Page 5 of Fragile Union

I smirk at the angry threat. God, she’s fucking beautiful when riled up.

She narrows her eyes on me. "Why the fuck do you think that's amusing?"

"Chill, baby, yeah? Today's going to be a good day."

"If you say so, Ma’s a fucking nightmare." She sighs as she rubs her chest. "Do what everyone else does, ignore her. She craves the attention. Just don't give it to her."

"What's wrong with your mom? Makenna said she was a bitch." I remember she also said she just had a baby. Holly's twenty and she has two older brothers along with younger siblings.

She glances at the door before her gaze swings back to me. "Ma is a bitch, Romero. She hates her life so she has to make everyone else's life miserable. Da despises her. I don't think he ever liked her; he's never loved her. But she hasn't helped matters, she's been fucking around on him since before they got married."

I manage to keep the shock off my face. Fucking hell, why is the bitch still alive?

"Da realized when she was pregnant with Chloe, he knew she wasn't his daughter." She shudders. Her voice willowy, her Irish accent always a little thicker when she speaks about her mom. "I have no idea why Da keeps her around, all they ever do is argue, and then she fell pregnant with Mary who's almost a year, and I knew Da was done, but of course, Ma got pregnant again, and Gareth was born last week. You'd think she'd have some sense, I mean, she has to know her husband will kill her, but she doesn't care."

Fuck.

"I don't have to tell you, I'm nothing like your father, but Holly, you even glance at another man and you'll regret it."

She narrows her eyes. "Sleep with one eye open arsehole."

I chuckle. "I mean it, I don't share, not you, not ever. Even try it and I'll kill you."

She rolls her eyes and pats my chest like I'm a child. When the hell did she lose her fucking shyness around me? "Sure, whatever you say, big guy. We both know I would never do that, but I should inform you, Danny has taught me how to use a knife and if you cheat on me, you'll lose your balls."

She kisses my cheek and moves toward the door. "Please try not to be late. I'm going to need alcohol around my ma, and the sooner the wedding ceremony is over, the quicker I get a drink."

"You Irish have a serious problem."

She shakes her head, not in the slightest offended. "Nah, we don't. We're able to handle our drinks. You're considered a light weight if you get drunk after a few drinks." She grins widely at me. "We'll see how well you hold up."

"Go, baby, I'll see you soon."

"I'm not your baby, Romero," she bites, but she eases the sting by blowing me a kiss as she leaves the room.

"Sooooo," Alessio begins as they walk back into the room, "that went a lot better than I thought it would have."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Okay," Makenna says clapping her hands. "I love you guys, but you need to start getting ready, you've got less than an hour before the ceremony begins. Which also means, I've got to start getting dressed too."

"He's fine," Dante assures her. "Go, we're fine."

I turn my back on them and reach for my jacket. Once I hear the door close, I ask Alessio again, "So?"

"Rome," he shakes his head, "we all know Makenna's a badass, but Holly, if looks could kill, we'd all be dead. It's true what they say, redheads have a fiery temper."

He's trying to piss me off. "Whatever." I shrug on my jacket, wishing he'd found some whiskey somewhere, I could use a shot or two.

He holds his hands up. "I like her, that's all."

My head snaps up and I pin him with a glare. "What?"

His eyes widen and I see the grin on Dante's face. "Relax, Rome, he's not going to poach. She's all yours." Dante tries to assure me but the fucking grin he has isn't helping matters.

Alessio runs his hand through his hair. "Fuck, you were right. What the hell is it with these Irish women? They make you all go fucking crazy."

Dante slaps him on the back. "Come on, let's go before he punches you. I can't wait for you to find your woman. She's going to knock you on your ass."

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