Brennan’s eyes were calm as he settled them on mine. "You’re the leader. You should be the one to open the door."
And fuck me, I had no idea why that meant so goddamn much, but it did.
It really did.
Finn clapped me on the back, and as I shot him a look, I realized that he’d told Brennan what had happened tonight. Eoghan and Declan were chomping at the bit, so I knew they hadn’t been informed, and I was glad about that. The fewer brothers who were aware of the night’s events, the better.
I knew why Finn had told Brennan, though.
Finn would always be my right hand man. Not just because he was the Points’ money man, either. But Bren? He’d be my second. If the difficult fucker agreed to it.
Nodding my thanks, I limped forward and pushed in the code to the safe room. We’d had a few models over the years since the drive-by on Aoife and Finn’s wedding day, but this was the most advanced. It ran under the full length of the house, and was large enough to have small bedrooms for privacy. There was also enough gear stored down here to survive a nuclear war.
When the door opened outward, I stepped inside and found the place in silence. It was dark, as if everyone were resting, only Savannah was there, pacing, and when she saw me, even though it had only been a few hours ago since I’d deposited her here, she hurled herself into my arms.
My brothers waded into the room, their women their destination, and I guessed it was a point of trust that they all knew their men would be coming for them. That they’d always be coming for them.
That was a lesson Savannah would have to learn, too.
I just had to give her time.
Forty
Savannah
After I let go of him, Aidan plunked his ass down on a sofa, letting his bad leg come out in front of him. He was clearly in pain, but that didn’t stop him from dragging me beside him, and I went willingly.
The safe room was pretty damn luxurious for what it was: a bunker that would probably see the family through a nuclear war. It had comfortable touches, like down-filled sectionals surrounding a big screen TV which, I guessed, had all the channels you’d ever need to see out an apocalypse. If Netflix survived a zombie war, that is.
There was a kitchen that looked like it belonged in an issue of Vogue, as well as a dining room with a table that seated fifteen, minimum, and which was forged from a single piece of wood and had a delicious light blue/cerulean resin surface that looked like sea foam was drenching it. The colors were rich, the walls painted in jewel-tones, accent cushions and even a tapestry that appeared to be some kind of tribal pattern.
Behind this room was a hallway that had several doors shooting off it, and after having explored, I knew they were bedrooms. Each one as comfortable as the next with a TV that looked as if you were viewing the outside world.
All in all, I’d been cooped up in worse places, TVGM’s green room, for example, but it wasn’t my idea of a dream destination.
When I thought that I might have been in Hawaii if I hadn’t argued with my brother, this definitely fell short off the mark, but then Aidan wouldn’t be here either.
My hand tightened around his as his brothers all headed to rooms that I thought they were allotted, and retreated with their wives and families. It took a good long while for them all to leave, wishing us a good night as they trudged out, yawning as they went to their own beds, leaving us alone in the silent space.
I figured I knew why, even though it could have been because of his knee...
"Is this place soundproofed?" I queried interestedly.
"It is," he confirmed, his tone calm if tired.
I peered at him, saw his head was tilted back against the rest and that he was staring at me.
Smiling at him, and I’d admit it, a tad mistily, I murmured, "You gonna whup my ass?"
"How will you learn if I don’t, little one? Apparently you need some pain with your pleasure to make you learn a lesson."
Well, didn’t that just send shivers down my spine?
Humming, I asked, "I didn’t want to miss out."
"Miss out on being shot? Isn’t that a good thing?" he drawled.
"I didn’t get shot. I had faith in your family’s security," I lied. His brothers, sure. I’d had faith in them.
He snorted but his eyes were twinkling. "Make that two whuppings."
"Two? Are you sure you’re not too tired for that?"
"Never too tired to make sure you’re safe."
"I’m in a safe room. Can’t get much safer. In fact, the only person who’s threatening my butt is you."
"Yeah, but I’ll make you like it," he said, and he wasn’t teasing. He was deadly serious.
Mouth watering a little, I murmured, "I’m glad you’re okay."
He blew out a breath. "Not sure I’ll be okay for a while, but physically, sure, I’m well."
I tipped my head to the side. "Want to talk about it?"
His jaw worked, and I got the feeling he was going to say no, but then, he surprised us both by murmuring, "I learned Finn was my blood brother tonight."
"Your dad cheated?"
Aidan hummed. "A long time ago. I’m ancient, don’t you know, and he’s only a few months younger than me."
"Is it true about the rolling pin?"
A laugh escaped him. "How did you find that out?"
"Do you really want to know?"
He cocked a brow. "What do you think?"
"There’s this coffee shop in Hell’s Kitchen where these women get together and talk about shit. They’re there every day." I shrugged. "They’re loud."
"Jesus, are they all old?"
"I guess. Most of them, at any rate. Some are in their fifties?"
"That’s the Old Wives’ Club. They’re the wives of the guys who died on the job. So long as they don’t marry again, Da provides for them." He rolled his eyes. "Guess who never gets married again?"
"All of them," I said with a laugh. "Canny ladies."
He grunted. "You overheard the rolling pin story?"
"I did. Guess that means it’s true? That she hit him over the head and it knocked some sense into him?"
"Apparently. I wonder if she knew at the time he was cheating. We never got that version of events, truth be told."
"You really didn’t know that Finn was your brother?" I asked softly.
"No. I really didn’t."
"I mean, you look alike." I bit my lip. "I just thought it was something you guys didn’t talk about. You know, a dirty secret?"
"Did the Old Wives’ Club say that?"
"Nah, I‘ve got eyes, don’t I?" I tapped my nose. "Plus, I’ve made it my business to look into everything O’Donnelly."
"True." He grunted. "So, for all that I’m surprised, you’re not at all... Typical."
"Sorry," I said with a grimace.
"Don’t be." He heaved a sigh. "Jesus, Savannah, tonight has been a real fucking night."
"I’m sorry, Aidan," I whispered, edging nearer to him, and pressing myself against his side.