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“What’s the craic?” Hades rounds the corner and stops beside Monster.
We’re like a circle of naughty school boys smokin’ at the back of our ma’s house.
“Ach, not too much,” I tell him. “Racer was just tellin’ us how he’s never gettin’ married. I think he’s been jaded by life and all the shite that comes with it.”
This makes Racer chuckle and shake his head. He never takes anythin’ too seriously, and even now, I know he’s not bothered by us takin’ the piss. But also, offerin’ him some sound advice.
“Aye, there’s too much shite goin’ on ta even consider marriage or bringin’ another baby into the world,” Racer tells us then, and he’s right about that.
There are so many dangerous things out there, but I don’t think that should stop anyone from bein’ happy or startin’ a family.
“Just ye wait,” Monster says, pointin’ a finger at him. “Ye’ll be head over feckin’ heels soon enough.”
Monster was the first ta fall. It was somethin’ that happened as we watched on from the sidelines, and it was nice ta see the man smile fer a change. Miren has been good fer him.
“Some wee lass will bring ye ta yer knees,” I tell Racer. “And then ye’ll be singin’ the same old tune we are.”
Racer shows us the middle finger, and we all burst into laughter. It really is a feckin’ brotherhood. A family.
I offer them a mock salute because I have ta get inside. As much as I would prefer bein’ out here talkin’ about shite all day, Callia is goin’ta kill me if I don’t help her.
“I’m headin’ up ta pack,” I tell them.
“Aye? When do ye fly out?” Monster asks.
“Tomorrow mornin,” I reply. “And we’ll be away fer about a week. If Ma wants us ta stay fer a bit longer, it will be two weeks. But I’m not sure what she’s got planned.”
“Aye, no bother. I have Hadrian and Blaze handlin’ the shipments, and these two will help me with local deliveries.”
The club runs like a well-oiled machine. We each have specific roles, but when it comes down ta it, we all pull our weight together and help out when it’s needed.
With Sully gone, it’s also put pressure on one of us to pick up the slack on cleanin’. Luckily, we haven’t had the need fer that in a while. It could be the calm before the storm, but I’m not goin’ta think about that just yet.
I head into the house and up to the bedrooms. Even though Callia has her own room, she’s been spendin’ her nights with me. I’m not complainin’. When I told Racer I wanted ta see her every day, I wasn’t lyin’. I find myself smilin’ each time I wake up and open my eyes ta see that sweet angel next ta me.
There’s no doubt in my mind I’m goin’ta marry her. I just need ta plan it so the proposal is romantic. I may not buy her flowers every day, but that doesn’t mean I can’t make memorable moments with her.
I’ve never been much of a romantic. That just isn’t in my DNA. My da wasn’t either, but he did do little things every now and then that made Ma smile. I remember her always laughin’. The home I grew up in was filled with happiness, even though Da was workin’ with criminals. Some might call him an anti-hero, but Ma loved him unconditionally.
I was lucky enough to come from a lovin’ family. Deep down, I wanted that fer myself one day. Unconditional love, like my parents had. Da always held Ma up when she was down, and she did the same fer him. It was a perfect example of happiness, which I always craved fer myself. And now, I’ve found it with Callia.
I stop outside the bedroom when I hear whispers. The door is cracked open and my girls are sittin’ on the bed. Aine is playin’ with a makeup brush in her hands while Callia uses another one on Aine’s face. There’s a soft pink glow ta my daughter’s cheeks as she giggles.
“Now,” Callia tells her. “This isn’t fer every day, only special occasions. Ye’re already beautiful, so ye don’t need to put too much on.”
“Do ye put it on fer special oc-oc-occassions?” Aine stumbles over the word, but she gets it right and smiles brightly, clearly pleased with herself.
“Aye,” Callia tells her. “When yer da takes me out on a date.”
“Ewww,” Aine mumbles, scrunchin’ her nose. “I don’t like boys.”
Her announcement makes me grin. I hope she’ll feel like that when she turns sixteen, or I’ll need ta make sure the gun I have is always loaded. I know what the youths are like these days, and I don’t want my little girl fallin’ in love and gettin’ her heart broken by some arsehole I’ll be forced to kill.
