Was that what Danny thought? That in this moment of hurt, he’d only shown up to put on a show? Kieran shook his head and rested his elbows on his knees. “I’m here because, no matter what you believe, I care about you, Dan. I always have, and I always will.”
“Yeah?” Danny’s ears burned pink as he flung his arms out. “Then why did you leave?”
Kieran tilted his head, making his confusion clear.
Danny shook his head and paced the wide stone walking path. “You left us when I was little. You left us to go be a big-shot fighter, and Mom was so sad, Kier. You left us, andshe died.” His bottom lip wobbled, and he sucked in a quick breath. “She died, and you weren’t there. And you didn’t come back. Then Dad left because he couldn’t do it on his own. If you’d come back sooner, he would’ve stayed.”
Was that the bullshit story Brennan told him last night? Their mother died and their father abandoned them because Kieran left? That asshole had no limit for how low he’d stoop. “Danny, I didn’t leave because I wanted to. I left because Brennan tried to lay his hands on you, and I wouldn’t let him. I fought him, and Mom called the cops on me. She kicked me out.”
They’d been over this. It wasn’t a new story.
Danny rounded on him, the skin around his eyes flecked with red like Shauna’s earlier. “But that’s not what Dad said.”
Kieran breathed deep. He had to remember Danny was still a kid. “I’ve never known Dad to tell the truth, Danny.” He clasped his hands and bowed his head. The words came easier when staring at his boots. “The truth is…all I could think about was how you kids were still stuck with him. I needed ajob, and I needed a place. Neal took me in. I tried to go pro because it meant I could send home more money to Maeve to make sure there was actual food in the refrigerator for you kids. That the bills were paid. As soon as I knew he was gone, I did everything I could to get legal guardianship.”
Danny rambled on, his anger and grief blocking out Kieran’s words. “I just thought if he saw I wasn’t some dumb kid anymore, that I was a son to be proud of, he’d stay.” He shuddered out a breath. “But I’m not good enough. I’ll never be good enough for him to stay. I wasn’t enough for you to stay. Or Mom. Everyone always leaves. Maeve had Saoirse and she left. Shauna got engaged and moved away. You’re gonna marry Lily and forget about me.” His voice broke, and Kieran lifted his head in time to see his brother’s face crumple. “I just want my dad.”
Marry Lily and forget Danny? The air rushed from his lungs as if pushed out with a knife. Pain needled into him and pulsated. Danny thought he was disposable. Had he been living with all that rejection and Kieran had been too blind, or too busy, to see? Unease bubbled within him. Was Lily a distraction? If he hadn’t been busy playing house that morning, would his father have had the chance to rob Shauna and Stephanie?
Raw emotion flooded Kieran’s chest, but he swallowed it down, stood from the bench and dragged his brother into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around Danny as if a shield were attached to each forearm. Danny didn’t reciprocate but let his forehead thud against Kieran’s chest. Fury and sorrow and regret crowded his heart, making it hard to draw in a breath. “He doesn’t deserve you, Dan, and neither do I. You’re a good kid and a hell of a ball player. Having you for a little brother has been nothing short of a learning experience, but if I had to choose anyone to do it with, it’d be you. Every time.”
Danny’s arms wrapped around Kieran’s back, his body heaving as wet warmth bled into Kieran’s T-shirt.
Kieran hugged back with the same ferocity. “I’m here, Danny. I’m right here.”
Danny’s shoulders trembled, and his fists balled in Kieran’s shirt.
Movement in his peripherals made him glance up. Lily stood at the edge of the small garden, her expression soft. “Everything okay over here?”
Danny stepped back at the sound of her voice and swiped at his eyes with a soft curse.
“Give us a minute.” He turned, shielding Danny while the boy finished composing himself. “I’m never leaving you again, got it? Not for a woman. Not to be a pro fighter. Not for anything.” He cupped the back of Danny’s neck, meeting the boy’s deep blue eyes—their mother’s eyes. “I’ll be on your ass all through high school and college. I’m gonna be at every game. I’m gonna teach you how to drive, and when you fall in love, I’ll be there cheering you on.”
Danny snorted and shook his head. “Sounds miserable.”
His weak smile said otherwise.
ChapterThirty-One
It took just under seven hours to drive home from the Mackinac Island ferry to Chicago. Throughout the drive, Kieran and Danny remained silent, choosing to let Lily fill the time with music rather than conversation. She couldn’t blame them. Brennan Sullivan had come crashing through and doused the entire joyous weekend with anger and betrayal.
She gave them their space and focused instead on checking her socials and updating her action plan for the week. The big fight was Saturday. Knowing Kieran, he’d be busier than ever this week—training and mentally preparing for the tournament. Tuesday was her birthday. Lily smiled to herself. A full year away from Vovik. Three hundred and sixty-five days focused on herself. She shot off a text in the best friend group chat, confirming their plans to celebrate on Friday night.
By the time they hit the Illinois state line, Danny was begging to be dropped off first. The teen hopped out with his backpack slung over his shoulder and ran straight inside.
Lily blew out a low breath. Maybe now Kieran would be willing to talk about whatever had happened with his youngerbrother. She placed her hand atop Kieran’s thigh and gave it a squeeze. “Hey you.”
Kieran mumbled a “hey” and set his hand over hers, sweeping his thumb across her hand before returning to his white-knuckle grip on the steering wheel.
Alright. Something was wrong. Lily scrubbed her palms against her shorts and glanced out the window. His continued silence unnerved her. Was it the drive? It had been exhausting, and she hadn’t even been the one behind the wheel.
When they arrived at her apartment he didn’t head for the parking garage. Instead, he slipped into a loading lane, put the shifter in Neutral and engaged the emergency brake. Anxiety swarmed in her belly like snakes twisting and coiling over one another.
She reached over and placed a hand on his bicep. “You okay? Wanna come up for a tea?”
Kieran shook his head and dropped his gaze to his lap. His jaw clenched, and she watched as he chewed his cheek the way he did when he didn’t know how to parse his words. “We gotta talk about last night.”
Oh.Lily’s brows raised in alarm. If he’d wanted to talk about his dad or the wedding, that would have made sense. But last night? They’d danced together. They’d had some truly amazing sex and fallen asleep in each other’s arms before doing it again that morning. What else was there to say?
