Chapter 1

Chapter One

Patrick

"Are you kidding me right now?"

I blink. Once. Twice. A third time, trying to figure out what the hell just happened and what the hell is covering my face. It's wet, sticky, and stringy. I'm barely resisting the urge to gag. I've seen bathtubs of blood and I wasn't as grossed out by them as I am this.

Cali and Paisley squeal with laughter, practically jumping up and down on their toes. I wipe the pink goop away from my eyes to glare at them.They aren't the least bit scared.

Fucking Silly String. I thought I'd confiscated their last few bottles of it a week ago. It shouldn't surprise me they've gotten more. The brats are sneaky. They've wound so many of our men around their fingers that they somehow get away with all kinds of shit they shouldn't. Like fucking piranhas.

"You two are in so much trouble." I glower at them, slowly advancing.

Paisley takes a step back, her expression growing serious as she senses their impending doom, but Cali continues giggling.Paisley knows when she's in trouble. Cali, on the other hand, laughs in the face of danger. She's a woman I'd want on my side in a war.

"I'm heading into a meeting with both of your Daddies, and they're going to hear about your naughty behavior. You're going to be sorry," I say, then yank the can from Cali's grip, scowling at it.

Suddenly, she straightens, her expression falling. "You're really upset with us."

I huff. "How am I to ever expect your husbands to take me seriously if I constantly show up to meetings covered in glitter and Silly String and whatever else you throw at me? I'd like to make it into the top tier before I die, but that isn't going to happen if Declan thinks I'm spending my days goofing off with you."

Paisley's head drops, and Cali's bottom lip trembles.

I almost feel bad. Almost. Not quite, though. They have it coming to them. All of them, really, but Cali is their little naughty ringleader.

"Sorry, Patrick," Paisley says, looking up at me remorsefully.

Cali nods and shifts from one foot to the other. "Yeah. I didn't mean to do anything to truly get in the way of your career."

Slowly, one by one, men move into the room behind the girls, and I can hardly fucking wait for the satisfaction I'm about to experience.

"Then, I guess it's a good thing they already promoted me, isn't it?" I ask, grinning down at them.

"Huh?" Cali looks up at me, confused, but it quickly turns into screams as I point and shoot the Silly String at her while six more men spray the girls from the back. Paisley screeches and tries to block her face, but within seconds, both women are covered, and the seven of us guys are left laughing.

"I told you that you'd be sorry." I grin down at them, feeling pretty damn proud of myself.

The girls continue whining and squealing as they try to scrape the goo from their hair and faces.

"I can't believe you did that!" Cali yells, shaking a glob of it off her hand.

Declan chuckles. "You deserved it, little girl. You've been terrorizing Patrick since the day you met him."

Cali scoffs and glares at her husband. "Daddy, you're supposed to be on my side. I'm your wife, after all. That's so mean of you."

He snorts and smacks her butt. "I am always on your side. But attacking Patrick with Silly String is mean of you. Now, say you're sorry."

Her mouth drops open. "He just sprayed me back!"

"Only because you started it last week when you sneak-attacked him. Apologize, now." Declan nods toward me, his gaze pinned on Cali.

"You too, Paisley May." Kieran nudges his wife.

"Sorry, Patrick," Paisley murmurs right away.

Cali sighs and looks up at me with her big brown doe eyes. "I'm sorry."

I flash her an understanding smile and wink. "Thanks, little one."

"You really got promoted to top tier?" she asks, the corners of her lips curling into a beaming smile.

"Yeah. A few days ago."

I'm still in disbelief over it. There have only ever been six leaders in the Irish Syndicate, but Declan and the other five said I deserve the promotion. And with us expanding the business, they need another man, so it's now the top seven.

Cali leaps for me, throwing her arms around my neck and legs around my waist. Thank fuck I have quick reflexes. Otherwise, she'd have ended up on her butt.

She hugs me tightly, pulling at my non-existent heartstrings. There are very few people I truly care about in this world, and this girl is one of them. Even if she is a pain in my ass.

"I'm so happy for you," she whispers. "You deserve it."

I squeeze her back, then lower her to the ground when Declan lets out a possessive growl. It's no fucking secret that these guys are jealous as hell over their women. Not that I blame them. I'd be the exact same way, if not worse, if I had a girl.

"Thanks, little girl," I say as I release her.

"Does this mean I have to stop pranking you?" Her expression is pitiful.

I laugh and roll my eyes. "Maybe just not during work hours, eh? And no Silly String. That shit is nasty."

She sighs, dropping her shoulders. "Fine. I'll just have to start picking on Cullen or one of the other guys."

Poor Cullen. I can already tell he's going to be hating life once the girls set their sights on him.

"You two get to clean this mess up while we go handle some business." Declan motions to the girls. "And no more Silly String in the house, or it will be your bottoms paying the price next time."

I don't miss Cali and Paisley sticking their tongues out behind their husbands' backs as we all turn to head to the boardroom. Those guys might think they rule their relationships, but they're so, so wrong.

* * *

I'm working in one of Declan's spare offices when he knocks and steps in.

"Hey, boss," I greet and lean back from my laptop. "I didn't get a chance to thank you earlier for the heads-up with the squirt guns."

Despite us telling the girls to chill with the pranks during working hours, they did not take that advice to heart. Luckily, they haven't been messing with me quite as often.

Declan laughs and sits in one of the chairs across from me. "You'd think these girls would know by now that we can see everything they're doing at all times. They know the cameras are there, yet they still do naughty stuff."

I study Declan for a few seconds. "You know it's because they feel safe enough to do naughty stuff."

He pauses for a beat and swallows then nods. "Then we're doing something right. I'd say they feel pretty safe with you, too."

Warmth spreads through my chest. "Thanks, boss. They're good girls. I'll miss protecting them."

With my promotion, Declan removed me as one of their lead bodyguards. Part of me hates to hand over their safety to someone less experienced, but I also know how well the men in the organization are trained from the time they're sworn in.

"They'll miss you too, but you'll see plenty of them, and I'm sure they'll still be pranking you as often as they can."

I chuckle because he's right. They aren't going to stop harassing me just because I'm not their bodyguard anymore.

"Are you a Daddy, Patrick? I assume so based on how you are with the girls, but we've never talked about it."

The question makes me pause. I wasn't expecting it. I've known Declan my entire life, but our conversations have rarely been about our personal lives. Maybe being in the top tier changes that.He's still my boss. Although when he promoted me, he explained that the top-tier men are all equal, but he has the final say on things.

"I am," I answer carefully.

I presume it's not an issue since Declan and the five others are Daddies themselves. Tons of men in our ranks are Daddies. I don't know why that is but for whatever reason, we like a certain kind of lifestyle.

"Aye," Declan replies. "Figured so. Most men wouldn't put up with half the shit from our girls with such finesse if they weren't Daddies."

It's true. The girls in this family somehow have the ability to drive someone to the edge. They bring us back down with their sweet smiles and loving words. I love it when I'm around them because my Daddy side is more present. On the other hand, I hate it because I can't spank their sassy asses myself.And they deserve so many spankings.

"When you find your Little girl, don't let her go. If it weren't for Cali and the guys telling me to pull my head out of my ass, I might have made a stupid mistake. I can't imagine my life without my girl in it. I'd rather die than live without her."

I nod like I understand, but in reality, I don't. I've never found a woman I've felt that strongly for. Hopefully, when I come across the one, I won't let her pass me by. I want what these guys have.

"Anyway," Declan says. "On a different note, I'll have a contractor out here this week to work with you on a design plan for your house."

"I have a house," I reply, confused by his words. "I mean, it's a penthouse, but you know what I mean."

Declan shrugs. "You're top seven now. The top-tier men have always lived here on the estate. We have several empty acres, so there's plenty of room to add another home. You've earned this spot, Patrick."

I stare at him, letting it all settle in. It's been two weeks since I got promoted, and it still feels strange. In a good way. I hadn't even thought about moving here, though. I figured I'd stay where I am since there aren't any empty houses on the property. The thought of building my home hadn't occurred to me. I'm speechless. They really do want me in the top tier in every way.

"Thanks, boss."

He snorts and lifts his chin. "Do me a favor, and don't call me boss. It makes me feel old as fuck."

The corners of my lips twitch. "Noted."

"Good. I need you to pay one of our clients a visit today," Declan says, leaning back in his chair. His face is pinched with irritation.

Anytime a client is about to be paid a visit, it means they owe us money, and unless they cough up, it's not going to end well for them.

"Sure thing. How much should I collect?"

His jaw flexes. "All of it. He's been avoiding us and reached out to Alessandro for a loan. Who knows how many other families he owes. It's time to pay up."

I dip my chin. "How much are we talking?"

"Half a million. Take a couple of your men with you, just in case."

It's strange to hear him call them my men. I used to be one of someone's men, and now I have my own who report to me. Sometimes, I'm not sure that I have what it takes to be a good boss, but I've been learning from six of the best for many years.They wouldn't have promoted me if they thought I couldn't do it.

"Will do. Anything else?"

He smirks. "Yeah. Don't let my wife get away with giving you so much shit. You're allowed to scold her or send her to me to get her butt spanked."

Warmth spreads through me. I smirk. "She's a handful, isn't she?"

"Yeah. The best fucking handful of my life, though. It's all worth it when you find the right one, even if your palm is constantly twitching."

"One day, I'll find the right one. Today isn't that day, though, so I'm going to get to work."