Page 12 of His to Keep
“Ha-ha,” Eilidh laughs without a trace of humor. “So, back to this marriage business. What’s the point?”
Considering she was raised by the head of a major criminal organization, you would think she would understand why marriage to a man like me is necessary. My guess is she knows the answer, but wants to poke at me a little more.
“The point is to ensure you’re protected.”
Realizing the bacon is burning on one side, I grab a fork, the only utensil I can find, and flip it over.
“Buy me a Rottweiler and a Glock and I’ll protect myself,” Eilidh says.
I can’t help grinning. When I agreed to marry Eilidh, I expected to have to be patient with my delicate, broken bride. Although being gentle doesn’t come naturally to me, I was prepared to make some effort to help repair Eilidh’s shattered psyche. Instead, I find myself on the receiving end of a sassy attitude. I enjoy her fierceness. It’s clear to me now why my brothers love to spar verbally with their wives. A fiery spirit makes a relationship more interesting.
“You won’t need a dog and a gun if you marry me. My name will protect you.”
Eilidh snorts derisively. “Jasmine Henry knew your name, and she wasn’t impressed by it.”
She must have been playing it cool with Eilidh because Jasmine Henry practically creamed herself when she heard I wanted to meet her brother. Forming a partnership with my family would have elevated the status of the Drummond organization. It seems they’ve opted to join Semion Barevsky in the gutter instead.
“Wait until we get back to New York, then you’ll understand what my name means.” If I’m honest, I’ve only just realized how proud I am of my family name. Before I came to Scotland, I’d grown disillusioned with my life as a Volante. I’d never embraced Mafia life like my brothers have. Now that I’ve had some time away from them, I’m ready to return to the fold.
“Okay,” Eilidh says, her tone more measured now. “Suppose I accept I’ll be safer with your ring on my finger.”
“You will be.”
She purses her lips in irritation at my interruption. “What do you get out of this arrangement, Gio?”
“The warm fuzzy feeling of giving a damsel in distress her happy ending.” I blow out a breath as Eilidh glares at me. There’s no point in bullshitting her. “I get to prove myself to my family.”
“Ah,” Eilidh nods as if everything has suddenly become clear to her. “You’re suffering from youngest child syndrome, and you think settling down will show you’re ready for more responsibility.”
I’m not sure I possess the traits associated with that syndrome and I don’t occupy that position in the family, anyway. “My sister’s the youngest.”
“Oh, yeah, but you’re the youngest son, right, and I’m guessing your brothers are all in thefamily business.”
“They are.” I don’t like where she’s going with this. A thread of insecurity runs through me where my brothers are concerned and Eilidh seems intent on pulling at it.
“They’re a lot to live up to, right?”
“You can judge for yourself when we get to New York.” Evading her intense scrutiny, I turn to grab plates from the rack on the counter behind me and dish up some bacon and eggs. “Damn, I forgot the toast.”
“I don’t want toast,” Eilidh says as I set a plate down in front of her and grab cutlery from the drawer. “I also don’t want to go to New York.”
Returning to my home is non-negotiable. Being close to my family will be safer for Eilidh and she’ll be able to make friends with my sister and my brothers’ wives. It would be unproductive to argue with her about that now, so I don’t push back.
“What do you want to do, kitten?”
“I want to stay here and kill every bastard who had a hand in murdering my family.”
The sentiment doesn’t surprise me. Anyone in her position would want the same. Hell, I’ve killed men for far less serious crimes against my family. What does shock me is the violent glint in her eye, backed up by the vehemence in her voice. At thismoment, I believe she would tear Jason Henry and his men to pieces with her bare hands if she could.
“Have you ever killed a person?” I ask.
She lifts her chin defiantly. “Not yet.”
“I wouldn’t recommend it.” Taking a life leaves an indelible mark on the soul. I don’t spend hours of each day wringing my hands over the crimes I’ve committed, but it does affect me. I’ve hardened since I became a Made Man and there are times I wish I could go back to being the carefree boy I was before.
“You expect me to turn the other cheek?” Eilidh demands. “You think I should let them get away with what they did?”
Considering I could never let it go if someone harmed my family, I’m not about to ask Eilidh to set aside her desire for revenge.
