Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
R eality Calls
Dean
I wake up and do a cat stretch. My body feels deliciously sore. Ronan may have dominated that first round, but I got my lick back and then some.
He made good on his word and broke my back well into the morning. The man is insatiable and so damn virile. Even now as I come awake, my pussy is pulsing as if looking for him in his absence.
I glance at the time. It’s a good thing my flight back home isn’t until later tonight. I’ll need the extra time to rest. Too bad I’m flying commercial. Private jets are a Danika Peoples thing. Dean Foxx doesn’t have that type of money.
“She will someday,” I murmur to myself.
Good sex will do that for you. Have you feeling like you can take on the world. Shit, I could write ten novels off last night alone.
I smile at my thoughts and feel the soreness of my jaw. That’s right. I sucked, choked down, and drained that snake. I’m not about to be the only one sprung in this relationship.
Suddenly, it dawns on me that the room is too still, as if I’m the only one here. I turn to look beside me. The last time I was lucid, Ronan lay beside me, knocked out with his huge arms wrapped around the pillow.
He’s such a gorgeous sight in his sleep, like a sleeping supermodel, angel, or some type of superhero. Knowing I was the reason he was passed out made my chest swell with pride.
I knit my brows as I wonder where he is. I don’t know how long he’s here for or if his business for his family is done. When we did talk between rounds, we didn’t get around to any of that.
Ronan was more interested in my book signing and how it went. It felt nice to have someone to talk to after an event. It brought a normalcy I don’t often get to experience.
I didn’t bring up Bujar or the note. For one night, I wanted to forget about all of that and act like books and readers are my only business. The best way I know to do that is to stay out of his business.
“Ronan,” I call out.
I listen for a reply or the sound of the shower. Nothing, the room is silent. I throw the covers back and get ready to go in search of him. However, my phone rings, grabbing my attention and stopping me before I get two steps away from the bed.
I look at it and don’t recognize the number, so I ignore it and go to use the bathroom as my bladder begins to protest not being relieved yet. Forgetting Ronan and my phone, I pick up the pace before I wet myself.
Once I’m done, I go to brush my teeth and wash my face. When I step out of the bathroom, my phone is ringing again. It’s the same number from before. I frown and pick the call up this time.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hello, this is Nurse Everson. I’m looking for Danika Peoples.”
“This is she. How can I help you?”
“You were listed as Den’Nisha Peoples’s emergency contact.”
“Yes, that’s my mom. What’s going on? Is she okay?”
“We have her here in the ICU. She is stable, but the doctor would like to talk to you or someone in the family about her condition. Would you be able to come in?”
“I’m in California at the moment, but I’ll be there as soon as I can. Let my mother know I’m on my way.”
I barely hear anything else she has to say. I end the call when she’s finished talking and quickly dial to book a private flight back home immediately. I’m throwing things into my bags faster than I can think.
“Mom, what the heck is going on?” I mutter to myself as I’m on hold.
I book my arrangements on autopilot. I hear nothing, see nothing, nothing makes sense right now. The ICU? What in the world?
* * *
Ronan
I only meant to make a quick trip to get my things and go for a workout. Dean was fast asleep, and I didn’t want to wake her. What should have taken an hour took three.
I have never hated the business more. It seems like everyone has forgotten how to do their job while I’m here. There were fires to be put out in New York and here in California.
Jonah even called for me to weigh in on some shit in Ireland. That almost never happens. The bullshit is never ending today.
“Do ya want me to wait here for ya?” Rory asks as he pulls up to Dean’s hotel.
“Ach, no. I need ya to head back to yer brother. Make sure he’s getting the job done. I need all the loose ends tied up before I leave to head home.
“Then I need the both of ya to meet up with Eugene. Swap packages with him and bring it to me on the tarmac. If shit is done right, I’ll be flying out tonight,” I reply.
“We’ve been on top of things. This one thing got out of hand. It isn’t just on Lochlann. I take responsibility too.”
“Aye, ya should. Everything is changing, lad. Ya both need to remain sharp. Mistakes cost lives.”
Granted, this mistake doesn’t put anyone in real danger. The boys are helping me step in for Joe and his boys. My guys are used to being the ones with the bounty on their heads, not the ones looking for the bastards or investigating.
I have handled the bounties as I used to work for Joe when I was bored and wanted to spend time with my sister and the boys. Rory and Lochlann have been handling a bit of surveillance Joe needed done and couldn’t put off.
The boys fucked up. It was a rookie mistake, but I have high standards. They should have known better. They’ve done shit like this for me before.
“I hear ya, boss. This won’t happen again.”
I nod and climb out of the car with my duffel bag. My mind immediately goes to my woman. Last night was way more than I expected.
The connection between us was on a deeper level than I had anticipated. However, the one thing that has been ringing in my head since I arrived at her hotel suite yesterday is the fact that it’s all true. Danika is Demarco.
The character in the book is her true alter ego. My woman is a fucking madwoman, and I can’t say that doesn’t turn me on. She’s perfect for me.
To strike fear in a man like Bujar, to have him threaten to expose her, says a lot about her. I have little doubt that she’s everything I read in her words. My question to myself now is whether I want to reveal to her that I know.
Something tells me that’s not such a good idea. Dean wants to keep her worlds apart for a reason. Until I know what that reason is, I’m not going to reveal how much I truly know.
“Jaysus, the lass means to do a number on me,” I bite out as I walk into the suite where housekeeping is cleaning the place up.
I know in my gut she’s gone. I wasn’t the only one feeling it last night. She was with me, so why the heck did she disappear again? I growl and turn to storm out.
The deal was for more than one night. Where the fuck did she go? I don’t have time to chase her, but I’m not about to let her go either.
“We’re not done, Danny,” I growl as I get into the elevator.