Suddenly it feels like someone has a hand wrapped around my throat and my stomach at the exact same time. I only took my job with the Defence Forces because it meant proving I could be a supportive, stable older brother. It wasn’t ever what I grew up knowing I wanted to be. It’s not like some kids who imagine they want to be a firefighter at age five and continue on the path when they get older. I wish I could say I was, but being in the Defence Forces was never my dream. Even so, I’m not a man who ever wants to give up without making the choice first.
I gather my wits about me and look right at him. “Ehm, what does this mean?”
Eoghan gives me a knowing look. “Keenan, you’re not an idiot. I hate to say it, but Piers Morgan has a higher chance of dressing up in drag and walking down the middle of Las Vegas than you do coming back to the Force.” We both smile at his Piers Morgan comment, but the second he finishes his sentence, I feel a metaphorical stab to the gut.
“C’mon, it can’t be that bad.” There’s no way.
“You know that girl Lizzie, yeah?”
“The one you shagged a few months back? How could I forget,” I choke out my remark.
“Yep, she’s the one. Anyway, I had her take a look into it. Her sister works in the review department, and a little birdy told her they’re doubting your ability to hold a firearm ever again.”
“Dumb fucks,” I snap, holding my coffee mug so tightly my knuckles turn white, I loosen my grip a tad. As much as I want to tell Eoghan he’s wrong, before I was discharged, they did inform me I’d have quite a long road in front of me. Months of rehabilitative therapy to get my strength back, surgeries depending on how my progress went in therapy.
“I don’t agree with what they’re thinking, not in the slightest. But I wanted to let you know. I do need to head back since I’m a ways out from the city.”
“It’s all right, I understand. Thank you for coming by and paying a visit,” I tell him as he rises from the chair.
“Of course, I really was trying to make sure you were okay. Just didn’t want you to get your hopes up and be blindsided, is all,” Eoghan comments and then meets his eyes with mine. “I’m really sorry, Keenan. As much as I hope her sister is wrong, we know how the board handles things.”
“Always on the side of caution,” I fill in the blank, and he nods in agreement. “It’s all right. I’ll get over the way I feel right now.”
“I know you will, and you’ll be back to your usual craziness in no time,” Eoghan says with a laugh, and he walks off the way he came.
I continue to stay seated and slowly sip on my coffee, enjoying the nice view, and my cell starts to ring. Upon seeing my cousin’s name, I answer. “Morning, Liam.”
“Morning. I heard there’s an event happening at the estate, an event I wasn’t made aware of.” Well, I haven’t felt chastised by a parent in many years now, but this is almost what I remember.
“News travels quickly, it seems.”
“That it does, now care to tell me what this is about?”
I waste no time calming Liam’s worries, assuring him everything will be fine. I even tell him it’s for a good cause, and sure enough, he wasn’t upset in the least bit. He was only worried about us not having enough security for the event. Although, he’s graciously offering up some of his own detail to make sure we have every entrance and exit covered if need be.
Things are changing, and there isn’t a doubt in my mind about it, but deep down, I think things are changing for the better.
CHAPTERSEVEN
DELILAH
With the change of event location, there’s a lot of work to do. The first thing we did was send out corrected invitations. After all, there won’t be an event if people can’t find it.
I still can’t believe Keenan offered this house. It’s not his house to begin with, and I get the feeling he’s here to hide out, so bringing a bunch of strangers inside could be problematic. He says it’s fine, and there are security measures, so I’m going to trust him on that. I don’t have a choice.
My assistant and I are at the house to do a walk-through. There’s a lot of planning that still needs to take place. The layout is completely different.
“This entryway could be a perfect area for greeting everyone,” Cassie tells me as we stand in the foyer.
It’s a grand entrance for any event center, let alone a house. The cathedral ceilings make it feel even bigger than it is. The walls have beautifully textured paint, and even if we have to move the large table out of the center of the room, we’ll have enough room to funnel everyone through.
“It will be. Very impressive as well.” I’m still taking it all in.
It’s different from the other night when I first arrived. Now I’m looking at it with the eye of an event planner, and I’m surprised that whoever owns this place doesn’t rent it out as an event space. They could make a ton of money doing it. Though maybe there are reasons that they don’t. I’m suspicious about that.
“I think if we have the reception in here . . .” I walk into the attached living room area. Cassie takes notes as I speak. “Then we can move them in here for the main cocktails and all of that.”
“We’ll have to empty the room and bring in those tables that people can stand at,” she warns.
