Ronan leaned back and smirked. "Nah. He's soft now he's a daddy. Lost his edge. I reckon I'd beat him hands down if we fought in the ring."
"Yeah… good luck with that, you fucking lunatic. Not a fucking chance!"
The two of them launched into a heated discussion about who would win a fight if they challenged the Russian. I ignored them. Neither of them would win against Kyril, one of Thea's husbands. He might have two kids occupying his time, but he definitely hadn't lost his edge.
If anything, the bastard was even meaner and more psychotic. Eden had told me Kyril had threatened a boy who called their eldest kid a pampered princess. The poor lad had shit himself.
Kudos to Kyril for that. I'd have done the same.Haddone the same when my sisters were younger. At least until Aoife took up kickboxing and beat the shit out of anyone who so much as looked at them wrong.
My lips curled up in amusement before my smile dropped away. I bet Verity hadn't been practicing her self-defense since she'd been overseas. It was time for a refresher course.
"Once Verity’s recovered, get her back in the gym. Make sure she hasn't forgotten all the moves Dario and Kyril taught her."
Ronan nodded in agreement. "Good idea." Then he smirked. "I'm the man for the job. I havealllllthe moves."
"She doesn't need to know your moves, bro," Conal snapped. "Show some fucking respect."
Ronan laughed before taunting his brother some more.
"Enough!" My voice cut through their bickering. "Ronan, I need you to visit the Lotus Lounge tonight. Finn Murphy has been dealing pills and causing shit again. Put him in his place and deliver a final warning. Any more bullshit and he's a dead man. Got it?"
Ronan nodded, his head finally back in the game.
"Conal, talk to the security team and bring them up to speed, yeah?"
"Sure."
"Now fuck off the pair of you. I need to call Bridget."
"Is she back from New York?" Ronan's question seemed innocent enough. But from the gleeful look in his eye, he couldn't wait for me to dump her ass.
"Yeah." Three days early, unfortunately. I had hoped her trip would extend over the weekend, thus preventing her from attending the party. But nope. She'd made it her mission to wrap up the shoot in time to fly back. Her plane landed this morning. I fully expected her to show up any minute now, which was whyI wanted to ring her and let her know I was 'busy' in meetings for the rest of the day.
My brothers exchanged grins and then left me to make the call.
7
Verity
My phone vibrated on the nightstand, waking me from a deep sleep. The effects of whatever sedative the twins had given me still lingered. A bit like my headache.
"Are you OK, Ver?" Thea sounded concerned when I swiped to accept her call. I had intended to call her, but the moment my head hit the pillow after a long, hot shower, I fell into a deep sleep.
"Fine," I lied.
"You don't sound fine."
"Maybe that's because the twins drugged me before shoving me on a plane."
She swore under her breath. I guess Declan hadn't told her details.
"Why is Dad out of prison?" I dragged myself out of bed, the phone on speaker. Dusk had fallen outside. Rain spattered on the windows overlooking the gardens. In the distance, the ocean roared like an angry dragon.
The sound of waves crashing against the rocks reminded me of the party three years ago, when I stumbled into the water, drunk as a skunk.
A shiver ran down my spine as my stomach churned in response. I really needed to eat something.
With some effort, I forced my mind back to the present. More specifically, my father and his unexpected release from prison.
