“Want to tell me what the hell has been going on these past few weeks?” Dieter asks with his arms folded over his chest.
“I’d like to know the answer as well, seeing as you’ve been ditching us left and right.” Ethan’s more casual with his hands in his pockets, but he still raises a questioning eyebrow.
“Nothing, nothing’s happening.” I bristle under their intense gazes.
“That’s bullshit dude, and you know it. You don’t ever ditch us, and now we can’t ever get a hold of you.” Ethan bites back.
“What do you want me to say, E?” I bark out in impatience.
“The fucking truth would be nice.”
“You want the truth? How’s this for the truth… The man that I’m halfway in love with was hurt a week ago. Yeah, you heard that right. A man. Declan Byrne, to be more specific. I’ve been terrified he’s going to die half of that time, and the other half I’m trying to get him back on his feet so we can go back to our normal. Oh, that isn’t all, though. I’ve also been forced to fucking fight to knockout for years, like almost five years, because if I don’t, she and her goons have threatened to hurt my parents and siblings. But does that really matter? Idon’t think so, because she had one of her cronies take a fucking shot at me in my bar. I just found out she’s doing the same to him, and worse. Though I don’t know what the worst is because he isn’t awake long enough to tell me right now.” By the time I’m done with my rant, my eyes burn with unshed tears and I’m yelling into the large space.
“Who shot at you?” They both roar in sync.
“I don’t even know, they were covered head to toe in my surveillance.”
Dieter moves so quickly I don’t even register it until he has his arms wrapped around my torso. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do this alone. That’s a lot to unpack, but damn, let’s unpack it.”
Ethan clears his throat before I have the chance to answer, “Who is she, Jakob?”
I stiffen at his tone and pull away from my brother. Ethan is even more protective than I am.
“Natasha.”
“The same Natasha that you’ve been acting like a kicked dog over for the past five years?” His tone is deathly calm.
“Yeah, about that. I never have been and never will be in love with her.”
The look on his face is one of bewilderment as the pieces slowly click into place and shock covers his features. “Declan?”
“It’s always been him.” I hang my head in shame for lying to my friends all of this time, but I never knew how they would react to this. They’ve never been the biggest fans of the Byrne’s.
“So you’ve lied to us. For five years you’veLIEDand let us believe the woman who’s been actually hurting you was reallythe one you’ve been in love with. What thefuck, Jake?”
He’s right. That’s absolute bullshit, and I know it. I’ve let them think shit that couldn’t be farther from the truth. All because I’ve been terrified of them finding out that I’ve been hopelessly heartbroken over a man all these years. They’re my absolute best friends and I didn’t trust them with this. What kind of asshole am I?
“I’m sorry. I didn’t– I mean I couldn’t– I was– “ Deciding there’s no good reason for this, I just shake my head. “I’m sorry. I’ll head back to Declan’s.” Looking to my brother, I nod. “I’ll call you later?”
He dips his chin but otherwise stays silent. Right as I pull the door open, Ethan slams it shut again with his hand hitting the door above mine.
“You’re joking, right? You tell me this, I act shocked, and you shut me right back out? You don’t even give me a real chance to be there for you? What the fuck, Jakob? Have I ever been a friend who walks away when shit gets rough?”
“No.”
“So why would you think I’d start now? Come sit the hell down and let’s figure out what we’re going to do.”
“We have fifteen minutes, then we have to brainstorm in the garage. I have a business to run, and E has a paycheck to earn.”
We all sit on the ground and try to figure out how we’re going to get out of this unscathed.
22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Declan
It’s been a week since the day I spilled my guts to Jakob. He’s prodded more and more, but I’m not ready for the rest of it. He’s going to lose it when he finds out, and even though I’m finally well enough to go back to work, I’m not healed enough for that conversation. I’ve been in my office fielding calls and emails all morning when Cormac pops his head in.
