“So when the woman came home, she had a baby with her. Denis. By this time, Mom had demanded that Da leave Ireland and to come here where they started a new life. Mom didn’t want Denis to be a part of our lives and Da agreed.”
“What the fuck?” Cian growls as he glares at Da.
“Yeah, so we have a brother. He’s forty. He’s the one that rules Ireland, and he’s cool as fuck. This is his eldest son, Danny, he also has five other children. Malcolm rules Spain and I’m pretty sure Holly will be moving here soon,” I inform them, knowing that Da has no idea about any of this. Or so I thought, but looking at him now and remembering his interaction with Danny, I realize I was wrong. Da knew about Dan. But how?
“Denis and I have been in contact recently, he’s told me all about his family, although he did leave out that he’s met you,” Da explains, probably seeing the confusion on my face.
I nod, “Danny, these are my brothers. Finn, Patrick, and Cian. Guys, this is your nephew, Danny.”
Danny removes his arm from my shoulder and I take a step backward into Dante’s arms. He kisses the top of my head and I shiver at his touch.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Danny says as he shakes their hands.
“Same,” Cian replies with a smile that helps me relax; things between them are going to be fine.
There’s a knock on the office door and I know it's’ Ma. “Dinner is ready,” she tells us, not coming in. She’s not allowed, this is Da’s space.
“Coming,” Da replies and starts shooing us out of the room.
Once we’re in the dining room we all take a seat. Ma has the servers bring out the food. Everyone’s silent, probably trying to wrap their heads around what they’ve just found out.
“This is fantastic,” Danny says taking another bite of food. “Thanks Granny.”
I bite my lip to stop the laughter from bubbling out. Killian chuckles and my brothers are trying their best to hide their laughter.
Ma gasps as her hand comes up to rest on her chest. I roll my eyes at her dramatics.
“Oh, Danny, you should tell them your news,” I say with the biggest grin on my face and Killian’s chuckle turns into full laughter.
Danny’s eyes widen and he grins. “Oh yeah, so, I’m getting married and Melissa’s pregnant. You’re going to be a great granda and great granny.”
Ma’s gasp is even more audible and Da stares at us like we’re crazy.
“Da, he’s being serious. You’re going to be a great-granda.”
He smiles brightly and that has the rest of us laughing. Finn, Patrick, and Cian can’t hold their laughter back, Cian’s wiping his eyes where the tears are.
“God, this is hilarious. So, Ma, you ready to be a great granny?”
“What the hell? Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” Ma demands as she glances around the table.
“You may remember my granny? Lisa Morland.”
I’ve never seen my ma look so pale in my life. “What the hell are you doing here?” she demands.
“I invited him. After all, he is my nephew. If anyone shouldn’t be here, it’s you.”
She snarls at me, “Don’t be a bitch.”
I laugh, “Really, Ma? You really want to go there?”
“Makenna, I don’t think this is the time,” Killian tells me and I realize he knows what’s happened.
“Someone had better tell me what the hell is going on,” Da says looking between mom and I.
“Nothing, Seamus,” Ma says as she goes back to eating.
“It’s obviously not nothing. Fucking answer me,” he demands, his hand slamming down onto the table making her jump.
“What I really want to know,” Finn begins, “is why Makenna hates you.”
I sigh, this isn’t what we should be discussing. I was pissed that she was being a bitch to Danny.
“Leave it alone, Finn, this has nothing to do with you,” Ma says softly, trying her hardest to move the conversation onto something else. “So, Danny, what do you do?”
Danny glares at her. “Fuck you.”
“Oh Jesus,” Killian mutters. “Danny boy, did you really have to say that?”
Danny nods, “Yes, she’s a fucking cunt and while I know why Makenna never said anything, I don’t understand it. If it were me, I’d have gutted her where she stood.”
“Danny,” I warn, he’s pushing this now and it’s not the bloody time.
“Holy fuck!” Finn growls, “It was you?”
“Finn, not now,” Killian warns.
“What’s going on, Killian?” I ask, he’s not wanting this to blow up. I get it, I know what’s going to happen but this is Killian, the man kills for fun.
He sighs, “Your Granda wants to sort her out.” Ma gasps as tears spring to her eyes. “But that’s not going to happen now. Fucking hell. I shouldn’t have worn my good shoes.”
“What the hell am I missing?” Da asks, glaring around the table.
To my surprise it’s Dante that answers him. “What the other’s know that you don’t is who it was that slit Makenna’s throat.”
Da’s eyes flash. “Tell me now,” he grinds out and I’ve never seen him so angry. His hands are shaking, his nostrils are flaring and he looks as though he’s going to cry.
“Tell me.”
“It was Ma,” Finn says and the room is filled with silence. You can hear a pin drop.
“It was you?” Da growls as he gets to his feet. “You’re the one that tried to kill my daughter?”
“Seamus, I’m sorry, it was a mistake,” Ma says as she gets to her feet, trying to worm her way out of it.
I throw my fork onto the table and sit back in my chair. There’s no way I’m eating after this shit.
“Mistake? Tell me what the fuck happened!” he tells her as he advances on her. “Start talking, now,” he demands as he boxes her in.
“I was having an affair,” she tells him softly, but Da doesn’t give a fuck about that right now. “Makenna found out and he was mad. He hurt her and demanded that I finish her off. If I didn’t, then he was going to tell you and he’d have killed her.”
“So you slit her fucking throat? That is your daughter. You should have come to me, I would have protected her,” Da yells as the tears stream down Ma’s face. “Who was it? Hmm, who meant more to you than our daughter?”
Ma doesn’t answer him and Da loses his patience, he puts his fist into the wall behind her causing her to squeal.
“Someone tell me who the fucking bastard was?” Da demands and my heart sinks. This is why I never said anything, my da is beyond angry. I know there’s no coming back from this.
“It was my father,” Dante tells him and Da loses it.
He pulls out his knife from his pant leg and slices it across ma’s throat, slitting it from ear to ear. The shock on Ma’s face as she realizes what’s happened is karma. She doesn't make a sound as she falls to the floor in a heap, her eyes wide open as Da turns to face us. His eyes are wild; anger, pain, disgust, and worry feature heavily in them.