Tiernan Chapter 15

The whole family was gathered at the main house. Several of us were attending a fundraiser tonight. Before we left, there were last-minute goodbyes and instructions to be given. Me, Kynedi, Darragh, Ashlynn, Mam , Daid , Siv, Cathal, Cara, Fallon, Aisling, and Alistair were attending the event, while the rest of the family stayed home or did whatever else they had planned. We didn’t often all go to an event. Usually, it was only a couple of us, and those were only the ones we believed in and made contributions to.

However, tonight’s event was special. It was raising funds for autism. When I asked Kynedi to go, she cried after finding out the family was putting their full support behind it. She immediately agreed, and the ladies took her shopping for the perfect outfit and shoes for tonight. It was an extravagant affair, with a ten thousand dollar plate price. I kept that part a secret—there was no need to make her think about the cost.

Kynedi was absolutely stunning in the gown she’d bought. It was a champagne-colored full-length dress. The bottom half was made of layers of gauzy material. The upper half was sleeveless, with it cut to the waist in the back and between her breasts in the front. It showed the edge of the firm globes of her tits. The upper half was ornate swirls of fabric covered in sparkling gems. It was paired with high-heeled rhinestone-covered strappy shoes we got in Ocala. She also had on the necklace and earrings I presented to her there. I would’ve gotten her a different set, but she would call it a waste. I had another thing in mind to complete her ensemble tonight.

All the ladies were beautiful and dressed to the nines while we guys were in our tuxedos. We tended to have it simple. A tux was never a wrong choice, and black was the way to go. We were all gathered in the formal living room. Aidan caught my eye and nodded. After I nodded back, he gave a loud whistle, making the family quiet. Kynedi was facing him. It worked perfectly. By the time she swung around to face me again, no doubt to ask what was up with him, I was in position. It took a moment or two for what I was doing to register. When it did, she gasped, put a hand over her mouth, and then started to shake a little.

I held up the ring I was holding as I kneeled on one knee. I launched into my declaration. “I love you more every second, and I’ll continue to love you forever and a day, Kynedi Carmichael. You’ve given me not only you but a son. You said that I had to ask you to know if you’d say yes or not. Well, I’m asking. Will you marry me?”

She held out her shaking left hand. In relief, I slid the ring on her fourth finger. It fit. I’d gotten my sister to find out her ring size. I wasn’t sure how she did it, but it was spot-on. I knew I wanted Kynedi to have something that was worthy of an O’Sheeran wife, yet still simplistic. It was a flawless three-carat round-cut diamond in a platinum setting with tiny diamonds encircling the entire thin band. As I came to my feet, Kynedi threw herself into my arms. Our kiss was deep and expressed our love.

We parted to shouts of congratulations and flutes of champagne being passed around. Once everyone had a drink of some kind, Daid made the toast: “To our newest daughter. We can’t be thankful enough that you were brought into our lives. You’ve not only made our son beyond happy, but you’ve made us happy and brought us another grandson. Welcome to the family, Kynedi and Cassius. Sláinte ,” he called out. Glasses were raised in salute, and then we all drank.

We were hugged and kissed until it was time to get on the road before we were late. We kissed Cassius and told him to be good. He was staying the night with Aidan and Riza to keep Khloe company. He was excited that we were getting married. He asked if we’d get the baby next week, which had everyone laughing. I told him it would take longer but to be patient. He didn’t look too happy with the answer, but he accepted it.

Tonight, we were taking a large limousine to the venue. Shane ran our limo business, Opulent Limos. He made sure we had the best. Two bodyguards were riding in the front. Several more were following us in an SUV. We weren’t taking all of our typical ones. Finnegan and Angus, who were Darragh and Ashylnn’s, Atlas, who guarded Siv, and Cara’s bodyguard Jack, were with us. This was on top of Milo and Fallon’s guard, Micah. It was a two-to-one ratio, but we were capable of protecting ourselves. It was more to keep unwanted paparazzi and others away from us entering and exiting the event.

The fundraiser was in Jacksonville, so it wasn’t a terribly long drive. It was being held in a beachfront club. Everyone had to have their name on the guest list and show their engraved invitation to enter. Even bodyguards had to have one. We didn’t mind paying for their plates. Our contribution would far exceed the almost two hundred grand we were paying to be there.

Getting out of the limo, our presence sent the paparazzi lined up into a frenzy. They shouted over each other, trying to get our attention and a quote. We kept our smiles on our faces and kept walking. Other attendees were watching us. We weren’t the only ones there with money or who were well-known, but we always seemed to get more attention. It was the rumors about the Mafia that did it.

I proudly walked in with Kynedi on my arm. Inside, we were shown to the large ballroom where the event was taking place. The dinner and dancing would be there. As expected, people were standing around talking. Until it was time for dinner, they’d circulate and try to chat up those who they thought were at their level or better. Deals would be brokered or introductions made. It was more for networking than charity for some, but not us. One-upmanship ran rampant in our social set as in any other, maybe more.

We’d barely gotten a drink from a passing waiter when several people approached us. They were all ones we knew, although none were what we’d call close friends. It was sickening to listen and watch them fawn over us. Dia , I hated coming to events, even if they were for great causes, because of this behavior. However, we knew our duty and that if we were seen supporting causes like this, it would bring in more money, so we suffered through it.

“Where’s your brothers and their wives?” One guy asked my parents.

“They stayed home with the grandkids,” Daid told them.

“How many do you have, now?” his wife asked.

“We’ve got five and one on the way,” Mam answered, smiling.

“Five? I thought you had four between all of you. And who is the one coming soon?” Someone else chimed in.

“When they’re ready, you’ll find out. As for only four, no, we have five,” Daid said firmly, but he didn’t elaborate. He was trying not to make Kynedi uncomfortable.

Not getting what they wanted, the group changed tactics. They moved on to fawning over Aisling and congratulating her on her marriage. They were checking out Alistair, and I knew they were wondering why they were together. They were people who thought like Chris Brynes and believed themselves above others just due to their money. My sister and brother-in-law played the game like the masters they were. Even if he was only recently added officially, Alistair had been a part of our family and in our world enough to know how to play it.

I hoped we’d be called to sit for dinner before they got to Kynedi and me, but I had no such luck. The one who lobbed her gauntlet out was a woman who’d been chasing all of us since she was sixteen. Her family was in shipping, and she thought her wealth would get her whatever and whoever she wanted. No matter how many times we turned her sexual advances down, she continued to try. She went through men like a piranha. That was her nickname between us guys. Piranha Petra.

She batted her long lashes at me. “It’s been a long time since we’ve met up with each other, Tiernan. We should catch up. Who’s your companion?” The way she said the word companion made it sound like she meant escort. I was going to enjoy wiping off that smirk she wore on her overdone face.

“Petra, it hasn’t nearly been that long. And I can’t think of a thing we have to catch up on. As for who this stunning woman on my arm is. I’m proud to say she’s my fiancée, Kynedi. Mo chuisle , this is Petra. She’s been around forever. Her family is in shipping. We run into each other at a lot of these charity functions.”

Kynedi gave me a blinding smile filled with love. “Thank you, honey, for such a wonderful introduction. Hello, it’s nice to meet all of you. Petra, you must be one of those old acquaintances Tiernan has mentioned we might run into tonight. We’re celebrating with a night out, and this was the ideal way to do it. We get a night out with family for a great cause, and our son gets a night at home with his cousins and the rest of the family. He’ll be spoiled by morning.”

Petra was taking a drink of her champagne when Kynedi mentioned Cassius. She choked on it. I heard a snicker and saw Fallon turning his back to us. The others surrounding us wore various shocked expressions, but none were as stunned as Petra’s. When she got herself under control, she said disbelievingly.

“Your son! Tiernan doesn’t have children.”

“I didn’t until I met Kynedi and Cassius. I fell for both of them the moment I met them. She’s the love of my life, and Cass is my firstborn. God willing, we’ll have many more children. Now that she’s said yes to marrying me, we’ll get to work on growing our family.”

“Y-you surely won’t do that until after you’re married. What if something happens and the wedding doesn’t happen?” was Petra’s snappish reply.

“That’s not happening, so why wait? Daid and Mam don’t care if the grandbaby comes before the wedding, do you?” I asked.

“Not at all, Mac. We adore Cass and Kynedi, and we’ll take more grandkids however we get them, ” Daid assured me, and Mam nodded and smiled in agreement. The other sycophants all weakly congratulated us. It didn’t take long after they did that Petra hurried off, and we excused ourselves. Luckily, it was announced that the dinner was about to begin, and we were called to take our seats. As I escorted Kynedi to our tables, I whispered to her.

“I love you, and you were amazing.”

“I love you too, and I can’t wait to get away from these sucky people,” she whispered. I threw back my head and laughed. I pulled out her chair and got her scooted in before taking the seat to her left. Siv sat on her right. This might not be half bad with her at my side.