, hear!” Shan called out.

I laughed again and scrubbed a hand over my face.

“You’re one of us, Alfie.” Finn brought me in for a quick hug, and I was…fucking speechless. My heart had never felt so damn full.

I was a Son.

Liam pulled me in for a hug too, and he clapped me on my back. “Good to have you on board.”

I nodded once and cleared my throat. “Thanks, brother.” I wasn’t gonna get mushy in front of everyone, goddammit.

“And with that,” he said into the mic, “you do the honors. You know what to say.”

Or what to ask, right?

I blew out a breath and faced the crowd, where I immediately met West’s soft grin.

He of all people knew what this meant to me, and yet…his acceptance of it all meant even more.

I gave him a wink before lifting my mic. “Let’s hope I don’t fuck this up, eh?” One more deep breath to let the chuckles fade, and then I raised my voice, my stomach tightening with anticipation and excitement. “Who will answer Ireland’s call!”

“The Sons of Munster!” the crowd roared. Including Ellie, who screamed it at the top of her lungs.

The music started right away, with Eric filling in on the fiddle and Finn on the tin whistle. Shivers traveled through me, and I inhaled the atmosphere.

Standing side by side…

United as brothers.

Shoulder to shoulder.

Undefeatable against the dark.

We will answer Ireland’s call.

Was it just me, or did it look like West was giving away our kids? He had that look of a parent giving instructions. Ellie was nodding excitedly at whatever he was saying, and Emilia stood next to them, smiling happily. Colby and Trip were chuckling, though I had no idea about what. The music was getting louder as more guests with young children left—or sent their little ones off with babysitters and grandparents.

I finished my soda and set the glass on the bar, then made my way over to them.

Trip spotted me first and blinked sleepily. I hugged him to me and kissed the top of his head. Damn kid was growing taller by the minute.

“You tired, buddy?”

He nodded.

“Good thing we’re not going far.” I held him to me and rubbed his back.

Finn and Emilia’s house was literally next door to the pub, wall-to-wall. An old, two-story building in stone. It’d previously been six little apartments, but when Finn inherited the building from his grandparents, he’d turned the whole thing into their home away from home, with guest suites that included kitchenettes and bathrooms.

We were currently occupying one of them.

“West, if you’re giving away our kids, I want new ones,” I told him.

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