Page 58 of Sullivan

“You meet her and fall hard. Talk marriage in only a few days. Bring her here to meet me. Look at her like she sets the sun. But you don’t tell her about your family. About what you do to aid them. Your past. Your ties that you will never sever completely.” She frowned. “She saw the way that boy responded to your name, and she knows something, Sully. She’s smart. Clever. She is also going to think the worst before you are honest. Don’t be a coward. If you trust her with yer heart, then trust her with this too.”

“And if she can’t handle it? Even if it is a small part of my world, it’s still there.”

“Then better you know now than before there’s a ring on her finger.”

The thought of Autumn walking away made my chest ache. I knew Roisin was right, but I was worried. She had grown up with this world. Knew what her son and Finn did in Canada. Knew my involvement, however small it was.

But Autumn had no clue.

And how she would handle it, I had no idea.

And Roisin was right. I was a coward for not telling her.

“I’ll tell her when we go home. I need privacy to do it.”

“Good. She loves you, Sully. You may have to give her a little time, but I think she’ll be fine.”

I heard Autumn’s laughter over the music, and I stared at her, her simple beauty taking my breath away. Smiling, lifting her skirt to watch her feet, and failing miserably at a jig, she was stunning.

And mine.

And I refused to believe any different.

Later, in bed, Autumn lay on her side, quiet and still. I knew she was awake but not wanting to be intimate. She had already told me that before we’d arrived earlier, so that didn’t surprise me.

“We’re not getting frisky in your aunt’s home,” she warned me.

“Frisky, lass?” I laughed.

“You know what I mean.”

It was only one night, and I didn’t want to do anything that made her uncomfortable, so I had only nodded. But there was a greater distance between us than I expected.

I didn’t like it.

I slid closer, slipping my arms around her and pulling her back to my chest. She stiffened for a moment, but I waited and she relaxed.

“Talk to me, mo fhiadh beag. I can feel your worry, and I don’t like it.”

“Those men tonight…” She trailed off.

“Local wannabe gangsters. Think they’re tough.”

“How did they know your name? Why did they look so frightened?” she asked quietly.

I blew out a long breath. “I grew up not far from here, Autumn. I was young, stupid, and got involved in a gang, and I became one of the leaders. I was well-known.”

“And?” she pressed.

“I left that behind me, but I keep in touch with some of the more current members who were friends. I recognized the name and called their boss to tell them of the behavior. The attitude of some has changed, and gangs aren’t roving the street and causing trouble but, instead, affecting positive change.” I sighed. “Not everyone likes that.”

“You said you wanted to kill him.”

I rolled her onto her back and hovered over her. “He touched you, and I was angry. I wouldn’t kill someone for lack of manners, but I hated that he was even near you. You’re mine, Autumn, and I protect what is mine. I will never allow someone to frighten, intimidate, or hurt you. Not if I can help it. I would do the same for anyone I loved, but especially you. You’ve already been through enough.”

Her eyes searched my face. “You punched him.”

“He was being an arse and mouthing off because he thought I couldn’t hear him. I taught him a lesson when he swung at me.”