The St Patrick Series Book #1: The St Patrick Bride

Chapter Seventy Four: The Summer Drill

Years Later...

Bruce's POV
"Are you coming?" Nick's mom eyeballed me after I got out of the car and decided I'm not moving a step further.

We already dropped of Cole and for him, it was a firm smack at the back of his head from his father. I think that coupled with many words make for good punishment.

In my house, the Colonel has his set of rules. He uses physical exercise as punishment. I lost all the fat in me last summer because of him. The offense be wasn't so different from this. When Nick, Cole, Tony and I get together we cause trouble.

"I can wait out here." I refused to go into the beach house that is home. It's not just my mind but my feet. They won't move in this particular direction but they are enthusiastic about running in the other direction, far from home.

"Bruce!" Her voice screeched.

"Just go. She will start talking and she talks a lot!" Nick complained.

"If you would just have let it go this one time!"

"Let it go? Why should I be bullied?" Nick considers a bad look cause for action. He's always playing the offense and he drags us into his mess.

I took one step after another until I passed the old jeep in front of the house. If it's out here, the Colonel is back. It's not a bad time to run to Grandma's house. She's just a few houses away and I can definitely outrun Marianna. She can't run in the shoes she's wearing.

I mapped the driveway... I can do it.

"No you don't! No bambino, not today! I am not chasing anyone down." She grabbed the back of my neck. She has long claw like nails. I'll die from them if she squeezes.

She rang the doorbell. It took a moment before a maid opened.

"Hi. Is Courtnis home?"

Marianna summarizes my parents in that one word. It really doesn't make a difference to just call them Court and Chris.

"No. You just missed the Colonel." The maid's eyes rested on me.

"You're back home early Master Bruce!" James frowned at me. "At least it took you an extra week this time."

James is my butler and bodyguard and everything else. I don't even sneeze without James knowing. He has been with me for as long as I can remember. The man in his late twenties is swift on his feet. When I try to run, he's the one who chases me. I can't run now. He'll catch me.

"Progress, right?" I smiled at him.

Marianna's glare ripped the smile out of me.

"Suspension for beating up some kid." She pushed me into James arms. "No longer my responsibility!"

I wonder how she gets along with Nick. They always shout at each other. I can only dream of a shouting battle with my mother. When she looks my way, I shrink. She has the most dangerous look I have ever seen in a person.

"You are in trouble this time." James noted the obvious.

"Why thank you James! I didn't know." I left him standing in the Foyer.

If the Colonel is back, I'm finished.

Court's POV
A minute of silence before my next meeting.

My face is flat on the table. My mind is nearly blank. Nearly. It can never be blank.

"Mrs St Patrick."

It's over.

I looked up at my timid secretary. She must have mastered up all the courage in the world to enter my office during quiet time.