Alec

I folded my arms across my chest and waited for Nico to speak, I was just as eager as Alec to hear what he had to say.

"The first word is 'Fine'. When a woman says this during an argument, she knows she is right and that you are very wrong. She is not fine - you're not fine, nothing is fine."

I snorted because that was true.

Alec frowned. "But what about if she is wrong-"

"Alec, stop. Do not talk back when she says something is fine, wait until she is calm to mention she might be wrong. I usually wait a week for Bronagh to calm down before I mention things about past fights."

Smart lad.

"Okay, fine doesn't really mean fine, got it. What else, love doctor?" Alec sarcastically asked, but Nico ignored him and powered on.

"Second word is 'Nothing'. By the might of God Alec, when a woman says nothing is wrong, something is definitely fucking wrong."

Alec nodded his head and flicked his eyes to mine. "I’m starting to believe that one."

I gave him a look that caused him to grin as he looked back to Nico.

Nico then held up three fingers. "The third word is 'Whatever'. This is another way for ladies to say fuck you."

I snickered making Nico grin as he popped up an extra finger. "The fourth is a sentence. When a woman says 'It's okay, don't worry about it,' you do worry about it. You worry a lot because she is thinking of a way to make you pay for whatever you did wrong."

Alec raised his eyebrows and looked very confused. "Wait. They don't mean it's okay, and that I don’t have to worry about it? Why would they say that if they don't mean it?"

Nico shrugged. "I think it's some sort of mind trick. They use that sentence as an illusion that things between you are okay, but when you least expect it, they will strike like a cobra and wound your soul."

Alec sat back and huffed. "Why can't they just say what they mean instead of giving words a double meaning?"

Nico shrugged. "I know the real meaning to certain things women say but I don't understand why women give them a double meaning, that it beyond my area of expertise, bro."

Alec grunted. "I don't like this."

I bit down on my lip so I wouldn't laugh out loud. I was enjoying this so much that I made sure not to make a sound so they would continue on with the conversation.

"Okay, listen very carefully to this two worded sentence. I'm serious Alec, if you're going to remember any of what I just said remember this - it might just save your life," Nico said this so dramatically that I sat forward when Alec did.

"When a woman tells you to 'Go ahead,' you do not, under any circumstances go ahead. You retreat to a safe distance and observe the situation very carefully. She is daring you to do something, not giving you permission."

I did laugh then and Nico smiled as he watched me.

Alec chuckled a little and shook his head. "I guess you laughing means all of that was bullshit?"

I wiped under my eyes and said, "No, the opposite, it was spot on correct and that's why it's so funny."

Alec got a deer in the headlights look and stared at me for a moment before looking back at Dominic. "We need to have a serious conversation, bro."

"Dominic!"

I jumped with fright as a loud female voice bellowed out Nico's name. Aideen was in the bathroom, Alec was getting something out of his room, the rest of the brothers were out in the back, and I was sat in the kitchen waiting by myself. That was until Bronagh Murphy stormed into the kitchen like a woman on a mission.

"Oh, hey Keela," Bronagh said when she found me at the kitchen table.

I waved. "Hey, Bronagh-" I cut myself off when I saw her face. She had a black eye and her cheek was very swollen. "What happened to your face?"

Bronagh shrugged. "There was a bit of an altercation last night in the club. I sort of got tricked into a cage fight."

Um, what?

I stared at Bronagh. "You got tricked into a cage fight?"

Was that even possible?

Bronagh nodded her head. "Yeah, it's a long and very weird story."

I got the feeling she didn't want to tell the story so I nodded my head and kept my mouth shut.

"So... what's up?" Bronagh asked after a few moments of silence.

I cleared my throat and said, "Nothin' much, just waitin' on Aideen and Alec. She’s is in the toilet and he is gettin' somethin' out of his room."

Bronagh grinned. "You might be awhile, Alec takes forever when he is doin' somethin'."

I tutted. "Great."

Bronagh smiled then looked out the window that was over the kitchen sink.

"How long have they been out there?" she asked me without looking away from the window.

"About twenty-five minutes. Kane and Ryder are tryin' to build a dog house and Dominic is watchin'."

"That's because he is a lazy bastard," Bronagh answered making me laugh.

"He said he was tried from mattress dancin' with you last night... and then again twice this mornin'," I teased.

Bronagh gasped as she snapped her head in my direction.

"He did not!"

I nodded my head. "He did. I smacked him for you because if that was my lad tellin' his brothers private things like that, I'd want someone to smack him too."

"Thanks, but you didn't hit him hard enough," Bronagh muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"He is still conscious."

I burst out laughing and it got the attention of the men out in the back.

"What's so funny, red?" Kane asked when he opened the back door.

"Bronagh," I said.

"Bronagh?" Kane repeated.

Bronagh moved into Kane's view and said, "Bronagh."

A genuine smile stretched across his scarred face. "Hey, bumble bee."

"Bumble bee! Is Bronagh back?" Dominic shouted from the back.

"Yes she is," Bronagh replied.

Dominic sprung up from his seated position and in a flash was next to Ryder, helping him with the half built doghouse.

"Don't even try and act like you were helpin', you pathetic sack of shite."

I smiled when Kane and Ryder burst out laughing.

"Caught by the misses," Ryder said in a Dublin accent and shoved Dominic making him stumble to the right.

Dominic waited a good five seconds before he turned to face the house with a beaming smile on his face.

"Hey, pretty girl. I missed you-"

"Save it, I don't wanna hear your bullshit today."

"Oh," I said aloud then laughed when Kane looked at me with an expression on his face that said he wanted to laugh too.

"It's not bullshit, babe. I did miss you."

Bronagh folded her arms across her chest. "You promised Tyson's house would be ready by the time I got back from signin’ up for me... classes."

I momentarily wondered what classes she was talking about.

"It's nearly ready," Nico said and scratched his head.

"Yeah, no thanks to you."

Nico sighed before he turned to Ryder and said, "I'll finish it."

Ryder smiled and said, "Pussy whipped."

"So? It's a pussy of gold."

"Dominic!" Bronagh bellowed.

I smiled as she swatted at Kane and Ryder, who were laughing as they passed her by. They got some water then ventured off somewhere in the giant house.

"Where is your dog?" I asked Bronagh.

"In the sittin' room on his bed," Bronagh said then whistled so loud it made me wince.

Things were quiet for a moment then the noise of nails on the floor could be heard, as well as heavy panting. I widened my eyes when a puppy barged into the kitchen.

"Oh my God. Look at the size of him, he so feckin' cute!" I gushed when the little Husky waddled in my direction. He couldn't have been older than eight weeks; he was so chubby and small that I felt myself melt into a puddle.