“Who the hell are you?” I asked, surprised.
Finn gave me a frown from where he stood beside me.
The stranger stopped near Mum, and I realized for the first time that he had a couple of bowls in his hand. He placed one in front of Mum before doing the same to Hero. In the dishes there looked to be yogurt with fresh fruit.
Mum perked up and gestured at him. “This is August, my new personal assistant. Well, he prefers Auggie, but I like August. He even makes breakfast.”
“Your new.... Since when do you need an assistant?” I curled my arm around Finn’s waist and led him to the table. He was dressed in jeans and a simple green T-shirt today, but it didn’t matter what he wore because he looked amazing.
Mum said something quietly to August, and he nodded, leaving to head toward the kitchen prep area. When he was out of earshot, she turned back to me. “He’s Janie Hunter-Lee’s boy.”
I shrugged and took a seat. “Is that meant to mean something?”
Mum sighed dramatically. “Janie Hunter-Lee. She’s the sister of Mary Hunter, who’s the best friend of Sara Hennessey.”
Ah, now there was a name I knew. Mrs. Hennessey went to bingo with Mum, but she was also the mother of one of my men. “And? Why do you have him as your assistant?” I leaned back in my chair and draped my arm around Finn’s shoulders, careful not to touch his injury. To my delight, he rested against me, exhaling in pleasure.
“Because August needed a job. Janie told Mary who told Sara, and Sara remembered me saying that one day I wanted to hire a personal assistant. Sara said August was good at cooking and doing any menial task, and he’s a ray of sunshine. Always smiling.”
“It’s fucking annoying,” Mercy grunted out in disgust.
Mum huffed at him. “He’s a good boy. Unlike some I know.”
As if on cue, August headed back toward us from the kitchen with a bounce in his step and another bowl in his hand. He was adorable, with a smile that nearly broke his face, and it made me chuckle when he set the dish in front of Mercy and waited, as though expecting a thank-you.
Mercy glared up at him. “Fuck off, kid.”
August’s smile never dimmed. If anything, his happiness increased. “You’re welcome.” He turned to us. “Drinks or food, Mr. Sweeney? Mr. McCorkell?”
I was almost tempted to ask how he knew our names, but I didn’t care.
“Start with a cappuccino. Whole milk.” I shifted in my seat, getting comfortable, but also keeping an eye on Mercy’s reactions to this newcomer.
“Coffee please. Cream and sugar.” Finn grinned, and I laughed.
August cocked his head. If he had dog ears, I imagined one would be perked up in confusion while the other stayed down, giving him that adorable puppy expression.
I chuckled. “Milk. He wants milk.”
August—or should I call him Auggie? I wasn’t sure—nodded eagerly and spun on his heel. He rushed toward the kitchen. While I wasn’t entirely surewhyhe was here andwhyMum needed an assistant, due to the extreme confusion on Mercy’s face, I wanted him to stick around. I’d never seen my best mate with that expression.
I hid a laugh behind the back of my hand and turned my head, leaning against Finn. His sweet scent tickled my nose, and I made a sound deep in my throat as I buried my face against his neck.
“How are you, darl?” Mum asked, and I knew immediately who she was talking to. The way her tone softened made it obvious.
“I’m fine,” Finn said quietly, and I didn’t have to glance at him to know he was blushing because all eyes were on him. “A little sore, but fine.”
“Sore from Legend or an injury?” Danger chortled at his own joke, and I straightened to glare at him. As soon as he saw me looking, he cringed. “Sorry.”
Finn poked me in the stomach, and I kissed his cheek, letting my focus slide to Cillian. “Didn’t I tell you to keep him safe?”
“Legend....” Finn pouted at me, but I ignored him.
My jaw tightened. “I don’t know about you, but safe to me means not getting hurt at all.”
Cillian swallowed, the apple in his throat bobbing. He squared his shoulders. “I take full responsibility, Mr. Sweeney.”
“The hell you will.” Fallon jumped to his feet and waved his hands about like a maniac. “This is war. Things happen, people get hurt. Cillian tried his best to keep Finn out of trouble and—”
