By the time I walk into the estate that night, I’m seconds from falling flat on my face. Jake wraps his arm around my neck and pulls me in so he can smack a kiss onto the side of my head. I muster up a weak smile, but that’s all I can pull off. Cormac and Owen are running point on security for the new parents and baby Lorcan.
Their choosing a name that means ‘little fierce one’ fits him perfectly. For now, he’ll stay in the NICU to grow and get a handful of issues under control, including his lung function. He’s tiny, but he’s a Byrne with a spirit like his Ma’s. He’s going to be just fine. His Ma will stay in the hospital as she recovers from her brush with death today, and Kieran will keep balancing between the two of them. We’ll be back in the morning to help, but tonight visiting hours are over, andwe’ve been kicked out by Kie himself.
We’ve all decided to crash at the estate tonight. It’s been a hard twenty-eight or so hours and we just needed to be under the same roof. No sooner than we all pile into the house do we all disperse to our rooms. I’ve never been happier to have my room be on the second floor before. Jake and I climb the stairs together, and as soon as the door to my room shuts he locks it and starts taking off my clothes. I’m too tired to do much, but I’ll never be too tired to fuck him, if that’s what he wants.
He strips me completely bare, and without a word, leads me to the shower. “You stealing my moves, Fischer?” I try to sound teasing, but the yawn in the middle of my sentence kind of ruins that.
“No, now shut up and get in the shower.” He turns on the taps before making sure the water is good and pushing me in.
“Babe, I don’t want to take a shower. I just want to go to bed.” I protest, but he isn’t having it.
“Dec, truce? Please. Drop the act. Let’s take a quick shower and we can go right to bed. Ten minutes tops and we can be in bed with a game on. We could even watch one of those killer documentaries.”
I step into the shower and immediately move under the water. “You hate those shows.” I have to force myself to stifle another yawn.
“But I love you, so I’ll watch them.” He places a fast kiss on my lips as I massage shampoo into my hair.
Jake grabs the body wash and lathers up a fresh wash cloth before washing my body as I rinse my hair. It has the potential to be overly erotic, but it’s nothing more than him taking care of me. I don’t let anyone take care of me. I don’t trust themtoo, but it’s different with him. I’ll let him lead me into war with just the promise of my name on his lips.
Just like he promised, ten minutes later we’re in bed with a documentary about stalkers on and my head lays comfortably on his chest. I’m so exhausted that I feel like I could sleep for a week and still not be caught up. I’m just about to fall asleep when a knock on my door startles me.
“Who is it?” I yell.
“It’s just us.” Flynn’s voice comes through the door, and I know exactly what this is.
“Put on some pajama pants, Chaos. It’s time to go down the hall.”
Jakob looks confused but doesn’t say a word. He throws on a pair of black and gray plaid jersey pajama pants while I throw on a navy and light blue pair. I grab two pillows and swing my door open as soon as I’m close enough.
“Where?” I ask Flynn, not even addressing Mac, Sully, and Lee behind him.
“Theater room?” He smiles sadly.
It’s so childish. We’re literally in our twenties and early thirties, but still I follow them to my big brother’s room with Jakob walking beside me. Clearly he’s confused, but he’s not asking a thing. I knock on the door to Rowan’s room, and a second later he answers with Rhett in his arms and Clara standing behind him holding Maeve. I take her from her Ma with ease and turn as we all make our way into the movie room.
After making sure the kids are settled in and asleep, we all pick our own couches or overstuffed recliners. The name of the game here is simple: we go through the hard shit together, always. So growing up, when the world seemed too big andwe felt too small we’d call for a ‘meeting’. It started out in one of our rooms, but as we’ve gotten older and added spouses, it’s transformed into a movie room activity.
We’ll all get comfortable and sleep in here. You’d be surprised how many demons you can fight when you call a meeting. How being in the same room with your brothers will calm the roaring anxiety. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we don’t. As I snuggle into an overstuffed couch with Jakob and lay my head on his chest, I know no words need to be spoken tonight. We almost lost one of us today. We just need each other tonight.
* * *
That’s the type of meeting I wish I was in right now. Instead I’m sitting across from Owen going over shipments and bullshit. Five more have been killed across multiple territories since his brother died. I’m so over the dead bodies. That sounds like such a dick thing to say, but it’s true. Every time we catch another punk he speaks a new language and won’t tell us shit.
It’s not just us, though. Dead bodies are littering the fucking streets of Jersey right now, or so it seems. It’s gotten to the point that now I go with Jake to and from the bar every night to ensure his safety. The entire NICU floor is locked down tighter than Áras an Uachtaráin and will stay that way as long as baby Lorcan is a patient. Of course other parents are allowed in and out as well as the care team, but that’s it.
Kieran and Phoenix came home a couple of days ago. Well, not exactly. Really it was just them being discharged from the room she’d been staying in for a week and setting up residencein Lorcan’s room. We haven’t been able to go see him since the day he was born due to the risk of infection and illness from being around too many people. Kieran Face times us and sends pictures in the group chat constantly.
A knock on the office door pulls me back as I shout, “It’s open” to whoever is on the other side.
I don’t know who I was expecting to walk through the door, but it definitely wasn’t my partner.
“Hey, are you in the middle of something, or do you have a minute?” He asks as he struts into my space.
I look over at Owen, who thankfully takes the hint and excuses himself.
As soon as the door shuts behind Owen, I smile at Jake, “I’m all yours, what’s up?”
Jake reaches behind him and flips the lock to the office. My brows shoot up as I watch him prowl across the open space, like a predator stalking their prey. As soon as he’s close enough, he pulls back my chair to make room for him between me and the desk then he sinks to his knees in a well executed move. We’re so fucking tall that even kneeling his head is in line with my chest.
