A knock at the front door draws both of our eyes to it. D’s finger comes up to his lips, a signal to stay silent. He carefully stands and makes his way over to the front door just as the person on the other side knocks again. After checking the peephole, his eyes pop wide as he turns back to me mouthing,‘It’s Byrne.’
Oh, no. Nope, not happening. I shake my head vehemently. My shock, I’m sure, matches my brother’s. He gives me one firm nod before opening the door just enough to slide out of it and pull it shut behind his back. As soon as I hear the lock click, I have my phone out and the security feed to my hall pulled up. I’m nosy, and I’m bored. I’m also curious as to why a Byrne is knocking on my door.
Pulling the camera feed up to cover my entire phone screen, I turn up the volume and take in what’s happening. D shutsthe door quietly behind him, looking at… Mac. Holy shit, that’s Mac. Why? What?
“What can I do for you, Byrne?” Dieter eyes him with caution.
“I’m here to see Lee. She around?” Mac tries to act nonchalant about it, but his body language screamschalant.
My brother shakes his head and shrugs his shoulders, “Hate to tell ya, she’s not. Maybe try calling or texting her instead of showing up unannounced.”
His hands go into his long strands, pulling at the ones at the back of his head, “I’ve tried. I’ve been texting and calling all week. I don’t know what I did wrong. Honestly, that’s not even the point anymore. I just want to know she’s okay.”
Now it’s my turn to furrow my brow. What is he talking about? I haven’t gotten any calls or texts from him.
“Look, I don’t know why she isn’t answering you. What I do know is if she wanted to talk to you, she would. I also know that if you ever step foot here uninvited again, I or whoever else is here won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your skull. Our families have deep connections, so I’m not going to lose my shit right now, but if you don’t stop harassing my little sister, that’s going to change.”
Mac’s lips quirk up in an almost menacing grin. One that tells me he’s going in for the kill.
“You mean your adopted sister?”
All of a sudden, the air is sucked out of this entire apartment complex, every single molecule of it. I mean obviously, I’m adopted; he knows how I know Nix. It’s not a huge jump from ‘rescued from a sex trafficking ring’ to ‘adopted’. Logically, it would have been a slim chance that I was returned to my biological parents. However, him wielding it like a swordto hurt Dieter is something I wouldn’t expect from him, especially considering his oldest brother’s history.
I blink, and Dieter has Mac shoved up against the far wall, his forearm pushing into Mac’s neck. “What the fuck did you just say?”
“I didn’t stutter, Fischer. I know she’s adopted. She was rescued because of my sister-in-law. I have suspicions about more, but no proof to back up my claims.”
“I’ll fucking kill you, right here, right now. I’m not fucking around, Mac. Stay the hell away from Lelonie.” I don’t know where it comes from, but all of a sudden D has a knife to Mac’s throat. His hand trembles in rage.
Mac’s hands come up in surrender, “I thought you weren’t in the life?”
“Doesn’t mean I wasn’t taught to handle myself or protect my family. Leave, and don’t come fucking knocking again.”
“I’ll leave. But make no mistake, the moment she asks for me. I’ll be right here, and I’d dare anyone to try to stop me. Tell Lee to answer her damn phone. I’m worried.” He strolls away with that final bomb dropped at Dieter’s feet.
Closing out of the security app I rack my brain. I haven’t gotten anything from him. Of that, I’m sure. I get brain fog sometimes, but never about something as big as forgetting about blocking someone. Dieter struts back into the apartment. His wild eyes come to me, “Kostbarkeit, you do not talk to him anymore. He’s unhinged.”
I roll my eyes at his theatrics, “He’s worried, and you pulled a knife on him. Where did you even get a knife?”
“None of your business. Why are you ignoring him if he’s so great then?”
“I’m not. I haven’t gotten anything fromhim.” My fingers navigate my screen to the security feature. Lo and behold, there’s his contact, firmly in the blocked column. “What the hell?” I remove it from the list, and the texts from him start streaming through from the past week. Bringing my hand up, I rest it on my forehead. This doesn’t make any sense.
D’s hand comes to the back of my head gently as he watches over my shoulder, “You really didn’t do that?” I shake my head in response. “I’ll figure it out, Lee. Don’t worry about it.”
My phone finally stops vibrating in my hand long enough for me to shut my eyes for a second as exhaustion slams into me. “Dieter?”
“Yeah?” His voice is distracted, no doubt texting the group chat about this.
“I like him.”
Just like that I have his full attention, “What? Who?”
“Quill… Mac. I like him. I don’t know why he was blocked, but I’m glad he isn’t anymore.”
I can hear the smile in his voice, “Okay, Little Sister. Take a nap, you look exhausted.”
I’m asleep the next moment. Dreams of the sexy Byrne brother dancing in my head.
