11. Amy
Amy
Iexpected the heavy wooden doors of Kerry’s bedroom to creak as they open, but they’re as silent as the world just after snow has fallen. My breath catches as I see the room inside. Dark. Rich in detail. As complicated and textured as the man who sleeps inside of it.
I should’ve known the rest of the house wasn’t him, but just a staged house. No wonder he looked so amused at my attempts at being polite.
The room is bathed with dark woods from top to bottom.
The gray carpet of the hallway transitions into dark hardwood, the walls a dark green, and the ceilings are paneled wood with images etched into them, mirroring the designs on the door.
I open the door wider, helping Jack and Liam bring the luggage in.
A king sized bed sits against the far wall, bathed in a black comforter, viridian satin sheets, and a black headboard.
I notice the art almost immediately. There’s big paintings in gold frames on the walls, a scene of a ship on a stormy sea, a different one with grassy rolling hills and a large black horse frolicking, and a more modern portrait of a woman looking out a window, watching a young boy play in the gardens outside.
They’re more…delicate than I would’ve imagined for Kerry.
But they’re beautiful, and do suit him, just not in the way I would’ve originally expected.
I feel like I could study them for hours and keep finding new details to appreciate about them.
I probably would if they were in a museum.
The room is neat, but in a different way than the rest of the house.
There’s personal items scattered around unlike any other room in the house, but they just all have their place.
Things that make Kerry seem more human. A pair of reading glasses on his nightstand.
A box of tissues. A bottle of pain relievers.
Slippers tucked into the corner. A robe hanging from a hook on the back of the door.
The bed is wrinkled and not properly made, like he just tugged the covers up and didn’t put much effort into putting it together.
It smells woodsy, like sandalwood and cypress, with a hint of citrus. I would’ve known this was Kerry’s room even if I was blindfolded.
Jack plops down our luggage with a grunt and wipes his brow. “Glad that’s done.”
Liam follows suit, flopping onto a chaise lounge near the window, putting an arm over his eyes.
I laugh, the sight reminding me of some Victorian maiden who just fainted.
“I’m tired. Why’s there so many fecking stairs in this house?
” I don’t have the heart to remind him that, while this is a big house, there are a perfectly normal amount of stairs here. There’s only two floors.
Jack rolls his eyes and tosses Liam’s feet off of the chaise so he can sit down next to him. “You’re being a big baby. Don’t let Alasdair hear, he’ll make us work out more. If you can’t handle that, then how can you handle an actual gun fight or anything else we might need to do?”
That seems to make Liam sit up straighter. “You wouldn’t dare snitch on me.”
Jack grins and shrugs. “Probably not. But if it makes you stop running that mouth of yours…”
Liam grumbles under his breath and covers his face with his elbow again.
I chuckle at their antics and step over the suitcases to go into the bathroom.
I’m curious to see what it's like in the Irish Demon’s private world.
I remind myself that I’m not snooping, I’ll be staying here.
Living here, I guess? That’s still something I’m coming to terms with.
It’s a classy bathroom, black and white checkered tile on the floor, black cabinets, white marble countertops and gold fixtures.
There’s a massive shower with all black tile that's bigger than most New York City apartments, complete with multiple rainshower heads and even jets on the side. Oh yeah. I’m looking forward to trying that puppy out later.
It’s something that I’ve only seen in photos of luxury mansions.
There’s his and her sinks and vanities, but only one of them has anything on it.
The other sits empty with only hand soap and a towel.
Kerry’s has a neat row of colognes on display, a bottle of lotion next to the sink, after-shave, face wash, and a black toothbrush holder.
There’s even a water pick sitting out. It all feels so…
normal. I knew he was just human, but this felt like the first concrete proof I’ve seen of it.
I return to Liam and Jack, who are both on their phones. It’s amazing to me how much of a mafia man’s job seems to be sending emails and texts. Like a secretary but for organized crime. That thought makes me snicker.
Both men look up at me at the sound. “Ready to get some food, little lady?” Liam grins.
I nod. “Yeah, that would be great.” I’m not sure when I ate last, but with the exhaustion of travel, my body doesn’t know whether it wants to eat, sleep, or just zone out for a while.
Liam hops up, Jack following behind him. “Should we order somethin’?” Jack murmurs.
I open the door to Kerry’s bedroom and shake my head. “No, Kerry’s Aunt Marjorie said she made something for us and left it in the fridge.”
Liam snorts. “Like Kerry’s going to let us have any of that. No, Jack and I will order something.”
I furrow my brow. “Why wouldn’t he let us eat it? Marjorie specifically told me it was for us. She was even looking at me when she said it.”
Liam laughs and shakes his head. “No, you misunderstand, he won’t let Jack and I eat it. You? You get everything you could ever want, little lady. Never doubt that. Alasdair will give you the world if you ask it of him.”
I raise my eyebrows, not quite sure what to say to that.
But, thankfully, there seems to be no expectation of me to say anything, because Jack steps around me and heads towards the stairs.
“What do you want to order, Liam? A Chinese?” Weird way to say that, but okay.
I shake my head. Kinda sounds like he wants to order a person rather than the type of food.
But I know that’s just how people from Ireland and Britain talk about ordering take-out, apparently.
“Yeah, that’ll be fine.” Liam strolls after Jack, looking at his phone.
Thankfully they lead the way, because I barely remember how to get to the kitchen from the tour that Kerry gave me.
They both sit on the kitchen stools once we get there, and I move around the island to open the fridge to find the stuff that Marjorie left.
But as soon as I do, the front door opens.
Liam and Jack immediately go into defensive positions, pulling guns from who knows where.
Jack pushes me back and steps in front of me to shield me, and Liam rounds a corner to get cover.
It happens so quick, I barely register what’s happening as Jack pushes me to the floor behind the kitchen island.
But it’s just Kerry who walks in. He raises his eyebrows at the sight before him and then chuckles. “A damn good job.”
Both Liam and Jack exhale sharply and put their guns away. “Mother Mary and Joseph, Alasdair! You can’t do that to us! We just got the girl, we’re on edge!” Liam collapses into one of the stools around the kitchen island like he’s about to have a heart attack.
Kerry shuts and locks the door and laughs. “I had a visitor. I was just seeing him out. Don’t you trust the outside teams to protect the property?”
I pop my head up from behind the counter, and Kerry smirks and arches a brow at me. I shrug at him and stand back up.
“They do good work, yes, but that doesn’t mean someone couldn’t get a jump on them.
Besides, have you seen her?” Liam grumbles and points at me as Jack stands to the side.
“She’s got at least two powerful mafia lords after her, and she’s just a cute, sweet little thing!
” He almost says it like it’s an insult, but his words are also complimentary?
I’m not really sure what’s happening here.
Kerry throws his head back and laughs. “Oh, I’ve seen her all right.” He winks at me. “I’m glad you two are taking your duty of protecting her seriously.”
Jack scoffs. “Neither of us have a death wish. If we let anything happen to her, you’d kill us.”
“Yes, I would,” Kerry confirms unflinchingly, without even a moment of hesitation.
I feel slightly outraged by that. “Why would you do that? They’re your friends! Like brothers, you said.”
Kerry gives a small shrug. “Yes. Which is why I wouldn’t do worse to them. They understand how it goes and what the rules of this arrangement are. That’s why they are my brothers. But I’d shoot my flesh and blood, too, if they did you wrong.”
Liam nods. “It’s the way of our world, missy. We’re not offended. Besides, we’d deserve it if anything happened to you.”
I furrow my brows, the thought still not sitting right with me, even if they’re okay with it. “I still don’t like it.”
“And that’s okay, leannán. It’s not for you to like.
It’s just the way it is.” Kerry smiles at me before turning to look at Jack and Liam.
“But I’m thankful I don’t have to worry much.
My brothers are very good at their job. I have no doubt that they’ll make sure that not a hair on your head is harmed or die trying.
Which is exactly why I think they should have the night off and go relax.
” Both Liam and Jack’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, making Kerry laugh.
“Yes, I mean it. Go. There’s things I need to talk about with my girl, and you two haven’t had a break since before we left for New York City. ”
Jack chuckles and starts collecting his things. “Don’t have to tell me twice.”
I say goodbye to the boys and watch them leave before going to the fridge and seeing what Marjorie left for us.
There’s a big pot of stew, a giant bowl of salad, all carefully wrapped up, and a bottle of champagne, just like she’d said there would be.
The fridge is otherwise empty and clean, as if the appliance just got delivered.
See what I mean about not seeming human?
Like, who doesn’t use their fridge? It’s weird.
Kerry’s hand on my hip tells me he’s behind me. “Of course she’d make stew.” He chuckles.
“Is that a bad thing?” I turn to look at him, only to realize he’s much closer to me than I thought.
He shakes his head, a smirk on his face.
“No. It’s just…a very Marjorie thing to do.
She thinks it’s important Irish culture, so she raised me on it.
All for the love of Guinness. Which, speaking of, I’m surprised she gave us champagne instead of beer.
Clearly she doesn’t care about my tastebuds, just yours. ”
I pat his arm, laughing softly. “She’s just trying to be thoughtful.”
He rolls his eyes, still grinning. “Thoughtful to you. It’s not thoughtful of me.
” He reaches up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, voice dropping to a whisper.
“But, in truth, I’m glad for it. It means she likes you and is welcoming you to the family, as she should be.
If it was the other way around, and she was thinking of me but not you, I’d be pissed. ”
I chuckle and rub my eyes, slowly realizing how tired I am until trying to talk with him. It’s slowly been getting harder the past hour or so, but I’m only just now realizing it. “Yeah.” It’s a lame answer, but my brain can’t come up with much more when it feels like mush.
He arches a brow at me and then turns me fully to face him. “How hungry are you?”
I shrug, furrowing my brows as I try to sense my body’s cues. Sometimes it’s a bit tricky for me to tell, especially when I’m this tired. But my body has given up on the idea of eating by now and is just begging for sleep. “Not super hungry, honestly.”
Kerry nods and pulls me into his arms. “All right, then. We’re putting you to bed.”
I raise my eyebrows but don’t complain as he starts shuffling me out of the kitchen and down the hall, towards the stairs. My brain couldn’t come up with an argument even if I wanted to. It’s like as soon as Jack and Liam left and it didn’t have to socialize as much, it started powering down.
Which is interesting, because that means my brain feels safe enough to shut down with Kerry. Even though I know logically that I’m safe with Kerry, my body seems to recognize it even more.
I look around his room again, taking in all the dark wood and art on the walls as Kerry bends down to take off my shoes. I hadn’t even noticed I was still wearing them all over his house. Maybe he found that rude and dirty, I don’t know, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about it.
I barely register that he’s helped me lie down and is tucking me in.
I push a bunch of hair out of my face, frustrated by its existence.
Usually I put it up when I sleep. “I’m sorry you’re too tired to do your nightly routine, love.
I should’ve noticed earlier how exhausted you were,” Kerry says as he kisses my forehead.
I try to mumble a reply, but being snuggled into the blankets, sinking into the bed, is sucking away all of my cognitive abilities. I can hear Kerry chuckling and closing the curtains, chasing away the late afternoon light.
My last thoughts drift around how much this bed smells like him, even more than the rest of his room. It’s nice. His scent brings me comfort, more than I thought it would.
And when the bed dips beside me and a strong arm wraps around me, I know who it belongs to. His presence lets me fall into a deep, unyielding slumber.