I reach out and scoop him up. His little body fits against my chest. His arms dangle by his side, still fisting that stuffedbear. His head wiggles its way into the crook of my neck while I’m rubbing circles on his back slowly like I used to do for my brothers when we were little. Feeling his breath even out, I use my free hand to grab Clara’s threading our fingers, I lead us up the front steps and into the front door. Looking behind me to make sure my brothers, Nolan, and Killian are coming up behind us.
My two main security men and Dec took a car and followed behind us. I walk in and immediately flip off the foyer light as we walk in, look to Nolan and half whisper, “Call out and tell them to dim every light from here to my bedroom as low as they can without turning it off. If I do it the vibrations could wake him up.”
Nolan nods and calls out, “Boss said every light from here to his bedroom needs to be as dim as possible. He’s coming through with the kid.” Instantly the lights start to dim.
Clara looks at me but doesn’t say a word. She’s scared, it’s written all over her face. I just need to get her to my room, lay Rhett down and I can explain how this may be all my fault, but they’ll be safe here. The Bratva can’t get to them here. Nikolai will suffer before I end him. He scared my girl, it’s game on motherfucker. As we move through the kitchen all my brothers move to stand at the island. I nod to them silently so they know we’re okay, and I’ll be back down. I have to meet with them later tonight so we can figure out what the fuck were going to do. The oldest rule in the book is ‘Women and kids are off limits.’ I’d never break that rule, normally. Nikolai has thrown the rule book out the window at this point and I will stop at nothing to protect Clara and Rhett.
Leading Clara up the stairs to my room with Rhett still tucked in tight and breathing deep and even into my neck, Itry to imagine what my house looks like when you see it for the first time. The entryway is large and open, actually the entire downstairs is open. Da reconfigured the area years ago so he could see Ma when she was cooking. The only area with a door is the office and the bathrooms. Our old but refurbished stairs are large and curve up to the second story. We have a grand piano just to the left of the base of the stairs. I don’t play, but on some nights, when he thinks everyone is asleep, I can hear Flynn playing as if he belongs at Carnegie hall.
We round the top of the stairs and I lead us to the left down the long hallway. Mine and Declan’s rooms are down this hall. Me on the left, and him on the right. Both rooms are massive and mirror each other. I open one of the double doors on the left and lead us into my room. Shutting the door and locking it I turn around to see Clara’s eyes bounce around my space. A space I barely let my brothers in, let alone anyone else, but I like them here. It doesn’t feel weird or out of place. It feels like they were meant to be here from the start. I try to take this room in from her point of view too. To the right is a large sitting area. A fireplace centered on the back wall, a fluffy area rug in front of it and two lounge chairs at the corners of the rug half facing the fireplace, and half facing each other. My bookshelf sits on the wall to the left of the fireplace, filled with thriller and fantasy books. What? I like to read in my down time, sue me.
To the left along that back wall is my bed. A California king size mattress sitting on a floating bed frame giving the illusion that my bed is suspended in mid air. Along the wall to the right is another set of double doors that will bring you to my too big walk in closet. I like clothes, and I really like shoes. Still all my things don’t even take up half of the space. Myen suite is to the left of my bed. If you explore in there you’ll find white walls, black tile, and a large white claw foot tub as well as a walk-in shower with a glass door and white tiles, big enough for four people if that’s what you’re into. There’s five shower heads, two on the front wall and two on the back, and a large rainfall shower head in the middle of the shower. Jack and Jill sinks and my things littered across the counter.
Clara’s murmured, “Whoa.” brings me back to the here and now. I’m rubbing Rhett’s back again just watching her take it all in. She turns back to me eyes wide, “Rowan, this room is bigger than my apartment. Who ARE you? This isn’t just ‘businessman who own a few companies’ rich. This is next level.”
“I’ll tell you everything, Clara. I’ll answer whatever questions you have. Can we get Rhett settled first so I can talk above a whisper?”
The ends of her lips tick up slightly and she nods, “Yeah, of course. Here, I’ll take him and lay him down. Should I put him in your bed?”
She looks unsure. I lean down and kiss her forehead, “Yeah, Pretty Girl, you guys have my bed tonight. I have bad guys to keep away.”
She looks up at me with unshed tears in her eyes, “Rowan, you don’t have to do that, he’s fine, seriously.”
I shake my head, “I don’t break my promises, especially to you two. Ever.” She smiles and tries to take Rhett from me, but he fists my shirt and won’t let go.
I look at her questioning what I should do, but she just shrugs. I walk over to my bed and lean down with him as I settle him on his back, his arms flop back onto the mattress and he sprawls out like a starfish. I cover him up and tuck Safeinto the crook of his arm. Then take every pillow I can find and line them up on either side of him so he doesn’t roll off the bed.
Clara stifles a laugh, “Rowan, he’s four YEARS old, not four MONTHS old.”
I give her a mock glare, “You can never be too cautious. He’s already in an unfamiliar space.”
She looks at me like she’s seeing me in a whole new light, “We’ve never had anyone who protects us and cares for us like you do. I’m just not used to it.” I go to her and wrap her up in my arms kissing her temple then inhaling her intoxicating scent and letting it out.
“Get used to it, baby. I’m not going anywhere. We have to talk about what happened tonight though. I’ll fix it I swear, and I’m so sorry you got pulled into this. Just give me a chance to explain everything.” Questions swirl in her eyes and I hope she hears me out. She’ll never be in danger here, but I know she’s not going to like this.
* * *
Clara
He pulled me into this? What is he talking about? He definitely has a lot of explaining to do. He’s obviously wealthier than I thought. I’m assuming his brothers are waiting downstairs to talk to him. What’s with the guns? The secrecy? The guards?Tonight has Preston written all over it. Though, I am curious what Rowan thinks he has to do with it. I look at Rowan and wait for him to explain. He takes my hand and holds on like he’s scared I’m going to rip it out of his hand at any second.
“So, first I need to start with I didn’t lie to you. I left out some details but I never lied.” I open my mouth to ask him what he’s talking about but he keeps going, “I did take over my fathers businesses when he died two years ago. I just didn’t tell you about all of them. My Da, well, he ran an important organization where he stored and distributed product to other big organizations.”
I’m so confused, “What aren’t you telling me Rowan? You’re talking in circles, and you’re freaking me out.” Rowan scrubs his free hand down his face and lets go of my hand to start pacing the floors.
“Baby, I’m sorry. If I knew he would come after you I swear, I’d have been more careful so no one found out about you guys.”
I’m done, he’s pissing me off now, “ROWAN! Spit it out!”
He turns to me with fire in his eyes. I see anger, fear, anxiety, and another feeling I don’t dare think too hard about right now. “My Da was the Captain of the BOCG, and now, I am.” My hand flies to my mouth and fear snakes down my spine. The BOCG or the Byrne Organized Crime Group is the Irish Mob. I got tangled up with the fucking MOB? Other mob bosses are after Rhett and I? I have to go, no I have to hide out here, no I should definitely leave. Maybe they won’t find me in Canada, Rhett and I do have our passports.
I’m spiraling when Rowan continues, “The Pakhan of the Bratva thinks we’re after him. We aren’t but he’s convinced. I’m assuming he has a tag on me and followed me to yourhouse the other night, then waited and when we were gone today he broke into your apartment.” This can’t be real life. I process what he said and start laughing uncontrollably. I think I’m having a breakdown.
“You think that was a mob thing? My apartment tonight? Oh Rowan, no. No, that was my past coming back to bite me in the ass. Sneaking in to remind me I can never escape him.”
“What do you mean? If not the Pakhan then who? Who’s after you?”
I shake my head, “It doesn’t matter. I have to go. Rhett and I will stay here tonight, but tomorrow we have to go before he realizes where we went.”
