“Yes, the stuff I stole lasted for quite a few years, but then it ran out. I still knew how to get in through the tunnels, so I decided to come back and help myself to more. It was easy enough to come at night when Vincent was occupied. That’s when I realized how badly I had fucked up.”
Just then, Cecelia comes back downstairs, carrying a tray. She has three bottles of beer on it and a bowl of potato chips.
“Oh good, I’m starving.” Julia grabs a bottle off the tray, and the three of them set about having a picnic.
“Seriously?” my sister exclaims, but Harlow isn’t paying attention. She’s lost in thought, and I would love to know what is going through her mind. God knows I’ve got a lot going through mine right now.
ChapterNine
Declan
“Fucking hell, I’m too old for this shit,” I mumble as I roll over in bed, trying to block out the morning light blazing through the open windows.
My mouth feels like I ate sawdust, my head throbs, and my eyes are sensitive to the light. I freeze when I feel a body next to mine, and my heart starts to beat violently with the question of who’s in bed next to me. Surely I didn’t cheat on Harlow. I hadn't been interested in any women for a long time before she came into my life. I certainly wouldn’t have fucked up the best thing to happen to me just because I drank a little too much.
I slowly move my body away from whoever it is, but I don’t get far before a hairy arm and leg are thrown over my body, and I’m spooned from behind. Kai’s mumbling in his sleep, easing my heart, stopping it from jumping out of my chest. I relax for a moment before I throw his heavy limbs off me.
“Get off me, you idiot. I’m not your girlfriend.” I swing my legs off the hotel bed and stagger to the bathroom. I take a piss, and when I’ve washed my hands, I cup them, filling them with water to throw over my face. The cold splash helps a little, but I know that the next thing I’m doing is placing an order with room service. I look at myself in the mirror over the sink and grimace. I’m wearing only my boxers, and my eyes are bloodshot red, but it’s the bandage across the top of my chest that really makes me take notice. Fucking hell, did I hurt myself? I’m wracking my brain, but then a foggy memory comes to life. My eyes widen as I rip the bandage off.
“Oh fucking hell, I’m never drinking again,” I mutter as I take in the new tattoo sitting above my Princess tattoo.
“You know, even as drunk as he was last night, he did a really good job of that,” Kai says, pushing past me to take a piss.
I run my finger over the stylized words. Kai's right; Harlow’s name is perfect and now permanently etched above my heart.
“She’s never going to let me live this down,” I moan as I go back into the bedroom, pulling on a pair of sweats and padding into the living area of our suite.
Picking up the phone, I place an order with room service. I’m just putting the phone back in its cradle when the door to the suite opens. Thomas steps in, red and sweaty, so I can tell he’s already been making use of the gym. I grunt a hello and throw myself down on the couch.
“How can you be exercising so early after drinking so much last night?” I mumble, throwing my head back, closing my eyes, and putting an arm over them to block out the rest of the painful light.
“I drank plenty of water, and the run helped me sweat out the remains, even if it was painful,” he snaps, obviously not doing as well as I had thought. Glad I’m not suffering alone.
“I ordered coffee and breakfast. By the time you shower, it should be here,” I tell him, and he nods, leaving me to do as I bid.
Kai stumbles out of the room we shared and starts to sit down, but I hold up a hand. “Can you grab my phone for me? I think it’s on the dining table.” He marches over to the table and picks up two cells before he finds the right one. He brings it back to me and collapses onto the couch, assuming the same position I did.
“I’m never drinking again,” he groans as I power up my phone. I had turned it off last night, not wanting anyone to interrupt our pity party for Kai and Thomas, but now I need to get back to real life. A few messages make themselves known, and there’s a missed call from Dad, but nothing from Harlow or either of the twins.
Frowning, I’m about to return Dad’s phone call when Oliver comes bounding out followed by Holden. While the latter is a little slower, neither of them look hungover at all.
Kai sits up a little and waves a finger between the two of them “What kind of magical fuckery is this? Why are the two of you not hungover?”
Oliver throws himself onto the couch next to Kai and plants a kiss on his cheek. “Because, brother of mine, Holden and I have more shit to do today if we want things ready before Harlow gets back from her cruise.”
Holden takes a seat on one of the other sofas. “Yeah, so, Oli and I were smart enough to stop drinking early, and we switched to water. It’s why your tattoo looks like it does and not a shit storm. I wouldn't have let him tattoo you if he was as drunk as you all were.” I go to ask something, but he holds his hand up. “And before you ask, I did tell you not to do it. You insisted. I figure Oli can do a quick cover-up if you don't want it.”
When he mentions covering it up, my heart skips a beat. I quickly shake my head, and an amused grin crosses his face.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
Just then, someone knocks on the door, and Thomas returns freshly dressed in jeans and t-shirt, rubbing a towel over his wet hair.
“That was quick,” I comment as he saves me from getting up to open the door. Instead of the room service I’d expected, our dad is standing on the other side, looking extremely agitated. What in the world has happened to make him tug at his hair like he’s going to make himself bald.
“Why haven't any of you got your damn phones on?” he snaps, which is unusual for him.
“Hey, I thought you and Chuck were going off on a road trip yesterday?” I ask.
