Kinsley gasps, “Kenna, babe, you’re not alone.”
Kenna sighs, “Yeah, I told Dante this morning and his brothers overheard. Nosey bastards.”
Kinsley laughs, “I’m surprised that Dante let you up for air. He looked like he wanted to eat you alive yesterday.”
Romero chuckles and Makenna grins. “There’s always later.” She winks at me, “I’ve got to go, I’m almost at Killian’s. You coming?”
Kinsley groans, “No, Stag doesn’t want me to leave the clubhouse, he’s worried that killing that asshole could start a fucking war. So far though, the other brothers are on board. It’s the other chapters they’ve got to convince.”
Makenna shakes her head. “Fuckers. Let me know if you need any help.”
“Yeah, I said it to Ace last night. He wanted to kill you.” She laughs, “I told him he could try but he does want to talk to you. Oh by the way, he knows about you.”
Makenna frowns, “Knows what about me?” Because there’s so many fucking secrets.
“He knows what you are. Kenna, I didn’t tell him. I swear, he figured it out last night while we were talking.”
“Kins, I have no idea what you’re talking about. He knows what?”
“About your job.” Kinsley tells her, “Shit, I’ve got to go.”
Fuck, just how many people know that she’s the Boss? And how the hell did we not?
Kenna giggles, “Tell Stag I said hello.”
I can hear the hushed voices, “Tell me yourself when you get your ass to the club. Just ‘cause you’re married don’t mean we don’t miss you,” the deep baritone voice says. This must be Stag.
Makenna’s laugh is louder, “Okay, I’ll swing by tomorrow. Oh and Stag, hurt her and I’ll kill you.”
He doesn’t laugh like I assumed he would. “Not gonna happen, Kenna. I know what you’ve done for her and I’m grateful. I owe you, girl, more than I’ll ever be able to repay. You need me, I’m there. But you don’t have to worry about Kins, I’ve got her now.”
The softness in Makenna’s eyes tells me that she believes him. “Okay, Stag, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Alright, girl. See you then.”
The call ends and Makenna grins. “You ready for this?” she asks me. I nod in response. Her uncle is a fucking terrorist but what the fuck? I married the head of the Irish Mafia.
She turns into what can only be described as a fucking castle. It spans the entire width of land that it sits on. At least a hundred windows face us as she drives up the long drive toward it. The Irish flag displayed proudly on the rooftop blowing in the wind. Makenna parks the car and slides out, a fucking beautiful smile on her face as she turns to face us.
“Gentleman, welcome to the New York headquarters of the RA.” Her Irish accent is thick as she pronounces the word RA, which I know some Irish use as short for the IRA.
“The what?” Romero asks and Makenna laughs as he walks up the steps.
“Well if it isn’t my favourite bloodthirsty niece.” A man who looks identical albeit slightly younger than Seamus grins and pulls her into his arms.
She glares at him. “Don’t let Jade hear you say that.” He just grins at me, “you tells us all we’re your favourite, don’t you?”
He just laughs, but it answers her question. He does. “Come on in, everyone’s waiting to see the Italian.”
“Killian, don’t piss me off,” she tells him, her voice stern as she continues to glare at him.
“Fine,” he grunts as though he’s been reprimanded. “Come in.” He invites us and walks away.
“Someone want to tell us where the hell we are and who that asshole was?” Romero asks his hand twitching for his gun.
“That arsehole is my uncle. Killian Gallagher. He’s also the head of the IRA, here in New York.” She drops that bomb with a smile. “Welcome gentleman.”
“Son of a bitch,” Romero growls.
“She really is going to kill you, isn’t she?” Alessio says with a grin. “She’s connected, fucking hell that woman probably has more contacts that we do.”
I sigh, scrubbing a hand down my face. “You have no fucking idea.” I take the steps two at a time as I get ready to enter the lion’s den.
Ten
Dante
As I enter the house, I see Kenna waiting for me. My brothers walk in behind me. “Ready?” she asks and I can feel the excitement bouncing off of her.
“Yep, the sooner we get this shit over with the better.”
“Yeah, just what we need, to be in bed with terrorists,” Romero growls.
Makenna spins on her heel and pierces him with a vicious glare. “Listen to me, arsehole, because I’m only going to say this once.” Her voice is low as she takes a step closer to him. “You do not get to judge people on what they do, how many men have you killed?” When Romero doesn’t answer she advances on him again. “How many women and children have you murdered?”
“It’s not the same,” he tells her through gritted teeth.
“Oh and why not? Because you think you’re a fucking god? The IRA have a cause, one that they believe in and will do anything for. Just as you do with the Famiglia. Just as I do for the Clann. It’s the way it goes. Next time you disrespect my family, I’ll end you. Dante won’t be able to stop me, do I make myself clear?” The huskiness of Makenna’s voice mixed with the anger she has makes my cock stir. Why is it that she fucking affects me like no other?
He glares at her and I’m shocked as shit that he just nods, “Yes, Boss.”
What the fuck? How the hell did he know that shit?
“Kenna, Danny boy wants to talk to you,” her uncle shouts from further in the house. Makenna sighs and walks toward the sound of Killian’s voice.
When I turn to follow it’s then that I realize there’s at least a dozen men here. All of them stand a little taller as Makenna walks past them.
“Bro, what the fuck? You called her Boss,” Alessio hisses. “Are you fucking crazy?”
Romero huffs, “No, but I think Dante might be.” He turns to me, “When were you going to tell us? Hmm, that you married the head of the fucking Irish Mafia?” He’s a smart fucker. Always has been.
“I only found out last night myself. Her father and brothers don’t know. When she was sent away, she was made into a fucking killer.”
Alessio scoffs, “How bad can one woman be?”
Romero shakes his head. “You’ve no fucking idea. You don’t understand what it means to have Makenna as the Boss, do you?”
“Makenna is the head of the Irish Mafia on the east coast, all of it, except for New York,” I explain to them both, still fucking coming to terms with it myself. I need to see what she can do, if she’s not able to protect herself then I’m going to have to train her.
We manage to catch up to them, I step in line beside Makenna with my brother’s walking beside me. Killian a few steps ahead of us. “Where is he?” Kenna asks as we walk toward the room at the back of the house.
“He’s on the phone,” Killian says. These fucking Irish are hard to understand when they get together; Makenna’s accent gets thicker.
“Why is he here?”
Killain shrugs, “I’ve no idea, I asked the boy that myself. Do you know what the little shit said to me?”
Makenna rolls her eyes, “No, but I’m sure you’re going to enlighten us.”
Killian shakes his head, a smile playing on his lips. “You always were a little shit. He told me that I wasn’t in the know and to mind my own business. No fucking respect,” he says with a shake of his head. There’s no heat in his words, “How bad is your arm?”
Makenna waves him off, “It’s fine, just a graze, didn’t need stitches.”
His gaze moves from Makenna to Alessio, “And you?”
“Fine,” Alessio replies with a grunt and Makenna pins him with a glare. “I’m alive, thanks to Makenna.”
Killian nods, “She’s good. But we’re going to see how good you Bianchi’s real
ly are.” His eyes sweep through the three of us. “I take it you’re the lucky one that she chose for this,” he says to Romero with a grin.
Romero glances at Makenna with a glare and her response? To smile sweetly at him. “And what exactly did she choose me for?”
Killian grins and opens the door in front of us, “You’re about to see.”
When the door is open fully, I see a boxing ring in the middle of the room. There’s at least thirty men here, all of whom turn to face us when we enter.
“Follow me and for the love of God, do not look down. Keep your head held high,” she says, her gaze on Alessio. She strolls into the room and I keep in step beside her. Her stride is full of purpose; she’s working the room like she owns it. Every man in this room has respect for her.
“Boss?” I hear a man call out.
Makenna’s steps don’t falter. “Talk to me after Michael, make sure your son is in attendance,” she tells the man, not even looking at him.
My gaze lands on the man and I see the smile on his lips, what she said is what he wanted to hear. “Yes, Boss, and congratulations on your nuptials.”
That gets a smile from her. “Appreciated,” she murmurs as she reaches for my hand and we stand in front of the boxing ring. “For those that don’t know, I got married yesterday.” There are some nods, a few murmurs, but mostly keen gazes. “I’d like for you to meet my husband Dante Bianchi.”
I give them a nod, not saying anything, this is her show… For now.
“If you have a problem, you come to one of us. He and I are as one. Now, do you have any questions?”
“Yeah, Boss, I do.” A man steps forward, he must be in his late thirties, early forties. He’s got jet black hair and is wearing a suit, one of the very few here to be in one. Makenna motions for him to carry on. “You’re marriage to the Bianchi, does that mean that the Italian’s and the Irish will be joining forces?”
Makenna glances at me and smiles, “Want to take this one, love?”
I roll my eyes at the endearment, it doesn’t suit her. “Sure, baby,” I murmur and her lips twitch. “As soon as my father is no longer Capo, I will be and in turn, Makenna will be. That means that my men and Makenna’s men will be our men. Anyone who has a problem with that let us know now.”
Makenna’s smile widens, “Exactly what my husband said. We are building something here, gentleman, and it’s something that we’ve worked hard for. We’ve known for five years that this day would come and we knew what it would mean.”
The men nod again. “Boss, what about your father?” the same man says and the glances of the other men get nervous.
“That’s a conversation between us, but he’ll be brought up to speed with what’s happening.”
“He’ll also have to be informed that from now on he answers to you.” I turn my attention from the crowd to the voice and see the newcomer standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest and smiling as he looks at Makenna. The fucker’s tall, over six-feet. Tattoos cover his arms, as well as one on his neck.
“Fucking hell, Danny boy, I told you to tell her that shit in private.” Killian groans and climbs into the ring.
“Any more questions?” Makenna says ignoring the man. “That doesn't involve my father?”
“What about the other men?”
Makenna nods, “Next week we’ll hold a meeting. Every made man is to be in attendance. If they're not, there will be hell to pay. Do I make myself clear?”
A chorus of ‘Yes, Boss’ goes around the room.
“Good, now those who are staying for the show, do. Those that aren’t, leave,” she instructs and a dozen or so men leave, bidding her a farewell and giving me a chin lift in respect. This went a hell of a lot better than I had expected.
She glares at me. “This may have seemed easy, Dante, but it won’t be. Those were my Underbosses and they aren’t disrespectful. Well not in front of you. If they have concerns I’m going to hear about it. The made men are a different problem altogether. Some of them resent the fact that I’m a woman, others because I’m a hell of a lot younger than them, and some are a mixture of the two. It doesn’t matter how many times I prove myself, they’re not going to like it and now having an Italian husband is going to add more fuel to the fire.”
I pull her into my arms and her glare turns feral. “Fuck, Kenna, don’t look at me like that, you make me want to fuck you against the nearest wall.” Her eyes dilate at my words, “Now, what are you going to do if someone disrespects you?”
“I’ll kill them. Just as you would.” There’s absolutely no hesitation in her words. It’s great that she has the talk, but can she actually go ahead with it?
She pulls out of my arms and smiles, “Now, if you don’t mind, I have shit to do.”
She turns back to her men and smiles. “Who’s up first?”
A man steps forward, he’s about Alessio’s age, he pulls his top off and climbs into the ring.
“Romero, you’re up,” she tells him and I watch as Romero gives her his shark's grin. “Romero, these men are looking to tear you apart. You are a Bianchi, but you are also my brother in law. Do not fucking let me down.”
His grin gets bigger. “Don’t worry, sis. I’ve got this.” She raises her brow at him. “Trust me.”
“I do, that’s why I chose you.”
He pulls off his top and he too climbs into the ring. Killian wraps Romero’s hands as Danny wraps up the Irish man’s.
“Good luck, Bianchi.” The man spits at Romero and Makenna’s eyes narrow. “Sorry, Boss, I forgot you were one now.”
“Jared,” she warns and he nods.
Killian rings the bell and the two circle one another. Jared throws the first jab, one that Romero easily dodges. It’s quickly followed by a combination shot. Again Romero dodges them, and finally throws his own, catching Jared on the jaw as he does. Jared stumbles and Romero ever the hunter, pounces, throwing more jabs. It doesn’t take long for Jared to crumble to the floor.
“Jared, out, Harrison, you’re in,” Makenna calls, not once taking her eyes off the ring. Jared gets to his feet and climbs out of the ring looking pissed.
Romero makes light work of the next three guys, with each new contender his ego grows as does his grin. When he sends the guy he’s boxing to the canvas, Makenna takes off her sweater and reveals that she’s only in a fucking sports bra. She discards her sweater on the floor.
“What the fuck?” I growl as she climbs into the ring and Danny starts to tape her hands up.
Romero’s gaze comes to me, the confusion clear on his face. He knows if he touches her I’ll kill him.
Makenna throws the first jab and it clips Romero’s jaw, he didn’t block fast enough. She doesn’t relent, she moves forward, jabbing him twice in the stomach before dancing away out of his reach. The room is silent, as we wait to see what’s going to happen. Will he fight back or is he going to keep letting her hit him?
Makenna keeps going for him, the sound of her fists against his skin is unrelenting. Jab after jab, she doesn’t stop. When she catches Romero’s jaw again, I know that he’s had enough. He punches back and she dances away from his fist, laughing as she does. Each time she hits him, she moves quickly away from him. She’s fucking fast, he’s unable to get her and it’s something I never thought I’d see. Romero is one the best fighters I’ve seen. Until now.
I’m not sure how long it goes on for, Makenna’s jabs come hard and fast. She doesn't even look out of breath, not even a sheen of sweat on her face. Not for the first time I wonder who the fuck I married. She fights better than any man I know, she can shoot straight, she drives like she’s been stealing cars since she was a child. Every time I think I’m starting to get to know her, she shocks the shit out of me with something else.
“Enough,” Killian says coming into the ring and stopping the fight. “Romero, you put up a good fight.” He laughs. “Get out of the ring,” he instructs. “Danny boy, you’re up next.”
; Romero climbs out of the ring and walks over to Alessio and I, he pulls his shirt on. “Fucking hell, you could have warned me,” he grunts and I can tell he’s in pain.
“Tell you what, exactly?”
“That your wife is a fucking bitch. Christ, I think she hit my kidney. I’m going to be pissing blood.”
I bite back my smile as I watch Killian tape Danny’s hands. Makenna reaches for a gum shield. I’m going to fucking spank her ass. She didn’t wear one while in the ring with Romero. One punch and he could have shattered her jaw.
The fight between them begins and it doesn’t take me long to realize that my wife was going easy against Romero. The punches she’s throwing now are hard and the sound against Danny’s skin is monstrous. She’s a fucking animal in there. Danny’s giving it as good as he’s getting; he’s returning it hard. She manages to out dodge most of them, a few slamming into her midsection. She doesn’t even flinch, instead, she powers through and slams into his nose. The sound of bone crunching makes me smile.
“Stop fucking playing around and end it,” Killian yells over the grunts.
Makenna pouts but nods and her punches become ferocious. Her combinations are on point, one into the jaw, the next into his stomach, followed by one to the temple. Danny’s ass hits the canvas and the cheers go up around the room. Killian hops into the ring, his grin wide as he looks at Makenna with pride. He trained her, and he obviously did a fucking good job.
The room clears instantly; the men have seen what the Boss can do and now it’s time to get their asses back to work.
“Christ,” Danny groans as he gets to his feet. “Who the hell have you been training with?”
Makenna laughs and helps him to his feet. “Hayden.”
Danny’s eyes narrow, “That prick?”
Makenna’s laugh rings out through the room. “Yes, he’s your cousin. Isn’t it time to get over it?”
“No. It’s not. He fucked me over.”
Makenna climbs out of the ring once she’s got the tape off her hands, “You were both fifteen. Get the hell over it. Stupid idiots, trying to fight over the same damn woman. I don't understand why you're so pissed. Hayden ended up catching the clap.”
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