In fact, we maintained a sense of harmony for the entire first week until my father fucking ruined it. Carson wouldn't yield easily, and I would have to come up with an alternative plan for him.
For the first time in my life, it didn't occur to me to curb my mouth when someone outside the business was in the room. Not until Finn's cries over the baby monitor interrupted me did I realize what I'd done. Kinsley ran from the dining room like the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels, but worst of all was to hear her soothe our son while sounding so fearful.
When I heard her soft voice over the monitor she'd left behind, I froze.
"Were you woken by Daddy's shouting? I wouldn't think you'd hear it all the way up here."
Logan and Caden left the room, and I suddenly realized how much I regretted my life choices.
"What do we do, Finn? We follow the rules and keep our heads down, I guess."
Dropping my face in my hands, I tugged at my hair until it hurt.
"We're innocent in all this, aren't we? We'll make it work. We have to."
My way of life terrified her, as it should. There was nothing redeemable about me, not anymore, and it was better for us both to keep it in mind. Recreating the wonder of our time in Connecticut wasn't an option.
Only after Noah informed me that Carson had left did I feel ready to go, and by then I only had enough time to say goodbye to my son. With heavy steps, I made my way up the stairs. Kinsley had dozed off in her chair, an open book in her lap. Ignoring the painful squeeze in my chest at the sight of her, I moved silently to the bassinet. Not wanting to wake Finn, I crouched and ran a finger over his cheek.
"Is breá liom tú, Finn. I'll be back soon."
After a moment of watching his chest rise and fall, I stood and leaned down to kiss him.
I couldn't stay in that house for one more second, not with Kinsley and Finn there, two undefiled souls reminding me of all I was not. I'd already married someone I shouldn't have, already had a baby with her when she'd never been introduced to the other Families. Someone would undoubtedly take offense at my choice, and I'd spend eternity defending it. New territory needed reviewing, offices needed restaffing, businesses had to be reorganized, and shipments overseen. As the boss, I didn't have time to worry about anyone's feelings, least of all some asshole who liked the old traditions of marrying someone from another Family to cement our alliance. Now that my heir had been born, there was nothing anyone could do, but there would be plenty of complaining when they found out. The last thing I wanted was to show up on someone else's radar. No one would soon forget the bomb that killed so many, and though Lucian Peralta had been an evil man, he was respected by quite a few. The Navarros were hell-bent on revenge and had yet to ease up on their efforts to discover who was behind the attack. A meeting was in my near future, despite my unease over the matter.
I didn't want to marry someone from the White Family, and they wouldn't be pleased with my decision to pave my destiny myself. All along, I knew the choice wasn't mine to make, I just didn't expect it to come in the form of an unplanned baby. Finn made it impossible for me to even consider not marrying Kinsley; it was the only way to ensure she was recognized as untouchable and our son as legitimate. I couldn't put a bastard child in line to inherit the business, whether I thought the idea was stupid and outdated or not. If I expected the other Families to respect the rules we'd set forth regarding innocents, then I had to abide by them to the best of my ability. The marriage needed to happen, despite any misgivings I had about it. Many layers and reasons were hidden beneath our secret wedding ceremony.
It was a shame there was such a lack of romance in our union. I wasn't the type of man to cheat on my wife now that I had one, regardless of how she came to be mine. That left me with no sex and no probability of that changing. Loveless or not, I was fully committed to the marriage. Plenty of mafia men had wives and families, and they weren't expected to flagellate themselves every hour of the day for bringing the brutal life they led into their home. They were congratulated and honored with receptions, lavished with gifts and praise.
Shaking my head, I watched the scenery pass by out the window. I hadn't told Kinsley I was headed back to Bristol; I knew she'd only cause a scene if I told her she couldn't come. Maybe there was something I could do for her instead, a way to make her feel as though she mattered to me. If I couldn't give her affection and she wouldn't go shopping, perhaps I could bring something back for her. Surely I could find something appropriate. Did husbands give their wives gifts after giving birth? I felt certain Anna would expect jewelry of some nature, but my sister was a different sort of person than Kinsley.
And that reminded me of the fact that I was seriously disappointed in her attitude toward my new wife when she knew better. Anna disrespected both Logan and me with her actions. Logan assured me she'd been properly punished, but hadn't stated in what way.
As I brought my thoughts back to getting a gift for Kinsley, it occurred to me I hadn't given her a ring. I would find her a nice wedding set while I was away, and it wouldn't hurt to wear a band on my own finger.
"We're here."
I looked up at Logan's words and discovered I'd been lost in thought for the entire drive. Exiting the limo after Oliver opened the door, I surveyed the city block, feeling a familiar sense of pride in ownership. It was my high-rise building, my name on the door. My employees ran the company while I was running the rest of the business in Boston.
"Ready to fire some people?" I asked Caden.
Clapping his hands together, Caden chuckled. "Oh, boy, my favorite part."
We headed inside, followed by our security detail. I couldn't believe I'd once thought the other Families wanted peace at any cost. I would never have peace, never have a time when I could go out alone or with only one companion and expect to not be bothered.
Or to not have an assassination attempted on me.
I took a deep breath as the receptionist stood to greet us with a smile. Air was rarified in buildings such as these, the filters keeping anything unpleasant at bay.
"How may I assist you, Mr. Gallagher?"
Pleased she knew my name, I gestured vaguely toward the rest of the office. "We need coffee and other refreshments set up in your largest conference room. As per my memo, has anyone notified the other employees of the meeting?"
"Yes, sir," she answered with another cultured smile.
"Good."
"Please, follow me," she said, moving to the back of the large open area filled with nothing more than lush plants in glossy black pots and a scattering of sofas in white leather. She led us to an open glass door, stepping aside so we could enter the room. It was set up as I'd instructed, so somebody would keep their job.
