Page 9 of Liam

Catching Tommy’s eye over Da’s shoulder, we both bit back a laugh as Da let out a loud harrumph, muttering, “Matchmaking, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course not,” I agree, settling back in a chair next to him. My brows raise as Adam takes off towards the main gate at a jog, phone to his ear.

Johnny walks up the steps, Emy in his arms and Jackson holding onto his leg like a monkey catching a ride.

“He’s gone to let Sera and her girls in,” Johnny explains before turning to the kids, “Come on, you lot, let’s go check what time supper will be ready.”

Ally and Jeanie followed behind him but not before stopping to give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“How’s my girls?” I ask them. “Did you have a good day at school today?”

“Yep,” Jeanie answers, and Ally nods. “It was good, but I’m glad it’s Friday. Are you still going to take us to the Crows for Halloween tomorrow, Uncle Liam?”

“Of course I am,” I reply, surprised at the question. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Ally shrugs and looks at Jeanie before replying, “Mum says you were interested in a lady, and we just wanted you to know that if you were busy, it would be okay not to take us.”

Sometimes I forgot that these girls had a shit stain for a father who hadn’t given a tinker’s damn that he hurt them. Beside me, Da had stiffened and Tommy sat up straight. Taking hold of their hands, I tugged them towards me so that I could wrap an arm around each of them.

“You girls listen to me. I said I’d take you and I will. It’s one of my favourite evenings of the year. O’Sheas don’t break their promises, and I promised you I’d take you. I love you girls, and nothing and no one is ever going to change that. You girls aren’t second best; you are one of the best things to happen to this family. Do you understand?”

When they both nod that they understand and look relieved that I wasn’t breaking my promise, I give them each a squeeze and tell them, “You’ll like Sera, I promise. I’d not bring anyone into our family that would do us any harm. It’s scary letting new people in, not just for you but for us too.”

Jeanie looks sceptically at me, “It’s scary even for you?”

Nodding, I tell her, “You bet. Sera’s bringing her friends with her, and I’m wondering if they’ll like me.”

“Why wouldn’t they like you?” Ally scowls. “You, Uncle Johnny, and Uncle Tommy are the best. They’d better like you. If they don’t, I’ll get granda’s shotgun and show them what for. Nobody gets to be mean to you, and O’Sheas stick together.”

Da’s shoulders are shaking with silent laughter; Tommy suddenly starts coughing. Chuckling, I pull her to my chest, kissing the top of her head, “I love you girls, and you’re right, O’Sheas do stick together.”

Hugging them tight until I have to let them go when Tilly calls for them, I can’t help but be thankful that their father was a rightgobshitewho didn’t know what precious jewels he had been given. Because the girls were ours now.

Once the girls are out of sight, I laugh, “Da, what the hell have you been teaching those girls?”

Da shrugs, “Eh, lad, they need to know how to defend themselves. Adam has them learning all that fancy self-defence stuff, and I’ve got them learning how to shoot. None of my girls are going to be defenceless.” He turns to me with raised brows. “What about your lady—will she need to learn how to shoot?”

“You mean they didn’t tell you everything about her then?”

“No, just that you and she couldn’t keep your eyes off each other. And she kicked you out of the office so she could concentrate.”

Tommy guffaws at that, and I couldn’t help but smile; it had been funny. “Da, my queen could probably wipe the floor with all of us. She’s ex-military and served with some of the Crows,” I hesitate before continuing because I know he’s going to love this bit of news, “she was a sniper.”

Da grins like a Cheshire cat at the news, “Amazing news, son, you did good. And her girls?”

“I think Adam said that some were ex-military but not all of them.”

“Excellent,” he claps his hands, rubbing them together. “Tough women I can deal with.”

Tommy and I lose it as we throw our heads back in laughter, only pulling ourselves together when we hear the roar of bikes coming down the drive.

“Are the Crows coming as well?” Tommy asks, standing up just as the first bike pulls into the parking area to the side of the house; three bikes follow it, with a Jeep bringing up the rear, Adam sitting in the passenger seat with a shit-eating grin on his face when he sees us.

“That’s not the Crows,” Da comments.

“Nope,” I agree, walking down the steps, tossing over my shoulder, “that’s my queen.”

“Holy fuck, Uncle Colm, I think Liam’s building himself an army of kickass women,” Tommy chuckles behind me.

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