Page 12 of Explosive Union

I grin. He should know better than to tell me to behave. I’ve always been rebellious.

I take a deep breath as we get closer to the dining room. Typical Ma, she’s put on a spread for everyone. Which means I’m going to have to be polite and break bread with the bloody Italians.

CHAPTER4

ROCCO

“Why are the Irish so flashy?” Dario questions with a grimace as he climbs out of the car.

I look up at the monstrosity that the Gallaghers call home. Damn, they really are flashy assholes. There’s a fucking statue outside that has a pond around it. Not to mention a cherub that’s on either side of the gate that is made out of cast iron and painted gold. Christ, it screams look at me.

“Best pray, dear brother, that your fiancée doesn’t like shopping. Otherwise, you’ll be broke within a week,” Elio quips as he straightens his jacket.

I hope to fuck she’s not like my sisters. Those women can spend like they breathe.

“Not only are Liam and Hayden here, but Henry and Killian Gallagher are also,” our father tells us as he straightens to his full height and looks ahead.

Henry Gallagher, the man so many inspire to become. He has grown the Clann from the bottom up. He’s one of the very few men in this world that has the respect from all different cultures. Whether it be Italian, Russian, American, Croatian; you name it, every man has heard of the legend that is Henry Gallagher and what he has achieved.

“Damn, they have really rolled out the red carpet for the occasion. I guess being released from prison is something to celebrate. She must be a daddy’s girl, for sure,” Dario snickers.

“That she is,” a gravelly voice says from my left, and I turn to see Hayden Gallagher standing by the French windows with a cigarette hanging from his lips. “Something you’ll do well to remember.”

“Hayden,” a woman’s voice calls out. The thick Irish accent tells me she’s his mother. Edwina Gallagher—Henry’s only daughter. She’s small, barely over five feet, and that’s with her wearing heels. Her blonde hair is tied up, and she’s dressed as my mother would. In a matching dress and heels. “I will not be cleaning blood off my floors today.”

My father chuckles. “Not to worry, Edwina, my boys will behave.”

She sighs. “Unfortunately, Aldo, it’s not the sons I’m worried about. Please, come in. I hope you’re all hungry. I’ve made us breakfast.”

Before my father can reply, Edwina opens the door wide for us to enter. I follow behind my father as we enter the Gallagher manor. I’m actually quite surprised by the decor of this room, especially as outside is grandeur. The dining room is white and minimalistic. There are photos scattered around the room, and I spy a couple of Jade, but yet again, it’s older pictures from when she was a teenager.

There’s a roaring fire going, a woman sitting in a rocking chair knitting, not paying one bit of notice to everything going on around her.

“Jade will be with us shortly. She’s just talking to her grandfather,” Edwina informs us. “Please, take a seat. Can I get you coffee?”

Damn, she has the perfect hostess thing going on. I pray to fuck that her daughter is the same. I don’t want to train my wife in the way the women in the Famiglia should act.

“You have a wonderful home, Mrs. Gallagher,” Dario says, and I bite back a chuckle. Wherever there’s food, you can guarantee my brother is sucking up to whoever made it.

“Thank you… Dario, isn’t it?”

My brother nods. “Yes, ma’am, the youngest and best looking of the Gallo family.”

Edwina laughs. “Oh, you.” She giggles as she moves around the table. “You’re just like my Hayden.”

The man in question rolls his eyes. “Where’s Hayes?”

“He’ll be here shortly. He had to do an errand for your Granda,” the man sitting at the end of the table tells us. The dark hair, the blue eyes, and the cocky grin… It can only mean one thing. Killian Gallagher.

The man is a mystery. I haven’t been able to uncover much about him other than he spends the majority of his time between New York and Dublin. He, unlike the rest of his family, isn't part of the Clann, and I’m curious as to why.

“He doesn’t need to be here,” the elderly woman sitting in a rocking chair by the fire says. She still hasn’t looked at us. She’s just busy knitting.

“Margret,” Edwina snaps at the elderly woman. “Hayes hasn’t seen his sister since she was sent down. I’m warning you, you old coot, you had better behave yourself.”

The elderly woman sniffs as she glares at the woman, but doesn’t say anything else.

“Aldo, can I get you a coffee?” Edwina says to my father.