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I smile warily. “That would be me. I’m the date.” The woman’s eyes widen. She looks worried I might freak out on her. “My bestie is calling with a fake emergency so I can escape.” I look at my phone. “In eight minutes. Eight long, torturous minutes.”
Even though this woman is a stranger, I already love her. Women who protect other women are my favorite human beings.
Warmth spreads through me. I’ve never felt more appreciative of a woman in my life. She’s a stranger, yet in the few minutes we’ve been chatting, she’s made me feel so much better. The world needs more of her.
The woman moves stiffly, and every time her date puts his hand on her lower back, she quickens her pace to get away from him. He doesn’t seem to realize it or care because he continues to try to touch her. It pisses me off.
She’s my best friend Kieran’s little sister. Chloe. Should I call Kieran and tell him to get his ass down here?
The scumbag holds his hand over her glass for a moment and then picks it up by the stem. My blood runs cold as he swirls the drink around before setting it back down.
“Did you see that?” Knox asks. I nod. “The woman is Kieran’s sister. Can you stay here for a few? I’m going to need your assistance.” “Oh, shit,” Knox murmurs.
I clear my throat and force my focus to the asshole in front of me. “Being a slimy politician doesn’t get you enough pussy, so you have to drug women? Or do you have a tiny dick, and you know you can’t please anyone, so you have to incapacitate them? That way they don’t go running for the hills when they see you naked?”
Sebastian Gilroy is the hottest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I think an artist chiseled him directly from stone and then added a million tattoos to make him that much more appealing.
“My roommate.” He arches one of his dark eyebrows. “You have a roommate? When did you move? Does Kieran know you moved? He hasn’t mentioned anything.” Shit.
“Because if he found out I was no longer living with my dad, he would have insisted on coming to see where I live, then he would have made a big deal about the area not being safe—” “It’s not safe,” he interjects. I throw my hands up and shake my head. “See, that’s why I didn’t tell him. He and the rest of you would have had a hissy fit about it, and then he would have demanded to make the place more secure or worse, demand I move somewhere he can keep an eye on me.”
He pulls into my driveway and stares at the older townhouse like it personally offended him somehow. Then he turns to me, pinning me with his gaze.
As soon as he steps up to the door, it swings open, and Paisley rushes out. “Chloe! What the hell? Who is this asshole? Who the hell are you?” Her tone goes from worried to demanding in an instant.
When he turns around to face me, I expect him to be annoyed or angry, but he’s smiling. “I like her. She’s protective of you. Fierce,” he says thoughtfully. I smile and nod. “Yes. She is.”
“Will you be okay to shower alone?” I whirl around and bring my hand to my mouth. “Oh, shit. You scared me.” “Language,” he scolds softly. My eyebrows furrow. “What?” “No swearing. Now, can you shower alone? I don’t want you in there by yourself if you might have another panic attack. Do you want me to have Paisley sit in there with you?”
And he mentioned having Paisley come in the bathroom with me like she would jump at his command. This man. He’s certainly confident.
“I take it you’re not leaving?” Paisley finally asks. “Nope. Not until I get the answers to my questions.”
“Oh, God, no. But I’ve seen him in interviews. He’s running for mayor.” Not anymore, he’s not. At least not once I’m through with him. He won’t be running for shit because he won’t be breathing.
A smile spreads across her face, and she finally meets my gaze. “Yeah, well, Chloe is my best friend, but she doesn’t listen worth crap.” I like this girl. She’s good for Chloe.
When she disappears, I rise and slowly walk around the room. I shouldn’t be snooping, but there’s a lot of shit in my life I shouldn’t do. It’s never stopped me before, though.
“It doesn’t matter why,” she says quietly. That’s exactly why it matters. Because there’s something off. She didn’t go on that date willingly, so whatever the reason, I need to know so I can handle it. “Chloe, answer the question. Now.”
I move toward her bedroom door and turn back to look at her. “Oh, and Chloe?” “What?” she snaps. “You looked incredibly beautiful tonight. It’s a shame you wasted it on that piece of shit. I’m sorry your dad gave you that ultimatum. It won’t happen again.”
He thought I looked beautiful. Sebastian Gilroy said I looked beautiful.
“Sorry. Tonight’s been a bit wild. I’m still trying to sort through everything in my head.” She snorts. “No, you’re trying to picture Bash naked in your head. What happened with Bradley the fuck boy?”
“This is… How… I can’t believe you never told me. This is like, holy shit. This is some heavy information, Chloe. I was kind of rude to Bash. He might come kill me now.”
“I’ll let you know how lucky I am when I get back from my brother’s house tomorrow.” “What do you mean?” I huff. “Bash is making me tell Kieran all about what happened tonight and that I moved out. He said either I told him or he’d tell him because he won’t keep stuff from my brother.”
As soon as I pull into Kieran’s driveway, Bash pulls up behind me in his black Escalade. So much for hoping he wouldn’t show.
“You didn’t have to come, you know. I said I would be here, and I know better than to lie to you.” He arches an eyebrow and pierces me with his gorgeous green eyes. “Do you? I’m not so sure, Little one. Guess we’ll find out in time.”
As soon as Kieran opens the door and sees me, his expression brightens until he sees Bash. Then his entire demeanor changes, and the side of my brother I rarely see is there. The deadly side. “Tell me,” he growls.
Annoyed with the big brute already, I press my hands to his chest and push him back. “Sure, I’d love to come in. A cup of coffee sounds lovely, big brother. Thanks for offering.”
“I didn’t take you for a creamer kind of guy.” He grunts. “I’m not. But I know you are, so I keep it stocked in case you stop by.”
I look to Bash for help, but he crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. “You said you’d tell him yourself. I’m here to make sure you tell the truth.”
With a huff, I circle the kitchen island and climb up onto one of the stools. “It’s not a big deal.” Bash snorts. “Don’t start out by lying, Chloe. Jesus. Liars get a red ass. Is that how you want this to go?”
“A guy slipped a date rape drug into my wine last night. Bash happened to be there, and he intercepted it.” “What?” Kieran roars so loudly I startle, causing my coffee to slosh over the sides of the cup.
I tremble as I look up at my brother. He’s about to lose control. The vein in his neck is popping out, and his face is beet red. He’s vibrating with anger as he looks from me to Bash, clenching his fists at the same time.
“Did you kill him?” he demands. Bash looks at me then back at Kieran and says something in Gaelic that I don’t understand. My fingertips go ice cold. Did you kill him? Shit.
Someone killing for me isn’t romantic. It’s bad. Really bad. And hot. So hot.
“He’s not dead yet. Close. He’s a politician, so before I kill him, I need to make sure nothing will come back on your sister first,” I say in Gaelic.
He has a few more walls to punch before he’ll be calm enough to talk to.
Sure enough, he throws another fist in a fresh spot. He has a punching bag in his gym, but it would be pointless to tell him that.
“He told me if I didn’t go, he wouldn’t pay my tuition. I’m so close to being done. I can’t afford to pay tuition on my own. I can barely afford rent. So, I agreed to go.” Kieran’s eyes darken, and he glares across the counter at his sister. “What. Do. You. Mean. Rent? He has you paying him rent?”
Kieran looks at me, hurt in his eyes. He loves his sister so fucking much. Even though he doesn’t see her as much as he’d like, he’s always talking about her. I know it bothers him that they aren’t close, but he also knows a lot of that has to do with her father.
“The difference between me and your father is that my bossiness is to keep you fucking safe!” he shouts.
I step forward and put a hand on Kieran’s shoulder. “Take a breath, man. I know you’re upset, but you know now. Directing your anger at her is misplaced.”
Finally, she wraps her arms around his waist, and my best friend drops his shoulders and lets out a long exhale. I shouldn’t be jealous that she’s hugging him. Should not and am not are two different things, though.
Kieran glances at me and switches to Gaelic. “We’re going to pay her father a visit.” “Aye,” I reply.
Before I leave, I stop in front of Chloe. “The next time you think about telling a lie to one of us, remember what I told you happens to naughty girls who fib. Be good, Little one.”
Kieran shoves Ronald and shakes his head. “Your daughter’s schooling is no longer your concern. I will be paying for it from here on out. And if I hear of you trying to set her up with any more men, I will come for you, Ronald. I don’t give a fuck if you are her father. I will come for you, and I think you’re smart enough to know what happens when the mafia comes for someone.”
“You put your daughter at risk for your own gain. She is no longer your responsibility. We’ll take care of her from here. And if I find out you’re trying to set her up with any more of your clients—or any man for that matter—I will come and slit your throat myself. Are we clear?”
Kieran’s face twists into a look of disgust. Then he spits on Ronald’s shoe. “You’re scum. Always have been. Always will be. I can’t wait until your daughter finally realizes it.”
