Page 25 of Johny

Knowing that Adam wouldn’t want me makinga big deal out of it, I took a deep breath and smiled at him when he got in behind the steering wheel, starting it up and pulling away from the club. As soon as we’re on the main road, I ask him, “So, where are we going?”

“I thought we’d go to the café in Feannag. We’re ordering supper for everyone tonight, so you can have a break from cooking and it’s close to the children, making it easier for picking them up.”

Breathing deeply, I pinched the bridge of my nose to stop the tears that seemed to make Adam so uncomfortable. When I had myself under control, I turned to look at him. “Adam, you need to stop being so sweet if you don’t like tears,” I inform him. Patting his hand where it rests on the gear stick, “Thank you, though. It’s really appreciated, as is you looking for a cleaner to help me out.”

Adam again looks uncomfortable, “We’ll always look out for you, Maya. It’s how families should work.”

“It’s how they should work,” I agreed. “But they don’t always. I’m glad I’ve finally found my family.” Not wanting him to feel more uncomfortable, I changed the subject, asking how things were at work.

Adam looked relieved that I changed the subject like I knew he would be. For the rest of the short drive, he kept me amused with stories some of his close protection bodyguards told him about their charges. I snort laughed a couple of times, considering some of his clients were celebrities, although he never mentioned their names. I listened in amused horror at some of what he was telling me, unable to believe it. But he assured me it was all true.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch. Abby and Cally were at the café, and they ended up joining us until we finished and collected the meals for tonight before going to pick up Emy and Jackson.

Emy, of course, was beside herself that Adam was there and demanded to be picked up. Jackson, as usual, was quiet, but he happily fist bumped Adam when he held out his fist and gave me a hug and kiss. I’d long since come to the conclusion that Jackson was just a quiet soul; some of that was how we’d been treated before his dad had died and some was just his nature. I knew he’d tell me if something was wrong, much like Avy’s Kaleb. It explained why the two of them were such good friends even with the two-year age gap.

Today had been a good day. Now that I’d madethe decision to move in completely, I felt like a weight had lifted from my shoulders. I’d drive out tomorrow to let Reaper and the rest of the brotherhood know. Although I think at this stage, it was a bit pointless. They’d known for a while where my relationship with Johnny was heading. It would seem it was just me that had been having a hard time making the last move, but now that Johnny had laid out his terms and I’d agreed with them and made my wishes known, I felt much better about our future.

CHAPTER 12

JOHNNY

I may have teased Adam about pinching my woman, but I was happy to see the changes in my brothers.

Today was the first time in forever that Liam had cut loose and just messed around. He’d been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders since Rhett had been put away and he’d had to take over and make the hard decisions.

That Adam had decided to pick up Maya and spent time with her and the children out of our normal family time was a big thing. He wasn’t the type to spend time with people, even those he loved, if he could help it. Preferring his own company.

It said a lot about how they felt about Maya.The only other woman that had my brothers behaving this way had been Noni. When Rhett had divorced her, and she’d withdrawn from our family, it had left a huge gaping hole in all our lives. So, for both my brothers to make the effort with Maya was huge, and I knew she’d embrace them because, to her, having grown up in foster care, family meant everything.

For the first time in years, probably since Rhett got imprisoned, our family felt settled. The clubs, except for the hiccup with small thefts and the security business, were doing well. Our house was again feeling like a home, which it hadn’t done since our mother had passed away.

Both Adam’s and Liam’s houses would be finished in the next few months. While Julia’s brother’s company was excellent at what they did, we’d wanted them finished quicker, preferably before winter hit us hard, so we were all pitching in when we could. Even the Crows had been coming over to help.

Da too had been making plans, it seems, because he’d just told us while we tucked into the dinner Maya and Adam had brought us from the café that he would be building himself a small one-bedroom cottage just behind the main house. Leaving the main house to Maya, me, and thechildren.

When Maya protested that he didn’t need to move out, he’d assured her that it was for the best because the main house was a family home and he hoped that we’d be filling it with more grandbabies for him to spoil soon. Maya had blushed bright red at his not-so-subtle hint, which made me laugh and Adam and Liam grin.

“A baby brother would be nice,” Jackson said quietly. The table had gone silent at his words.

“It would,” I agreed. “Brothers are good to have at your back and you’re already a pretty good big brother to Emy.”

Jackson smiled at me then shocked me with his next words, “If you marry Mum and have a baby, does that mean that we can call you dad? You’re much nicer than my other dad.”

‘Aw fuck,’my heart crumpled both in pain and happiness at his words. Maya took a deep breath and when I looked at her, she was blinking hard, trying not to let her tears flow.

Leaving my place at the table, I knelt down next to Jackson, turning his chair towards me so that I could see his face very aware that the whole table was listening except Emy, who was happily tucking into her dinner. I didn’t want to screwthis up. I needed Jackson to realise that I may not be his biological father, but I’d be the only one that mattered.

Tilting his chin up with a finger until I could see his eyes, only when I was certain he was ready to hear what I was about to say did I speak.

“Jackson, I’d love for you to call me dad, but that’s only if you want to. I won’t love you any less if you carry on calling me Johnny. What I can promise you is that nobody in this room will ever hurt you, your mum, or Emy ever again. Okay.”

Jackson nods his little head. Leaning forward, he wraps his arms around my neck. Enfolding him in my arms and hugging him back, my eyes close to stop the tears from burning. I know if I look at Maya, I’ll be a lost cause, and this moment is about Jackson, not me.

Jackson loosens his arms as he whispers, “I’d like to call you dad.”

“That makes me happy. As soon as we can, we’ll get the papers that will make you Jackson O’Shea. How does that sound?”

Jackson eases back and nods his head, “I like Jackson O’Shea, that means Emy and I’ll have the same name as you and Mum when you getmarried, right?”