My recovery wasn’t even over yet, we were in a hotel with very little access to our men or their ‘soldiers,’ and she was trying to pick out the paint for my nursery walls?
I think not.
“It’s between you and Finn, I’m sure,” was all she said.
Narrowing my eyes at her, I nodded, agreeing with her—it was between Finn and me. Nobody else.
When I caught Mary-Ellen’s eye, I had to hide a smile.
She looked in awe of me, and I realized that most people would have cowered or immediately replied to Lena’s invasive questions.
Well, not me.
Maybe before the shooting, but not after.
Lena wasn’t my mother. Nor was she my damn boss. I’d keep the peace, but I wasn’t about to roll over and play dead for her. Fuck, I wasn’t about to do that for anyone.
Not even Finn.
Before the shooting, I could probably have been considered marshmallow fluff-soft, but after? No way. I’d learned a lesson about life in the mafia and I knew I was going to have to toughen up if I was going to be the wife Finn needed.
I saw how Aidan, in his own way, depended on Lena. I wanted to be that for Finn. I didn’t want to be a drag, didn’t want to weigh him down with crap that just wasn’t important. But to be that, that meant not taking any shit from anyone. Including the man I loved.
Chapter Twenty-One
Finn
“Finn!”
The sound of my name being called had me cringing. Standing outside the office building, I turned and saw Eoghan waving at me.
Fuck.
“What?” I snapped, then cringed when he reared back in surprise at my tone.
“Finn?” he questioned.
I blew out a breath. “Yeah.”
“What’s up?”
“Nothing.” I waved at the office front. “I’m just about to head to an appointment.”
Eoghan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the building behind me, then a grin showed on his face that told me he knew exactly what this place was.
Shit, I was never going to hear the end of this now.
“Didn’t realize a sex toy store was considered business,” he teased, his eyes fucking sparkling with amusement.
“Yeah? If you knew what this place is, that means you’ve been too. Your cock not up to the job?”
Eoghan was a cock-sure shit, so he just sniggered at me. “I can handle my dick. Don’t you worry.”
“Wasn’t worried,” I rasped. “Just… fuck off, would you?”
“No. This is funny shit.”
“You’re not going in with me,” I stated bluntly.
“Aren’t I?” He rubbed his chin. “I don’t know, I think I should. You didn’t bring your guard with you.”
I grunted. “Your guard isn’t with you either.”
He tapped his nose. “I’m good at evading him. Never send in a trainee to guard the general.”
“You wish you were a fucking general.”
He slapped his chest, the place right over his heart. “That fucking hurts.”
“I’m sure it does. Not enough, though,” I grumbled. “Look, you know why I’m here, you can tell all the guys if you want, but I need to go in.”
“Aoife horny?” he asked, and I saw the concern in his eyes.
Concern.
For my woman’s horniness.
My life was starting to belong in one of the Pink Panther movies.
“Been a long time,” I bit off.
“Yeah. I’m surprised. Thought you’d have fucked that Tanya bitch by now.”
My eyes widened. “What the fuck?”
He shrugged. “You liked her before.”
Wanting to strangle him as he talked about my sex life on the side of the goddamn street like we were two girlfriends, I ground out, “I’m married.”
Eoghan pursed his lips. “So? Or are you gonna be like Dad?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I didn’t mean insane,” he said dryly. “I meant possessive. Faithful.”
“That such a hard concept to believe?”
Despite myself, I was fucking furious at the inference I might cheat on Aoife. It wasn’t the first time I’d had looks cast my way when my brothers happened to mention a slut they’d been screwing, but the only pussy I wanted was on lockdown.
In more ways than one.
Tugging at my tie, feeling way too hot under the collar to be dealing with this shit, I watched Eoghan watch me. “What?” I snapped.
“I’m just surprised.”
“Which part of my getting married have you forgotten?”
“Aoife can’t put out,” he stated, like I didn’t already know that. My cock was going to turn blue, never mind my balls.
“Yeah. Trust me. I received that memo.”
“So… why haven’t you gone with Tanya?”
“Because I’m married.”
He smirked at me. “Still can’t say the words, huh?”
“Fuck. You.”
A snicker sounded from his lips, making me want to throat punch the