Page 138 of Mob Princess

“Surprise!”

Sean has his arm around me, so he pulls me behind him as he reaches back for his gun. My grandfather steps in front of my mother, reaching back too. But it only takes a second to see Sean’s family inside. It shocks me to see my mom’s older brother, my aunt, and cousins, along with Colton and Daisy, waiting for us. Even my stepmom, Maureen, is here. There’s a banner for a wedding shower.

“Whose idea was it to scream surprise to two mobsters?” Sean’s grumbling, but he’s smiling from ear-to-ear.

The wedding isn’t for another six weeks, so I didn’t expect this at all. We aren’t waiting or anything like that. We aren’t making sure this is the right decision. We want an early autumn wedding in Maine. Apparently, the O’Rourkes have some properties along the coast. We’d like to take advantage of the fall foliage and have an outdoor wedding.

I know a Catholic wedding would mean a lot to Sean, but I also know all the men in my family and his feel ashamed going to church when they know the sins they’ve committed and the ones they are yet to commit. He’s told me about his conflicted feelings, and the guilt he has for being a hypocrite. He’ll go when he has to for other people’s weddings, baptisms, and funerals. But I didn’t want to insist and ruin a day that’s as much about him as it is me.

“How’d you get all of this set up?” I’m standing with Breda, Saoirse, and Siobhan.

“It was Finn and Shane who organized things with your family, and Colton and Daisy. Dillan took care of the decorations. Cormac took care of the food. You’d never guess most of it is vegan. Seamus helped smuggle in the unhealthy stuff. And the three of us made sure Danny knew he’d die if he arrived too soon. We told him to ‘find’ traffic.” Breda uses air quotes and all.

I learned Cormac is the cleanest eater in the family because of some article he read as a kid about processed foods. He’s not vegan, but he owns a small organic grocery store. He says owning it is a tax write off for all the healthy “shite” he eats.

Sean wraps his arm around me again and leans to whisper in my ear. “I had no idea. Did you?”

“None. It’s amazing, but it kinda makes me wonder if our skills are slipping.”

He laughs. “I thought that too. So much for us being able to detect national secrets.”

“I’m glad though.”

“Me too. Are you happy, cailín?”

“Blissful.”

Time passes in a blur as we mingle, laugh, and eat. Good God is there a lot of food here. When I saw the tables ladened with food outside, I wondered how many people Cormac and Seamus thought they were feeding. By the time my fiancé, his brothers, his cousins, their fathers, my uncle, my cousins, and my grandfather plus Colton went through, there were practically crumbs left for the women. I had no idea sixteen mobsters could eat so much. Mair and Ally planned ahead and brought out some dishes they saved for the rest of us.

It's growing late, and I’m tired. It’s been a tremendous night, but I’m ready to just be with Sean. We keep darting glances at each other, and I know he feels the same. He excuses himself for a moment and slips out of the living room. It’s practically a grand salon in a palace, but we knew we have large families. It was part of the appeal because we can entertain with space for everyone in one room that isn’t the dining room.

When Sean comes back in, he sits beside me on the loveseat. Not two minutes later, the O’Rourke men and the Tremblay men reach into their pockets. They pull out vibrating phones, scanning the message that came in. My head spins as people say their goodbyes. My mom, Maureen, Mair, and Ally look confused, but Breda, Saoirse, Siobhan, and Daisy grin and laugh as they hug me.

“What did you do?”

Sean shrugs.

“Let me see your phone.” I put my hand out and flap my fingers.

He hands it over, and I tap the text icon. I see a group text with fifteen other names listed.

Sean

You have 5 mins to get out before I blow something up you have to fix. Say goodnight to my bride.

I look up at his unrepentant expression.

“You wouldn’t have really…”

“None of them wanted to find out.”

“Sean!”

“Hmmm.”

He scoops me over his shoulder before taking the stairs two at a time then carries me to spare the bedroom with a lock on the outside. We’ve decorated it in a style no one needs to find. Though I suspect Mair and Dillan, and Ally and Finn would appreciate it. I think they’re like us. I don’t mind everyone leaving in such a hurry. Tonight’s full of surprises.

“Strip, cailín.”

“Yes, Daddy.”