Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
O ne and the Same
Ronan
As much as this trip has aggravated me, I can’t say I wasn’t happy to be here on the West Coast when Braxton announced he wanted everyone in Vegas for his twenty-fifth birthday so he and Heather could get hitched.
I’m sure my ma is going to give me hell when I get back to Ireland. That makes three of Cass’s lads who have married before me. I think of Danika and the passionate way we made love before I left.
We need to have a talk when I get back. I’m not going to continue to dance around the truth and lie. Things are heating up in our other world.
She should know who I am. I’ve had time to think about it and I know it’s for the best if I tell her. I’ve fallen in love with her.
Her smile, her laugh, her crazy—I want it all. She was made for me, and I want to take our relationship to the next level. There’s so much I want to share with her, so much more I want to give.
“Aye, ye be thinking about that pretty one Kaye runs with. I can see it in yer eyes,” Cass says as she walks over to me.
The ceremony is over. Everyone is milling around the suite, shooting the shit. I’ve been standing with a drink in my hand, lost in my thoughts.
“Aye, she’s on my mind.”
“I always thought ya liked them older, ye horny fucker. I guess yer oul now and ya had to switch it up. Why didn’t you bring her in?”
“I’ve been this way on business. It’s not like the lad gave us much notice. I can’t say I didn’t see it coming.”
“Ha. I call bullshit. Joe and me boys have called ya in the middle of the night and you’ve dropped everything to get yer ass here on a private flight. If ya wanted to fly her in, ya could have.”
I grunt. “She does have a life of her own.”
“Tell yeself whatever ya want. I’m going to dance with me husband.”
I laugh and shake my head as my sister walks off. I love that tiny woman. The things she used to get me into when we were younger.
I look around at all the smiling faces and wonder to myself why I didn’t ask Danika to come out. My phone pulls my attention away from watching my family.
Placing my glass down, I pull out my phone and see it’s Hughes. With all that’s been going on, I don’t want to ignore his call. I need to know if there’s been more movement. I make my way out of the suite and into the hallway, where I can hear.
“Hello.”
“I thought you said Danny was yours,” he replies in amusement.
“Aye, she is.”
“That’s interesting. Do you have any idea where she is?”
“I’m at my nephew’s wedding. I haven’t spoken to her today.”
“You might want to check in. Den’Nisha Peoples is an interesting woman.”
“Who?”
“You haven’t met her mother yet? Are you sure about this relationship, old friend?”
“Cut the shit, Dayton. Why are ya calling me and what the fuck are ya talking about?”
He laughs on the other end. “Den’Nisha has taken Danny on a trip to Vegas to find her a husband. She’s tired of waiting and wants to see the girl married, so she’s taking matters into her own hands.”
“And ya’ve called me to gloat?”
“No, we all have our parts to play. I’m doing mine. I’ve called you to let you know when Freddie’s sister gets something in her head, she’s a determined woman.
“Danny is leaving Vegas a married woman. I’d put money on that if I were a betting man. You might want to find your way to Vegas if Danny is indeed yours.”
I’m already in motion for the elevator. My woman won’t be marrying anyone other than me. If her mother wants a son-in-law, it’s time she meets me.
“Thanks for the call.”
“You’re welcome. Tread lightly, my friend. Our girl seems to be in a mood,” Dayton warns, all humor leaving his voice.
I pause as I wait for the elevator. When I go to ask him what he means, the call drops. I reach for my tie and tug it loose. I need a signal to make a call to get a location on Danika.
Right now, I don’t think it’s best if I try to call her. I’m pissed and might not say the right things. Why haven’t I met her mother?
If Danika is ashamed of dating me, then this isn’t going to work. Her ties to the business, her double life, those are things I can overlook. I honestly haven’t been angry with her for keeping her secrets.
However, now, I’m questioning why I’ve allowed this to go on for so long. Pain sears through my chest as the answer whispers back to me. As long as I allow it, this isn’t real.
If it isn’t real, she doesn’t get hurt and I don’t lose her. If there’s no deep connection, I can’t be broken again. However, there is a deep connection.
For all our dancing around the true, we’ve bonded in a different way. I can sit in a room and have a silent conversation with this woman and feel like we’ve had the deepest, most involved discussion of my life.
We anticipate each other. I go to bed with her in my arms and on my mind and wake still holding her as she’s my first thought. This hasn’t been about sex in a long time.
Although sex between us is an experience like none other. I will never forget my past and what I experienced as a young lad, but Danika is a fresh start; she has her own place in my heart.
“Mom, leave that man alone and come on. Oh, I’m so sorry. Excuse me.”
I snap my head up from my phone as I step off the elevator and a soft body I know well collides with mine. My body reacts to hers immediately.
“Ronan?”
Without a word, I grasp the back of her neck and crush my lips to hers. I devour her mouth like a starving man. She whimpers into the kiss and clings to the lapels of my suit jacket.
I move my free hand to her ass and tug her against my body. God, I’ve missed her. Someone clears their throat, but I don’t stop taking my fill. Instead, I nip at Danika’s lower lip and tug as she tries to pull away.
“So that’s the problem. I’ve been looking at the wrong flavor. Here I am looking at all these fine-ass chocolate brothers and you’re into the colorless variety. No offense, vanilla cream.
“Red hair, gah. You do know their asses are crazy. Black, white, every redhead I’ve ever known has been out of their damn mind, including your daddy.”
“Mom,” Danika gasps.
“Ach, it’s fine. She doesn’t tell a lie,” I say through my laughter.
“ Ooooh , an accent and that voice. I can’t say I’m missing the appeal,” her mother says as she looks me over.
I hold my hand out. “Aye, it’s nice to finally meet ya. I’m Ronan McGowan. Danny’s man.”
Her brows shoot up as she looks down at my hand. I wrap my free arm around Danika’s waist and tug her into my side. I think she’s still in shock.
“Danika Peoples, I know you didn’t go pay one of them Magic Mike dancers to come and fool me so I’d get off your back.”
I scoff out a laugh. I like her already. I think we’ll get along just fine.
"Mom, this is Ronan. Ronan, this is my mom. Wait, what are you doing here?”
“Braxton and Heather just got married in one of the suites. It was last minute, but my sister and the family are here to support him. The lad wouldn’t have forgiven me if I didn’t come.”
“Oh, you have a friend who has tied the knot? Love is in the air then.”
The way her eyes light up at the mention of a wedding piques my interest. It seems if I get her approval then I’ll have an ace in my corner to get what I want. I want Danika as my wife whether she knows it or not.
“Ach, not a friend. My nephew. One of my sister’s youngest. He’s a good lad and has been in love with the lass since they were wee ones.”
“Well, what do you do for a living, Ronan? How old are you?”
“Mom,” Danika bites out and groans.
“What?”
I chuckle. “How about I take ye out to dinner? I’d be happy to answer all ya questions. We can go wherever ya like.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I thought you were tired and wanted to lie down and rest.”
“Girl, hush.”
I smile. “How about ya go to yer room for that nap, I’ll make us reservations and when we’re all freshened up, we can head out. It will give me time to head back up to hand my nephew his envelope and give my excuses.”
“Oh, I don’t want to take you away from your family. Maybe Danny is right, and we can do this some other time. At least now I know you exist.”
“It’s no problem. The wedding is over. Everyone will be heading their own way soon.” I palm Danika’s forehead and tilt her head back, then dip in to peck her lips. “I’ve been missing yer daughter something terrible while I’ve been away.”
“So he’s why you’ve been in a funk. Why didn’t you just tell me that?”
“Oh. My. God. I have to be dreaming. Someone wake me up from this nightmare,” Danika huffs.
“How does an hour from now sound? I’ll meet ye here.”
“We’ll be here,” her mother chirps.
* * *
Dean
My face is on fire as we walk into our suite, my mom continuing to gush over Ronan and that kiss. I was so taken off guard by seeing him I had forgotten all about my mom and where we were. Not to mention that kiss was hot, passionate, and possessive.
I’ve missed him too, but damn. My panties definitely need to be changed. He looked so good in his suit with his tie hanging loose.
I wanted to drag him back to my room so we could finish what he started. Hearing him tell my mother he’s my man did something to me. He’s told me that he’s my man before, but it’s the way he said it to my mom, with so much confidence and a hint of something new I can’t put my finger on.
I had been in shock over the entire situation, but still, I can’t deny my belly filled with butterflies and was doing all kinds of cartwheels and somersaults.
“What I don’t get is why you wouldn’t tell me about him. He looks like he’s in love with you and here I’ve never heard his name before.”
“You only have an hour for that nap,” I sing as I flop down on the couch and cover my face with my hands.
Instead of heading into her bedroom to take said nap, she comes to sit next to me and places her hand on my knee. I look at her through my fingers and groan. Can’t she give me a moment to process what’s going on?
“What’s really going on, Danika? Is it because he’s white? You do know I was joking.
“You have to have a sense of humor and thick skin around us. If he couldn’t take that joke, he’s not going to last around me,” she says gently.
“No, Mom, I doubt that offended him at all. I’ve heard his family say worse to him. They are a comical bunch and love to tease. Trust me, he has thick skin.”
She pops me upside the back of my head. I stare back at her with wide eyes in disbelief. She frowns and folds her arms across her chest.
“What the heck was that for?”
“You have met his family, but I knew nothing about him,” she hisses.
“He’s Kaye’s fiancé’s uncle. I met him in Ireland while I was there. I only met his family because they were around during my stay and at Felix’s brother’s wedding.” I pout.
She pops me again, this time in the arm with the back of her hand. I ball my fists and bite my lip to keep from allowing my reflexes to take over. Her features darken as she glares at me. I swear, she looks so much like her brother in this moment.
“Don’t be looking like your ass gonna buck at me. I’ll slap the taste out your mouth. Ireland?
“You left here for Ireland almost a year and a half ago. How long have you been dating that man?”
“About eight months now. We weren’t serious while I was there. We only went out on a few dates here and there.”
“I’ve been going on and on about you being single. Why not tell me about him? You look so happy next to him. I don’t understand. Frankly, I’m hurt.”
“Mommy, I’m sorry. It’s not about you at all. I’ve been in denial about how I feel about him myself.
“I … I don’t want him to leave. If he’s real, then the clock begins ticking. It’s only a matter of time before he’s gone if I admit I care about him.”
“This is my fault. Freddie told me things would end up like this. I thought I was protecting you at first.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your father didn’t leave us. Not the way I said he did. I was young and scared. Your father and uncle lived a dangerous life. Freddie promised he’d always protect you and nothing like what happened to your father would ever happen again.
“Before Dayton and Marlow, your father was my brother’s right hand. It was Percy, Darius, and Freddie. Then came Dayton and after him Marlow.
“Dayton and your father bumped heads because of me. Your father just didn’t like Marlow. One night, your father went to take care of some business with the two of them. Freddie was supposed to go too, but he received a call and had to turn back.
“Your father never made it home that night and Freddie never got a clear answer about what happened. All he knew was that it changed Dayton and the relationship between him and those two was never the same.
“It was too late to dissolve their business ties. They were in too deep and could lose it all if they parted. They were stronger together. Percy has always stayed out of it.
“Sometimes, I think he is the only one other than those two who knows the truth. Or at least some part of it. I thought … Never mind.”
“You thought what?”
“I shouldn’t say anything.”
“Mom,” I growl.
“There is so much you don’t know. Things not known outside of the horsemen. Some things not even my brother knew.”
“Then tell me. I’m not five anymore. These people are still in my life.”
She sighs and rubs her forehead. “I thought Freddie was looking into something about the connection just before he died. He wouldn’t tell me straight out, but something was going on. He asked me to stay away from the guys for a while.
“Since the funeral, I’ve only recently been in touch with Dayton like we used to be. After my scare, he and Byron reached out to me. I’m only thinking of all this now,” she muses.
“I want you to stay away from all of this,” I bite out.
“Little girl?—”
“Don’t little girl me. I’m telling you this for your own good. If Uncle Freddie gave you a warning, he had a reason for it. Just because he’s gone doesn’t mean the threat is.”
“You should be careful too.”
I nod my head, but get the feeling that’s not what my uncle wanted. His final letter to me, which he left with his will, is starting to make more sense. He was speaking in code, but now I think he was giving instructions and a warning.
That letter is the reason I haven’t rushed to step up and why I haven’t walked away completely. It’s the reason I allow Lyric to run things for me and why I asked LaSalle to keep my identity a secret. I’ve been doing exactly what my uncle told me to do.
“Danny, I’m so sorry,” my mom says, pulling me from my musing. “Now that I’m older and wiser, I see that I made happen just what I wanted to avoid. We lose people every day. Some will hurt more than others, but you can’t live life afraid to let new people in because of those losses.
“I should’ve told you the truth about your father, but I was hurt, and you were so little, I didn’t know what to do.”
Suddenly, it’s like a light is turned on. Things begin to fall into place and it’s like I’m watching my own entire life with true understanding.
“How did you think telling me he left me was the better option? How did making me feel unwanted make sense to you? Do you remember how much I loved that man?
“My father was my world. All my life, I’ve run into relationships blindly, looking for something that’s been missing because I thought I was unworthy of love.
“Always people-pleasing because I didn’t want to be left out or hurt. Only to end up with trust issues and confused about why I can’t find someone who wants to stay.
“No, not someone. I’ve been looking for him. I’ve been trying to find a father who I thought walked out on me in everyone I’ve let in to hurt me.
“Including your trifling-ass daughter. I want to trust Ronan. I’m trying so hard to, but I can’t tell that man I love him because I’m terrified he’s going to leave me.
“That’s why I didn’t tell you about him. That’s why I haven’t told him the truth about anything about me.”
“Danny, baby, I’m sorry. It doesn’t make sense to me now either. Freddie tried to tell me it was wrong.
“That’s why he was always there. He felt guilty. He wanted to fix it.”
“How? By making me just like him? Trust me, that didn’t fix a damn thing. It just fucked me up in a new way,” I seethe.
“Watch your mouth, Danika. He didn’t make you like him. He made you just like your father, the original pale horse. The one who taught him everything he knew about the streets to put together with all that book smarts and wisdom.”
I jerk my head back as I narrow my eyes at her. She nods her head as she looks back at me. She then tilts her head to the side.
“Oh, you thought I didn’t know? You think you’re the only bad chick in this family? I was in those streets with my brother and your father way before the money, way before I gave birth to your little ass.
“I knew each of those men your uncle ran with before they were high and mighty and were given that name. It belonged to your father first. He was the one who was feared.
“I’m the original Baby Girl and your father was a bad motherfucker.” Tears fill her eyes as her lips begin to tremble. “ That is why I was devastated when they took him from us. My brother promised me he would make you untouchable and give you back everything they took from us.
“I’m not going to shame you for anything you’ve done. I know you have done what was needed every time. Your heart is a good one, but you’re still your father’s daughter.
“If they fuck around, they’re going to find out. Make peace with who you truly are, Danika, and embrace the love that man wants to give you. It’s time.”
“What if he can’t accept who I am?” I whisper to my lap.
She bursts into laughter, then reaches to lift my head by my chin. I search her eyes through my tear-filled ones. There is so much here for me to process.
“Girl, I know my brother taught you better than that. You don’t see the killer in that man’s eyes? I know a killer when I see one, it’s all I ran with when I was younger.” She snorts.
“Oh, you’ve been thinking with that thing between your legs. Look again, baby. You two are one and the same.”
My head is officially fucked up. Could she be right, and I’ve been ignoring the signs all along? I’m going to figure that out, but first, I’m going to find out who killed my father.
Yeah, that shit didn’t go over my head.