Thirty-Two - Kieran
By the smiles on Rad and Callum’s faces this morning, I can tell something happened between the three of them. Something monumental. Something I want. Fuck.
“You’re grinning,” I grumble, side-eyeing Rad.
Rad rifles through the fridge with nothing but his boxers on, shaking his ass as he walks. He softly hums a tune under his breath, brimming with joy.
And it makes me fucking sick. My stomach turns at his happy movements. What did he get to do with her? Why is he so goddamn happy? And why wasn’t it me?
“I don’t kiss and tell,” he replies, sticking his head in the fridge. He grins more when he pulls out the coffee creamer and goes to the Keurig. “You have to make your own way.”
Running a hand down my face, I blow out a long breath. My own way? How can I show River how sorry I am? Dates? Food? Music? Shit. I’ve got nothing brewing in my idiotic brain but jealousy and wanting to wring Rad’s neck.
“You, too?” I raise a brow when Callum snorts, hiding his blush from me.
Prick.
“Actions, not words,” Rad says, plopping beside me with a steamy cup of coffee. “Lots and lots of action.” He wiggles his brows, slumping back into the seat.
“A child lives here, too. Don’t you think wearing some pants and a shirt would be smart?” I ask, flicking the metal pierced through his nipple.
“Fucker,” he yelps, backing away from me and holding his nipple, giving me a hate-filled look. “How dare you touch my mighty nipple with your fat fingers. Asshole.”
“Your mighty nipple?” Callum scoffs, sitting opposite of us on the fluffy loveseat.
“Leave Stanley alone,” Rad gripes, rubbing at the metal speared through his nipple and…
“Please don’t tell me you named your nipple.”
Rad scoffs at my words, continuing his soothing circles. He acts like I cut it off with a knife. I fucking could if he wanted me to. Maybe then he’d shut up. Great. Now, he’s pouting at me and sipping his coffee like a baby.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that there was an open rift between the four of us, threatening to swallow everything we’d worked so hard for. Since Asher’s admission, the tension has settled. We’ve drifted into a neutral area where we all have an understanding. Everything we do is for them—Lyric and River. Whether we hate each other or don’t get along, we try. For them.
“Doesn’t everyone? This is poor Stanley, who is now red and irritated. No thanks to you,” he says, throwing nasty looks my way.
“For fuck’s sake,” I grumble, shaking my head.
“I’m curious what the other one is called,” Callum says, further provoking his stupidity with a smirk.
“Don’t rile him up.” I side-eye Cal, who shrugs, sipping more of his coffee.
“Well, this is Stanley, and this is Shirley. They’re married.”
“Nipples can’t marry, asshat,” I gripe, throwing my arms in the air. “This is the weirdest shit I’ve ever been a part of.”
“You pretend like you haven’t known me since middle school, K. It’s rude as hell. Leave S and S alone.” Rad rolls his eyes in complete seriousness.
What ring of hell do I live in?
God, sometimes Rad drives me up a wall. But he’s been my brother for far longer than I can remember. He was the first person to pull me into his orbit in middle school. The first person to make me laugh after falling into my miserable life with Nigel and Gloria.
Sure, he annoys the hell out of me. Sometimes. Other times I want to punch him in the face. Or hug him. The thing about Rad is, even when we were falling apart at the seams, I still loved him like a brother. I don’t know how I could have gotten through life without his crazy ass.
River’s bootcamp has shown us what we had lost. Why did I fight everything so hard? She’s always been the answer both personally and professionally. Here in Central City, she helped us build our band and brand, and now we are back, and she’s doing the exact same thing. It’s not social media and recording our EP this time, it’s family and brotherhood.
“He’s got a point,” Callum quips.
My eyes snag in the doorway where a very disheveled Lyric stands, yawning. Her tiny fists rub at her eyes as she stands in a long white t-shirt I recognize as Asher’s. Her dark locks stick up in every direction as she squints, looking around the room.
My heart aches when my green monster reactivates. Last night, after River passed out from exhaustion, we tended to Lyric. Together we ate dinner, watched a little TV, and hung out. It felt nice having all four of us in the same room without fighting one another. And Lyric, of course.
Am I still pissed as fuck at Asher for what he did? Uh, fuck yeah. He can swallow glass for how he manipulated us into leaving. But for Lyric’s sake, I’m trying to keep an open mind and swallow my anger as best as possible. What would she think if her dads always fought in front of her? How could we protect them both if we weren’t in sync? Besides, the longer I’m around him, the less rage I feel. Asher did a fucked-up thing, but I’m slowly forgiving him for what he did. Because I get it. To an extent, I understand his reasoning. Albeit fucked up, I get it.
Besides, last night when Lyric was sleepy, she curled up in Asher’s lap and begged him to snuggle her in bed and read a story. So, I compromised, even when we locked eyes, and he asked permission with his dopey stare.
Something has changed in Asher in the past few weeks, and it seems to be for the fucking better. He’s rounding out, seeming less stressed. It makes sense with the massive secret he was holding in for so long. I’d never admit it to Asher, but seeing the man he should have been peeking out after hiding for so long is nice. For so long, we were under his father’s iron fist, facing his wrath daily. We were in survival mode. Now, we’re not. Especially him.
“Daddies,” she says softly, shuffling her feet as she approaches.
“Sleep well, Little Blue?” I rasp, reaching for her the moment she’s within grabbing distance. I drag her onto my lap and place my arms securely around her, wanting to keep her there forever.
“Daddy snores,” she mumbles, rubbing her face along my shirt. Her tiny body sags into mine with relief.
I marvel at her when I brush my fingers through her hair. A sense of peace washes through me with her in my presence. This is all I’ve needed these past few years. I’ve been angrily stumbling along in life, blindly feeling for my next move. She was it all along. Her and River. The beacons I’ve begged for, dragging me out of the miserable fog I was in. Finally, the veil has been lifted. I’m seeing clearly for the first time.
“Sorry, Little One,” Asher rasps, smoothing down his hair as he walks into the living room, awkwardly looking around. “But you weren’t too innocent yourself. You kick like a donkey. Did you have dreams?”
I try to hold in my snort, but it doesn’t work when she frowns at me and gasps. “I do not kick! I sleep like a log, ask Mommy. That’s what she says.” She pouts a little, crossing her arms. “No dreams. Not like at home when the ghosts tap on my windows.” My brows raise at her admission.
“The ghosts tap?” I ask carefully, and she nods, blowing out a breath.
Asher shakes his head, rubbing at the bruises lining his ribs with a wince. “You’re a little ninja when you sleep, Little One,” he says, giving her a genuine smile as she stares up at him with a grin.
“You hungry?” he asks her until she nods.
“I want ice cream!” This time she directs those big, mismatched eyes in my direction, batting her eyelashes.
“No ice cream,” I mutter. “That’s not breakfast.”
“How about some pancakes? I think I saw some ingredients in there.” Lyric immediately perks up, nodding with excitement. “Okay. Pancakes it is. Um, anyone else?” Asher asks, clearing his throat as he looks around the room, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Make a stack, but serve me coffee first,” River grumbles, stumbling into the room, squinting her eyes. “When did the sun get so damn bright?” With a sigh, she sits down next to Rad and me, closing her eyes with a groan. “Fuck morning,” she grumbles again, slumping into the couch.
“My sentiments exactly, Pretty Girl. Fuck today. Let’s just go back to bed.” Leaning in, he brushes his lips against her cheek. “So, I can lick you all over. Again.” He grins when my brows raise into my hairline.
“Coffee first, licking later,” she mumbles, blindly taking a coffee cup from Asher, smirking at her words. “You’re my savior, Asher. Today, at least.” His entire face lights up, displaying how fucking pleased he is with himself.
My heart pounds at her words. Him? Her fucking savior? He’s the reason we left. It’s all his goddamn fault. Everything is. Has she already forgotten in the midst of the chaos? Fuck. I glare at him, telling him with my eyes to back the fuck up. He has no claims over her right now. If he wants her, he’ll have to beg for her. Just like I’m going to do. At some point, when I figure out how.
“Daddy,” Lyric murmurs, looking up at me with a frown. “Your face is tight.”
Right. I can’t be hostile—the pact. We’re in this together and getting along for the girls, especially for Lyric. She can’t see the four guys she calls daddy arguing or hating each other. So, I suck up my pride and relax my facial expressions, letting all my rage go.
“I’m fine,” I say soothingly, rubbing a hand down her back.
“I call dibs on coffee tomorrow,” Rad declares, eyeing everyone around the room. “Then we can let the licking commence.” He cracks a grin until my fist meets his gut.
“Little ears,” I growl, nodding toward Lyric, who frowns as I put my hands over her ears.
“Dude!” he wheezes, clutching his stomach with a frown.
“Are they little?” Lyric asks earnestly, pouting a lip.
“He means your daddy is saying grown-up things around you, Ly. And he doesn’t want Daddy Rad to say anything bad.” River sips her coffee, humming under her breath. “Your ears are perfect for your noggin.”
“Oh,” Lyric says, removing her hand. “Okay.”
“Sorry, Little Pretty Girl. I’ve got to get better at not saying naughty things,” he says, touching the end of her nose with a grin. “Will you forgive me?”
She taps her chin like she’s thinking about it, letting a little grin slip through. “Maybe. I like ice cream,” she says, shrugging.
River snorts. “She also drives a hard bargain. Good luck.”
“Well played,” I murmur in her ear as she giggles, looking at me with the hope I’ll give in and give her the ice cream she’s been craving.
River shifts in her seat, heaving a breath. “Despite where we are, I’d like to resume with band practices and my procedures.”
“I want to watch daddies play!” Lyric shouts with wide eyes. “Can I?”
My heart swells. “Of course.” I grin when she excitedly claps her hands.
“Oh good! You’re all dressed!” We all jerk toward the front door as it’s thrown open, and the alarm blares through the house.
Seemingly on instinct, Callum rushes to his feet in a flash, squaring up in front of Jordy, who is grinning like an idiot in the face of danger. I’ve seen what Callum can do with his fists. He’s a goddamn deadly weapon these days.
“Aw, how cute, Fighter,” Jordy quips, tapping Callum’s shoulder condescendingly. “But you can put your dukes away and shut off that alarm.” He shoos Callum away with the flick of his wrist.
“Jordy, be nice,” River chastises him, narrowing her eyes with familiarity. My spine stiffens at their camaraderie. What does she have with him? Have they known each other for long?
“Me? Not nice? I’m always a joy.” I snort at his words, earning a stare. “Anywho, got some updates, Dollface. But first,” he grins, holding up a pink tablet.
“My tablet!” Lyric shrieks, abandoning me for the piece of technology and snatching it out of Jordy’s hands. “Thank you, Uncle J.” She grins up at him as he pats her head.
“No problem, kiddo. Now, do Uncle J a solid and go rest in your bed and watch some TV. I even have your favorite all geared up and ready for you. I need to have a big discussion with your parents—all of them.” His eyes roam around the room when he says those words.
“Okay,” Lyric says without a fight, skipping off into one of the back bedrooms and disappearing from view.
“All right, kiddies. Time for a discussion. And uh, pants are mandatory,” he says, gesturing to Rad, who still only has his boxers on.
“Pants lovers,” he grumbles, disappearing into the hall and returning with sweatpants as we approach the kitchen island.
“What’s going on?” River asks with a pinched expression. “You’ve got that serious constipated look about you.” I don’t see it, but she obviously knows him better than I do.
Fuck.
I wonder if they’ve ever slept together or…
“Right. It is serious,” Jordy sighs, bringing out another tablet. “The lab worked all night unscrambling the mess your little stalker made with the cameras. We were able to scrub some manipulation away and get a visual of the asshole who painted your porch in real blood,” he says, cringing when he clicks a few times and stares at the screen. “Cow’s blood, before you all ask.”
“Do you know who it was?” Asher asks, leaning against the cabinet near the stove as the pancakes he promised to cook are on the griddle.
Jordy’s eyes drift to Asher with a grim expression pulling at his features. “We got a look, but it’s not perfect…”
“Can I see?” River asks as Jordy turns the screen toward her. “No... I… How?” she stutters through her words. A despondent look takes over her face, glazing over her eyes. Like she’s losing herself in the abyss of no return.
“Pretty Girl. It’s okay. We got you both. Okay?” Rad mumbles, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Her nose scrunches when he forces her head to lean against his, but she doesn’t push him away.
It’s progress.
“Sorry, Dollface. I know it’s fucked up to think that someone was lurking around outside your house. Here, I have the footage,” he says grimly. “It’s not perfect. There’s still some static over the picture, and it jumps with lines. But It’s the best we could do.”
“Okay,” River says, clearing her throat.
Jordy sets the tablet out on a stand and presses play. Collectively we hold our breath as someone walks onto the distorted video, huddling near the front door with supplies in his hands. He keeps his ball cap pulled low over his eyes, hiding his face from the cameras.
As he maneuvers around the porch, he carefully lays out the scandalous photos. Vomit rests in my throat as my eyes flick to a paling River, frozen as she watches. If I could scoop her up and protect her from everything, I would. But this seems to be the one thing I can’t handle here. Except by being here in this house and ensuring no one but this asshole agent enters.
“Wait.” Callum reaches for the tablet with urgency, holding it close to his face. “I know this guy,” he says, pointing to the larger-statured man, positioning photos on the porch and throwing blood from a bucket everywhere.
He snarls, looking around River’s property in the dead of night. Only illuminated by the night vision, highlighting his pockmarked face.
“Seriously, Genius?” Jordy quips in awe with wide eyes.
Callum glares in his direction but nods. “I remember his face. He’s the one who knocked River down at the fights,” he says, elbowing Rad, who stares at the screen, blinking rapidly. “He came every weekend with a group, always in the shadows. Ruthless told me once his name was Adrian Spencer.” His brows furrow.
“Holy hell. That’s the giant who looked like he would eat us for dinner. And not in a sexy way, either,” Rad says.
“I remember that,” River grumbles. “Knocked me right on my ass, and then I lost my phone that night. You almost got into a fight with him.”
“Wait,” Jordy says, holding up a finger. “You lost a phone? Liv never tells me anything.”
“Yeah. I don’t know where it went, but it disappeared after he knocked me over.”
“It’s possible he stole it. In my book, there’s no such thing as coincidences. I’ll relay this back to Liv and see what she says,” Jordy says, clicking on the screen a few times and then turning it around. “Adrian Spencer. He’s been nothing but trouble in the East Point underground for a few years.” He shakes his head, scrolling through the contents. “Burglary, arson…looks like anything his boss tells him to do, he does.”
“Who does he work for? You said his boss, so he must work for someone?” I question, tapping my finger along the marble countertop.
“You’d be correct,” Jordy says, rolling his lips together. “Adrian is the muscle in the local gang we’ve been keeping an eye on.”
“Why is he stalking me?” River whispers with a horrified expression.
“That we don’t know. Liv and the gang back home are searching for him to question him as we speak.” Reaching over, Jordy puts a protective hand on River’s, earning several threatening growls. Jordy smirks, tapping her arm. “It’ll be okay. You know we’re the best, and we finally have some answers. Your safety is number one. But you still can’t leave this place, and we’re keeping you under lock and key. Just in case this person was hired for this. We don’t have definitive answers. So, stay vigilant.”
“Thank you, Jordy,” she says through a breath.
“Also, you dickheads should know I have my own girl. River’s great and all, but I like her sister more.” He winks in our direction and steps away, tucking the iPad into a sleeve. “We’ll be in touch.” Saluting us with two fingers, he makes his way to the door. Before I can even think about it, I follow him out into the warm September day.
“Hey, man,” I say. “Could I…um...ask you a favor?” I rub a hand over the back of my neck as nerves take over me.
“What’s up?” he asks, folding his arms over his chest.
“I want to do something special for River and kind of…make amends and shit for…”
“Walking away? Leaving her with a baby? I know all the deets, douche. You’re lucky I’m a professional.” With a frown, he brings his fingers to his ear and scoffs. “According to Agent Asshole in my ear, I am not being professional. Yeah, yeah, shut it…” He shakes his head, blowing out a breath. “What do you need?”
Anger heats my face. Who is he to judge what we did? It wasn’t our fault we were misled by our damn brother. “Listen, I know we fucked up, but there were other things happening that made it happen...”
“Like your brother, the pancake-maker, manipulating you all into thinking she cheated?”
“How the hell do you know so much about our lives?” I growl, growing tired of his cocky smirk.
He shrugs. “Hello, I’m a super-secret agent in a company that doesn’t exist on paper. I know things. Lots of things. So, what do you want?”
“Okay, so…” And I tell him every detail of the date I’ve had brewing in my mind since we stepped back into Central City.