Phoenix Rising: The Veiðimenn Mob, Book Two

Twenty-Three

Phoenix listened to her through the door, his heart constricting painfully with each sob she let out. It shattered him to hear it, but she needed to let the pent-up emotions out somehow. It was obvious to anyone with a brain that she'd never been groomed to take over for her father. In turn, he knew that meant she would have to be with someone who knew how to run a mob.

A shadow fell over him. He groaned in frustration before he turned to face his father. Staring at the man, he said, "She's not her aunt, Dad. She wasn't even born when it happened, so I don’t want to hear about any kind of family tensions. The older gens gotta let it go."

"I know," Callum said gently. "But the fact remains that her mother’s family tried to end my father's line. I won’t take my grudges out on an innocent girl, though, so remove that thought from your brain immediately."

Phoenix turned his gaze to his father, "I don't care if you're my Don, or my father, I'm not letting anyone hurt her because one stupid b***h couldn't take no for an answer. I will fight tooth and nail to protect her, and that's a promise."

Callum lifted a brow at the attitude coming from his chosen replacement. Though he was happy the boy was taking the task handed to him seriously, there was another reason his son was acting up. Wanting to see what was more important to him, Callum said, "Keep this up, and I'll remove your heir status."

"Take the God-damned title and give it to one of my brothers if it’s that important to you. I don't give a solid s**t about being an heir if it means I get to keep her safe. I would gladly sacrifice what I am to this mafia for her." His breathing erratic, Phoenix calmed enough to realize what he'd just done. Denouncing his title was a huge decision to come to in just over a month and a half after receiving it.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it, I swear," he whispered as he waited for the backlash that would let him know how much trouble he was actually in.

Callum shook his head. "No, you meant every word you just said to me, Nix. You’re not getting grounded for your outburst because I purposely goaded you into that response. See, the thing is, I was the same way when your grandfather found out your mother and uncle’s family history. Hell, I went a step further and threatened to cut him out, but that was when he knew I was serious about your mom."

Leaning against the wall, he slid down until he was sitting on the carpeted floor. "I don't know what to do, Dad. I've never felt like this before, and it's driving me crazy because it isn't something that can be explained clearly or swept under the rug. Every single time I look at her, it's like she's the only girl I see. There are plenty of others, but I want her.”

"You barely know her," Callum pressed as he moved to sit beside his son. He had been concerned, but Phoenix was always the kind of child to turn a bad situation into a learning experience. This was no different. He knew his son wasn’t really into the relationship scene where Nix lacked the social skills for it, normally taking his cues from his friends. “Anything else?”

"Like nothing else matters except making her happy. I get all sweaty and jumble my words. I can’t think straight when she's around. It’s frustrating, but I wouldn’t trade this feeling for anything in the world." Phoenix groaned, his fingers gripping his hair tightly.

Callum laughed. "I get the same way every damn time I look at your mother. I was your age when I met her, but I knew then that I'd spend the rest of my life with that fiery vixen. She gave me you and your siblings, and for that alone, I'm thankful that I met her when I did. I was in a dark place, but your mom took me by the hand and led me to salvation. She saved me from myself, and that was why your granddad loved her the way he did."

"What's going to happen to her now?" Phoenix asked as he glanced at his father. "She's afraid that you're going to hurt her."

Callum grunted. "I contacted her father the minute your team arrived with her, and he seemed grateful. When we met in person, he explained everything about the woman who killed your grandma and aunt. The Veiðimenn will help until he gives us a reason to off his ass, but Maestro Francesco changed the game. He told me that he was so impressed with your honest integrity that he wants to offer his daughter’s hand in marriage – a contracted marriage."

Phoenix glanced at the closed door across the hall and sighed. While a marriage contract ensured her safety, there was the small matter of her consent. "Honestly, I'd gladly put a ring on it if that's what it took to protect her, but I won’t be the reason she learns to hate me if I don’t tell her the truth straight-up. She’s a mob princess, so it makes sense that she knows how to keep secrets, but that doesn’t mean we should make decisions with her life without her input."

Nodding, his father got to his feet, “I agree. So that’s your next task. Tell her everything, and let the girl make an informed decision.”

He turned his gaze to the end of the hall. His toddler sister was standing there, watching him with her big brown eyes while she held her favourite stuffy in one hand. He smiled, "Hey, Emma. Can big brother have some cuddles."

Running over, she crawled into his lap and sloppily kissed his cheek. "You otay, Fifi? You look sad."

"I'm having a bad day, little sister," he replied as he snuggled her.

“Why? Did you have a bad schoo day?” The toddler asked.

Watching his eldest and youngest children getting along, Callum was glad he took David’s advice to bring the baby after all. Her presence seemed to take the edge off the stress Phoenix was feeling, helping her brother calm in ways no one else could. Calmly, he rose to his feet and walked away from his kids, knowing that his son would never allow anyone to hurt the tiny girl in his arms.

Phoenix looked down as his sister fell asleep in his arms. She hugged her green bunny tightly, curling into his body until her soft, barely audible snores filled the air around him. He glanced up at the door when it opened, his brown orbs locking onto the girl he wanted more than anything else. She glanced at the child in his arms, a small smile playing on the edges of her mouth.

"Remember when I said you’d meet my siblings? Well, this is my one and only sister," he explained. Phoenix watched carefully as her eyes softened more than usual. The last few girlfriends mistook the tiny toddler as his, never believing that she was, in fact, his only sister.

Without changing her features, Andromeda knelt beside him on the carpeted floor. She sniffled, wiping the remaining tears from her face. "She's so adorable. How old is she?"

"She turned three back on May the fourth – also known as Star Wars Day," he told her softly. "I also have three younger brothers, too. Seth is eight, Steven is six, and Everett is five. They attend local public school to continue the image of normalcy in our not-so-normal life."

“That sounds logical,” She laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Your mom has her hands full, then?"

He shook his head. "Not really. See, when my team and I were younger, we came up with the plan of babysitting to gain prestige points with Mom and Dad. We didn’t get paid, but we learned how to guard and keep the younger kids in our sights to avoid problems. Now, whenever mom and dad need a sitter, my team are the usual go-to’s."

Emily woke up, gazing drowsily at the girl talking to her brother. "Hi."

"Hello, I am Andromeda. What's your name?" The older girl said softly.

"Emawee," the toddler replied. She grinned before rubbing her runny nose on Phoenix's shirt.

Phoenix scowled, "Don't rub your boogers on me, Emma!"

Laughing hysterically as he tickled her, Emily squealed before raising her hands to Andromeda. "Help! The Tickle Monster got me!"

"Oh no," the girl replied, lifting the toddler into her arms. "Do you want to go hide from the Tickle Monster?"

"We has to run, so he won't get us," the little girl squealed.

Phoenix crouched down on all fours and growled. Emily shrieked, giggling happily as the girl grabbed her in a gentle, protective hold. Emily's tiny hands gripped the designer threads tightly, but Andromeda didn't seem to care as she giggled.

"Run, Womeda! He's coming to get us!"

Shaking his head, Callum laughed before he walked into the kitchen and looked over at his brother-in-law.

Keeping his voice at a whisper when he spoke, he said, "He’s really willing to give it all up for her, Declan. You were right from the start. He’s exactly like me – right down to how he reacted to her."

His brother-in-law rubbed his temples. "I’ve noticed. Kennedy is still unresponsive to our efforts.”

Callum sighed, "Poor kid. I hope Dave can help her. She’s one of our strongest. Now that she’s going to take on the heiress title for the Scorpions, I have no doubt Phoenix will have her unrelenting backing."

Nodding, his brother-in-law shrugged as he downed the rest of his beer. “How long?”

“Keep her locked in the Red Room until she’s coherent, then send David in. Regardless of how long it takes,” Callum advised. “It may be the only way to save her mentality at this point.”