Page 28 of Knocked up by the Mafia

“You’re an alcoholic, firstly, and secondly, you wouldn’t be wine; you’d be vinegar. Wine is soft and elegant, and unless you took up ballet, then I don’t think so.” I turn back to him, my brothers laughing at our banter. I won’t take it too far, though. We’re brothers now; in other circumstances, he is my leader—even if I’m the more notorious killer.

“So, can you help me?”

“What are we helping him with?” Robbie asks. “And are there gonna be girls?”

I snort and sit back down. Ronan pours each of my brothers a beer and fills a glass with whiskey for himself. He pulls a chair up to the counter, facing us. “Aye, we’re going to help little Danny Boy. He has a little crush on someone he can’t have, and we must help him make it happen.”

Jarryd spits out his beer. “Sorry?”

Robbie laughs. “Brilliant! A plot twist. Iceman melts and has a heart.”

I sip my beer slowly. By the time I’m half done with it, my brothers are a quarter-way into their second pints.

Jarryd has told me animatedly about the girls he’s been chasing with Robbie and how his record store business is doing well—both legally and illegally. My baby brother has always loved music, so when Ronan bought him the record store, he fell in love.

Then Robbie tells me about the work he’s been doing for Ronan, how they’ve established a high-end bodyguard hiring company.

I laugh when he tells me he wears a suit, that’s so unlike him, but I suppose my falling for a girl also isn’t within the realm of norms for our family. They’re starting their fourth by the time I finish my first.

“Another?” Ronan asks.

I hold a hand up and shake my head.

Jarryd smacks me on the shoulder. “Come on, Dan. Have a beer and tell us what you’ve been doing with your time?”

“You know I don’t divulge clients' stories.” I give him a small smile.

“At least tell us about the girl, then. Ronan says you are seeing someone you aren’t supposed to be….”

“Shut your gob now, Jarryd. He doesn’t want to talk about it, so leave him be.” Ronan hands me a soda, and I nod my thanks.

Robbie has smoked almost a box of cigarettes and has lit another one. He exhales and shakes his head. “Girls are trouble. I’m telling you, lads. Make love and leave. That’s my way.”

“That was my way,” I comment. “But I must admit, some girls are hard to leave.”

There’s silence for a moment, then Jarryd and Robbie burst out laughing. Ronan hushes them up and lights a cigarette himself. “I assume you’ll stay here while we sort things out?”

“Yes, if you have space.”

“You know we always do, though these clowns live in their own places now.” Ronan motions to Jarryd, who is busy on his phone. “He has an apartment upstairs from his store, and Robbo here, well, he bought a little semi-house not far from here.”

I nod. “And you still live in the flat above the pub.”

“I’ll never leave it. It’s the last home we had with Ma.”

I nod. “I assume it’s my old room, then. I’ll take my things up there while you gents visit. I’m tired and want to get an early start.” I stand up, and Ronan stands as well.

“Danny, you can stay and chat. It won’t kill you.”

“It’s not my way,” I comment. He doesn’t press it and lets me go back to my car and collect my bags. I head upstairs and to my old room. It still has the single bed in the corner and the poster of Steve Earle above it.

I set my stuff down with a sigh. I am going to have to sacrifice my freedom, but it’s worth it if Nat’s life is spared.

Chapter 17 - Natalia

I didn’t sleep much. I tried calling Daniel several times to tell him about the annulment and to tell him to get me. I know he can. His phone is off, though, because he’s decided to play hero and sort out the mess we’re in. The problem is, getting me back after the annulment will be even more complicated. I don’t understand why Ivan is being like this. I knew he hated the Quinns. I know who Ronan is, but I didn’t know how much he hated them.

I suppose you never really know the full story of what’s going on, not even in your family, because there will always be secrets. I give up trying to sleep at around six in the morning and instead wrap myself up and sit in the cool morning air on the back deck. I feel exhausted, but I can’t rest. My mind is going at a thousand miles a minute.

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