Page 5 of Explosive Union

Before I was sentenced, she was a fucking bitch. She hated this life and everything about us. Mam gave her a choice: she could either shut the hell up and live the life she married into, or she could take her out of it. I couldn’t help but laugh when Mam threatened her. It was about time. Annemarie bitched for almost two years about our family and how much she hated us.

“Yeah, fuck if I know. One minute, she’s bitching about us and how much she hates me, and the next she tells us she’s going to become your defense attorney. Now she’s all about the family.”

I don’t buy this shit. “All of a sudden she’s in? That doesn’t make sense at all.” How does someone go from hating us, to wanting to get me out of the hellhole?

“That, Sissy, is something we’re going to have to uncover now that you’re out. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her,” he growls. “The fact that bitch is so close to us, makes me want to kill her.”

I smirk. “There’s not a day that’s gone by that not one of us hasn’t thought about it, but for the sake of Harry, Lauren, and Jill, we haven’t done it. But if she’s against us, there’s no hope for her anymore.”

“The kids are old enough to know what their ma’s like,” he replies.

He’s right. At the age of fifteen, twelve, and eight, the kids know their mam’s a bitch. That she despises every member of our family. That’s something they have had to come to terms with, especially when our family has showered the kids with love.

“What do you expect me to do?” I ask, knowing damn well that he and Da have a plan.

He shrugs carelessly. “I don’t give a fuck. Beat the shit out of her?”

I bite back a smile. Some things never change. When in doubt, always turn to violence. Show them what they have to be afraid of. Give them a taste of what’s going to happen if they ever betray you.

“So, when’s Granda showing his face?” I ask, knowing the old man won’t be able to keep his distance for too long. The man loves to be involved in everyone’s business.

“He’s due tomorrow morning. He’s got stuff to talk about with us all.”

I groan. Nothing good ever comes from a talk with him.

“You know, there’s something I have been wanting to ask, but never had the right person to talk to about it.”

He shifts in his seat so we’re facing one another. “What’s up?”

“How did Hayes take to you being made a boss?” Our older brother is nine years older than Hayden and fifteen years older than me. Because he married Annemarie when he was eighteen—disobeying the family's orders—he’s been passed over for positions within the family. He’s been passed over in favor of Hayden to become boss.

“He hasn’t said much about it. He congratulated me, but other than that, nothing,” he replies. “But that’s Hayes. He learned his lesson about going against his family.”

That’s a price he’s still paying for. It hasn’t helped his case with Annemarie being a complete bitch to everyone. She’s the reason he’s been held back.

“Are you ready for this?” he asks me as Cody takes a left turn toward my family’s estate.

I was ready until he said that, and now my stomach is flipping with nerves, my palms are sweaty, and my legs are shaking. Fuck, what is happening? Why am I so afraid? This is my family; they’re not going to hurt me. They’ll never hurt me.

Hayden’s hand rests on my leg, and I jump from the contact. He immediately withdraws, his jaw ticks, and his lips press together.

It hits me like a ton of bricks. I’m not afraid of them, but of their reactions. Hayden has kept his emotions in check as much as he can. He’s angry, but he hasn’t shown he’s disgusted, and he isn’t treating me differently due to what I have been through.

The car comes to a stop, and my heart races. I’m not ready for this. God, I’d rather go to my apartment. A place where I can be alone and try to come to terms with being outside in the real world.

The door is wrenched open and standing before me is my mam.

“Oh, baby,” she whispers as she pulls me towards her, kissing my head and holding me tightly. “I’ve missed you so much, mo chailín milis,” she whispers (My sweet girl).

“Ma,” Hayden says with amusement in his voice. “Want to let her out of the car before you pounce on her?”

“Hush you. I’ve wanted to hold her for the past five years. Now that she’s finally here, I’m not sure I can ever let her go,” she replies with tears in her eyes.

'‘Leannán,”(Sweetheart). The deep, gravelly voice has me smiling. God, it’s been a long time since I’ve heard it. “Let my girl out of the car,” he instructs.

Mam sighs but does as my da asks. As soon as I’m out of the vehicle, I’m wrapped in yet another set of arms. Just like when Hayden held me, I feel safe. God, it’s good to be home.

“Hey, Daddy,” I whisper.