“At least Axel is only seven.” A lump formed in my throat. “I’m going to baby him so much his head will spin.”
Bronagh vibrated with silent laughter.
“Georgie passed me on the stairs and said ye’ want to see Indie tomorrow.”
I nodded. “I’m gonna scare him but a normal amount. I know if I make her break up with him, it will ruin her trust in me, so I have to let her have this, but I made her promise to keep intimacy out of everything until she is older. She promised, and I can only hope she sticks to it.”
“She will, babe. She’s respects ye’ too much to break her word.”
I hoped so.
“I’ll accept this, I will, but tonight, I want to just be upset that she’s growing up.”
My wife kissed my cheek. “Normally, I’d suggest ye’ go trainin’, but I don’t think that’ll help ye’. Go to the pub with your brothers; they’ll make you feel better.”
I tightened my hold on her body. “You can make me feel better.”
“I will make you feel better when you come home tonight.” She winked as she got to her feet and walked out of the room. “For now, I’ll look after the kids, so you go to the pub and let it all out.”
I didn’t have to be told twice. I dug my phone from my pocket and dialled Damien’s number. He answered of the fifth ring.
“Do you want to hit up a bar or ten with me?”
Damien groaned. “What did you do?”
I frowned. “Why do you automatically assume I did something?”
“Because I know you.”
I rubbed my face with my free hand.
“Shit has hit the fan, and it’s got nothing to do with me and Bronagh.”
Damien gasped. “The kids?”
“Georgie,” I said, defeated. “She has a boyfriend, and Bronagh won’t let me kill him. He’s Gavin’s boy.”
“Fuck.” Damien swore. “Fuck everything. I’m on my way.”
Damien disconnected the call and made it to my house in ten minutes flat. He didn’t come inside. Instead, I grabbed my keys and wallet and exited my house. He clapped his hand on my shoulder the second I got into his car.
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head. “I will be tomorrow, but right now, I’m heartbroken.”
“I’m heartbroken, so I can only imagine how you feel.”
“Tonight, my eyes were opened to Georgie being a young woman and not a little girl anymore. The thought of some excited little boy near her makes me murderous.”
“I’m itching to break the kid’s hands and his dick, so you aren’t alone, brother.”
I grunted. “Nothing short of his death will please me.”
“He’s a Collins kid, too?”
I grunted. “Gavin’s boy ... You want to know the kicker?”
Damien nodded.
“Indie is the picture of Gav.”
“He is a good-looking bastard.”
“Don’t I fucking know it!” I balled my hands to fists. “I almost lost Bronagh to him once upon a time, and now I’m losing my baby to not only his blood, but his lookalike? Fuck. I want to kill him. I don’t even care that he’s a child.”
Damien snorted. “You’ll be hell bound for killing him.”
“I’ll explain at the gates. Don’t worry about me, I always get what I want.”
My brother grinned. “A certain Murphy sister is a prime example.”
A smile stretched across my face. “Can you believe I married my high school sweetheart?”
“No, considering I called dibs on her first. I’m still pissed you messed with bro code for a chick.”
I laughed. “What do you think Alannah would do to you if she found out that you wanted to take Bronagh for a round of mattress dancing when we first met her?”
“Don’t ever tell her.” Damien winced. “She wouldn’t have given me five sons if she knew, that’s for damn sure.”
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” I laughed. “I’ll take it to my grave.”
Damien laughed as he pulled away from the kerb and drove towards our local pub. When we got there, we settled inside an empty booth, and I ordered a pint of cider. Damien did too. I stared at the table, then looked at my brother when he clapped his hands on my shoulder.
“We’ll get you through this, buddy.”
I nodded. “I’ll be good tomorrow. I’ll take in on the chin ... but now ...”
“You just want to be sad that your baby girl isn’t a baby anymore?”
Don’t you dare fucking cry.
I leaned my head on my forearm. “Call the others ... I need their bullshit right now.”
“I’m on it.” Damien chuckled, then he added, “You might regret this by the end of the night.”
I’d never regret a night spent with my brothers ... They were the very reason I was the man I was today. I owed them everything, and I knew that they’d help me get through this moment of helplessness, just as they helped me with everything else that stumped me over the years. There was no one on the earth who I’d trust to have my back more than them. I just hoped I didn’t get drunk enough to go and find this Collins kid because if that happened, not even my brothers could stop Bronagh Slater from kicking my ass to New York and back again.