Page 24 of Conall's Reign

“If I get pregnant by accident, you want me to have the baby?” she asked, reading further as her teeth tugged at her lower lip.

It wasn’t an unreasonable request, at least from my perspective. Pregnancy was a possibility, and while I respected her right to choose, I would want the child. Maybe she wasn’t ready to be a parent, but I could be. I’d prefer to do it together, but if I had to do it alone… well, I could. Raising children alone wasn’t new to me. I’d raised my siblings. Still, it wasn’t something I’d ever impose on her. I wasn’t sure why she didn’t want to be a mother, but maybe it had to do with her own upbringing. I watched her as she thought about it. I hadn’t been sure if she’d agree.

“You’ll give me a divorce after the baby is born? No argument?” she pressed. “You would raise the baby yourself?”

“None,” I replied evenly. “I’ve raised my siblings. I can raise a child alone if necessary. We’ll take precautions, but if the situation arises, I would want our child.”

“You could get a vasectomy,” she suggested, her tone casual despite the weight of the topic.

“Is that what you’d prefer?” I asked, studying her face. I had considered it before the drafting process began, but something held me back. “There are other birth control options. I’ll use condoms.” She flushed, and I was suddenly reminded of how much younger she was than me.

“No.” The word was gentle, nearly undetectable, yet I heard it.

“Okay.” A spark of hope ignited within me.

Children were precious in our dangerous world, yet the risks were always present. They could be used against you. They were supposed to be off-limits, but you never knew when someone would break the rules. I wouldn’t ask Francesca for an explanation or to quantify things —not yet. Maybe when she trusted me more, she’d explain why she didn’t want to be a mother. If she wanted me to get a vasectomy, I would do it in a heartbeat—anything she needed to feel safer.

She redirected her attention to the document, lightly shaking it while offering a small smile. “You’ve been very generous with the funds.”

It may have seemed that way, but she would be a co-signer on all our accounts. What I had allocated separately was modest in comparison, ensuring her comfort should anything happen to me. She would never lack for anything, no matter what. Being involved in organized crime wasn’t the most secure lifestyle, but if you were smart, you could take precautions, especially for your loved ones.

“You’ll find another addendum there,” I said, pointing to the relevant section. “It pertains to work and personal freedoms.”

Her eyes narrowed as she read. “Protection detail.Francesca O’Kelly will agree to a protection detail at all times, including at her workplace.” She frowned. “How will that work without compromising my job?”

“Finn will be discreet,” I assured her. Finn O’Donoghue was one of my most trusted men, and his efficiency in protection was unmatched. I had just assigned him to Cora’s detail, but now that she was married to Maxim, he could serve as Francesca’s guard.

“No.” Her tone was resolute. “I’ll agree to a tracker. I accept that a protection detail can remain in the lobby and accompany me to other locations, but they cannot be on my floor while I work. That must be included in the contract.”

“I agree to that. I’ll be right back.” I fought to hide my glee.

The tracker suggestion was going straight into the agreement. I should have thought of it myself. Finn would already be stationed in the lobby, with access to the floor’s cameras, so her modification didn’t change much. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

When I returned with the revised document, she carefully reviewed it before signing. The weight of the moment settled over the room as she set the pen down. She was as good as mine.

“Alright,” she said, leaning back with finality.

“Not quite,” I replied, my voice tinged with mischief. I exited the room, holding the door open with a flourish. “Come in, gentlemen.”

Paddy strolled in first, his swagger apparent in every step. Brody followed closely behind, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. Trailing them was a middle-aged man in a tailored suit, his expression one of slight discomfort as he adjusted the strap of his leather briefcase.

Francesca furrowed her brow as she glanced between us, her confusion growing. “What’s going on?”

“As requested, brother—one judge,” Paddy announced grandly, gesturing toward the man. He tipped an imaginary hat to Francesca with a cheeky grin. “Hello, Frankie. You’re looking…well, let’s say intrigued.”

Brody snorted. “Intrigued might be an understatement, Paddy.”He gave her a sympathetic smile.

In Brody, she could find an ally if she wished. Francesca had met my brothers, but I didn’t think she had truly gotten to know them. They were close in age, but they hadn’t exactly been part of her social circle or the scenes she frequented, so they hadn’t had the opportunity to become friends. Still, I hoped she would come to see them that way.

“This is Judge McTiernan,” I interjected, interrupting the anticipated back-and-forth. “He’s here to officiate.”

Francesca’s gaze darted from the judge to me, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Officiate what?” she asked, her voice sharp, though the pink flush on her cheeks betrayed her irritation.

“Our marriage,” I said matter-of-factly as I stepped closer.Francesca was sharp as a whip, so I knew she was connecting the dots.

Her lips parted in surprise as she blinked rapidly. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m completely serious,” I replied, my tone firm yet calm. “The paperwork has been handled. All that’s left is to say a few words and make it official. I told you it would be today. I’m a man of my word.”

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