"Wonderful. You remember my wife, Heather." He held out his arm, and she joined our little circle.
Kinsley touched Heather on the arm, complimenting her dress.
I smiled in welcome. "Of course. Thank you for coming."
Jonah guided me away from the wives and children, glancing at them and lowering his voice as Jayden joined us. "I have it on good authority that we've captured all but a few of the Navarro men. A few died immediately, but the rest we're holding for questioning. As you can imagine, we have not gone easy on them."
I knew Kinsley would have my balls for discussing business at our son's party, but I also knew she'd understand the need for closure. "And what have you learned?"
"Nothing we didn't already know," Jayden answered. "Carson thought he was the one pulling the strings, but he was focused on usurping your position for himself and continuing the Gallagher line through Finn, while the brothers were looking to hurt you in a much more personal way. Elena provided the plans for the wedding fiasco, nudging Anna in the right direction by telling her it was her father's idea. Unfortunately, your sorella was not aware she was a pawn in their competing games."
"So my mother thought taking my wife and selling her to the brothers would be what killed me?" In all honesty, she was probably right. I couldn't have forgiven myself had they used Kinsley in such a manner. I would have gone to the ends of the earth to rescue her, but if I'd been unsuccessful and she'd died, I would have struggled to remember to live for Finn. No amount of gratefulness could describe the immense relief that we'd thwarted those plans before they came to fruition.
Jonah continued the report. "Carson just wanted you dead, and the brothers doubted they wanted to partner with him any more than they wanted to partner with you. Elena's saving grace, so she thought, was that she didn't want to work with them. Once they fulfilled her wishes, which would also benefit them, she wanted enough money to retire on an island somewhere with a cabana boy for company. Once the Navarros had Kinsley, they would allow Carson free rein to kill you before killing him. Telling Kinsley Carson was already dead was simply their idea of a sick joke."
Their machinations disgusted me. "Carson really didn't know what Elena planned?"
"Not as far as any of the informants know," Jayden said.
"Rest assured." Jonah clapped me on the shoulder. "We have a few upper-tier men in our care, and they appear to have full knowledge of everything. Their corrupt organization is a thing of the past."
"Thank you, Jonah; Jayden." I gazed sincerely at the Carmichael brothers. "I know you understand my desire to step away from the worst of the illegal aspects of the business. We'll always be there for each other should the need arise, but Kinsley and I want to live in peace."
Jonah smiled easily. "Of course, Burke. We have worthy men we can elect in our places if that ever becomes a necessity."
"I agree." Spotting my cousin, I excused myself and walked over. "How's Maddie feeling?"
Pausing in the act of pouring himself a drink, Caden grinned at me. "Much better. She'll be down in a minute. We can't wait to make the announcement."
"I can't either." I slapped Caden on the back before moving on to the next couple to enter the room.
"Burke," Brenda greeted. "Finn was still asleep when we passed his room."
"Hopefully, he won't sleep through his own party," I joked. "I trust you have everything you need?"
"Yes," Danny answered. "More than what we need."
Brenda hooked her arm through her husband's. "Thanks for having us for the weekend."
"It's my pleasure. Oh, it looks like Kinsley is waving one of us over."
"Let's see what she wants."
The three of us joined Kinsley on the other side of the room, and she introduced Heather to Brenda and Danny while I glanced around at the others. Daisy and Wyatt were in the middle of what looked like a deep conversation with Caden, and Jonah helped his daughters pile the presents they brought on the table as Logan handed them over. A feeling of pride filled my chest as I discovered I'd built my own family with the people in the room.
The sound of fussing came through the baby monitor resting on the hutch, and Kinsley and I moved as one to head to the nursery.
"Are we going to fight over who gets him up from his nap?" she teased.
I chuckled. "No, but I can't help responding to his needs automatically."
"Only one of many reasons I love you."
I watched her disappear at the top of the stairs, appreciating the sway of her ass as she went. Only a few moments later, Kinsley came back down with Finn, and I gathered them both in my arms.
"Codlatach, a mhic?"
Though his cheeks were flushed from his nap, Finn gave me a small smile around the fingers in his mouth. His inky black hair had filled out, and he looked more and more like me each day.
