Chapter 37
Thirty-Seven
Hayden
Present
I’m sitting next to my brother with Killian in front of us.
We are at Killian’s house here in Gaeta. He lives in Lombardy where he grew up but he has multiple properties around the world. I’ve been staying here instead of the hotel because I like having privacy and this is a big piece of property with a private beach too.
Killian is wearing his usual attire. Black trousers and a dark blue shirt. He is always wearing some sort of blue with every outfit, it’s something odd I’ve noticed about him.
He also has his regular jewelry on. A thin chain necklace on his neck, an expensive Bulgari watch on his left wrist and then some rings. Only one ring on his left hand which looks like a band on the ring finger.
He never mentioned he was married but the one thing he never talks about with me is women. So I know not to question it.
My brother is next to me in his usual attire. A black fitted t-shirt with some jeans. Rowan is always dressed casually because he thinks it’s not necessary to be wearing a suit all the time since he doesn’t need to prove himself to people.
Killian was born wearing suits, he told me he’s used to wearing a suit all the time. I’ve seen him in casual attire from time to time but he still dresses with class.
“Why am I here, Hayden?” Killian asks, leaning into his chair.
I’m pretty positive that Killian already got word of what I did.
He knows I fucked up but he also knows I don’t care.
Rowan is here because with me and Killian being the two hotheads, we need one calm person to make sure things don’t get out of hand but at the same time I’ve never seen Killian really lose control or get crazy.
He’s always been calm with a stern voice. What he says goes and no one questions him because they are too scared to see what might happen.
His dad is completely different, I heard.
You never know what Ace De Luca is going to do. He doesn’t waste time killing someone. He lights their ass on fire and says, “ Saluta Satana da parte mia .”
Ace De Luca doesn’t care who’s in his way. If you say one bad thing about him or his family, if you don’t obey him, he won’t even think twice about killing you.
Everyone is replaceable to him except his wife.
“You know why. I’m sure Earnings called you about it.”
“He wasn’t happy, Hayden. You caused an issue that I have to fix now. He was going to be a great investment.”
“I know. I know I fucked up.”
“So, when were you planning on telling me you were going to do this? You just decided to do all this and ruin this deal on your worn without discussing things with me first?” Killian raises an eyebrow at me.
“I’m telling you now.”
Killian bites the inside of his cheek and shakes his head lightly. He looks at Rowan. “Who’s worse? Me or him?”
“Right now it’s still you. He’s not as crazy as you,” Rowan answers without hesitation.
Killian looks back at me. “And all this for one girl?”
Killian doesn’t understand because he loves nothing and no one. Killian told me he used to love a girl but she died and from what I heard, after that, he changed. He’s colder and doesn’t care about a single thing in this world.
“Yes,” I say.
“You threw away a multi-million dollar deal because of a girl?” Killian repeats, making me frustrated because he has no clue how important Jaclyn is to me.
If I had to, I’d choose Jaclyn over Killian any day.
I’d die trying to kill Killian if it meant saving Jaclyn.
“Yup,” I repeat, leaning in my chair. “I wanted to tell you about my plan-”
“When? Because it sure as fuck wasn’t going to be today.”
“It was going to be today.”
“You should have told me when you started even thinking about calling off the wedding.”
I roll my eyes. “What do you want from me, Killian?”
“I like you Hayden. You are like the brother I never had and my family even trusts you which is a shock knowing who they are.” Killian sits up in his chair. “So because you cost me this deal and I have to pay Earnings an absurd amount of money to keep his mouth shut about this whole thing, I am promoting you.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “Promoting me for what?” Killian looks at Rowan making me look at my brother. “What does he want?”
“He wants you to be his second in command. He needs one and doesn’t trust anyone other than you,” Rowan explains.
I look at Killian. “You’re kidding me?”
I’m not exactly happy about this because it puts me in a fucking deeper hole that I wanted to get out of.
I don’t want to constantly be looking over my shoulder, worrying about someone killing me or Jaclyn or possibly our future children.
I don’t want to endanger anyone I care about.
Sure Killian is powerful and his name can fucking protect us but that doesn’t matter when Jaclyn would be in a position where a gun is to her head without me there.
“I told you I didn’t want to do that. I can’t risk my family being in danger like that. If it was just me I wouldn’t care but now that I have Jaclyn, I can’t risk that or her getting hurt.”
“Rowan, how has Jane been since her accident?” Killian asks my brother.
“She's fine. She has me.”
“But Jane has been in this life since she was born, not Jaclyn. She has no fucking clue who I am now or what I do,” I explain to Rowan and Killian.
They both don’t get it because they were born into this.
I wasn’t.
I have a family who is somewhat fucking normal.
Carter is the only one who I think is a little deranged like them.
“Jaclyn and your family will be under the De Luca protection. You also have your brother’s company to help you as well. You and Jaclyn are protected all around. You need a specific bodyguard for Jaclyn, easy. We’ll get you one.”
I look at my brother, trying to figure out what he thinks.
I trust Rowan, he’s my brother.
I've grown so close to him in such a short time period and I know if he says I can trust him and do this, then I will.
Rowan cares about me and my interests, he’s never made me question that.
Killian, on the other hand, always does things that benefit him.
If he needs to fuck me over he will.
His loyalty lies with no one, not even his family.
Everyone is a pawn on his chess board.
“You can trust me. I won’t let anyone hurt or touch her,” Rowan says, making me nod my head at him.
I look at Killian. “Anything, and I mean anything happens, I’m out. I don’t care what you’ll do or say, I’ll be out if anything happens to her.”
Killian nods his head and thrusts his hand in my direction to shake it.
“Deal.”
I shake his hand, sealing my fate with him forever. “Deal.”