“You're a lucky fecker,” he replies. “Can’t believe you found a woman that is all goodness and light for the most part but gets the darkness in you. Doesn’t happen often.”
“It doesn’t,” I agree. “I’ll never take her for granted, that's for sure.”
He sighs and rubs a hand over his face as I pull up next to his ride. “Make sure she stays home from now on.”
Chuckling, I reply as he gets out. “I will, although I’m retiring so it shouldn’t happen anyway.”
Keelan grips the door as he bends down, looking at me in disbelief. “Don’t lie to yourself, Butcher. You’re not retiring completely, you can’t. You know it, and I know it. Men like us, we need this type of work to keep the darkness at bay. Now that your woman knows and you don’t have to hide this part of you ...” he trails off, looking to the side before he continues, “you may not do it full time, but I can promise you that you’ll not give it up completely.”
Considering his words, I know he’s probably right. “I’ll be in touch with Aiden if I decide to continue. We’ll do a few more together, and I’ll share places you can take them and where you can keep supplies.”
“Okay,” he agrees, closing the door and tapping the roof of my car. I don’t wait for him to reach his car before I’m driving off. My girls are waiting for me. The sun is rising, and I still need to get rid of the car.
Uncle Sean is waiting for me in the doorway of my house when I ride up on my bike, having disposed of the car. The car that Moira had used is gone, and in its place is my aunt's. My uncle has been busy tonight.
I’m both pissed at him and want to hug him. Pissed that he put Moira through a test, and happy that she passed that test. I had a feeling though that he wouldn’t have if Moira hadn’t been open to wanting to know more about my work life.
Deep down, I’ve always known my woman was steel wrapped up in a sunshiny happy bow. I’d rather keep her from the darkness that I sometimes wallow in though.
Cutting my engine I remove my helmet, resting it on the fuel tank as I give my uncle a hard, displeased look.
He holds up his hands in the universal sign for peace, “She passed lad, just like I knew she would. Come on. Get cleaned up, and we’ll go over for breakfast. She’s waiting for you.”
Swinging my leg over my bike, I grab my helmet and stalk over to Uncle Sean. “You pushed it, Uncle Sean. Meddling like you did. You knew she was off limits.”
“Maybe so,” he agrees with a nod. “But she’s not weak your lass, and neither of you would have been happy with you living a half-life. We both know you’d have been miserable retiring from vigilante work.”
“Maybe so,” I sigh. “But it was my choice to make, not yours.”
“True enough,” he agrees, clasping my shoulder, “but we love you, and you always make things harder for yourself than you have to. Now, you can settle down with your girls. There’s no more secrets between you, and maybe make me a few more great-nieces and nephews to love.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter as I push past, ducking from the smack to the head I know is coming.
“Don’t you be using the Lord’s name in vain, boyo,” Uncle Sean scolds.
Chuckling, I ignore him and go about my routine as if he’s not in the house. When I’ve showered and changed, I walk next door to my family.
Standing in the back garden, I look through the French doors at Moira sitting at our kitchen table with Mikayla, Uncle Sean and Aunt Jess. She’s laughing at something, her head thrown back, blonde curls bouncing around her head like a halo, face alight with happiness.
As if she senses me, she turns and looks right at me. The smile never leaves her face as she blows me a kiss and walks to the door.
Opening it, she’s out and running towards me. Holding out my arms I catch her as she jumps, sealing her lips to mine. All my worries melt away into the morning light as she kisses me like I’ve been gone for months.
Moira pulls back and looks into my eyes, searching for something—what, I’m not sure. When she doesn’t find it, her expression softens into a gentle smile. She presses her forehead to mine and whispers, “I’m so glad you’re home. We missed you.”
“Fecking hell, sunshine, I love you.”
“Same.Tá mo chroí iaistigh de.For always,” she replies, kissing me again.
It’s only when Mikayla makes it known that she’s not happy about being left out that Moira lowers her legs and we walk, arms around each other, into the kitchen where I’m greeted by the tiny dynamo.
After I’ve hugged her and loved on Wolfie, I join my family at the table. It’s as I’m sitting there listening to their chatter that I realise for the first time since I’d been sent away from Fitheach that I am truly happy. I had no more secrets from Moira. Mikayla was happy. My aunt and uncle were smug that theirplan had worked, and I was grateful that I’d been given a chance at happiness with my girls.
Who said stalking didn’t pay off?
EPILOGUE
BUTCHER
