I can practically see her dramatically roll her eyes at me. “You say that, but the panic in your voice when I first told you said something different. I don’t know why you guys don’t just make up and go back to playing video games, talking about sports, and burping or whatever boys do when they hang out.”
I sit on my couch dumbfounded for a full ten seconds.What is wrong with her?
“So that’s not even almost what guys do when they hang out, you fucking weirdo. Also, I wasn’t panicked. I was excited that he might be gone. Your mistake.”
“Yeah, you know, I’d love to sit here and listen to your caca for another thirty minutes, but alas, I have to go hang out withmybest friend. You know, the one that I’m not being too bratty to talk to.”
“You called me!” I exclaim, trying to be annoyed, but I can’t be. She’s better now, and she’s a whole new person. I couldn’t be happier with who she is. So I’ll take the sass and the chaoticlittle sister energy happily.
“Bye, Jakob. I love you!” She sing-songs as she kills the call before I have a chance to respond.
Pulling the phone from my ear, I quickly pull up our text thread and fire off a text.
Jakob: Ich liebe dich.
We almost lost her years ago. I’ll always tell her I love her with no shame. I’m the same way with our baby sister and our brother. Speaking of, I haven’t seen Annie all week. Navigating over to our thread, I shoot off a text.
Jakob: What are you doing today?
Annie: Nothing, unless binge watching a new show counts as something.
Jakob: Anything good?
Annie: To me? Yes. To you? Not a chance, unless you’re suddenly into a show about a teenage girl in love with her mom’s best friend’s son, but then maybe she likes the brother too?
Jakob: Yeah, pass. Want to go grab lunch then stop by Dieter’s?
Annie: I’m in, give me fifteen.
Tossing all thoughts of an injured Declan to the back of my mind, I push up off my couch to get ready and go pick up my baby sister. She’s seemed more distant over the past year or so. To hear her tell it, that’s just what happens when a girl hits her twenties and has overbearing brothers. I think she’s the one full of caca. Something’s going on with her, and I promise you. I’ll figure out what it is sooner rather than later.
* **
Walking into the doors of my bar the next evening, I roll my shoulders and make my way to the back where my office is. Ally spots me halfway to my destination and throws her hand up, smiling brightly. We don’t open for another hour so she’s prepping the bar for her shift. I toss my hand up in response and call over my shoulder as I pass by.
“I’ll be in my office if you need me… Try not to need me.”
I can hear her laughter at my back, “Sure thing, Boss man.”
Ally’s a good kid. She’s a college student that spends her summers behind the bar to save up to have spending money for the next semester. She graduated this year, but like Annie, she’s going for a higher degree. She’s tiny, standing at about five feet tall and maybe one hundred and ten pounds soaking wet. Her beautiful brown skin shimmers under the bar lights with what I’m sure is that perfume glitter stuff college girls tend to wear, and her hair is always pulled into intricate twists and braids. She’s small, but she’s spunky. She’s gorgeous, and I’ve seen her put full grown men in their place with one look.
I tell her to try not to need me, but I know I’ll be out there in a few hours just to keep an eye out for her. Just because she can handle herself doesn’t mean she should have to, especially while she’s working. For now though, I need to get some work done. I have reports to go over and orders to put in.
I’ve been combing over numbers and paperwork for a couple of hours when a knock on my office door startles me. Pulling off my glasses and pinching the bridge of my nose for a second, I take a deep breath before putting them back on.
“Come in.” I call from my spot.
No one has access back here except for my employees – or might I say, they shouldn’t. But when Rowan Byrne walksinto my office and sits in the seat across from me without a word, I’m reminded that he’s the most powerful man in this state and the next. He can do whatever he wants.
“How can I help you, Roe?” I try to bite back my annoyance because we might be related by marriage soon, but he doesn’t particularly care for me.
“When are you going to drop the facade?” He asks in a no nonsense tone.
“Excuse me?” I raise an eyebrow at him as my hands clench.
“Let’s not treat each other like we’re dense here.” He holds me captive with his menacing glare. Tension rolls off of him in waves.
“Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m trying to work.” I shift my eyes back to my reports, dismissing him. You’d think after knowing Rowan most of my life that I’d know better than to take my eyes off of a damn apex predator in my immediate vicinity.
