Natalia
Ronan seems a lot different from what I’ve pictured him. I’ve obviously heard the rumors about him, but he seems like a very genuine person. Any doubt I could possibly have had about him instantly flies out the window. As he takes my hands, I feel his warmth, and I can see when he looks at Daniel, calling him Danny-boy, that he loves his brothers very much. It’s the same love Ivan has for me. That just makes it hurt more that Ivan won’t give Daniel a chance.
Ronan smiles. “Can I get you something to drink, lass? Nonalcoholic, of course.”
“A soda, please,” I say with a smile. An even younger dark redhaired guy steps forward.
“I’m Jarryd, the youngest. It’s lovely to meet you.” He shakes my hand, and I nod. “Thank you, Jarryd. It’s lovely to meet you too.”
“You guys must be tired.” A busty waitress comes in from the back. “Cooks got a stew almost ready. Why don’t you all take a seat, and I’ll bring you some stew, bread, and potatoes.”
I smile and follow Daniel to a booth. I sit down and shimmy over, and he sits next to me. Jarryd and Robbie sit opposite us. Robbie pulls something leathery out of his pocket to show Jarryd, and I notice it’s an ear.
“Do you always randomly pull people’s ears out of your pocket?” I grin.
“My brother is a bit deranged,” Daniel says. His hand rests high on my thigh under the table. “He collects ears when we do a hit.” “Who did you do a hit on?” I ask curiously.
“Don Gianno,” Robbie blurts out. Clearly, he doesn’t think before he speaks and misses Daniel’s glare.
I look at Daniel. “He was in New York?”
He doesn’t look at me, and before he can say anything, Jarryd speaks out, “Three of them are. Daniel’s going to kill them all.”
I look to Jarryd as he speaks, then I snap back to Daniel, “What about the other two….”
“We have them sorted,” Ronan says as he sets drinks down on the table. “You don’t have to worry about anything, lass. We’ll set this right.”
I stare at Daniel until he has to look at me. “I want to help.”
“You’re pregnant, Nat. You need to protect our baby above everything else.” He looks away, but I squeeze his arm so he looks back at me.
“I don’t even have to get close. Maybe I can snipe him. We’ve already established that I’m better at sniping than you are. Let me help. This is my life on the line, and therefore our baby’s. I could at least provide cover.”
Daniel shakes his head, but Ronan pulls a chair up at the end of the table and sits down. “She’s clearly not the type to take no for an answer. I would let her.”
Daniel looks at him incredulously, but Ronan holds a hand up. “She’s grown up in this, same as us. She knows how to handle herself. You don’t need to protect her. You both need to sort out your affairs so we can focus on keeping you together.”
Daniel glances at me, and I raise an eyebrow. He sighs, “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“You realize they’re after me because I infiltrated a meeting on my own and killed the Russo kid and his guards. By myself with no backup. Then I traveled across Europe, outrunning every bounty hunter and hit man looking for me, only to sneak into New York undetected and stay here for three years without anyone knowing.” I sip my soda. “Thus far, I’ve been backing off taking care of myself because I was worried about the baby. But I think I need to resume taking care of myself, and we need to take care of each other so that we can survive this.”
They all stare at me until Daniel starts to laugh. Ronan follows along with the other two. I look between them.
“I would not fuck with you,” Robbie says finally. “You are like the most psycho pregnant chick I’ve ever known.”
I smile and nod. “Good. So I’ll give Daniel cover when he goes to get Don Valentino, and then we go after Russo with gusto.”
Ronan raises his glass. “To family and the willingness to die for them.”
“To family,” we all toast, including me with my soda, and then the door opens. A few men come in, joking and laughing. I look around wearily, but Daniel squeezes my leg.
“They’re our men,” he explains. “Cousins, people who have grown up with us and other family types. We eat lunch together here to keep up-todate with what’s happening. Some remain on the street for protection and will join us for dinner.”
I smile. “Big family.”
“Like yours isn’t?” Daniel jokes as the waitress comes out, followed by two young girls. They’re carrying trays of stew and first serve us and then the others. They disappear and return with fresh out-the-oven bread, steaming where it’s been sliced. The room fills with a delicious homely feeling.
Ronan stands up, and I notice everyone bow their heads, even Daniel, so I bow mine, too. Ronan prays for the food, and after he says amen, there’s the loud clinking of cutlery as everyone digs into their food.
Daniel passes the bread to Ronan first, who holds his hand up. “We have a guest. Today she can take the first.”
Daniel smiles and holds it out to me. I don’t know their traditions, but this seems to be an honor. Everyone is watching, so I take two slices and set them on the side plate next to my bowl. Then the bread gets passed to Ronan.
I spread butter on the piping-hot bread, and it starts melting immediately.
Daniel’s hand has left my leg as he navigates his own food. For a few moments, there’s the general contentment that falls on a family when they enjoy their meal.
The stew is delicious. It has a thick gravy, lots of vegetables, and the garlic butter baby potatoes that go with it are to die for. The bread is the best part, though, and the staff has to bring out more.
As they finish eating, the other men leave, and more come in. Ronan surprisingly blesses their meal, too, before they begin to eat. It seems to be an important part of the meal. No one touches anything before he’s finished, and then, with a nod from him, they dig in.
Daniel sips his whiskey, an arm protectively around my shoulders. Ronan stays seated by us while the others eat and talk. I hear the Russian Girl mentioned a few times, but it doesn’t seem to be in a bad way, so I leave it alone.
“You know,” Ronan says with a mischievous grin, “Danny-Boy wasn’t always rough and tumble.”
Daniel shifts in his seat. “Leave it, Ronan. I don’t want to hear about our past.”
“But your future wife should know about your childhood and how you were scared of snails until you were fourteen.”
“Snails?” I perk up and look at Daniel, who looks embarrassed. I try to suppress my smile, but Robbie and Jarryd start laughing, and I giggle.
Daniel sighs and shakes his head. “And you wonder why I don’t talk to you more often.”
Ronan sips his whiskey. “What? It’s not as bad as Robbie…” “No, Ronan!” Robbie says quickly.
“Aw, come on. It isn’t fun to only pick on one of my baby brothers.
Natalia…”
“Please call me Nat,” I say quickly and lean forward. “And tell me everything.”
He smiles. “Nat, Robbie here went crab fishing alone when he was six. He got right stark naked and into the water; thought he was clever. That was until a medium-sized crab mistook his little peanut for crab food.”
I wince and try not to laugh. Daniel looks awkward and says, “Come on, Ronan, don’t embarrass the lads.”
“He can’t embarrass me,” Jarryd says confidently. “Everyone knows what I’m afraid of. I hate clowns.”
“Aye, you’re right,” Ronan concedes, then leans toward me conspiratorially. “Except he had a girlfriend when he was four.”
I see the blood drain from Jarryd’s face, and even Daniel smiles. “I remember,” he says confidently. “Mary.”
“Mary!” Robbie and Ronan roar the name, and a couple of cousins burst out laughing.
I look between them, confused. “Was she not nice or something?”
Ronan shakes with laughter. “She was a toad, but he was adamant she was his girlfriend, and he wanted to kiss her constantly. You should have seen the rashes he had. Everywhere.”
Jarryd blushes crimson, and I purse my lips. “Oh, dear. That couldn’t have been pleasant.”
“Despite his swollen lips, the poor wee lad would cry his heart out if he couldn’t kiss not-so-wee Mary.” They all roar with laughter again, and Ronan waves down the waitress. “Mol, get that photo of Jarryd. Let’s pass it around.”
I assume her name is Molly if he’s calling her Mol. She goes to the doorway to the stairs and takes down a photo. She wipes it with a rag from the side of the bar and hands it to Ronan. “You should be ashamed of rubbing this in.”
“It was his first love!” Ronan grins at her. “I have to remind him how love hurts. Never been another girl for him.”
He passes me the photo, and I look at a little boy in a diaper with a rash spread around his mouth, neck, arms, and front.
I can’t help it as I also laugh hard.
Daniel
Despite the awkward afternoon and evening with my brothers, I feel better knowing Nat is by my side again. I know what she means when she says she needs to use her own two hands to protect herself. I get it. I feel a little bad that she can’t sit back and relax and enjoy her pregnancy. I wish I could protect her on my own. But I can’t, and even though my brothers back me, I know there will be a time that I am not around, and she will need to take care of herself.
She can. And it’s fucking sexy.
Ronan has me move to his old room. It’s got a bigger, more comfortable bed. He lives in my parent’s old room. He wouldn’t let me stay there before; it was about respect.
I’m back in the family now, whether I like it or not, and he acknowledges that. Undoubtedly we will move into our own home within the territory when we’re married. I’m confident Ronan can convince Ivan.
He’ll find a way to make it look like Ivan’s idea. He’s good at that.
For now, I put it out of my mind as I lead Nat to our room. Jarryd’s old crib is still in the corner, and I realize that’s probably another reason we’re staying here. Nat looks around and smiles. “Was this your room?”
“Ronan’s. When we were growing up before my parents passed.” I look around; it has been ages since I’ve been in here.
“He’s a bit of a neat freak,” she comments, glancing at me.
I chuckle. “He is very much a neat freak. You could lick the floor of that bar and not catch anything.” I look down at her and smile. “I wouldn’t do it, but I could.”
She pulls a face, and I take her hand, pulling her toward me. “I’ve missed you. I’m sorry we fought.”
“I’m sorry too.” She tips her head up, and I lean down to kiss her. She puts her hands on my chest, and I put my hands on her ass, pulling her right against me. She grinds against me, and I grunt into her mouth.
“I’m too tired to go all the way,” she murmurs, “but I can definitely help you with this.”
She lowers her hand and grabs my semi-hard cock through my pants. I look into her eyes. “Really? Now?”
She smiles. “Yes.”
She kisses me softly, then slowly strokes me through my pants. “We should be getting rest for tomorrow,” I growl the words, and she applies a little pressure.
“You need to be clear-headed for tomorrow.” She pulls away from me and slowly lowers herself to her knees. I watch her as she rubs her face against my dick through my pants, and I groan. I’m fully hard now, and my tented pants clearly indicate what I need.
She looks up at me with big eyes and gets my pants down over my dick, letting it spring to attention. Pre-cum already drips from the tip, and she takes my shaft in her hand and shifts around until she’s comfortable. She then swallows the head of my cock, sucking it like a porn star. She’s an addict who makes love to her drug of choice.
I close my eyes as she strokes the shaft, the suction of her mouth creating a tight, pleasurable feeling around the tip of my cock. Her other hand has found my balls and massages them gently.
I reach down and tangle my hands in her hair, I hold her head, and she opens her mouth. I grunt, and using her head as leverage, I move in and out. I can feel the back of her throat getting closer and closer. I wait for her to take a deep breath, and then I ease my cock deep until I feel it near the back of her throat. Once my whole dick is in there, she chokes slightly on it but gives me a thumbs up. I wait, then pull it out, dripping with her saliva. She takes it back into her mouth and bobs her head up and down quickly.
The longer she does it, the closer I get until I clear my throat, and she deep-throats my cock again. I hold her there and grunt loudly as my balls twitch, and then I stream cum down her throat.
I pull out, and she swallows, looking up at me with a smile.
“Good?” she asks.
“The best, sure I can’t return the favor?” I help her up before pulling up my pants.
“No, I just want to get some sleep… Maybe tomorrow.” She smiles. I get her tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt and watch as she changes. I put on tracksuit pants and leave it at that. I fall asleep easily with her in my arms.
It’s dark when I wake her, and we get dressed. There’s a soft knock at the door, and I open it. It’s Robbie. He hands me a bag, and I nod.
“Thanks.”
He walks off, and I take the bag to the bed. I unpack the clothes he’s brought, handing Nat’s to her. Then I hand her the earpiece and radio she needs. I smile. “Ready?”
“What’s the plan?” she asks.
“Robbie’s scouted the hotel. The don has booked a girl through an agency we protect. She will open a window so you can take out the guards.
Then I go inside and deal with the don.”
“That sounds too simple,” she comments. “Why is it so simple?”
I snort. “We’re Irish. We like it simple.”
“Why aren’t I helping you with the don?” I raise an eyebrow at her question.
“You can join me once I’ve cleared it.” I don’t like it, but I’m forcing myself to accept that my love is just as prolific a killer as me.
She smiles and follows me out. Ronan is downstairs brewing coffee.
“Nat, did you sleep well?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.
She smiles at him. “Yes, very well, thank you.”
Ronan nods. “Be back soon.”
I nod. We get into the car parked outside and don’t talk as we make our way through the city, out of the safety of my brother’s territory and toward central New York.
I drop Nat off with Robbie at the building with a clear view of Don Valentino’s front rooms, where his guards will stand. I then park behind the hotel and take the service entrance and stairs to his floor. I’m surprised he isn’t in the penthouse and is so arrogant as not to position guards at every possible entrance.
I hear a woman’s voice in the hallway. I’m around the corner from the room, but I recognize her. I’ve had my fair share of agency girls over the years. It’s over now; I only have eyes for Nat.
There’s a click as a door closes, and I radio Robbie, “Talk to me.”
“Mama in position. We see our lass inside. She’s pretending to feel sick and is moving to the windows to open them. Guard has stopped her. He doesn’t want her near the windows.”
Robbie pauses and then chuckles. “She gagged and pretended to throw up in her mouth. Guard let her go, and she hurried to the window.
Mama ready for the shot. Prepare yourself.”
I wait for the countdown, and once he says go, I move into the hallway. There’s one guard outside the door, and I shoot him quickly.
I take the card out of his pocket and unlock the door as there are two thuds behind the door. There’s shouting, a single voice, and I go through the door. I’m prepared for more guards, but I’m surprised when there aren’t any. Judy, the girl, is nearby, and I motion for her to leave.
She hurries out while I go into the bedroom. Sitting on the bed is Don Valentino. He stares at me and snorts, “I should have known there was trouble when Gianno didn’t answer. The fucker was around longer than he should have been.”
I stand over him and smile. “If you don’t mind, we’re waiting for my friends.”
He shrugs. “Can I have a drink?”
I keep my gun trained on him but move to the side and pick up the bottle of bourbon. I hold it out to him, and he takes it, not moving from where he’s seated.
He drinks out of the bottle and smacks his lips. “It had to end sometime.”
“Indeed. Death waits for no one, Don Valentino. I promise to make it quick if you tell me where Don Russo is.” I raise an eyebrow. “That’s about all I can offer you.”
“Coming in behind you,” Robbie’s voice sounds in my ear as the room door opens.
Nat comes to my right side and Robbie to my left.
Don Valentino shrugs. “I honestly would if I knew. That dickhead got us into this mess. I knew I shouldn’t have taken his side in this. What’s a couple of million lost to the Russians when I had my life.”
He takes a deep drink and then tosses the bottle onto the bed behind him.
“Do what you must.”
Nat raises her gun and shoots him in the head. “We have other ways of sending a message.”
Robbie drops a bag on the floor. “Exactly. It’s not about how he died. It’s about how we leave him.”
I glance between them. “You better have brought scrubs. I’m not walking out covered in blood.”
We change into the scrubs and make sure we won’t leave any DNA while we dismember the don.
I must admit, a pregnant woman decapitating my enemy is kinda hot.