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But when he shows no interest in saying goodbye to Ana or the baby, I go to him because, I need a word with him.
On the tarmac, I hold my twin’s arm before he’s pulled away. “Eoghan, wait. I want to talk to Cormac.”
“There’s nothing left to say.” Cormac shoves those veiny, tatted hands into his jeans.
“Ana said Sophie knows you’re J.P.’s father, even if she doesn’t really understand what that means.”
“Not my problem.” Cormac shrugs.
“Cut the aloof act. You don’t fool me.” I cock my head. “You could have let that man kill me. Take Ana and gotten what you wanted. A hidden life in the Bratva Brotherhood. You didn’t. You saved my life instead and now you’re going…” I stop and choke up.
“I care about you, Dar. Not her. I never really did. I’m sorry if that makes me an asshole.” He takes out a cigarette. “But don’t worry, she didn’t care about me either. I was a good time. You.” He blows smoke from the side of his mouth. “You, she loves. That’s brutally obvious.”
“James Patrick is young. I don’t have to explain anything for several years.” My eyes wander to Eoghan. “You promise me, he’ll be back in Astoria eventually?”
“Eventually.” Eoghan grips a leather duffel in his hand for what will be a one-nighter, maybe two-night stay here in Sin City.
“Don’t worry about me, brother.” Cormac taps my bandaged arm.
He’s just as skilled as me. I hope all the time and effort it took to make him a great doctor isn’t permanently wasted.
I’m tempted to pull Ana off the plane so we can get married here. I hate to rush it, but I won’t face her father without my ring on her finger.
“My wife is keeping dinner warm for all us brats,” Kieran says from the top of the airstairs. “The pilot got clearance to take off and can have us home in three hours.”
Nodding, I turn to join the rest of my family.
Back on the plane, I hold Sophie’s hand during take-off. Katya sits with Ana, both fussing over the baby.
Priscilla strolls to us and sits next to Sophie, keeping her occupied with one of her games.
Riordan walks over and presses a kiss to her temple, then motions me to the back of the plane.
I cup Ana’s shoulder as I pass. It feels strange to face whatever talk I’m about to get without her. Everything about why I’m going home is because of her.
My brothers let their wives work. Priscilla even works with the Quinlans, but when it comes to leadership and decisions, my brothers are rather chauvinistic.
I sit at the table across from Kieran, who reaches across to squeeze my arm with a warm smile. “Ma will love having you home.”
“I’ll want to speak to her doctors,” I say, looking around for an argument.
“Da’s managing her care. Feel free to pry it from his cold deadly hands,” Lachlan jokes.
“I’ll deal with Da,” I say, setting the playing field that I may be the youngest, but I’m not the weakest.
“Ewan Quinlan got the town’s clerk to come in today and prepare a marriage license for you and Anastasia.” Riordan sets an iPad in front of me.
“His last official act,” Kieran says proudly. “He’s not running for re-election. He wants back in the game. He’s building up the Quinlan empire in Manhattan.”
I glance again at the three leather-clad brats behind me and it sinks in, the life I’m returning to.
Riordan nudges me back to the electronic marriage license. “Sign the form here with this stylus. I’ll get Ana to sign it, too. Ewan will file it tonight. Then tomorrow you and she will go to his city council’s office and say your vows.”
“How romantic.” But with everyone looking at me, I sign it.
“You said it yourself.” Riordan takes the iPad from me. “When you face Alexei Koslov with his daughter and a baby with our name, it’s best to do it married.”
“Alexei turned Astoria upside down because of her disappearance,” Kieran drawls, low and controlled. “Her coming home is the right thing.”
