Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
DONNIE
“ Ryan ,” I grit out as I walk into the living room, scanning the space for Dexter. A faux fur blanket is crumpled on the cushion, but he’s not here anymore.
I follow the corridor toward the first-floor office, finding him sitting in my chair, scanning the Tenders file on the desktop.
“You’ve done well,” he acknowledges without looking at me. “In my place.”
I sit opposite him and lift my ankle to my knee, leaning back, relaxed. “I didn’t do anything.” I undermined my efforts because I care little about them. “I signed papers. Attended a few meetings. Cut a rope once. It’s yours. Take it back. The investors are willing to work with you again as long as you stay sober; that’s the condition.”
“Why do I hear a but in that sentence?” He turns to face me, eyes locked on mine, questioning.
I cross my arms across my chest. “ But Molly, Vallie, and Tyler are not yours. We have a very strange life. It doesn’t suit everyone. But it suits us. Tyler was never able to share me with a woman unless she loved him, too. We are one in his heart and head. He was never going to be able to love a woman unless she loved me. His happiness balances on understanding, acceptance, and open-mindedness. If you want to be a part of this, you need to accept us. The way things are. If you fuck things up, the things I have fixed, I will not give you another chance.”
My words aim and hit their mark.
His jaw muscles pulse, working to hold his tongue. He knows it is all true. “Consider your warning heeded.”
“Good to have you home, brother.” I stand, still only in my underwear and shirt. “I need a cigarette. The app has Vallie marked to ovulate today. We are going to chase her through the forest and corner her in Dad’s old hunting cabin. Come?—"
“Donald?”
What the?
Kathleen…
I sigh hard, exasperated. “ Jesus Christ .”
Dexter cocks a brow. “Who the hell is that? And who the hell is Donald?”
Without answering, I walk from the room towards the front door, where Quinn takes Kathleen’s woollen, orange coat and hangs it on the brass hook.
“Where is she?” Kathleen asks, peering around, her raspy, yet feminine tone singing out. “I have a basket of candy and eggs.”
“Quinn.” I motion towards the old biddy. “Why?”
“She insisted,” he says with an apologetic shrug that means nothing because he isn’t the slightest bit sorry. “You know she’s alone all day, Donnie, in that house. We made her our problem when we held her hostage. And she adores Molly so much. Come on, don’t be an arse about it.”
“Language, Quinlan.”
He nods. “Sorry, Kath.”
Fucking hell.
Since Quinn spent that week with Kathleen in her house, he hasn’t been able to shake her. Which means I haven’t been able to fucking shake her. She calls him when she can’t find her glasses, or her tap is leaking when it isn’t. I don’t know if she’s crazy or lonely or both.
“Donald, you’re not dressed for company.” She squints up at me, genuine disapproval, pursing her lips. “Where are your slacks?”
I never know what to say to her.
Clearing my throat, I redirect the conversation, looking at the items in her hands. “A basket of candy and eggs?”
“What?”
I massage the bridge of my nose and up into my eyes. “What do you need a basket of candy and eggs for, Kathleen?”
“In case the children want an egg instead of candy. This generation is very health conscious.”
For the love of— “What children, Kathleen?”
“The children at the door.” She shuffles to peer up at me again. “Why are you so confused?”
“Why am I?” Jesus Christ. “I have no idea.”
“Hmm. Clearly,” she mutters.
“Gran Leeny!” Molly rushes over and embraces Kathleen’s waist, squeezing softly as the old biddy strokes her blonde hair and coos.
“I used to have hair this colour.”
Molly sighs against her. “How long ago?”
“Oh, a long, long time ago.”
“Hi, Kathleen.” Vallie trails Molly, tapping her daughter’s shoulder as she kisses the old biddy on both cheeks. They met at our wedding when she came as Quinn’s plus one. Which is weird. “Nice to see you.”
“He’s not wearing slacks, dear.” Kathleen points at me, Vallie chuckles at my frown of utter disbelief, and I turn and walk the fuck away before I say something I shouldn’t.
I fight my smile and leave them chatting.
Yep, we have a very strange life.
I hope Dex is ready for it.