Chapter 38
CHAPTER 38
O rdinary People
Dean
Two months later …
“Tell me again why ya needed to go shopping the other day?” Ronan calls through my bedroom at the brownstone as he comes back in for more boxes.
I’m officially moving in with him. I’m not sure I want to sell this place just yet, but I’m tired of looking for things that are here while I’m in Manhattan. When I woke, complaining about not being able to remember where a few things were, Ronan canceled his day and said we would make a day of coming here to pack my things up.
So far, it’s been fun to listen to him grumble and gripe. A couple of bottles of wine and pizza have gone a long way to lessen the complaining. Oisín will be over in a bit to drop off the dogs.
Ronan did have some documents he needed to sign that he couldn’t put off. Thankfully, that meant Tadhg had to meet us here and he’s been helping get all the boxes lined up in the main area for the movers.
“A girl can never have too many clothes. We bloat, we shrink, we just change our minds about how things look. Options are a must,” I chirp as I wrap my arms around his neck and peck his lips.
This is the most ordinary I’ve felt in such a long time. I’m a little excited about the wedding this weekend. I’ve spent the last two months looking for the perfect dress.
Ronan wants to introduce me as his wife. I don’t want to disappoint. I can’t wait to see the look on Kaye’s face.
“I might not have such a problem with it if ya allowed me to do the spoiling,” he croons and palms my ass, returning the peck to my lips.
“Nope, you spoil me in the only way that matters to me. I don’t need your money.”
He growls and buries his face in my neck. I get ready to reach my hand into his sweats when his phone rings. I guess that’s for the best. It’s not like we’re here alone.
“Hello, Den’Nisha,” he answers the call like he’s greeting an old friend.
These two talk on the phone all the time. Mom really is happy to have a son-in-law. I roll my eyes and head for the closet to finish packing.
How did I even get all this here from PA? He might be right. I frown as I admit to myself I might have a problem. I reach for a pair of shoes and a panel behind them falls open. I knit my brows and move closer to look inside.
Reaching in, I pull out the box inside and blow the dust off. This was once Uncle Freddie’s room. This had to belong to him.
My curiosity is piqued. I go to walk out of the closet but stop short as Ronan’s words reach my ears.
“I promise ya. I’m going to find Anika. Don’t give up on me yet.”
I tighten my hold on the box, nearly crushing it. I know this man hasn’t gone behind my back to help find that bitch. This is none of his fucking business.
“I know you fucking lying,” I roar as I step out of the closet.
Ronan spins and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Oh, he hasn’t seen how crazy I’m about to get. I feel so betrayed.
“Danny, calm down and listen to me,” he says and holds his hand out as if to stop a wild animal.
“You have no fucking right,” I snap.
His face grows dark with anger. He works his jaw, looking as if he’s fighting to keep from breaking on me. Pulling the phone from his ear, he holds it out to me.
I roll my eyes but step forward and take it. He huffs and turns to leave. I lift the phone to my ear and take a calming breath.
“Hello.”
“You owe that man an apology. Anika has been missing for going on two years, Danny. Someone’s paying that girl’s rent, but she hasn’t been there since before you left for Ireland.
“Danika, what happened between you two? I need to know because my baby is in trouble. I can feel it. I’m still her mother,” my mom sobs.
I stumble back. My head is spinning. I try to remember the day I found out the money was missing.
“Wait … what?”
“What happened, Danny?”
“I sent her to the bank to make a deposit and clear some invoices. She sent me a text that she was sorry.
“She didn’t come back and when I checked the account, she made the deposit but took out half a million after.
“Thought nothing of it at first, I was busy writing, but some other shit went down, and I started trying to call her to vent but she wouldn’t answer. That’s when I started to think she stole the money and took off.”
I walk out of my room as my mind spins. Two years, I’ve been wrong for two years. Where the fuck is my sister?
“Danika, your little sister has always looked up to you. Why would she do something like that? I’ve caught her in lies before, but she’s never been a thief. I didn’t even believe it when Byron told your uncle that she tried to steal from him.
“That’s why I stopped sending her with you guys for weekends. It had to have been a misunderstanding, but Freddie was so angry.”
I tune my mom out as Byron walks into the house behind Ronan and Tadgh, who just came back in. They both glare at him. I, on the other hand, stand there, seeing him through new eyes.
“Ya know him?” Ronan demands.
“Yeah, that’s Dayton’s son Byron.”
Byron’s face clouds over, reminding me so much of Myron. As I think of it, that has always been my issue with Byron. Since the accident that killed his mother and brother, he has this habit of flip-flopping between his brother’s demeanor and his own. It’s weird.
The other thing to stand out in this moment is my mother’s words. Uncle Freddie thought Anika had stolen from him; that’s why he stopped bringing her along with us. Why would Byron tell him that?
Suddenly, loud barking begins outside. Ronan moves quickly out the door. Byron looks after him and blanches. I tilt my head and study him closer.
He looks super nervous now. Yeah, our dogs are huge, but Byron can’t see them from where he’s standing. Something else is up.
“Who is that guy, Danny?”
“Mom, I’m going to call you back. Trust me, I’ll take care of it. It’ll be okay. On my soul, I’m going to make this right.”
I look at Byron and narrow my eyes. “Do you mean my husband? What are you doing here, Byron?”
“I … I was in the neighborhood. I thought I’d stop in and see if you wanted some company. I saw those dudes going in and out and ran in to check on you.”
The growling outside continues. I put the box down and rush out to see what’s going on. Ronan, Tadgh, and Oisín each have a chain as they try to keep the dogs from running around the side of the house. I stand watching in confusion.
“I said sit,” Ronan barks. “What the fuck is wrong with the lot if ya? Get them in the SUV. I’m going home.”
“Those damn raccoons. There have been a lot of them in the neighborhood lately,” Byron laughs nervously.
I ignore him and focus on my pissed-off husband. We need to talk. I need to know what he knows.
He snorts at Byron and turns to leave, ignoring us both. I’ve never seen him this pissed off. I honestly can’t blame him.
“Ronan, wait,” I call and run over to him.
“I’ll see you at home,” he says tightly. “Tadgh will stay behind with ya.”
“But—”
“If I talk to ya now, I might say something I’ll regret. Let me calm down. I’ll see ya when ya get home.”
With that, he clicks his tongue and commands Bullet to move for the vehicle. I ball my fists. I’m about to lose my shit.
Where’s my fucking sister?
* * *
Ronan
I’m still steaming mad. It was better I left so I could think straight. I had one of my guys sit on the rent office for Anika’s place after finding out whoever has been paying the rent pays in three-month increments. This month was a payment month.
There was a woman who showed up to make the payment. Den’Nisha didn’t recognize her from the photos. My guys stayed on her and found her meeting up with a few different people over the last few days.
Den’Nisha didn’t recognize any of them either, but something caught her attention in one of the photos. That was the reason for her call. If Danny didn’t explode on me, I would have told her all I know.
“Why are you sitting in the dark?” Danika asks as she walks into the bedroom.
There’s something eerie about her tone. I turn to look at her and her expression is blank. If I didn’t know her so well, I wouldn’t know she’s just barely covering her rage.
“I have a headache,” I grumble.
“Well, I’m about to make it worse. They killed my father and my uncle. I’m not going to Ireland. I need to figure out the rest.”
“What are ya talking about?”
“I think Byron has my sister. Marlow killed my dad, and Byron helped him kill Uncle Freddie to cover all their shit up.
“And there’s a ton of shit.” She tosses a box down at my feet. “It’s all here. Uncle Freddie was onto them. I’m going to rain down hell on them.”
“If this is true, ya should be with me where I can keep you safe.”
“But that’s what they will expect. I can take care of myself. I can’t leave Dayton and Lyric vulnerable. It isn’t safe for them.
“I need to hang back to watch over them. Please, Ronan, trust me. With you gone, they’ll get comfortable, and I’ll be able to get a location on my sister.
“You leave tomorrow. You’ll be back in four days. I’ll have my sister back in a week, tops.
“If I go with you … I just have this feeling it will be too late. I was built for shit like this. Trust me to do what I do.”
I stand and cross the room to her. I press my forehead to hers. She wraps her arms around my neck.
“Please, Ronan. I’m sorry. I was wrong. I need to do this.”
“Aye, on one condition. Tadgh and Oisín will help ya. I’m coming right back, and I won’t be alone.”
“Don’t bring anyone you don’t want to see my crazy.”
“Don’t do anything crazy without me.”
“That I can’t promise, baby. Once you read everything in that box, you won’t ask me to.”
I lift a brow and turn to glance at the box on the floor. It looks like Pandora’s box, waiting to bite a chunk out of me. I sigh and shake my head.
“Should I open it tonight?”
“Yeah, you might want to. I need to know everything you know too.”
“Aye,” I groan. “I’m going to make some coffee.”