I have to work hard to temper the emotion that I’ve been pushing down for years. This all feels like it’s coming to a head quickly, and I’m not ready. I can’t tell Jakob without telling my brothers, and I can never tell them. There are some things you have a right to keep to yourself, for your privacy, and in my case, the safety of everyone in the immediate vicinity of our state. Something about the way he presses without demanding makes me want to tell him everything. Too bad I can’t without ruining him. Jake’s just a guy who loves his family and his bar. He doesn’t deserve to get dragged into this shit.
* * *
“Where have you been?” I practically jump out of my skin as I turn around to see Sully watching me carefully.
I wasn’t sneaking into the house. I’m just six months shy of thirty-one years old, for fuck’s sake, but maybe I was being extra careful shutting the door. It’s past ten, and I know the kids are asleep by now. Jakob and I spent the rest of the day lounging around, snuggling, and making out like horny teenagers until he had to leave for work.
“None of your business.” I look around and notice he’s alone. “Where’s Flynn? Where’s Elle?” Elle is Sullivan’s best friend and future wife, even if they’re both too stubborn to realize that last part yet.
“Flynn’s out with his hockey douche bags, I mean friends, and Elle is over at Mac and Lee’s last I heard. You know she’s not actually my girl, right? She goes places without me all thetime.”
I raise a singular eyebrow while staring blankly at him.
“Oh, fuck off.” He starts walking away but tosses over his shoulder a landing blow, “Next time you’re off making out with Fischer, make sure your phone’s on loud. Roe’s looking for you. He’s on the back patio.”
My jaw actually drops. How the hell did he know where I was? I pull my phone out of my pocket and see the group chat I have with my brothers going crazy.
Byrne Bro’s
Rowan: Anyone have a clue where my under boss is?
Kieran: I know where your enforcer is, but your UB? No dice, sorry.
Sully: Ohhh, Declan’s in trouble.
Flynn: Did he not finish his chores before he left the house this morning? Ya know, because he’s thirty and still lives at home.
Kieran: Ouch, that was harsh. Flynn won’t you be living at home every off season from now until forever?
Flynn: Absolutely not.
Sully: Don’t….
Flynn: I’ll be living with the other half of my brain in Corey Heights.
Sully: And there it is. You’re not living with me, Flynn. Buy your own house.
Flynn: I will… When you buy one and the one across the street goes up for sale.
Rowan: How is that any different than Declan and I still living together?
Sully: *shrug emoji* You guys didn’t share amniotic fluid.
Three seconds later…
Flynn: *hair flip emoji* You guys didn’t share the same placenta.
Rowan: I should have just texted the older three… Declan? Where the hell are you?
Mac: He’s not here, but word on the street is he’s only about a dozen doors down.
Kieran: Should we check on him? Make sure they haven’t killed each other?
Mac: Nah, let them do their thing. He’ll come back, eventually.
Flynn: Do their thing?? What are they doing? Fucking?
Mac: And if they are?
