AIDEEN

I yawned as I walked out of my bathroom. I was about to turn and head into my bedroom so I could go back to bed, when I heard a familiar voice in the kitchen. I frowned as I turned and walked down the hallway and into the room.

“Hey, Ryder,” I said when I saw him sitting across from Kane at our kitchen table.

Kane raised his brows. “I thought you were already in bed.”

“I was, but woke up to go to the toilet and I heard his voice and thought somethin’ might be wrong. It’s past midnight.”

Ryder scratched his neck. “Sorry about dropping by so late.”

“Is everythin’ okay?” I asked, concerned.

He nodded. “Yeah, just need to talk to Kane.”

I knew that was my cue to bid them a goodnight, but I looked to Kane and saw he was fully dressed when only a few hours ago he was topless and in a pair of shorts.

“Why are you dressed?” I asked, frowning.

Kane looked down at himself then to me and said, “I was just going to head out with Ryder for a bit.”

“And leave me on my own?” I asked, my eyes wide with panic.

He wouldn’t do that, not with Big Phil still out there.

“No,” Kane instantly replied. “I was going to wake you up and drop you off at Alec’s so you could sleep there with him and Keela.”

I blinked. “What is so important that you would trouble them with me so late?”

Silence.

I frowned. “Kane, where are you goin’?”

Kane hesitated and glanced at Ryder who averted his gaze.

They were up to something.

“You’re stayin’ here with me,” I stated to Kane.

Ryder sighed and glanced to Kane. “Stay with her, I’ve got this.”

“Are you sure?” Kane questioned.

Ryder nodded and stood up, winking at me before he left the apartment. I looked to Kane and folded my arms across my chest.

“What the hell was that?”

Kane scratched his neck. “What the hell was what?”

“Don’t treat me like I’m stupid. Where were you goin’ with Ryder?”

He looked away. “I don’t need to tell you everything, Aideen.”

“Hold on a bloody second,” I snapped and grabbed hold of his jacket to stop him from walking away from me. “You do have to tell me because I know he is involved in drugs and God knows what else.”

“What Ryder does is his business—”

“I’m with you!” I cut him off. “What you do is me business if it’s associated with that bullshit.”

Kane set his jaw. “Can’t you just trust me?”

“On this?” I questioned. “No, I can’t. I don’t want you goin’ off with Ryder.”

Kane humourlessly laughed. “He’s my brother.”

“I don’t care if he is Jesus Christ himself,” I bellowed. “He is up to no good and I don’t want you involved in whatever he has his hands in.”

“What would you have me do?” Kane demanded. “Turn my back on my brother? The answer is hell fucking no. Being loyal is a part of who I am; I will never turn my back on my own. You know that.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “I’m not askin’ you to turn your back on Ryder, just the shit he is involved in.”

“Why’re you so sure he is up to something?”

That was a loaded question.

“Because you’re all actin’ differently. A few months ago, before I moved here, I was in your old kitchen at six in the mornin’, and he and Nico were goin’ somewhere so he could do some ‘business’. He doesn’t have a job so I know he is gettin’ his money from somewhere,” I angrily stated. “He wouldn’t let up on what that was, but deep down I knew it was somethin’ messed up. I had too much on me mind to take proper notice at the time. Oh, and not to mention the time that I almost sniffed cocaine that got onto my hand from his jacket in the same kitchen. Explain that.”

Kane pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not telling you Ryder’s business, so drop it.”

I blinked at the dismissal.

“I warned you that I would not be with you if you weren’t honest with me about stuff like this. I wasn’t jokin’ when I said I’d be gone if you went back to that life.”

Kane’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Don’t threaten me, Aideen. You’re mine.”

“And I’ll be yours forever, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by you while you do God knows what with your shady brother. I love Ryder, but he is an arsehole!”

Kane’s eye twitched so I turned and walked away from him knowing good and well he was past the point of reason. I walked into our bedroom and over my shoulder I said, “Enjoy the sofa.”

I reached for the door and turned to close it, but jumped back when Kane stepped into the room, blocking the way.

“You’re not kicking me out of our bed.”

“I don’t want to be near you right now so yes, I am.”

He didn’t move.

“Don’t make me choose. I can’t choose between you and Ryder, I love you both.”

I placed my hand over my face in despair for a moment before dropping it back to my side. “I’m not fuckin’ askin’ you to choose. I just don’t want you helpin’ Ryder with whatever it is that he has goin’ on. That’s it.”

“He needs my help though.”

I was furious.

“Just tell me what you’re doin’ with him.”

Kane hesitated then sighed and said, “I can’t. It’s up to him whether he tells people or not.”

I held up my hand.

“Last chance. Tell me where you were going to go with Ryder.”

Kane was torn between his loyalty for me, and his loyalty for his brother.

“I can’t, baby. Please just trust me that it’s not shady. I’m just trying to help him.”

I shook with anger. “I know he is involved with things from his past, and now you’re too. You promised me all that was behind us.”

“It is—”

“It’s not!” I shouted. “He is still out there, and instead of tryin’ to find him, you’re off playin’ gangster with Ryder.”

“What?” he asked, his eyes wide with shock. “I’m putting everything I have into finding that son of a bitch. I just don’t mention it to you because I don’t want you so aware of the prick.”

Oh.

He looked away from me. “You don’t understand shit with Ryder.”

“Then help me to.”

“I. Can’t. Ryder made me promise not to tell you because you would tell Bra

It was definitely something shady.

“I knew it was somethin’ fucked up,” I spat.

“Aideen—”

“Tell me.”

He stared at me, but remained mute.

“Leave!” I screamed. “Take what’s yours and get the fuck out. I can’t deal with this right now.”

“Fine,” he bellowed back and rushed me. “I’ll take what’s mine and go.”

For a second I had no idea what was happening, but then realisation hit me. This motherfucker was trying to lift my pregnant arse up.

“Kane!” I screeched when he hooked his arm behind my knees and slid his arms around my waist and lifted me. My arms instinctively went up into the air then tightly wrapped around Kane’s neck.

“What the hell do you think you’re doin’?” I asked on a gasp.

He walked towards the door of our apartment. “You said to take what’s mine and get the fuck out. I’m doing exactly that.”

Me.

He meant me.

I was his.

For a moment I stared at him, then my heart kicked into overdrive and pleasure filled me. I’d be damned if I didn’t love him and his alpha ways. I looked at him and then I started to cry.

He stopped walking.

“Why are you crying?”

“Because I love you,” I stated and swatted at him. “I don’t want you to leave, but I also don’t want secrets between us.”

Kane sighed. “I love you, too, so please just trust me when I say it’s nothing I can’t handle, and it will be done soon.”

I swallowed. “You promise it won’t take you away from me?”

“Aideen, baby, I promise,” he said and kissed the side of my head. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry for fightin’.”

I was. I wasn’t happy that I still didn’t know what Ryder was up to, but I respected and loved Kane too much not to take his word that he would be okay.