“Okay.” I yanked out my phone and texted one of the men lower than us. He was nothing more than a foot soldier, but he had military training as a former SEAL. I told him where to find Lor and what his mission was—tail him, protect him until I said not to. When I was done, I slid the phone back into my pocket. “He’ll be safe.”
Vail gave me a small smile in thanks.
Fallon clapped his hands together. “Now that’s handled, can we fucking eat? Some of our lives depend on it.”
I snorted and glanced toward the dining room. Through the doorway I could see bags of food stacked on top of the table. “What did ye get?”
“Italian,” Rowen answered with a narrow-eyed look at me.
“Because the Italians are pains in our asses, but they make fucking delicious food. I’m starving.” Fallon laughed and hooked his elbow with Vail’s, leading him to the dining room.
I rolled my eyes and shoved past Rowen to follow them, with Aspen and Rowen coming in behind me. Fallon was already into the bags, pulling out plastic containers of food and setting them out on the table. Vail had taken his seat and was staring at Fallon with wide eyes. Rowen swept around me and stole the chair on Vail’s right side, and I shrugged, taking the left.
Aspen went to get some plates and utensils and placed them in the middle of the table, while Fallon opened all the containers. We took turns dishing bits and pieces onto our plates, but once Aspen was done with the plate in his hand, he set it in front of Vail.
“Eat,” he said gruffly with a tilt of his mouth.
“Thank you,” Vail murmured, a flush brushing across his cheeks.
Once we’d all settled we dug into the food. The meal was delicious, with traditional spaghetti, gnocchi, risotto, lasagna, and so much more. There was enough to feed an army. In a way we were soldiers, and in a few days we’d be sending a very violent message to our enemies.
The silence was thick enough to slice with a knife. Rowen’s hard glare focused on me. Nothing I hadn’t felt before. He didn’t need to speak for his words to be heard.What were ye thinking?
“I realize that I don’t know you all that well,” Vail whispered, surprising us.
We glanced at him.
“What do ye mean?” Rowen asked.
Vail smiled sadly. “I knowwhoyou are but not who you are. Does that make sense? Probably not.” He frowned down at his food. “What do you like doing? Who are you outside of... your work?”
Fallon snorted. “Well, that’s easy. I can tell you all kinds of shit about these guys.”
I raised my eyebrows at him and dropped my fork against my plate, the sound of stainless steel clattering against ceramic echoing throughout the room. I waved my hands at him. “Tell us, oh great one. Who the fuck are we?” I glanced at Vail. “This should be good. He’s not even been with us for a year.”
Fallon grinned, excitement glinting in his eyes. He enjoyed a challenge and that’s what I was giving him. “You’re not hard to figure out, Cillian.”
Rowen groaned. “Here we go.”
I smirked. “Then,Fallon, tell us all about who we are.”
“All right.” Fallon’s smile was downright thrilled. “Let’s start with the easiest one. Rowen.”
“Seriously?” Rowen drawled, giving him a pointed look.
“Yeah.” Fallon clapped his hands and rubbed them together, and Vail chuckled behind his hand. “So, Rowen Shaughnessy. Believes too much in God.”
“We’re really doing this?” Rowen glared at me as though it was my fault. I smirked at him, and he rolled his eyes, waving his hand at Fallon. “Fine. Go ahead.”
“Oh, I will.” Fallon leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “He goes to service every week, though he didn’t go this weekend. He’ll likely catch up on Wednesday.”
“We had bigger things to worry about,” Rowen grumbled.
“And he likes to confess his sins to Father Shay.” Fallon grinned wickedly. “Not that I blame him. Father Shay’s got a bitable ass.”
“He’s a man of the cloth, Fallon.” Rowen groaned and ran a hand over his face. “For fuck’s sake.”
“Maybe, but from what I’ve heard he used to like dick.” Fallon shrugged.
