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Con’s shoulders ease, and the tension in his body softens. A smug smile graces his face. “Yeah we fucking do.”
Finn scuffs his boot against the ground, drawing my eyes toward his lowered head. “Problem?” I spit out, because clearly, he has something to say.
He clears his throat. “Not exactly a problem.”
Irritation itches beneath my skin; why the fuck can my brothers not just say shit? Why do they act as though I’m difficult to approach. I’m the most approachable motherfucker I know.
My fists pump beside me. “Spit it fucking out, you dipshit!” I bellow, and my brothers jump.
Finn clears his throat. “Found out how the fire started...”
Oscar’s eyes narrow in his direction.
Finn doesn’t utter another word. Not a single one.
His lack of words has me stepping forward in anger. “Well?” I snide out.
When his eyes finally meet mine, a slither of vulnerability flash in them, making my body still and my stomach sink. Shit, what the hell happened? Finn never looks like this, I’ve only witnessed it once, and that was when the truth came out about Angel. It’s something I never wanted to witness again; that day was filled with enough heartbreak and anguish, it’s something that will stick with me for an eternity. All of us.
“Seems I got myself a little Firestarter,” Finn mutters with a nervous chuckle.
Our eyebrows furrow as we all take Finn in from top to toe. Then from behind him, Prince steps forward and all our questions are answered, because hanging from my little nephew’s mouth is a blunt match.
Con rocks back on his heels, Cal blinks half a dozen times like an idiot, Oscar shakes his head and rolls his eyes as if unperturbed, then continues to type away on his tablet while I stand there frozen.
“I made a bonfire.” Prince steps forward. “A big one.” He places his hands on his hips and lifts his head as though pleased.
“There weren’t any elves in Santa’s workshop.” He shrugs, making my eyes bulge further in horror.
“I think we should throw him on the fire.” Keen appears from nowhere, his lip curled into a snarl as he glares down at the piece of shit that dared to betray us. “Do it!” he coaxes when he turns to face Con.
Con looks to me for instruction, and I lift a shoulder. Hell, if he wants to burn the fucker in front of his kid, he can go ahead.
His lips turn into a maniacal smile, and I know his decision is made. He lifts David from off the ground with a heavy groan, steps toward the flames, somehow raises him above his head, and launches him toward the flames with a strength I hadn’t realize existed in him.
The boys whoop and holler when Con turns to face us, and the triumph on his face is illuminated by the flames behind him.
“O’Connell’s forever!” Keen shouts.
“O’Connell’s forever!” Prince copies.
Footsteps approach from behind us, and our women and children join us by our sides as the kids go mad with hollers and cheers.
With the snow falling around us and the street lit up by the flames of our children’s indiscretions, warmth spreads through my body,
“Forever,” Sky whispers in my ear as she bands her arms around my waist.
“Damn fuckin’ right forever, baby,” I grunt out with pride.
Epilogue
Cyn
The children open their presents, and I take in the joy on each and every one of my family’s faces.
Luckily, Oscar had the sense to insist on the gifts being in Con’s annex. He was concerned about the children snooping; rightly so.
Con hasn’t left Will’s side, and with Eve in her arms, I know they will create the family they should always have been. Keen is dressed in his new combat clothes and has his collection of toy guns lined up.
