In the middle of Father O’Leary’s sermon on loyalty and the sin of those who are not, Keegan stands. He draws more of thefocus from the clergy, waving at people who are turning to see what’s going on.
For a second, I’m worried to look at my father, considering he’s a devout religious man, and this is God’s time. But I misjudged my father. Instead of anger, there’s only respect on his face, because as important as our organization is, family is something equally worth fighting for.
It seems, though, the rest of his inner circle doesn’t feel the same. While my da is nothing but supportive, the patronizing distaste that paints the expressions on his most trusted is quite the opposite.
Keegan doesn’t miss seeing it, either. It only adds more fuel to his showboating. Keegan’s got the eye of the congregation on him, and he doesn’t rush the moment because of it, either. He removes his suit jacket and places it around Tally’s shoulders. Then, as if to emphasize the fact he’s armed—which is not something Paddy generally allows in God’s house—and ready to protect, he rolls his neck and twists around, letting every fucking man, woman, and child attending Mass know who has his loyalty.
When he sits down, he keeps making his intentions known, curling his arm around her shoulders. With his free hand, he grabs her, sliding closer so there’s no space between him and her. There are no mixed signals to anyone watching; Keegan is publicly laying claim to Tally.
She’s fucking mortified, but she is also accepting of what he did, and why.
Tally knows exactly what he did, declaring very publicly where his loyalty sits, and when I lean down and kiss her forehead to reinforce the message, she sighs but also scents for me.
My parents do the same—reinforce the message, that is. Jeanie has stars in her eyes that she doesn’t hide when she looksat Tally and my pack. My father nods his head, a grand gesture for him. I immediately return the nod, my pack, and my wife, following suit collectively, reiterating our loyalty to him. But now the world knows our wife is equally important.
I get this is what she’s been avoiding, but realistically, her being an unknown in our world was never going to happen. Much like, my pack and I were and are never going to let her walk away. Our destiny was foreseen by an angel who graced our lives for a few short years.
Genoa was a sweet reminder of what was coming. Tally arriving in Ireland and booking one of our properties was fate. And only a stupid man would run from his fate. Even when said man had manipulated a whole lot of everything to get his wife home.
“Nearly done, Tally girl,” I offer, as Father O’Leary’s sermon finally starts to wrap up.
She turns slightly, looking at me before her eyes jump to Rafferty.
I slide my hand up her face, pulling her focus from everyone else. “He’s fine. Everyone is more worried about you.”
Tally rolls her eyes.
But since I have her attention, I ask the question that’s been bugging me nonstop. “Why’d you take a blocker today?”
“Because I knew it would be a shit show. From where I’m sitting, Ronin, there’s some rather obvious hostility in the ranks that’s being thrown my way.” Her eyes jump to where my father’s most loyal are sitting.
I question her with a challenging stare.
“Everyone knows what I look like now, and they don’t need to know my scent. Today’s sermon and me being here is going to be a red flag that those with nefarious intentions or a guilty conscience are going to exploit. Mark my word, our relationship is about to be tested. So, yeah, keeping my scent safe from thedogs pretending to be good God-loving folk is the least I’ll be doing.”
“You’ll be resigning from your job, then?”
She laughs under her breath, pulling a face as she tries to contain the volume. “No chance. You need me there more than ever. I didn’t realize Arthur Kelly was so close to your father. He, along with every person in the row behind your parents, have been at The Shamrock or O’Malley’s, bitching about the O’Connors being done.”
I grin at her, feigning surprise. “Is that so?”
Tally shakes her head, seeing straight through my act like she usually does. “As if you didn’t know.”
“You’re right. I did. Makes you working there more of a risk.”
“Incorrect. No one has made a song and dance about it. Although, that was when we were doing the whole discreet thing.” Her lush lips pull into a tight line. She doesn’t need to add anything more. I know I changed everything by asking her to attend Mass with us while wearing our ring.
“There certainly are some people getting vocal about it not being right that Paddy will be announcing me as his heir and stepping aside very soon. But it’s the reason I was born, Tally. Nothing they do or say is going to change that happening. Mark my words, our pack will be sitting on that front pew soon enough. And you, our darling wife, will be in the center of us.”
“Because of Noinin.”
“Along with about hundred or so other reasons.”
A faint line of uncertainty sits on her pretty face. So, I lean down and whisper in her ear some of those reasons to try to get her a little more confident in her belief.
“Wife, let me list the reasons for you.”
She digs her nails into my hand and hisses, “Wait until after Mass.”
