Page 42 of The Enforcer's Redemption

I hated the arrangement, the idea of it. The principle that women should be free to choose never left me, but now my heart has chosen. I want him. And I want him forever.

As I pad softly up to the living room, after nearly getting lost down the hallway, I hear sniffling and laughter. These two sounds seem strange juxtaposed, and I peek into the room before I walk fully in. Mum sits on a couch with Da next to her, Rebecca with a tissue in hand wiping her nose. Declan stands in front of them serving tea into tiny mugs with hand-painted flowers and gilded rims and handles.

It's Mum who sees me first. She rushes over to wrap her arms around me tightly, and I melt into her embrace. Da follows, walking with pride and strength toward us. Rebecca blubs and gushes, shoving her way into the center of our reunion as my father wraps all three of us ladies into his arms. I press my head against Rebecca's and close my eyes, finally at peace. I'll spare them the worst of the stories, but Da will want to know everything, I'm sure.

"I'm so glad you're back," Mum whimpers.

"Oh, Isla," Rebecca coos.

"I'm okay… Please," I mutter, feeling crushed a little. I chuckle, and one by one, they pull back.

"Come sit," Declan invites us. I'm surprised Ronan isn't here for this too since it's his home, but I do as my husband says and have a seat. He sits next to me and takes my hand and smiles.

"Well, what an adventure you've been on," Da says, but I hardly think his positive tone is the appropriate response. Still, he's a master at looking at the bright side of things.

"Yes, well, I'm here now." The question burns on my tongue, but I wait for Mum and Rebecca to fawn over me for a bit. Declan seems to sense my annoyance with them and encourages them to have some tea, which refocuses them back on doctoring their tiny mugs with cream and sugar.

I take the opportunity to address my father, whose nonchalant attitude is somewhat chilling. We've never experienced tragedy as a family, at least none that I know of, so I'm not sure if this is his normal demeanor in situations like this or if he's lost his mind. I have to know what's going on, and I can't wait any longer.

"Da," I say firmly, "what is happening?" I wring my hands in my lap and study his face as it softens and the sadness starts to creep in.

"Why, my oldest daughter is having our first grandchild. I think that's reason enough to be happy." He fiddles with his tie and glances at Declan. I don't bother to look at my husband. This is between me and my father.

"Da, tell me the truth. Why did you force me to marry Declan? Why are those men calling me Princess all the time? What does it mean that I’m carrying the O'Connor heir?"

He trades furtive glances with my mother and his shoulders stiffen, squaring. I expected him to shrink back, but this issurprising to me. He slaps the tops of his thighs and lets his hands slide to his knees where they stop.

"Aisling, I'm a proud man," he says, and suddenly, his eyes take on the same darkness that Declan's eyes get sometimes when he’s angry. I glance at Mum, whose head is now hanging. "There is a lot you don't know about me."

"I think what your father is trying to tell you is that he's kept things from you for your own protection, things he should've told you a long time ago." Declan touches my leg and then lets his fingers slide into my grasp, as if knowing ahead of time that I'll need him. I look up at him with warmth and then narrow my eyes on my father.

"Tell me everything."

My father proceeds to tell me how his father built a crime organization much like the O'Rourkes’. How he traded in drugs and weapons. He tells me how when he was in his twenties, he took over for his father, running the underground crime syndicate, and how clashes with other families like the O'Rourkes led to an all-out war, a war that killed Declan's father.

When he gets to that point, I see the first sign of frailty I've ever seen come from my father. Remorse, perhaps, or grief. He goes on to tell me how after men in his organization murdered the O'Rourke chief, he was cornered and forced into a dark place he couldn't bargain his way out of. His family was turning on him. He'd allowed them to murder one of the most powerful men in the city, and now he had a debt to pay—hand over his family or just his daughter.

I sit there feeling gutted by the truths rolling out of my father's mouth. To think my entire life, he's been keeping this from me,lying for what? To give me a normal lifestyle, even when he knew I'd be forced to live with this legacy? There is no way I could ever have lived my full life without finding out. The arranged marriage was simply the catalyst for the truth to be revealed.

I'm angry, but simultaneously, I am comforted. Declan's arm comes around me, and I lean into him. Life always has a way of showing me the silver lining, and if the man to whom I'm bound continues to be the man who cares for me and protects me, then I have been the one to benefit from this whole situation.

"But an heir? What does it mean?" I say, but I already feel like I know what it means. The child in my womb will never have the future I hope for him or her.

Da nods at me and blinks, as if I'm supposed to understand, but I shake my head in confusion. "The firstborn male grandchild will be raised to take this family and lead them properly in ways I can never do." Da's voice is solemn, and I get the feeling that the choice to place that on my shoulders wasn't his, but it doesn’t have to be the future. It doesn't have to be this way at all. Together, Declan and I can and will change that to make the future for our child different from what I fear, better.

31

DECLAN

Isit with Mick and his family in the cozy front room of my brother's home. We linger there for more than an hour, immersed in conversation, as Isla recounts the harrowing tale of what happened. Her voice trembles slightly as she speaks of her urgent need to escape, a desperate plea woven into her words. Each syllable is a knife twisting in my gut, especially when she describes the suffocating terror of being confined in that cold, metal container. Her vivid account only fuels the fire within me, solidifying my determination to hunt down and eliminate Sebastian O’Reilly before anyone else can intervene.

As Ronan steps into the room, his presence is immediate and commanding. He halts just inside the doorway, fixing me with a deliberate, meaningful gaze that leaves no doubt in my mind—he wants me to accompany him. I bide my time, searching for a natural lull in the lively chatter around me. When the moment feels right, I lean in close to Isla, her perfume a delicate floral note in the air. I gently place a kiss on her cheek, the warmth of her skin a comforting touch, and whisper softly, "I'll be back."

Then I rise and walk out into the hallway. Ronan isn't here, probably off to his office to wait for me. I head in that direction, tucking my tie into my suit jacket and buttoning it. After things went down, the Garda arrested more than half of the O’Reilly clan, but we know Sebastian was one of them. We also know he has his fingers in the Garda and the justice system. They won't be able to make anything stick, but that's okay.

At this moment, he's securely confined behind bars, beyond my reach, but the day they release him, I'll track him down relentlessly. In the meantime, my attention is devoted to my wife and our unborn child, ensuring their safety and well-being. I'm determined to do everything in my power to fortify our family, cultivate strong alliances, and lay the foundation for a secure and prosperous future for myself and all those around me. The gravity of my responsibilities weighs heavily upon me, fueling my resolve to protect and nurture what matters most.

I strut into Ro's office to find Finn there. He's standing opposite Ronan, who's seated behind his desk with a stack of papers in front of him. As I approach, I hear them talking, but they hush when I get within earshot. I'm sure they'll fill me in soon enough. I've learned not to be nosy and to just deal with what is given to me. It's enough to keep me busy, anyway.

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