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I wouldn’t admit this to another soul, but eventually, I turned on the surveillance speakers and started singing. It was a Gaelic song about mythical creatures and sirens calling from the depths. It was a haunting melody that had always sounded better in someone else’s voice.

I was a shit singer.

I butchered half the lyrics and murdered the other half, but it seemed to work.

Little by little, Sienna’s tossing eased. Her breathing slowed, her body relaxing into the mattress until she was still.

I stayed, watching her sleep, until an hour before the official start of my bachelor morning. I made it clear I was flying back to Ireland today, but I agreed to meet with my eldest brother before leaving.

Aiden and I settled into the armchairs across from each other in the office of the sex club. I would have preferred to meet somewhere else, but he always insisted on meetings in this club. It probably had something to do with the soundproof basement.

“I see you’re thinking over all the details of the wedding planning,” Aiden said, lounging back. “Evites. Church. Priest. Although, I must say I’m surprised you’re the one taking care of it all.”

I took a sip of my coffee and lowered the cup.

“Evites are faster than sending fancy paper through postal mail. Besides, that’s so last century.”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “So we’re keeping up with the times.”

He knew it wasn’t because of that. He just wanted me to actually admit that I was forcing Sienna into this. Fuck. That.

“We are.”

His expression hardened.

“Tyran, I pretty much let you do your own shit. You’re the best enforcer our family has had, and you get it done. However, this thing with you and Sienna… It’s not something I envisioned for you.”

“Don’t fucking tell me you had plans for my marriage.” I scoffed. “I hate to tell you, but Sienna Rose Baldwin is the one and only for me.”

He leaned forward. “She’s… very young.”

“She’s of age. Older than your wife when you married her, if I might add.”

He nodded. “True, but my wife had connections to this world. Sienna… she’s pretty much nobody without any affiliations to the criminal world.”

I leaned forward, getting into his face. “Sienna. Is. Everything.”

Aiden sighed and leaned back. “Okay, I see I’ll have to be direct.”

“Yes, please do,” I gritted through clenched teeth.

“From what I know about this girl, she’s been traumatized by our world. Are you sure this is good for her?”

“I don’t hurt women, and I certainly would never hurt her.”

“That’s not what I was insinuating,” he said calmly. “But with the violence that is part of our daily lives, it will be triggering for her to be around us. To be around you.”

I set my coffee down. “I’m not giving her up. I’ll continue my job as the enforcer, but if it’s something that ends up being detrimental to Sienna’s mental wellbeing… I’ll choose her over this job.”

Aiden stared at me for a long moment before he asked, “You’ll choose her over your family?”

“I’ll always be here for all of you,” I said slowly. “For our family. But if it comes down to having to choose between the job in the Callahan clan or her… I’ll choose her.”

Silence stretched between us.

“Okay.” Aiden’s voice was flat. “I respect that, but make sure Sienna understands the rules of our world. We don’t want her blabbing to the wrong person about something she might see or hear and landing us all in prison. I wouldn’t want to have to kill a member of our family.”

“Sure thing.” I took another sip of my coffee. “But, Aiden?”