CHAPTER 11

MAYA

Johnny had been right that I was holding back, and it made me a little ashamed because he was nothing like my ex had been. I couldn't imagine any of the O'Shea men raising a hand to their women.

I'd spent a hilarious few hours after we'd finished our talk and left The Lounge, watching Liam and Johnny trying to keep up with my cleaning. They spent more time messing around than actually doing any work. We were in Ozone having finished Atomic earlier when Adam had walked in and shook his head at them messing around. I'd laughed out loud at the look on his face.

"For fuck's sake, I thought you two were meant to be helping Maya. Instead, I've been watching you on the cameras for the last hour messing around while she's run rings around you," he scolded them loudly, taking the mop away from me and shoving it at Johnny.

"Here, you two can finish up. I'm taking my sister-in-law-to-be out for a late lunch, then we're going to pick up the children. We'll see you two tonight for supper and this place better be spotless by then," Adam ordered, taking my hand as he tugged me along with him to the door.

"Hey," Johnny shouted out amusement in his tone, "that's my woman."

"And she still will be this evening, but for now, she's mine," Adam retorted.

Chuckling, I gave Johnny a wink, blowing him a kiss that he caught with a smile and a smirk. I left them to it, knowing that I'd done most of the heavy cleaning and that there wasn't much left for them to do.

Adam, out of all the brothers, was the hardest to get to know. Whereas Johnny was in your face, Adam was quiet, mostly keeping to himself, although I'd noticed that he was always the first to volunteer to help either of his brothers when they needed something.

Whereas Adam was serious, Liam always looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Today was the first time I'd seen him cut loose and have fun. Although, from what Johnny had told me of him, he hadn't always been like that. It was only since their older brother Rhett had been put in prison that he'd changed. The responsibility of being in charge wasn't something he'd ever aspired to. He'd been more than content to stay in Rhett's shadow. For myself, I was glad they were no longer running guns. The thought of any of them being put in prison or, god forbid, being killed would have been hard for me to take.

Adam led me to his vehicle; one of his guys was leaning up against it waiting.

"Where are your keys, deirfiúr bheag, " Adam asks me holding his hand out for them.

Sticking my hand into the bag I'd snagged up on our way out of the club, I take them out and pop them in his hand. He tosses them to the waiting guy.

"Pick up one of the men from the office and take Maya's car back to the house for me, Colin," Adam orders him.

"Umm, Adam. I'll need the car seats to pick Emy and Jackson up," I tell him, thinking maybe he doesn't realise that we'll need them.

Adam turns and smiles at me, "Don't worry, deirfiúr bheag , I have car seats for them as does Liam in his vehicle and Da in his. You never have to worry about their safety with us."

Well, didn't those words hit me right in the feels, tears pricked at my eyes. Although not for long because a look of horror crossed Adam's face when he saw them, making me snort laugh and if it was a little wet, we'd not mention it.

"You're not going to cry, are you?" demanded Adam. Laughing, I wiped under my eyes, smiling at him. "Nope, I'm good," I assured him, smiling sweetly.

"Thank fuck," he heaved a relieved sigh, helping me into the passenger seat.

The smile that spread over my face in amusement hurt it was so wide and I couldn't help the little chuckle that left me as he rounded the front of his vehicle eyeing me through the windscreen as if I was going to start crying at any second. It was too funny. Looking over my shoulder, I felt the tears prick again when I saw the same high-end car seats that Johnny had in his vehicle.

Knowing that Adam wouldn't want me making a 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 made the 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.