He must know I’m not bluffing because he starts, “How do you think we knew where your parents were that day? How do you think we’ve been able to keep a close eye on you all this time? I know it all, how’s that new nephew you’ve got doing? It’s got to suck knowing you have to go home and explain to him why his new dad is dead. Maybe you can play hero to the grieving girlfriend though. She looks like a nice piece of ass.”
Fury courses through my body, “Do not speak about him or his mother. I won’t repeat myself.” He waves me off, acting like he’s speaking to a child. What he doesn’t realize is that I can see his hand is slightly trembling and his face is at least three shades paler than it normally is.
“Nolan came to me after your father got his killed. He knew his dad was on the wrong side of things. He told me all about how the Byrne’s were fucking me over and trying to take me out.”
Losing my patience but needing to know I ask, “How does Preston Donovan fit into all of this? What’s the purpose? Just to fuck with Rowan and his family?” His brow furrows and I can tell I’ve caught him off guard.
“Who the fuck is Preston?”
Shit, we have this all wrong. “I don’t have a Preston working for me. Maybe I should though, seems to have you all wound up. Come on Kieran, let me go, we both know you can’t just kill the Pakhan. You’ll have my whole organization raining bullets down on you.”
It’s honestly not worth explaining to him that his organization has already turned on him. Taking him out is a sign of good faith on our part, to keep the alliance between ourorganizations. Wasting no more time I pull the trigger and Nikolai drops, one between the eyes. Told him I’m a damn good shot. Yelling out to my brothers as I drop beside my big brother. My arms move on their own accord, shoving Nolan’s body off Rowan. I can hear them rush into the room, and feel them all drop down around Rowan’s body. Knowing they just watched all that go down on surveillance, and the only reason they didn’t barge in is because I was in here makes my stomach turn. Rowan is covered in blood, his body limp and his face is completely relaxed.
Mac, who landed beside me, calls out “Bear” and Rowan’s eyes pop open. What the fuck is going on? Mac helps him into a sitting position.
“Look, I know this thing saved my life, but that shit still hurts. Clara’s going to kick my ass for the bruise it’s sure to leave behind.” Looking to my other brothers in various stages of confusion and distress it’s obvious none of us know what’s going on.
Declan speaks first, “Anyone want to tell me why the fuck we didn’t know Rowan had a kevlar vest on? I’m glad, by the way. But why were we left out of the loop?”
Rowan takes his shirt off and starts taking the vest off as he explains, “I had a feeling our rat was Nolan. The only person I could get alone, was Mac. Obviously I couldn’t say anything or let on in front of him. Nolan’s always been predictable, and he always goes for the chest shot. I also knew Kie always goes for the head shot, and that Kie would demand answers before ending Nik. Finally I knew you guys wouldn’t barge in and take the chance of Kie being in danger until every threat was eliminated.”
I’ve always known my brothers are insanely smart. Thatparticular gene skipped me, but it stuck to all of them. What I didn’t know was how far that intelligence goes. Rowan stands and reaches for his phone. He’s right Clara’s going to murder him, the bruise just forming on his back is nasty, to put it nicely. He hits a few buttons and puts the phone to his ear, “Hey, get Clara and Rhett out of there. I want them taken to the safe house.” Listening for a few beats he nods, “Yeah, exactly like the plan we discussed. Thanks Killian.” He kills the call and looks to us, “Let’s go figure out how Preston got inside knowledge into our house so we can dispose of that rat too and my woman and kid can come home.” He lives and breathes for those two. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad, that’s now my sister and nephew. At the same time that can never be me. I’ll never give another person that kind of power over me. Not with what I’ve been through and what lives in my fucked up head.
22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Clara
Rhett and I are playing with his action figures in his room when someone loudly knocks on his door. Less than five seconds later Killian is strutting through it. His face is stoic and it puts me immediately on guard. “What’s wrong?”
He looks to Rhett who isn’t paying us any attention then back to me, “Ma’am, Mr.Byrne has instructed me to bring you to the safe house until further notice. You have five minutes to pack a bag, then we need to go.”
My temper spikes, who does he think he is? Grabbing my phone I dial his number. He answers on the first ring, I can tell by the sounds that he has me on bluetooth. Too bad I don’t care, “Pre-” I cut in before he can finish his pet name.
“Rowan, who the fuck do you think you are? Shipping Rhettand I away by ourselves? No idea how long we’ll be gone or where we’re going? You didn’t even have the decency to call and tell me yourself. You just hide us away when it’s convenient?”
He cuts in before I can continue my rant, “Whoa, that’s not at all what’s happening, baby. We’ve taken care of things from the business side. But Clara, we were wrong. Preston wasn’t working with the Russians. I need you two to go with Killian. You’ll be safe, and I’ll be there tonight. We have a few things to check first then I swear baby, I’m coming to you guys. I’ll be there before Rhett’s bedtime routine. I love you, I love you both so damn much. As soon as this is done we’re having that wedding we talked about, yeah?”
A tear slides down my cheek, “Yeah, I love you too, and so does Rhett. Come get us before we can miss you too much, okay?”
“Promise.”
He cuts the call and I sigh looking to Killian. ”We’ll be ready in five.”
We were ready in eight minutes, oh well, it’s not like he could leave without me. I’ve just finished buckling up Rhett and getting my seat belt on when Killian’s pulling away from the house. I have no idea where we’re going or how far away we’re going, and you won’t catch me asking him. Killian’s fine I guess, we just don’t talk. He does his job and seems to do it well, but he’s not a talker. That’s fine with me, because Rhett and I may have warmed up to the Byrne men, but we still don’t like men. Killian isn’t trying to be friends and neither am I. I guess when you think about it like that we’re a good pair after all.
We’ve been driving for awhile when I can’t take it anymore, “Can we stop so Rhett and I can go to the bathroom?”
Killian looks up to me in the rear view mirror and nods, “Yeah, there’s a gas station just up ahead. I’ll grab gas while you guys go.”
“Thank you.” He’s right about it being just up ahead. We don’t even drive a full five more minutes before we’re pulling in. Rhett and I get out and set off to find the bathroom while Killian fills up the SUV. Of course Rhett can’t go anywhere without either Rowan or Safe, he takes his job very seriously. With that being said, Rowan isn’t with us, so Safe must come with us to the potty. Too tired to argue with him, not that he’d relent anyway, Safe is clutched in one arm, his opposite hand clinched in mine. We make our way to the bathroom and take turns doing our business, so Safe stays well safe of all the gross bathroom germs. After washing our hands we make our way back out to the car. I don’t see Killian, but maybe he went to the bathroom too. It takes three steps out of the gas station before the hairs on my body stick up. He’s here, I can feel him.
Turning quickly to Rhett I tell him,“Go hide. Right now. Do not come out until Daddy or one of your Uncles comes for you. You have to stay hidden, okay?”
Rhett’s eyes water as he responds,“Why, what’s happening?”
“Danger. Go, Daddy will come for you baby, I promise. I love you so much Rhett.” Kissing his head while tears run down my face I turn him so he can run off.
