“As I’ll ever be.” I laugh, wrapping an arm around Jeanie’s shoulders and pressing my lips to her head.
“Come on, you two,” Ally says, amusement clear in her eyes as she takes Jeanie’s hand and draws her away from me. They walk towards the house with the most Christmas lights framing it.
Sam stops next to me and cocks his head as we watch our women walk away. There’s no doubt they’re related. Both are beautiful, but there’s something a little special about my Jeanie.
“We’re lucky fuckers,” Sam says, nudging my shoulder slightly to get me moving. Slipping my cut on, we walk side by side to the house.
Up ahead of us, the girls call out a greeting, “Hey, Uncle Liam.”
“Cailíni deasdoes your da know you’ve both got bikers?” he asks in amusement before continuing. “Not one of you could have found a nice Irish lad?”
“I’m not sure we know any nice Irish lads, Uncle Liam.” Jeanie laughs as she throws her arms around her uncle, who wraps both his arms around his nieces in a hug.
“I could find you one,” he offers with a shit-eating smirk in our direction.
A growl rumbles out of me at his words. Sam chuckles. “He’s fucking with you man. Relax.”
Running a hand over my face, I reply with a heartfelt, “Fuck man, she’s only just agreed to be my old lady. I don’t even have a cut ready for her yet.”
We continue walking towards the house, and I warn, “I may calm down when she’s got my name on her back, but it’s not likely.”
Sam nods, his gaze never leaving his wife even though she’s safe in her family’s compound. “I get it, man, I do, but this family is close as fuck, and the men are more protective than most. They’re going to make you work for their respect, but once you have it, you have to really fuck up to lose it. You’ve already got a foot in because you’re not a complete stranger, and your MC works with them. They know you’re not a wanker, but you’re also taking one of their princesses. You think bikers are protective over their princesses but trust me—they’ve got nothing on an O’Shea.”
“Fuck,” I whisper, wiping a hand across my mouth as we walk up the stairs. Jeanie’s waiting for me, and she takes my handas soon as I’m next to her. Turning towards her uncle, she introduces us. “Uncle Liam, this is Cobalt Tin; he goes by Bolt. He’s with the Queens Wraiths in Southampton.”
Liam studies me for a beat before his eyes drop to Jeanie’s hand in mine. Holding out my hand, I say, “It’s good to meet you.”
Liam takes my hand and shakes it. “Bolt,” he greets me. “My Sera’s told me about you. Are you sure you want an O’Shea princess and all it entails?”
“I’m sure,” I tell him, my gaze never leaving his.
“Huh.” He smirks and claps my shoulder. “Your funeral. Let’s go inside.”
Abruptly, he turns and walks away. Jeanie rolls her eyes at his back. Sam and Ally laugh before following him into the house, leaving me and Jeanie to bring up the rear.
If I thought the outside of the house was decorated, it was nothing on the inside.
“Wow, do you guys get your houses decorated professionally?” I have to ask.
Jeanie laughs and explains, “No, my Aunt Lana is a holiday fanatic, and we give her free reign every year. You should see our houses on St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween.” Jeanie explains as she leads me down the hallway towards where it sounds like a crowd of people are congregated and waiting for us.
“I better warn you before we get in there,” she says, halting just short of the doorway and looking worriedly up at me as if she expects me to bolt any second. “We all eat together, so everyone will be in there waiting on us.”
That explains why she wasn’t surprised to find everyone eating breakfast at the clubhouse this morning. She expected it.
Lifting a hand, I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m okay with that, sweetness. Now, lead the way and let’s get the intros and news over with so we can get on with the rest of our lives. I know I’ve got to run the gauntlet, but you’re worth it,” I assure her.
“Well, fuck it,” a voice grumbles. “She’s found one just like Ally did. It takes the fun out of it when they know our princesses are worth it.”
Jeanie laughs, and her head tilts forward to hit my chest just as a dark-haired man with a bit of a beard dressed in a suit walks out of the living room. My hands settle on her hips as she turns her head to look towards him. “Uncle Johnny, meet Bolt.”
“Fecking hellceann beag, did you have to pick a biker? They’re no fun to tease because they don’t scare off easily. You and your sister are no fun at all.” He’s laughing, and I can see the resemblance to Butcher as he reaches out and takes my girl from me. Hugging her, he presses a kiss to her forehead.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Johnny, let them in so we can eat. I’m growing older by the minute, and I want to meet the man my Jeanie’s brought home before I die,” a guttural voice calls out.
“You forgot the wee donkey, Da,” Johnny shouts back at him.
“The wee donkey will be dead and all if you don’t hurry the feck up,” Colm shouts back.
