Chapter 21
Take Care of You
Deja
I’ve been at Castle Black for five days now. I haven’t heard from Cole and that’s making me nervous. I never should have called him in the first place.
If something has happened to him, I’ll never forgive myself. This is my mess. Actually, it’s not, and I still don’t know whose it is. I have so many questions and no one to answer them.
“Ye know pacing the halls isn’t going to bring my nephew here any sooner,” Uncle Finlay’s voice booms through the hall as I pace back and forth through the second floor.
I stop and turn to find him leaning up against the wall with his shoulder, his arms folded across his chest. Those golden eyes fixed on me.
Finlay Black is a handsome man, but I wouldn’t try him. He’s likely to knock your head off. I’ve seen his temper flare.
“I didn’t see ya there. Am I making too much noise?”
“Not at all. I came to find ye to see if ye’ve eaten.”
“No, I haven’t. Have ya heard from Cole?”
“Not yet. I’m sure he’ll turn up soon. The lad has a lot on his plate. Give him time.”
“Maybe I should head back home,” I murmur.
“Och, not at all. Ye are welcome here. I believe Cole was right in having ye come here.”
“Is there anything I can help ya with to keep me mind busy?”
“Come have a sit with me,” he says with a smile.
I stand, wringing my hands. It dawns on me this man might be one of the only people who can give me real answers right now. Nodding to myself, I follow him downstairs.
“What’s on ye mind, Deja. I can hear the wheels turning,” he says as we get to the study, and he sits in front of the chessboard.
I take the seat across from him and think of what I want to ask first. He sets the board for a new match as he waits me out. I don’t want to ask the wrong thing and have him shut me down before I can get any answers at all.
“How about this? I will fill in some blanks and ye can go from there,” he says with a warm smile as he gestures for me to take the first move.
I make a move and listen as he begins. “Yer mother asked me to bring ye to Scotland to yer great-gran. She didn’t tell me where she was going or when she would send for ye.
“I got the feeling she wouldn’t be returning to Scotland herself. Yer mum was a special woman. She wanted ye safe.”
“From what?” I cut him off.
“There are some bad people out there who would love to hurt yer mum. They would just as soon hurt ye to get to her. Yer great-gran and uncles are powerful people in our world, and they wouldn’t allow anything to happen to ye.
“I believe that’s why she left ye in their charge. That and Ewan has certain skills that I ken have come in handy for ye,” he says.
“All the training.”
“Aye.”
“What does any of that have to do with Cole? Why didn’t he know where to find me? Why did he think I was missing?”
“Ye play a way bigger role than ye ken in something that hasn’t been revealed to ye yet. Yer importance to Cole has shaped a lot over the years.
“It was best he didn’t know where ye were. He has Da’s temperament. Things wouldn’t have gone as they should had Cole known where to find ye.”
“Okay, say I follow ya and all yer saying. What has changed?”
“A lot. Da’s death made a lot of people bold. The plan was coming into alignment. The time was already nearing for him to find ye.”
“Does anyone around here give straight answers anymore?”
“Ye will have all the answers ye need when the time is right,” he says and smiles. “Checkmate.”
I groan and shake my head. I can’t focus on the game and deciphering his words. My heart sinks as I think of my next question.
“Is she alive? Will I ever see her again?”
His smile falls. “That I cannot answer for I dinnae ken.”
Disappointment fills me and I drop my head. I thought he would be able to answer more. Especially concerning Mum.
“Oh, okay. Do ya mind if I go for a walk?”
“Not at all, love. I’ll send for ye if I hear anything from my nephew.”
“Thanks.”
I stand and move to give him a hug. I don’t want to break down in tears, so I pull away quickly and turn to leave. I head down to the lower level to the pool.
For some reason, it feels like I’m more connected to Cole while I’m down here. I smile when I see they didn’t change the place from our date. Nothing is lit, but it’s all still in place.
I go over to the satin padding and pillows and sit down cross-legged to stare at the sparkling water. My mind goes to the night of that date. Things were so much simpler then.
My only worry had been whether or not I could trust Cole. Now I have men coming to kill me. I get so angry every time I think of it.
It was my first time in real-life combat. If I’m not mistaken, it was for Blair and Callum too. I wish I’d had time to tell them both how proud I was of them.
All I got the chance to do was pack a few things at the cottage and run. I didn’t want to stay at Gran’s longer than I needed to in case more men were coming. I’ve been calling to check in on Gran to make sure she’s okay.
It sounds like Uncle Duncan is there with her. I don’t think she has the strength to head to the castle with him. I’m so frustrated. This isn’t how I wanted to leave.
It feels like I’m being forced from my home once again. My head is spinning and I’m getting tired. Taking out my phone, I start some music through Bluetooth.
That seems to settle my nerves a bit. I should probably go back upstairs and finish tending to this hair. I got it washed, oiled, and in Bantu knots, but that’s as far as I got.
It’s dry, but I’ll need to straighten it. With plans to go flat-iron it, I release the knots as I get lost in thought. Once I have all my hair down, I can barely keep my eyes open.
I lie down on the pillows with the thought that I only plan to close my eyes for a few minutes. However, moments later, I can hear myself snoring over the music, but I can’t wake myself up.
Brooklyn
“Och, it’s good to see ye, nephew,” Uncle Finlay says as he pulls me into a tight hug as I enter the castle.
“It’s good to see ya too.”
I couldn’t come straight here after handling Oland. I had to get shit in order. I didn’t much care if the oul bastard was buried, but repairs needed to be done to the manor, and I needed everyone to know who is now in charge.
“How are ye holding up? Ye look tired.”
“Never better,” I snort.
“Och, are ye sure? He was yer granda.”
“And?”
He releases a chuckle and slaps my cheek. I haven’t lost any sleep over what I’ve done. Anyone waiting for that will be waiting a long time.
“Don’t get me wrong. I know he needed to die. I’ve wanted to do it myself for years, but ye understand what ye have done, don’t ye?”
“Aye, I know exactly what I’ve done. The Kaseys and O’Donalds have tried me already. I shut that shit down hard and fast,” I grumble.
“Och, I’m not surprised. The Kaseys have been vying for power since yer uncle married Cass. Joe marrying the lass and killing off the heads of their family after they targeted Cass and the kids, placed them at the bottom of the barrel.”
“Well, after fucking with me, they’re now under the barrel,” I scoff.
“Things will remain volatile until ye assert yersel as the new Lord. They’re not going to lie down and give it to ye.”
“Aye, I know. I had to call in reinforcements, but I’ll get things under control. I’m not going to leave this to snowball for everyone else.
“Och, I didn’t think ye would. Ye were the right one for the task,” he says with a smile.
“I thought Uncle Jonah was calling to ask for it. He only wanted to offer to have my back,” I say in frustration.
Before I left Ireland, Uncle Jonah reached out to let me know the McGowans have my back if I need it. I wasn’t expecting that.
This would be the perfect timing for them to move in and take over. They’re family, I wouldn’t have put up much of a fight if they wanted it. I had thought Jonah was reaching out to negotiate.
However, he wanted to show his respect. I didn’t turn down the offer. What I’ve done has revealed how much my woman means to me. I now have to protect her and my niece from being used as pawns against me and my brother.
“Och, I wouldn’t expect anything less from Jonah or Cianán to tell ye the truth. This has Da written all over it.”
I sigh. “Aye, I see that now.”
To be honest, thinking of Granda Ian is the only thing that kept me from shouting from the rooftop that I killed the oul motherfucker, and anyone else who wants to challenge me can bring it on. Instead, I’m going to handle this with a clear head.
It’s time I begin to play chess and not storm the China shop like I normally would. Logan isn’t the only one Granda kept under his wing. I paid attention and learned too.
“Ye did the right thing. Ye have my support whenever ye need it. Have ye spoken with LaSalle?”
“Aye, he says things will change with the Alliance for me again. I now get my very own seat at the table, not just the title of my brother’s right hand. I’ve become a different kind of captain.
“One with say and rank. As I understood it before, I would go back to being silent once Logan returned,” I answer.
That option is now long gone. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’m not complaining. I just haven’t wrapped my head around any of it.
What a fucking mess I have on my hands. It took all of a day—if that long—for word to get out and those motherfuckers to come to challenge me. I don’t much care about that. However, I do realize the magnitude of the target I’ve placed on my back.
Ireland is indeed now unstable. I’ve seen firsthand what the McDougal brothers meant. I can’t leave things and go back home like nothing is happening. I’m now an Irish lord and I have to enforce my power there.
“It will all work out, lad. Ye can handle it. She’s downstairs.
“I won’t hold ye up any longer. Ye have a good night and get some rest. Dinnae fash yersel while ye’re here.”
With that, he pats my shoulder and walks off. My mother’s brothers love her and will do anything to protect her and her kids. I never had a doubt about whether or not I would be safe here.