5
CONALL
I groaned and rubbed my face, which was feeling hot. My head throbbed in a steady beat that had me wincing as I dressed for the day. After last night’s fun with Sloan, it took all my willpower to roll out of bed. My limbs weighed a thousand pounds each, and every inch of me had begun to throb. I suspected I was coming down with a cold or the flu. The sunlight that filtered through the tall windows of our room made me flinch as I slid on my shoes and stood from the edge of the bed.
I went to the full-length mirror and checked myself out. I’d dressed for my job as co-boss, with a tan suit and deep red shirt that matched the collar buckled around my neck. I finished the outfit off with brown shoes. Nodding to myself, I buttoned up the jacket and headed to the door. I managed to pass the threshold before Fionn stepped in beside me like he’d been waiting. His sudden appearance had me jumping and grabbing my chest.
“Jesus fuck. You gave me a heart attack.”
Fionn grinned, clearly proud of himself. “Sorry.”
“You’re not.”
He shrugged unapologetically. “I’m not. Alsolanguage.”
“Hah.” I laughed. “Don’t lecture me on swearing. I’m going to do it as much as I can while Sloan’s not around. Fuck fuckity fuck. Fucky McFuckface.”
Fionn raised his eyebrows as we made it to the stairs. “Do you feel better?”
“Much, thank you.” I shot him a mischievous smile.
He shook his head. “Seriously, though. Howareyou feeling today?”
It wasn’t worth mentioning the headache or the impending illness, whatever it was. It was May and the weather was warming up. If I told Fionn that I was feeling sick, he’d run to Sloan with the news, and the last thing I wanted was for Sloan to worry about me while he was in jail.
“I’m fine. Better than yesterday. Sloan explainedthe cousins.”
We reached the bottom of the stairs, and I paused as sudden dizziness struck out of nowhere when my eyes got blasted by the light as the front door opened. I groaned and rubbed my face. Soldiers walked past us, eyeing us with the disdain I was getting used to from some of them.
“Are you sure?” Fionn stepped in closer and laid a hand on my shoulder. “I can call Rory.”
I shook my head. “No, don’t. It’s okay. I just slept like shit.” I smirked at him. “But it’s nice that you’re worried about your papa.”
He blinked, then blinked again. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I was thinking about it. Sloan’s adopting you and he’s going to be your dad. Daire’s already your Daddy, so I can be your papa. Papa Conall.”
He blanched and his eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “No.”
“Come on, son, don’t be like that.” I waggled my eyebrows. Fionn was so fun to rib. He reacted the exact way I wanted him to every time.
He groaned and started moving again, heading toward the hallway on our right. “No.”
I followed, a bubble of happiness growing in my chest. I was glad he finally liked me enough to joke, even if it was me who messed with him. “Come on, give Papa Conall a hug, son.”
“Go away, Conall.” He shot me a look of venom over his shoulder, but I didn’t miss the amusement behind his eyes. “Stop it.”
I raised my arms toward him, quickening my pace to catch up. “I want a hug.”
Fionn’s glare deepened. “No.” He reached the door to Sloan’s office and stepped inside.
I laughed and went into the room, too. Daire was already there, seated in one of the armchairs in the sitting area. He had his leg crossed over his knee and a folder open on his lap, shuffling through papers as he hummed thoughtfully.
“Are we expecting the cousins from hell today?” I asked, closing the door.
Fionn made an irritated sound as he took a seat across from Daire. “Unfortunately. I called Edward. He said he sent them here to help.”
“Why say it like that?” I crossed the distance of the office and sat down in the armchair beside him.
