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“Any time, Boss,” Archer replies, his voice warm in my ear. The one missing piece to thislifethat’s weaving before me. As the hug breaks, I skim my eyes over Archer, checking every inch of him before settling on the cast. He took more than a bullet to keep Cara safe, and there aren’t enough words for me to thank him as deeply as I need to.
“How is it? How are you?” I ask, the back of my neck prickling somewhat as I realize this is likely the most emotion any of the Arco brothers have seen me express.
Can’t bring myself to care.
“Gettin’ there,” Archer replies, patting my arm with his free hand. “Lost a lotta blood but they can pump that shit back in no bother. Shakin’ off the exhaustion has been the hardest part. Cast will be off in about four weeks, not that I can wait that long. I’m already desperate to get back into things.”
“Hm. Well, I want you backonlywhen the Doc clears you, understand?” I state sharply and Archer nods, his cheeks faintly pink.
“Ok Boss, soon as the doctor clears.”
“Archer!” Cara’s bright voice fills the room and a second later, she’s by my arm and pressing a kiss to Archer’s cheek. “You’re just in time! Dinner’s ready!”
As Archer steps away to find his seat, I catch Cara by the waist and pull her close, catching her sparkling pink lips in a deep kiss that explodes a cherry flavor over my tongue. She’s dressed in red with her hair bundled up and her cheeks flushed from dinner and she is fucking stunning.
“You look beautiful,” I whisper against her lips and she chuckles against me, pecking my lips once more before she pulls away with even more pink dusting her cheeks.
“Come on,” she grins, “let's eat.”
Cain and Declan offer their help in serving the food and as I take my seat, the table is filled with all kinds of food. Roasted meats, soups, and salads, a couple of pies; Cara’s really outdone herself. Taking my seat at the head of the table. Dante and Sienna sit on my left and Cara takes her place on the right. Cain, Declan, Archer, and Owen take their own seats, and Emilia giggles happily, clapping her chubby hands together as she takes in all the people around her with a beaming smile.
I know the feeling.
“Please, dig in!” Cara exclaims. The Arco brothers don’t need telling twice and before long, people’s plates are full and conversation is fuller. I fill my own plate with some chicken, potatoes, and green beans but as I stab at the food with my fork, the scene before me takes all my attention.
Had I organized something like this before I met Cara, I would have sat here alone in the dark with nothing but a glass of Scotch for company. Now… now it feels likefamilyexists around this table. A bond that stretches beyond the border of Italian and Irish affiliation.
“Look, all I’m saying is a night with us and you’ll end up more relaxed than you’ve ever been in your life!” Cain’s voice booms across the table.
“I don’t have time to party,” Owen laughs deeply in response.
“Think of it as research,” Declan continues, “getting to know your clientele!”
“I already know those that drink Irish ale are of the upmost quality, I don’t need to meet them in person,” Owen retorts and scoffing laughter rises from the brothers.
“I’m telling you,” Cain adds, “you don’t know what you’re missing. Once you see what the nitty gritty is like on the club floor? There’s no going back.”
“Emilia be careful sweetheart.” Dante’s voice pulls my attention to the other side where Emilia is waving a red crayon around, trying to decorate something on Archer’s cast. He holds it up for her, balanced carefully on the edge of the tray as she stabs at the plaster with glee.
“She’s a little artist huh?” Archer laughs, “don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt.”
“Oh, she’s an artist alright,” Sienna remarks in between sips of wine. “She found my eyeliner the other day, I’m still getting the stains out of my sheets!”
“Liquid soap!” Cara says, “a solution of liquid soap, water, and some salt does wonders for eyeliner stains.”
“Good for blood too,” Dante replies, drawing more laughter into the life around the table.
“Oh my God,” Sienna groans. “Speaking of, Feliks wants to throw a party for all of us and I expect the whole thing to go without any bloodshed.” Her sharp eye moves around the entire table with a serious warning hidden underneath the lightness of the evening.
“Oh, I would never,” Cain remarks, sarcasm dripping from his tone, “when has there ever been blood spilled with Russians nearby.”
“I mean it!” Sienna exclaims as laughter rises. “We need to show a united front from all corners so no smaller weasels get any ideas. This is a new start for us and I want to make sure we take it all in stride.”
“We’ll be on our best behavior,” Declan chuckles.
“I’ll make sure of it,” Archer promises firmly and more laughter rises around the table.
This is my family. This is my life.
