Free Exhaling: A Mafia Romance (The O'Keefe Family Collection Book 3) by Tuesday Embers, Mary E. Twomey Page A

to.”
    Finn’s scowl grew more pronounced the more Killian spoke. “You’re switching sides, too? You’re a D’Amato now? Where’s your family loyalty?”
    “Where’s yours?” Killian countered. “Fallyn’s our family, and we didn’t stand by her when she got married.”
    “We weren’t invited!” Danny jabbed, glowering at Vince.
    Fallyn stood, having had enough of the bickering she had hoped Killian would have taken care of before they arrived. “That’s right. None of you wanted us together or even congratulated me when I told you I got engaged, so I got married without you. Is that how you wanted things to go? You can’t control me. You can help and be nice, but you can’t treat me like your kid anymore. I’ve got equal rights in this family, so get on board. I’m married. If I come over, I’m bringing Vince. If he wants to bring any of the other D’Amatos with him, you’ll all be cool.” She slapped her hand on the table. “We were one family before our parents split us all up. This is a step toward putting things right, back to how they should’ve been in the first place.” She postured when Carrigan tried to interrupt her. “My husband worked his fingers bloody trying to get the drug trade out of his territory. My husband is good to me. He loves me and makes sure he’s there for me before I can think to need a thing. My husband is trying every day to be a good man and clean up Papa D’s mistakes.”
    “Stop calling him your husband!” Finn bellowed.
    Fallyn ignored Finn. “Like it or not, legally he’s your new brother. Deal with him or bail on me, but do it now. I won’t have you biding your time and waiting till my back’s turned to beat on him or try to break us up. I’m telling you right now, if anything happens to Vince by means of an O’Keefe doing what he shouldn’t be doing, I’m out. I’ll move so quick, you won’t know what hit you. I can run the bakery remotely, and I won’t hesitate to leave with no forwarding address. In or out, guys.”
    Vince stood next to his wife, his face its usual unaffected cool. “I’m not leaving Fallyn, no matter what you do or say. I don’t care if you like me, but I care if you put stress on my wife and tear her in two. It ends tonight. Love her or don’t, but if you decide you don’t, then leave us alone.”
    There was mumbling, then grumbling, then anger, and then silence as they all took a few minutes to ponder their choices.
    “You know I’m in,” Killian offered. “I don’t like it, but I’ll make my peace with it.”
    Carrigan stood, fists pressed to the table, head down. His arms were tensed as he tried to force out the words he didn’t feel. “If this is what you want, I won’t get in the way. I tried already, and it didn’t work.” He raised his head to glare at Vince. “I hate you more than anyone in my life right now, but I won’t try to mess you up anymore. If you make my sister happy, I’ll back off.” He pointed his finger in a threat at Vince. “But if she so much as frowns when she talks about you, I’m coming with my gun loaded.”
    Vince leaned forward, his arms crossed. A mildly amused look of pleasure crossed his face at the challenge. “Same goes for you, sweetheart.”
    Fallyn banged her fist on the table. “No! Not good enough, either of you. All the way in, or all the way out. Try harder!”
    Declan stood next to Carrigan. “I’m in. What Killian said. I don’t like it, but I can be cool. And I am sorry I messed you up so bad with the whole…” He glanced guiltily at his father. “With the whole Papa D thing.”
    Danny stood, offering his reluctant blessing. Seamus threw in his hat with a glib, “I can deal. Congratulations, Fallyn. Way to marry up, Vince.”
    Finn raised his beer to salute the couple, knowing it was the best he could do under the present circumstances. “Here’s hoping in a month we don’t hate Vince this much.”
    “I’m not toasting to that,” Fallyn