Page 103 of On The Rocks

It was always the same when we talked this way. I loved reminiscing, but we both had our issues with our da; Tadhg did, too. Lorcan O’Shea was a tough Irishman who grew up at a time when Ireland was in political and social turmoil, and it affected him on a fundamental level. It gave him a hard edge and built an anger inside that sometimes got the better of him. I often wondered why he didn’t join the family business. Being a Mafia enforcer would’ve given him the perfect outlet for his rage.

“It’s how he made me feel,” Donny explained. “For a man with so much anger, he could also be cold as ice when it came to his feelings.”

“Wish he could’ve shown us his emotions,” I rasped, my throat still burning. “Maybe we both needed more from him.”

Donovan laughed. “He wasn’t much of a talker either, though, was he? He was everybody’s best friend down in the bar, but it was just an act for the punters.”

I let out a snort. “Da taught me that, too. Only give ‘em what you want ‘em to see.”

Donovan’s head tilted to one side. “He taught us both that as well as T. Real men don’t show their feelings, keep your cards close to your chest. Don’t show them your vulnerabilities. Dudes don’t complain. They get on with it.” He shook his head at the memory. “It’s no wonder we’re all so emotionally fucked up.”

I chuckled at the memory. “But Da was the life and soul of the party.”

“Yeah,” Donny agreed, holding up his beer bottle. “Da, wherever you are. May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head always be strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the Devil knows you’re dead.”

I clinked his bottle with mine. “Cheers to that,” I muttered before we both took a long pull.

Donny sat forward, elbows to knees, and the hand holding his bottle dangling between his legs. “Tonight’s just the beginning, Cal. This place will take off, you’ll get Paddy paid off, and you’ll have everything you want and more ‘cause I’m tellin’ ya,” he held his bottle up, “this beer recipe is gonna make your fortune.”

“Makeourfortune,” I corrected. “Talking of which, we start on your gym next week. We’ll get your place opened in the New Year. You’ve got a mortgage to pay, too.”

“I’m starting to think I’ve taken too much on,” he confided quietly.

I clapped Donovan reassuringly on the shoulder. “Big bro’s here to help. We’ll enlist a few Speed Demons, too.” I leaned into him. “Remember, you’re an O’Shea. Our blessings outnumber the Shamrocks that grow.”

Donny smiled sadly. “The aul fella always used to say that.”

I looked around the bar again. “That saying was why he named this place the Lucky Shamrock. He said it was our blessing.”

“He was such an aul fuckin’ gobshite,” Donny muttered, taking another swig of beer.

I burst out laughing just as a loud rattle and a knock sounded from the front door.

“It’s too early for the punters,” I said, my neck twisting to see who it was.

“Is that Abe?” Donny asked, craning his neck to check.

Glancing through the windows, I saw the man himself with a hand cupped on either side of his eyes, peering at us through the glass. I got to my feet, making my way across the room. “Bowie told me Abe wasn’t coming tonight,” I muttered to myself.

“Maybe he’s come to get more cider for Atlas,” Donny said with a chuckle.

I turned my head to shoot him a knowing grin before unlocking the door and cracking it open for Abe to slip through. “You okay, brother?” I asked, giving him a fist bump. “Good to see ya. You’re a little early, though.”

“Just a flying visit,” he explained. “Me and Rissy are babysittin’. Gotta get back to her, but I wanted to stop in and say good luck for tonight. I know what it means to ya for this place to be a success.” His hand rested on my shoulder and squeezed. “The boys told me the position Lorcan put you in. Gotta say, Cal, I couldn’t believe it; he doted on ya. It doesn’t make sense.” His chin dipped, and he looked me dead in the eye. “Thank God you ended up with a good woman. He could just as easily have landed you with a dud.”

My chest twisted painfully. “What the fuck did they say to ya?”

“Just that your dad owed money to that Mafia boss cousin of his, and you were forced to marry Maeve to keep the bar.”

A huge lump formed in the back of my throat.

What the fuck?

“That’s not strictly true—” I tried to explain. “I mean?—”

“Well, strictly, it is true,” my brother interrupted as he walked over to join us. “But there are nuances. It’s not as black and white as it sounds.” He jerked a thumb in my direction. “Do ya think he’d let anyone force him into doin’ anythin’ he didn’t want to do?”

Abe shook his head, pursing his lips. “Those boys made it sound like you were held at fuckin’ gunpoint.”

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