Page 18 of Puck (The Lost Boys MC)
Because the next thing I knew, I heard the pattern being knocked against my door.
Knock knock-knock knock tap tap.
“Ah!” I squealed.
I bounded toward the door and threw it open only to be scooped into the arms of the most amazing man I’d ever known. I buried my face into the crook of my father’s neck as he carried me back into my apartment. My brothers filed in one by one, my feet never once touching the floor as they passed me around for hugs.
I couldn’t help the tears that fell down my cheeks. But when Rowan finally set me back down, he helped me dry my face.
“A leanbh,” Daddy said.
I turned around and rushed back into his arms. “My God, I’ve missed ye guys so much.”
Rowan chuckled. “You better have. We didn’t come all of this way just to see you flourishing on your own.”
Kieran rolled his eyes. “Don’t listen to him. He just hates the fact that you can stand on your own two feet even though that’s how we taught you to be.”
Torin pulled me into a big bear hug. “Holy shit, why the hell don’t you ever come and visit home?”
I nuzzled my head against his chest. “Ask Daddy. He’s the mean one.”
“Hey now,” Dad said, “all I’m doing is trying to keep my princess safe.”
Shea pulled me out of Torin’s arms before he picked me up and swung me around. Shea had always been the silent one of the family, but I never mistook his silence for a lack of compassion. In fact, there were times where I thought Shea was the one that felt the most emotions out of all of us, and it was simply too much for his big, beautiful heart to try and put words to what he was feeling.
Which was why the scowl on his face didn’t stop me from kissing his cheek.
“I missed you the most,” I whispered.
He winked. “You just miss the snacks I used to sneak you.”
I smiled. “I mean, those, too.”
“What snacks?” Dad asked.
I fell apart in laughter and I managed to get a grin out of Shea. And when he put me down back on my feet, everyone came in for a great, big bear hug. I memorized their scents and how they were dressed. I memorized the look in their eyes as they each rattled on, telling me about their flight and how life was back home.
But the moment was gone all too soon when Daddy cleared his throat. “I hate to break the reunion short, but we do have to make an early stop before dinner tonight to meet up with one of my business partners.”
I snickered. “Well, let me get dressed and I’ll come with you. I mean, I’ll have to get used to going to these meetings in a few months anyway, right?”
And when my brothers looked over my head, staring at Dad in the process, I knew what was coming.
“Now, wait a second. I was promised—”
Dad placed his hands on my shoulders. “No one is backing out on any promise. But you still haven’t finished your schooling yet.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s one semester, Daddy. Not even, actually. My last two classes are online and I’ve only got two more months until I graduate.”
Rowan placed his hand on my shoulder. “Then that’s two more months until you start coming with us.”
I scoffed. “The four of you taught me how to take care of myself, but you’re siding with Dad on this? Seriously?”
Shea simply shrugged, but Torin said what was on his mind. “We just don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Torin,” Dad hissed.
I furrowed my brow. “Why would you get hurt at a business meeting?”
Dad cupped my cheeks. “It’s just precautionary. Besides, you made us a promise, too. Remember?”
I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. “Yes, I remember.”
“And what was that promise? Look at me, a leanbh. What was your promise?”
I sighed heavily as my eyes fluttered open. “I promised that if you paid for my schooling, I’d listen to your guidance even though I might not understand it.”
He nodded. “So, this is my guidance. You aren’t coming to this meeting. You aren’t coming to any meetings until you graduate and move back home. Got it?”
“You know I’m not a little girl anymore, right?”
Kieran stepped in between me and Dad. “Of course, we know that. And despite how he treats you, Dad does, too. This has nothing to do with that.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “So, you guys also know that I know what our family does for a living? An actual living?”
Kieran peeked back at Dad as the room fell silent. I mean, were they actually shocked that I knew about our family and its business? Did they honestly think they could keep me in the dark for my entire life?
