Brothers

by L. A. Casey

  “Darlin’.”

  Aideen looked up when her father spoke, and she beamed at him, “Hey, Granda.”

  Keela quickly moved over to her place in front of Alec, and my brother wrapped his arms around her, then leaned down and nuzzled his face against her. I looked at Aideen father’s whose resolve shattered as tears fell from his eyes. He sat on the side of the bed, next to his daughter, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

  “He looks just like ye’ when ye’ were a baby,” my father murmured. “So beautiful. I’m so proud of ye’, baby. Ma would be too.”

  Tears filled Aideen’s eyes as she said, “D’ye want to hold ‘im?”

  Her father nodded and stood. He reached down and gently picked up his grandson, holding him protectively against his chest. Aideen rubbed her eyes with her fingers as she watched grandfather and grandson get acquainted. For a single moment, I thought of my own father and how he missed out on a moment such as this, but then I remember that he was a cruel man who would hold no love for my son or any child fathered by his sons. I was glad that Mr Collins would be the only grandparent my children would know.

  “Hey, buddy,” he whispered, his eyes welling up. “I’m your Granda.”

  That was all that needed to be said for all the ladies to crumple to tears, making us men chuckle.

  “Well done, baby sister.”

  Aideen look at her eldest brother, JJ, and gestured for him to go to her. When he moved to her side, he leaned down and hugged her so tight I worried he might break her. Aideen’s other brothers followed suit. Gavin held onto her the longest and whispered something in her ear that made her laugh.

  “What’s his name?” This came from Bronagh.

  Aideen looked at me, and I shrugged my shoulders. We had discussed lots of names for boys and girls, but we never agreed on any, so we decided to wait until the baby was born to pick one.

  “No idea yet.”

  Everyone chuckled at us.

  Aideen hugged my brothers then, and she thanked and apologised to Dominic, Alec, and Damien for any harm or discomfort she brought to them during her labour. They smiled at her and waved it off like it was no big deal. I could tell they were just happy they got to be a part of such a special moment.

  When it was time for the women to hug Aideen, they all cried uncontrollably, even Alannah who was usually the best of them for controlling her emotions. I was thoroughly amused but touched because I felt the love of every person in the room for my son, for Aideen, and for me. I watched as every person fell in love with my child, and it only caused my love for them to grow.

  I didn’t know how long everyone stayed, a few hours or so, but by the time they left, even Branna after she checked on Aideen and the baby once more, my girl was close to falling asleep sitting up. She had just finished feeding the baby again and settled back into our bed when she was suddenly lost in thought. She locked eyes on me as I folded up the birthing pool having drained it earlier, and I froze.

  “Kane?”

  “Hmmm?”

  She tiredly blinked. “Where were ye’ all day today?”

  I stopped moving, stopped breathing.

  “Kane?”

  I felt every muscle in my body tense as worry flooded me.

  “What?” I asked as if I hadn’t heard her.

  “Alec was callin’ ye’ for ages, Ryder too, but neither of ye’ answered. Where were ye’?”

  “I was in the gym for about two hours.”

  Aideen’s voice was soft when she said, “And for the other hours?”

  I placed the birthing pool back in its container just to give me something to do before I turned to face her. The picture before me was one I had come to long for after I fell in love with Aideen and waited for my son to grow inside her body. She was the very definition of perfection as she sat on our bed under the covers with our son nestled against her chest.

  “I was helping Ryder move ... some stuff.”

  Tears welled in her eyes, and my heart broke knowing I was hurting her.

  “Kane.”

  I took a step forward. “I swear if I knew you would be having the baby today I wouldn’t have left your side.”

  She held my hand up in the air. “Stay where ye’ are.”

  I wanted to disregard that demand, but I didn’t. I remained where I was.

  Slowly, Aideen said, “Ye’ were movin’ drugs or weapons ... weren’t ye’?”

  I opened my mouth, prepared to lie to her, but I closed it when no words came out. Tears fell onto her cheeks at my silence, and I had to ball my fists to keep from moving to her side.

  “Please let me come to you.”

  Aideen shook her head. “I was in labour all day ... and ye’ were out helpin’ Ryder with that horrible stuff.”

  I swallowed. “I’m—”

  “Your brothers held me hands, listened to me scream and curse at them, and did everythin’ in their power to help me. They never left me side the entire time. They were scared shitless, but they were there for me.”

  “Aideen,” I whispered, feeling my own eyes well with tears.

  I was ashamed, and I needed her to forgive me for not being there when she needed me most.

  “Ye’ almost missed him comin’ into this world, Kane.”

  I couldn’t hold her gaze anymore, so I looked down to my feet instead.

  “I’m disgusted with myself for not being here for it all.”

  She was disgusted with me too. I knew she was.

  “What did I tell ye’?”

  I looked up at her, feeling confused.

  “I told ye’ I wouldn’t be with ye’ when you’re attached to that life.”

  Panic rose within me, and I suddenly felt faint.

  “Please,” I pleaded. “Please forgive me. I won’t do it again. I won’t help Ryder ever again. I swear on my life.”

  Aideen’s expression was blank, and it scared me half to death.

  “I think ye’ should leave,” she said, her jaw tight.

  She was breaking up with me.

  “Aideen,” I choked and stumbled forward until my knees knocked into our bed. “Please, I’m begging you, don’t do this.”

  Please, don’t do this, baby doll.

  “I didn’t do anythin’. You did,” she replied with a shake of her head. “I’ve asked ye’, no I’ve begged ye’, repeatedly, to tell me what you and Ryder were up to, and I’ve pleaded with ye’ not to be involved with it ... but ye’ completely ignored me. Ye’ said it wouldn’t take ye’ from me, but it has. Ye’ almost missed the birth of your son for it ... was it worth it?”

  No.

  “I’m so sorry,” I cried. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

  Aideen remained cold towards me, and it made me want to scream.

  “No, I’m sorry, Kane,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’m sorry I let this go so far. I truly thought your love and respect for me would be enough for ye’ to do the right thing, but I’m obviously not worth it. Ye’ chose somethin’ dangerous, illegal, and plain disgustin’ over me.”

  She looked down to her left hand, wiggled the engagement ring off her finger and threw it to the end of the bed where it landed before me. With my heart in my throat, I looked from the ring to Aideen in what I knew was disbelief. She was breaking up with me. She was really breaking up with me.

  “Please, don’t leave me,” I begged her, not caring how she would perceive me for pleaded. “I’ll die without you.”

  She looked at our son and swallowed.

  “If ye’ don’t put me first, what’s to say ye’ won’t put him first?”

  Terrified, I grabbed her ring and crawled up the bed until I was face to face with her.

  “I’m begging you not to do this. You and that precious boy are my everything, I swear to you.”

  Aideen frowned, but I saw something flicker in her eyes. “I don’t know if that’s enough for us to work.”

  “Baby doll,” I breathed and placed my hands on he
r cheeks. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. I don’t want to lose what I live for; you and our son. I never thought it was possible to love two people as much as I do you two. I love you both so much it hurts. Please, don’t take away my reason for living.”

  Aideen’s eyes swam with tears as she leaned her face into mine.

  “Ye’ swear on his life that you’re done with everythin’ related to your old life?”

  Hope flared within me.

  “I swear.” I frantically nodded. “I swear to God.”

  Aideen regarded me for a long moment before she nodded and said, “Okay.”

  I could hardly believe what she was saying. She was giving me a second chance when we both knew I didn’t deserve one. I crumpled before her and pressed my forehead against her. I pressed my lips against her, and when I felt her kiss me back with hunger, my heart thumped with relief.

  “I love you so fucking much.”

  Aideen put her arms around my neck. “I love ye’ too, sweetheart ... now give me me ring back.”

  I wiped my face free of tears before I placed the ring back on her finger and kissed it.

  “Ye’ have me heart, Kane,” she said to me when I looked into her eyes. “Don’t ever forget that.”

  “I won’t,” I assured her. “Not ever.”

  When she kissed me, I kissed her back without reservation. I quickly got under the covers with her and moved as close to her as I could.

  “Lie down,” I urged. “I need to hold you.”

  I helped her get settled on the bed before I stretched out next to her exhausted body.

  “Baby doll?”

  She snuggled back against me and murmured, “Yes.”

  “I say it all the time, but I really do love you with all of my heart. You know that, right?”

  “I know, babe.” She hummed. “I’m sorry about bein’ so horrible. I never want to hurt ye’ or make ye’ cry.”

  “You had every right to be furious with me. I almost missed our son being born over Ryder and his stupid deals.”

  She put her hand over mine. “Let’s not talk about it anymore. It’s done now, and your decision has been made. Ye’ made it for his birth, and that’s all that matters.”

  I hugged her and lowered my hands to her smaller but still rounded stomach.

  “It’s all flabby.”

  I found myself chuckling. “It’s weird that your stomach isn’t huge and hard. I can still feel a smaller bump, but Branna said that will go down in a few days as your womb starts the process of shrinking back to normal.”

  Aideen glanced over her shoulder at me. “Ye’ talked to ‘er about stuff like that?”

  Every chance I got.

  “All the time.” I nodded. “I wanted to know what you’re going through.”

  Aideen smiled, then returned her gaze to our son in his bassinet.

  “What will we name ‘im?”

  I blew out a breath. “I don’t know. What do you like?”

  “Promise you won’t laugh?” I gave her a squeeze, so she said, “Jax.”

  I broke my silent promise and laughed, lowly.

  “Hey.”

  “Sorry.”

  Aideen sighed. “Ye’ don’t like it.”

  “I actually do. I was just thinking of how Jax Teller brought us together that fateful day in Ryder and Branna’s house.”

  Aideen giggled. “Through Jax Teller all things are possible.”

  I smiled. “Jax Slater ... that sounds cool.”

  “Jax Slater,” Aideen repeated. “I love it.”

  “So we’re settled on his name being Jax?”

  “Yeah,” Aideen said, then paused. “But what will his middle name be?”

  “I was thinking it could be your father’s name.”

  Aideen gasped. “Really?”

  “Of course.” I nodded. “Your dad is awesome, and the look of admiration and love he holds for you and Jax fills my heart. He is a good man and will be an awesome papaw.”

  “Papaw,” she repeated. “That’s so cute, I love that.”

  I was elated. “So his name is Jax Daniel Slater?”

  “Yes! Wait, Jax Daniel ... is it just me, or does that sound like Jack Daniels?”

  I repeated it under my breath and found it was similar and laughed.

  “We can’t change it now. We already agreed.”

  Aideen vibrated with silent laughter. “Me da will get a right kick out of this.”

  I sat up on my elbow and leaned up so I could see into my son’s bassinet.

  “I love you, Jax.”

  When I looked down at Aideen, she had rolled onto her back and stared up at me.

  “Me and you?”

  “Me and you.”

  Her smile was the last thing she did before she fell asleep in my arms. I held her body against mine for a long time. I stared at her, blown away by how much I loved this woman, and amazed by her strength and patience as she brought our son into the world. I flicked my eyes to Jax and smiled when he pulled a cute face in his sleep. I lay down beside Aideen, held her tight, and sighed in utter happiness, knowing that I had my family and they had me too. I fell asleep knowing that I had the whole world in my woman and son, and I knew then that I was the luckiest son of bitch on the face of the planet.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Present day ...

  * * *

  “Unc?”

  I looked over my shoulder when Georgie walked into my kitchen.

  “Baby,” I beamed and opened my arms when she neared me. “I didn’t know you were coming over.”

  She wrapped her arms around my waist and gave me a tight squeeze that I returned before she stepped back.

  “I came over to talk to Jax,” she said, and lowered her head. “I fought with ‘im earlier and said somethin’ I really didn’t mean, so I’ve come to apologise.”

  Ah, now Jax’s sulking around the apartment made sense. When he returned from my brother’s house earlier, I knew something had happened because when I asked if he was okay, he said he didn’t want to talk about it. I knew he was still embarrassed at being caught almost having sex by his parents and mostly likely bummed that he was grounded and had all his electronic devices taken away, but he seemed genuinely upset, and now I knew why.

  “He’s in his room, George.”

  Georgie hesitated. “What if he doesn’t forgive me?”

  I flipped on the kettle, knowing from experience that this conversation would require a cup of tea. My niece looked concerned about the talk she needed to have with my son, and I wanted to do what I could to settle her nerves; otherwise, no amount of tea would calm her.

  “Forgive what exactly?”

  Georgie looked down at her feet. “He was bein’ really overbearin’ and tellin’ me parents me business when he shouldn’t have, and I just got so feckin’ mad at ‘im. He is always actin’ like he is years older than me when he isn’t. I’m the second eldest cousin; there is a few months between us, but he treats me like the youngest, and today, I just had enough of it. I ... I told ‘im that I hated ‘im, and when he asked me to take it back, I wouldn’t. Now I feel like dirt on the ground because I don’t hate ‘im. I love ‘im to death, but I don’t know if he’ll forgive me for sayin’ it. I was pretty mean to ‘im, so I wouldn’t blame ‘im if he never spoke to me again. The look on his face ... I hurt ‘im.”

  Well, shit.

  “Look,” I said, quickly making her tea now that the kettle had boiled. “I can see it in your pretty green eyes and hear it when you speak that you are sorry. People make mistakes and say things they don’t mean when they are angry, especially to the people they love most. Jax loves you, Georgie. You’re his number one girl. He’ll forgive you.”

  I knew my son, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his cousins, especially Georgie. He would forgive her for upsetting him. He’d probably make her sweat a little before he did so—just to teach her a lesson—but in the end, he would accept her apology
and they would move on with their lives.

  “Thanks, Uncle.” She sighed, her shoulders sagging as she sat at the kitchen table. “Today has been a shitty day.”

  I agreed wholeheartedly.

  “Well, we’re guaranteed that today will end, so it’s up to you whether you want to drag your feelings into tomorrow or leave them in the here and now and start fresh come sunup.”

  Georgie looked up at me and smiled. She was the picture of her mother, but I saw my little brother in her smile, and those dimples on her cheeks were definitely Dominic Slater to the T.

  “Ye’ sound like Alec when he gets all philosophical.”

  I grinned. “I make sense, though. Your uncle sounds like Yoda having a bad day when he starts rambling.”

  She laughed, lifted her cup of tea, blew on it, then took a sip and hummed.

  “I love that ye’ know how many sugars I take.”

  “Learning how you and your aunties take their tea was wired into me years ago. I realised quickly how a cup good of tea can resolve the most hostile of situations.”

  My niece giggled. “I can imagine ye’ makin’ Aideen a cup of tea just to get in ‘er good books.”

  “Guilty,” I said as I took a seat across from her. “So are you going to stay here with me and keep stalling or go talk to Jax?”

  Georgie scowled. “I hate that ye’ know what I’m doin’.”

  “Baby girl.” I chuckled. “You are your mother’s daughter.”

  She leaned back in her chair and sighed before she nodded, took another gulp of her tea, then got to her feet.

  “Wish me luck, unc,” she said. “And if ye’ hear shoutin’, just let us argue. We have to fight before we make up. It’s a ritual I have with all me cousins. If ye’ hear a whole lot of silence, that’s when ye’ should come runnin’ because we’re probably stranglin’ each other.”

  I snorted as she left the room with her back straight and her chin lifted.

  “Good luck,” I said as she left, but I wasn’t wishing her luck, I was wishing my son it.

  I poured the remainder of Georgie’s tea into the sink, then washed the cup and set it aside on the draining board.

  “Was that Georgie?”

  “Yeah.” I answered my wife without turning around. “She and Jax argued, so she’s here to apologise.”