The Shield's Fate

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Vivian

Colman Canavan's house sits far back from the road. As we drive up, it looks like something out of a fairytale, with lots of greenery. I wonder to myself how old this home is. Everything in Europe just seems so much older and more historic than things back in the states. I can't help but think back to my parents' apartment over the store. Two bedrooms. Chris and I shared a room. That was my experience.

And here I was, not so many years later, mingling with millionaire gangsters who thought nothing of the money at their disposal.

I try not to gawk as Cal takes my hand, helping me out of the car.

"Not too shabby," I mutter, adjusting my dress. I pray there are no wrinkles.

Cal hooks his arm through mine. "You look lovely, Vivi."

I scoff, but before either of us can say anything more, Colman Canavan is opening the front door. He's a big, burly man with a round stomach, gray hair, a beard, and bright red cheeks. "Alistair, you grew a few inches since I last saw ya," he grumbles in a thick Irish accent.

Cal smiles broadly and grabs Colman's hand. They shake hands fiercely before Colman pulls Cal into a tight hug.

"You look like your old man."

Cal clears his throat and smiles a bit, "Good to see you, Canavan."

"And Iris. Thankfully for you, you got your mother's looks," Colman smirks kindly at Iris. She smiles and nods.

"It's been too long, Colman. This is my boyfriend, Sean Donnelly."

Colman and Sean seem to silently size one another up as they shake hands.

"And Parker Fallon," Cal adds.

"Kevan's son," Colman nods.

"Pleasure, sir."

"This your woman, Cal?" Colman's eyes flick to me.

"Christ," Cal smirks, "You never beat around the bush, do you Canavan? This is Vivian Chang."

I smile and hold out my hand. Colman shakes it with an assessing grin. "I'm Ronan's assistant, and for the time being, also Alistair's assistant."

"She's also a dear friend," Cal says protectively, putting a hand on the small of my back. I try not to melt into him or lose my cool.

"Come in then!" Colman grumbles. He steps aside and lets the five of us through the threshold. I take in my surroundings. Much like the outside, the inside of the house is marvelous and old and covered in old photographs and artwork. I try not to let my jaw fall open.

A woman who looks at least ten years younger than Colman comes bursting into the living room. She's got a big mass of red hair and looks to have about a dozen plastic surgeries done on her face.

"Oh, my days!" she cries out, running right to Cal. She squeezes his cheeks. "As I live and breathe!"

Cal takes her hands sweetly. "Denise. Been too long."

"You got so tall! Didn't he get tall, Colman?" she squeaks loudly to her husband.

Denise Canavan is a fireball, to say the least. From the moment we enter the room till the moment dinner is ready, she lets no one else get a word in edgewise. She dotes on Cal, squeezing his bicep muscles and calling him a "very strong boy."

Parker and I try to rein in our laughter. Sean shoots us both warning looks.

Cal and Iris are the guests of honor and are given the coveted spots beside Colman and Denise respectively. Sean slides in next to Iris and I go to sit beside him when Cal grabs my wrist and twirls me back towards him.