Cormack

by C. M. Steele

  “Well, thankfully I have a long time before this one is ready to leave me.”

  “Can we talk about wedding stuff yet?” my mother says.

  “Yes, please. Mom brought so much stuff just in case we needed it. I kid you not. I don’t think we have any clothes for more than a day that aren’t wedding wear.” She rolls her eyes.

  “Yes, my love, please take them to our suite.”

  “Boss,” a voice comes from behind us. “I have a call from the distributor,” one of Peter’s men says.

  “Please excuse me. Welcome to the Delaney estate,” Peter says, excusing himself from our presence which I can’t complain about.

  “Let’s have a drink and talk,” my father says.

  “Please behave,” my mother warns them.

  “Always.”

  I give my father a side eye, knowing that’s complete bullshit.

  “Anthony,” my mother adds her warning glare.

  “I swear.” He makes a cross on his chest. Cormack laughs and shakes his head. “Laugh now but wait until she has you by the balls.”

  “Go on, ladies,” Cormack says after stealing another kiss and a pat on the ass. I’m sure that pleases my father.

  I roll my eyes and say with a bit of sass, “We’ll need their bags brought up.”

  “Yes, love.” I smile and then lead my mother and sister to our suite.

  “So what have you planned so far?” my sister asks.

  “Better yet, where did you find him? He’s handsome and bold.”

  “She stalked him,” Aria says, laughing as she bounces onto the sofa of our private wing.

  I slap her arm. “You brat.”

  Rubbing the spot, she acts completely innocent. “What? It’s the truth. Does he know that you were practically panting over him from a distance?”

  “Yes, he knows.”

  “Well, I don’t know. Dish.” My mother drags me down to the chair and sits next to me.

  “I saw his image on TV and then I decided I had to try and run into him. It took two days to get from London to Dublin with the details on where I could possibly find him. We met, he pursued, and I surrendered.”

  “That’s wonderful.” A minute later there’s a knock at our door and it’s our luggage.

  “Thank you,” I tell John, one of Cormack’s men who I happen to like.

  “Now that we have these, let’s get started.” Rubbing her hands together, my mother goes into action and I feel the trouble coming. It’s going to be a busy pre-wedding day.

  Chapter Seven

  Cormack

  I turn to Shamus and whisper, “Stay with them.”

  “Yes, sir.” My men are extremely loyal to me and my ambitions because it’s beneficial for all of us.

  As soon as they all leave and it’s just me and her father, he leans in and asks, “Are you worried we’re going to kidnap her?”

  I shake my head, knowing exactly who he’s talking about. “No. Even though this was once my home, it now belongs to my brother and let’s just say, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him especially with the opposite sex.”

  “And yet, you’re still marrying here with him as your best man.” His brow arches up just like Gloria and that’s the first similarity I see in them.

  “You know about that?”

  “Yes, my wife asked because Aria’s Gloria’s bridesmaid.”

  “It’s our world politics especially after losing the head of the Family.” He nods, understanding where I’m coming from. “Well he’s been warned that Aria’s a minor, so he’ll keep his hands to himself. If she has a problem with him, let me know and I’ll deal with the fucker. Aria might not be my responsibility, but Gloria’s my heart, so anything that upsets her needs to be dealt with that includes my brother.”

  “Good man. Now how about that drink?” We walk over to the liquor cabinet, and he points to the bourbon, so I fill two tumblers with ice and the amber liquid.

  “Anyway, enough about him. I wanted to apologize about the way I reacted the other night on the phone. You’re Gloria’s father, so I should have taken the verbal thrashing.”

  “Truthfully I respected you more for it. Gloria needs someone who isn’t going to back down when it gets tough.” We shake hands as an understanding.

  “I’m just not used to taking shit from anyone but your daughter.”

  “She’s already let you have it?” His smug expression would be funny if I didn’t know how close I came to losing Gloria.

  “More than once. From the first time I met her, she’s been a sweet yet strong woman who refused to let me run all over her. Although, I’m sure you won’t be pleased by the way we met.”

  “Please tell me it wasn’t at a strip club or something like that.”

  I need to earn brownie points with him even if it’s going to get me in the doghouse. “No. She was drinking at a pub I own when some asshole tried to steal her wallet and then after we began talking, I learned she walked there from her hotel all alone. I nearly lost my mind. Let’s just say I added my men to her detail.”

  “That’s what my men said. I was worried you kidnapped her.”

  “I might have considered the idea once or twice, but that’s after she thought I was married.”

  “What? So she was under the same assumption.”

  “Yeah, but it wasn’t something she read. Gloria saw me talking to my sister-in-law in town and Siobhan kissed my cheek goodbye before going shopping.”

  “Ah,” he says, taking another drink.

  I add, “And she’s pregnant.”

  “Oh, so you looked like a fucking pig.” I nod and top off our drinks before we head to the sofas.

  I sit down with a sigh. “Exactly. I had to chase her down at the airport, which is what your men saw a part of, and all of this was after my father’s funeral. Let’s just say my mood had been a fucking rollercoaster.”

  “I’m truly sorry about your father. It was hard when I lost mine and it’s never easy even when you expect it. So are you planning to keep my daughter here forever?”

  “No. No. I promised her that we’d go back and forth.”

  “That’s good because Gloria says the food’s shit here.”

  I laugh hard as hell. “That’s our Gloria.”

  “What about your businesses here?”

  “Although I own many, I don’t operate them, so I only have quarterly calls to figure out and strategize when necessary. It’s rare that I have to step in and manage them personally.”

  “Good. Gloria deserves attention. With two girls, it’s hard to give them equal amounts of attention.”

  “Gloria loves her sister though and can’t wait to introduce Aria to an Irish boy when she reaches the right age.”

  “To be frankly honest, I think someone’s already stolen Aria’s young heart.”

  My brows shoot up because she’s only fifteen. “And you allow her to date?”

  “Hell no. I know how boys are at that age, but it only just happened on the way to the airport. One of the other Families and I stopped and had a brief conversation. Aria happened to see his son who didn’t notice her sitting in the backseat through the tinted windows. Although she saw him and hasn’t stopped mooning about him even though denying it when we ask. On the flight here she said his name in her sleep.”

  “Would you approve of it when the time comes?”

  “I didn’t have much of a choice here, did I? I’m sure I’ll be a grandfather soon.”

  “One can only hope, but she’s still young. They might not see each other again. How old is he?”

  “He’s in his twenties and a good man who will be a great force for his family one day, not to mention the bastard is a handsome fucker. It’s no wonder why she’s drooling over the young man.”

  “Did Gloria meet him?” I snarl; jealousy floods my mind and I want to kill this son of a bitch.

  “Yes, she did, and neither of them showed an interest in each other. Not the slightest bit, so c
alm down. No need to go to war with someone you don’t even know.”

  “What can I say? I’m a man obsessed.”

  “That you are. Now how about another round before we get some food because I’m starving,” he says, rubbing his stomach.

  “It’s not all bad.”

  “I don’t doubt it. You didn’t get to that size, not eating.”

  “True.”

  ****

  It’s our wedding day. Although the past day has been a true case in control and frustration, we made it through. I had to go without having my woman in my arms while I slept. I let Gloria and Aria share a bedroom so they can have some sisterly time before Gloria becomes my wife. Besides, it’s safer for Aria that way. Not that Peter tried anything, but perhaps that’s because there was extra protection for her. It would be a death sentence if he tried, but I’m starting to wonder if he’s not a tad bit crazy to give a shit.

  Yesterday I took the girls out onto the fields so that Aria can draw to her heart’s content. Mostly, Peter kept his distance and didn’t make any crass comments, but the day is young.

  “Good morning, Cormack. You look ready to run.” I nod and shake her father’s hand.

  “To the church…I’m more than ready to get this over with. I love her and can’t wait for Gloria to be my wife.” Her father smiles at me and claps his hand on my shoulder.

  “That’s really good because I’d hate to have to kill you when I was just starting to like you.”

  “Same here.” I wink.

  “I can’t say the same for your brother. My family and I will leave in the morning.”

  “Understood. We will be there in about two months. I have a lot to do before we go on our honeymoon, so there will be no need to fly back to Ireland for at least six months.”

  “So about your sister-in-law…”

  “Yes?’

  “She seems very sweet. Is there something we could do to help her escape?”

  “She doesn’t want to leave yet. I’m not sure what’s holding her up, but I’ve offered on numerous occasions. I believe she’s afraid he’ll come after her if she leaves.”

  “I wouldn’t put it past him. Men like him don’t want their wives, but they don’t want them leaving either.”

  As the time for the wedding winds down, I become anxious. Loving Gloria is the best thing to happen to me. A part of me believes my father’s here today to see me marry my greatest love. She’s everything to me. His death brought her to me as terrible as that is, I’m grateful that she took the challenge to run into me. My world would never be whole without her. I only wish that we met sooner.

  The music begins and my brother finally takes his place by my side, but I ignore him as I focus on the church entrance as my bride makes her way to me. There are no words to describe how incredible she looks in a dress her mother brought for her. I couldn’t believe she had one ready. I thought Aria had been joking, but I’d been dead wrong. Six different options all suiting Gloria’s tastes. She looks ethereal as the sun shines through the stained glass. The Italian mafia princess is mine. Never in my life could I have expected her. Until the day I die, I will worship and protect her. And that’s what I promise in our vows.

  Epilogue

  Cormack

  A year later

  I hold my son tightly as we travel back to America. He’s three months old and my beautiful wife is sleeping on the plane. Our trip to Ireland had been an intense one since Siobhan and the baby had died eight months earlier. Gloria had been too sick to travel for the funeral or so I told my brother, not trusting him around my pregnant wife, but this time we traveled together, and Gloria played her role well.

  We stayed in Dublin for a month, but I need to get my family to where we belong. Being around Peter for any length of time sends me into defensive mode which upsets Gloria.

  She wanted to stab him on more than one occasion especially when it came to his lack of love for his wife. Apparently my brother had been busy with his mistress and Siobhan had been driving alone, crashing as the labor pains kicked in. It was a tragic accident although my brother didn’t seem to mourn her death. The family name is in shambles as rumors spread about him bringing his mistress to the funeral. The man is a dog, and I’m tempted to put him down, but I’ll save that for one of his enemies.

  Well, or so he believes his wife is dead and child died, but several of us faked her death and we snuck her out of the country, getting medical treatment in the States. So far the ruse worked just as expected and she now resides in Texas. She’s raising the baby, managing cattle, and hoping to live a good, quiet life. As long as Peter never learns of it, they will remain happy.

  My brother deserves to lose everything, but I did manage to pull some strings and ensure he could never get a passport or VISA to visit or work in the United States. I want him as far as possible away from me and my family.

  During the funeral he asked about Aria, but instead of being crass, he mentioned a teen boy that would be perfect for her. I’m glad that he’s left thoughts of hooking up with her to the wind because there is no way he’ll get anywhere near her.

  Aria’s growing up fast, looking like a woman which makes me not want daughters. Gloria looked older at sixteen too, so I’m grateful that I didn’t meet her then. Waiting would have been bloody torture.

  I could have sworn that I saw Domani Bianchi lurking outside of her school once or twice this past week. I’ve asked her father about it and all he would say is that he has a vested interest in her safety, but that it wasn’t to be discussed again. I drop the matter because if she’s still crazy about him then it’s for the best that he watches over her. Maybe he’s got it as bad as the rest of us poor souls madly in love with our women.

  We arrive at the house and settle the baby down after a nice bath and a bottle.

  “Are you ready for bed, my love?”

  “I just woke up,” she says while letting out a yawn.

  “You’re tired.”

  “Well, maybe it’s all the travel.”

  “True or maybe…do you think I’m pregnant again?”

  “There’s a good chance, but we’ve only been fucking for a month, so you wouldn’t be far along.”

  “Okay. I’ll check in the morning. Are you well?” Gloria presses her hand to my jaw, and I turn my head and kiss her palm.

  “Yes, being home feels good with you and our boy.”

  “Even though it’s not back in Dublin or Kilkenny?”

  My heart will always be for my homeland, but it’s marred with the past whereas I have a sense of happiness here that can’t compare. “Yes. I’d rather be here than there for now.”

  “Peter.” She answers the unspoken question.

  “I can’t trust him around my family. You and Aidan are my world. The thought of him being near you is never a pleasant one.”

  “Well, let’s forget him and sleep. We have a big day tomorrow. My mama wants to have a gathering for the holidays.” Yes, Christmas is just a week away and there are plenty of gatherings to attend.

  “It’s our son’s first Christmas.”

  “I can’t wait until he realizes it next year, but this one is special as well. My parents are anxious to spoil him.”

  “We’re not much better, but we will raise our kids to remember to keep their humanity.”

  “Always.”

  Gloria

  Three years later

  He comes in covered in blood, pain in his eyes. I know what he’s done, and it’s for the best, but he looks defeated. Betrayal is intolerable in our world.

  Peter can’t hurt us anymore.

  “How are the boys?” he asks, as he slides off his suit jacket.

  “They are resting, and my mother is with them. Let’s shower my love.” I take his hand and lead him into our en-suite in the guest room we are currently staying in.

  “I need you, Gloria.”

  “I know.” I take my time stripping him down as the water warms. Sliding off my robe, I’
m pregnant again and my husband’s cock greatly appreciates the sight. He takes it as a sign of his virility and that he’s the only man to win my heart. He ignores that my dad had it first and the boys share my love. But tonight, I’m just his. His glory, his reason for living, his salvation.

  We step into the shower, and I begin to clean my husband. Slowly and sporadically, I steal kisses from his lips, his biceps that are strong enough to carry me up mountains, and then I slide to my knees to kiss the part of him that brings me to the heavens over and over again.

  Swiping my tongue around the hard tip, I tease the bulbous head before sliding it down my throat, taking him deep until I’m gagging on his length. He pulls out and grips my hair, grabbing my attention. “Are you okay?”

  “Always.”

  “I might be too rough tonight.”

  “I can handle whatever you give me,” I inform my only lover, my power, my other half of my soul. He grips my hair and I part my lips to let him do what he needs. I take him down, slobbering on his cock as he fucks my mouth. I can’t get enough and my pussy twitches, using one hand to steady on his thighs, I take the other and play with my slit.

  “That’s it. You love having your pretty mouth fucked. Stroke that kitten because I want you to come on my tongue after I give you mine. Are you ready? I need to come so painfully, my love.” Moaning around his shaft, he growls and cups my chin and skull picking up the pace until he roars out, shooting his load past my tonsils. I swallow like a greedy wife. As soon as he catches his breath, he has me on my feet, carrying me out of the shower and setting my ass on the vanity with my legs over his shoulders. Cormack dives into my pussy, licking and sucking on my clit until I shake with an intense orgasm and then he replaces his mouth with his stiff cock, drilling me to the cool surface until he’s spent.

  Carrying me to bed, we hold each other the rest of the night, taking turns to love each other until the sun comes up. My mother keeps the boys for the morning until they ask for me and I love having my family safe and close. Nothing could be better than the life Cormack has given me. I might have been brave enough to give him a chance to see me, but I married an obsessed alpha male and I have no regrets.