“Liam ‘The Collector’ Walsh,” he says with a small nod.
“Trent ‘The Saint’ Walsh,” Trent adds, eyes glinting in a way that screams the opposite of saintly.
Jake finally drags his gaze off his phone. “Jake ‘Trigger Finger’ Clancy.”
“Welcome, sweet Aria.” Gabriel tips his glass, mouth curving. “I’m Gabriel ‘The Angel’ Clancy.”
I arch a brow. “The Angel? That one has to be ironic.”
Sebastian snorts. “You have no idea.”
They’re all laughing, throwing titles around like it’s just a game, but every nickname at this table has probably been earned in blood, and I’m sitting here sipping wine like we’re at a work party. I turn to Johnny, pointing my fork. “Wait. What about you? You don’t actually have a nickname, do you?”
Johnny stiffens. “Yeah… I do.”
Trent grins. “He doesn’t want to say it.”
Sebastian ruffles Johnny’s hair. “Yeah, he really doesn’t.” Johnny elbows him hard.
“Jonathan,” Rosa says, all warning.
“Ma,” he groans.
“Out with it, son. I think your name is sweet.”
“Johnny ‘The Kid’ MacBrady,” he reluctantly mutters out.
Cyan barks out a laugh. “The Kid doesn’t like it.”
“The Kid should love it.” Troy claps Johnny on the back hard enough to jolt him.
Johnny glares at all of them. “I hate all of you.”
“I don’t know why you’re embarrassed. Billy the Kid was a total badass. People still remember him.”
Johnny’s irritation cracks into a crooked grin. “See? She gets it. Salut, Aria. Welcome to the family. I knew there’s a reason I like you.”
“Because she strokes your ego,” Thomas mutters, but there’s the ghost of a smile there, too.
This dinner feels… almost ordinary. Too easy, too comfortable. I forget for a second that these aren’t just charming men with sharp suits and sharper jawlines. They’re predators with titles, and I’m at their table.
“So, what’s your major, Thomas?” I blurt out, needing a safer topic for my mind to focus on.
He blinks. “Huh?”
I laugh. “Your older brother’s an accountant; like me, which I still find hard to believe. I already know Johnny’s a commercial architect,” I gesture around the table, “so what about the rest of you?”
Jake scoffs, jerking a thumb at Troy. “Oh, I know exactly what you mean. When Cyan laid down that rule back in high school, this dumb fuck was failing math.”
Troy glares at him, mouth full of pasta, and points his fork at Jake. “Your ass is lucky Rosa can cook, or I’d smack you.” More boisterous laughter from around the table.
Grinning, Thomas relaxes a fraction. “Civil engineering. I take Johnny’s designs and make them real, big infrastructure, city planning.” Lucilla leans, looking so proud, like she might add something, Thomas hits with a look that makes her retreat into her glass instead.
I can’t help but feel sorry for her. “Interesting,” I say.
Across the table, Collin clears his throat. “Aria, why didn’t you ask me?”
“Because I already know. English literature, right?”
