Page 116 of Dirty Legacy

I stride to my wife and kneel beside her. “Listen to me, love. Your mom’s a fucking mess. She can’t survive on her own. And I knew that you’d never forgive yourself if something bad happened to her, so I picked up where you left off.”

“We’re enabling her, Connor!”

“Yes, but it was less about that, and more about forcing you to prioritize yourself for a change.” I lean in and kiss the corner of her mouth. “Wait a second. You knew about this already, but you let me go down on you.”

Her cheeks turn pink. “You’re an asshole, but you’re still really good at making me come.”

“You dirty girl. I feel used.”

“Good. You were.”

“How dare you.” I kiss her again. “Would you feel better if I apologized?”

“No, because I know you wouldn’t mean it. Were you ever going to tell me?”

“Eventually. But not until after the baby. I don’t want you thinking about your mother at all. I want you focused on here and now.” I lean down and press my ear to her belly. I hear her heart beating, and I swear, I can hear the baby’s too. There’s a dull, gentle thud as my child kicks. I smile and, god, it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever felt.

We stay like that a while. The changing table’s in flat packs. The crib’s half together. Only a few of the pictures are on the walls.

But we have time. Not a lot, but it feels like forever, kneeling here with my wife.

“I’m going to admit something and I don’t want you to use it against me,” Angie says, fingers stroking through my hair.

“I would never.”

“Good.” She pulls. “You’re a decent man, Connor. I’m glad you’ve been looking after my mom.”

I turn to kiss her belly. “I knew you would be.”

“I want you to tell me this stuff though.”

“I’m sure you do.”

She tugs harder and I grunt, tilting my chin up and smirk at her. “Trying to turn me on again?”

“No, thanks.”

The bell downstairs rings. I kiss Angie one last time before heading down to answer it. Marcus comes inside and helps my limping father along with him. “Cavalry is here,” Dad says, lugging an old tool box. His bum leg drags as he walks. “Where’s that damn crib?”

“I tried to stop him,” Marcus says, shaking my hand. “He wouldn’t listen.”

“Dad, you’re still not back to normal. I can handle this⁠—“

But my old man waves me off. “I bet that wife of yours is already getting down to work. You lousy bastard.”

“Dad, I run a massive crime family, a huge towing and salvage company, and I’m still dealing with the fallout from the Gallagher fight.”

“Which is why I’m here.” Dad heads up the steps. “Idiot boy.”

“Speaking of idiots, Lorcan’s been causing trouble again.” Marcus pats my back. “But Sinead put him in his place last night. That’s one hell of a woman.”

“Wish you’re the one who gets to marry her?”

“Not in the fucking slightest.” Marcus helps my father into the nursery. I extricate Angie before she gets stuck listening to them bicker over which ratchet wrench to use.

“I think I’ll go to the other house and see what Dani and Rowie are up to.” Angie slips on shoes and grabs her keys. “You boys will be okay?”

“I will be, but—“ There’s a loud bang from upstairs and Dad’s cursing echoes through the halls. “Doubt he will be.”