Irish Luck

Chapter Forty-Five

Finn

I think we've all well and truly come to the conclusion that Stasia doesn't know how to cook. The only things I've ever seen her make is noodles, egg on toast, beans on toast, come to think of it if it can go on toast she eats it.

But she's definitely not one to whip up a meal that's for sure.

All the meals have either been made by me or my brothers or we order in. But tonight Stasia has insisted on cooking us all a meal and from the repeated cursing and clanging of pots from the kitchen I have a feeling it's not exactly going to plan.

When there's another crash of pots and pans Cian cringes from next to me and we both look to each other.

"Maybe we should go and check if she's okay" he suggests to me but I can see Hugh already shaking his head from where he sits on the other side of the room with his phone practically glued to his hand.

"She wants to cook so let her cook" he grunts and I can already tell from the tension coming from Cian that his interjection is not going to be welcome.

Just as expected it's not.

"I wasn't fucking talking to you" he snaps back, his fists curling on the arm rests and I know with how he's been on the edge of exploding at Hugh for days now it'll take one wrong word and he'll blow.

Blake and Hugh haven't said a word about what happened at the restaurant opening other than Hugh got drunk, and well Stasia has point blank refused to acknowledge anything happened at all.

Even when Cian spotted the bruise on her arm and flew off the handle -rightfully so- she shrugged it off deflecting every question we asked and then when Cian threatened to kill Hugh she practically begged him not to.

She's trying to keep the peace it's obvious but unfortunately tensions have been rising day by day.

I've kept my mouth shut despite my strong feeling about it all and that's mainly because I know if anything kicks off she'll get upset and that's the last thing I want happening.

Especially when we're about to drop the bombshell that we're all heading back to Birmingham tomorrow, Stasia included.

Every year the three families host a 'charity event' of sorts with the main objective of further instilling that the alliance between them all is still very much intact. Every corrupt official will be there biting at the bit to form business alliances and ensure their heads aren't a target.

It also plays as a way of ensuring any potential threats or rising opposition think again about attempting to challenge one or any of the triad.

Ever since we left, only Hugh and Blake would usually go but after Damien being dealt with it kickstarted Hugh's plans to finally get revenge for what happened to Cian. So we all have to go and he thinks Stasia's presence will show our cards.

I don't like the idea of using her as a tool in any of this which is why it hasn't been brought up yet. At dinner tonight we'll tell her the plan and give her the choice to come or not.

There's the sound of Stasia clearing her throat and we all turn in unison to find her standing in the doorway very hesitantly with her hands clasped in front of her. There's stains of god knows what smeared all over her clothes and frankly she looks like she's had a fight with the hob and lost.

"Dinners served?" she says sounding more like she doesn't quite know if it is or not yet.

We all make our way into the kitchen and to the table. Where it becomes evident it wasn't just the hub she's had a battle with but every single ingredient she kitchen utensil by the looks of it.

A Stasia shaped bomb had gone off and it takes one glance at Hugh to see his jaw ticking to know the mess is undeniably getting to him, but even though it is he doesn't say a word.

No snobbish comment or even a huff of frustration he just merely disregards it all as if none of it sister just like how he's been with Stasia recently.

All there has been is brief glances in her direction whenever she enters a room but not a single word passed between the two of them. Like neither of them exist to the other.

It's weird and unnerving.

But it's better than the arguing I guess.

We all take our seats with Stasia sitting between me and Cian like she usually does. She starts to scoop some kind of brown lumpy concoction into each of our bowls and I honestly don't know what to even make of it.

"What is it?" Blake queries with evident hesitance.

"It's stew" she simply replies as if it should be obvious.

Me and Cian glance at each other briefly and I know he's sure as hell thinking the same as me who's is this looks nothing like stew and it's not even anything to do with being twins because the looks on Hugh and Blake's faces match as well.

I expect Hugh to outright say no but surprisingly he's the first to pick up his spoon and sink it into the slop. Because that's exactly what it resembles slop. Or dog food it's hard to decide.

When he brings the spoon to his mouth and takes a taste it's clear to see he's trying to hide his reaction to the taste but he doesn't quite mask the slight shudder the runs through him.

When he glances up at Stasia her gaze is fixed on him expectantly and I don't think any of us are expecting the next words that leave his mouth.

"It's great Anastasia" he says and it's a fucking lie I know it is. Bur then there's a furious expression aimed at each of me and my brothers and he kicks my leg under the table clearly urging us to eat.

Hesitantly we all proceed to pick up our spoons and take meagre mouthfuls.

There's a mix of the same kind of reactions from us all. Blake shudders, Cian winces and clearly tried to hold back his gag and well I cough as the taste of Stasia's concoction hits my tastebuds.

There is no words to describe how awful it tastes especially when the overwhelming amount of salt literally hits you like ton of bricks and well as for the consistency I'd say it resembles something more like cement.

But even with that each of us nod and hum like it really is the best thing we've ever tasted. And fuck me the beaming smile that spreads across her face is both fucking marvellous to see but also a kick right to the gut because she's clearly unbelievably proud of herself. Which is no surprise with how she's clearly tried her hardest to make this for us.

"You really like it?" She asks her eyes darting between all of us and the reaction we all have tells me that it's not just me that has fallen hook line and sinker for this girl but my brothers clearly have as well.

Because we all nod animatedly as if we'd rather endure what can only be described as prison slop just to save hurting her feelings. Hugh included.

Then she goes to tuck in herself and the smile disappears off her face straight away and she spits it back into the bowl like I wish I could have done.

The look of disbelief she gives us as she realises we lied to her causes a pang in my stomach.

Reaching for her glass quickly she then chugs down mouthfuls of water, her eyes watering as she does. When she's finished off the whole glass she takes a deep inhale of breath.

"It's disgusting" she says with a sad edge to her tone and Blake is the first to jump in.

"It's really not that bad" he lies but fails to keep a straight face as he does and as her eyes narrow at him he loses all composure. "I'm sorry Stas it's horrendous" he laughs and we all start laughing especially when she folds her arms across her chest and huffs.

"I tried so hard" she huffs "but it all just went wrong and I couldn't salvage it"

"Looks like we're ordering in" I say pulling out my phone.

"One of you can cook tomorrow" she says cheerfully as she stands and starts collecting up the bowls but halts when none of us say a word. An eery silence spreading throughout the room as we all prepare to break the news to her.