Chapter 5 - Kieran
five
Kieran
It's been two weeks since I had the little mouse in my bed, and I can't keep her off my mind. I've never experienced anything like that. What I would do to have her again, but that is not something that will ever occur, it was a one-time thing.
"You ready?" Henry, my second, interrupts my thoughts from the door of my room. I nod at him as I glance at him through the mirror, fixing my hair until it's perfect, because a man needs to look good at all times.
Tonight, it's even more important to look my best because I'm going to dinner at my parents' house.
Who knows what will occur? My Da says he has an announcement and wants everyone to meet at the house.
The concept makes my stomach turn at the thought, because anytime Da has something to say it's never good.
The last time he called everyone to have dinner together, he told me to marry Suri, that neither of us had a choice.
It didn't matter to him that she's in love with my younger brother, and the feeling is mutual.
To Da none of our feelings matter. Especially given the fact, I don't want to be with a woman who isn't even attracted to me.
The only thing that matters is the family, it comes first, over everything. It's the family motto.
"What do you think this is going to be about?" I ask, walking out the bedroom door, Henry following me.
"Who knows? But it's weird that he asked me to join," he states.
"The whole thing feels off," I agree with him. It could be big or nothing at all.
We make our way to the garage climbing into my Aston Martin—my favorite car. I've been into cars my whole life, another time I would've done something with them, but there is no reason to dwell on what could've been if I wasn’t born into the O'Sullivan family.
Backing out of the driveway, Henry and I make our way to my parents' house, neither of us speaking, both of us stewing in our own heads, trying to figure out what could come out of tonight.
Where I live in the center of the city, my family has a house out in the suburbs. It takes us almost an hour to get out there, pulling into the driveway right on time. Henry and I get out of the car heading straight to the front door, pausing only for a moment, before I push it open.
"How come it's so quiet?" Henry asks, looking down the hall.
"I don't know. Something feels weird," I reply, feeling a wave uneasiness washes over me. "Let’s try the dining room," I tell him taking steady steps toward it.
Pushing the door open, I peer into the room and find it filled with tension. Brendan is sitting at one end of the table with my parents down at the other end. "What's going on?" I ask, stepping into the room.
All three of them turn toward me looking bewildered when they hear my voice "What is going on here?" I ask.
My mother is the first to say something. "Why don't you and Henry come in and have a seat, sweetheart?"
I make a beeline for the seat that is the closest to me, falling down into it.
Henry takes a small step into the dining room, softly closing the door behind him.
That's why he's the perfect secondhand man—he always knows what to do without me even saying anything. He can read a room like anyone else.
No one says anything for a moment. My body tenses, trying to prepare for the worst, when my Da finally opens his mouth and it’s obvious he's angry.
"We were going to talk about how I’m retiring and how to transition everything over to you," he begins, spit shooting out of his mouth with every word. Da hits the table then points at my brother across the table. "But bozo over there wants to leave the family and marry that girl."
My brow raises at that last comment. I assume he means Suri, since that's the only possibility. I swing my head over to Brendan who is sitting there smug, telling me that my instincts are right.
"You want to marry Suri," I state, because it could only be her, if he’s talking marriage.
"Yes. I will marry Suri, no matter what you two have to say," he sneers, pointing between my father and me.
My father doesn't say anything, making me look over at him.
His face is turning red, and the longer he doesn't speak, the darker it gets.
I can't help but think that this is the moment—my brother is going to kill our father with his demands and I'm going to have to take over the business, instead of transitioning.
Thankfully, Da begins to speak—or shout, I suppose—allowing him to take in air. At least he won't die from lack of oxygen. "We have already announced that Suri will be marrying Kieran. How are we supposed to face everyone? How are we supposed to tell the Johnson Family?" he yells across the table.
Right at that moment, Da's phone rings, he looks down at the screen. Answering it, he demands, "What?"
For a moment he doesn't say anything, just listens intently to whoever is talking on the other line. Suddenly, he hangs up the phone and narrows his eyes at my brother. "Fine. But there has to be consequences."
My shoulders go to my ears with Da's words. "What do you mean ‘consequences’?"
"You will have to leave the family." Da throws out his words like a weapon, making Brendon flinch, but he's not the only one because I flinch at the same time—Brendon is the best enforcer we have. It will hurt the family to lose him.
Brendon recovers quickly though, standing up. "Fine. I'm out."
"Are you sure?" I ask Brendan. "Just because Da is upset doesn't mean you have to make this decision lightly."
He narrows his eyes at me. "I'm not taking it lightly. Suri is it for me. I'll do anything for her. One day you might understand."
I roll my eyes at that assessment. "You know love isn’t in the cards for me. I'm the heir."
Brendan doesn't respond but turns back toward Da. "If you want me out, I'm out. I'll keep you updated through Ma."
My stomach drops with his last statement, his tone ringing with finality. If Brendan is out then he technically can’t talk to anyone within the organization, including me. The only reason he’ll be able to talk with Ma is because she’s not involved with the business.
"Fine," Da says, slamming back down in his chair.
Brendan pushes his own chair back and begins to walk toward the door. Pausing at my chair, he whispers, “I hope one day you’ll forgive me, big brother.”
I would get up, or say something to him, but I can’t show any weakness, not even for my brother, and especially not in front of my Da. Instead, I nod. Brendan’s eyes fill with understanding, then I watch as he walks out of the house and into his future. The front door slams, making the walls shake.
Although I'm happy for him and that he figured out a way to be with Suri, I'm also relieved I don't have to marry someone who hates me either.
But underneath it all, a little resentment toward my younger brother rears its ugly head.
It's not the first time I've had these feelings either.
Brendan doesn't see it, but he's always been allowed to be freer than me, being the second son.
"We just lost an alliance with the Johnson family. You two stay close. We need to restructure things," Da says standing up from the table, and walking out of the room, leaving Henry, Ma, and I behind.
Once he's out of sight, Ma gives me a watery smile. I know the fact that Brendan is being pushed out of the family is killing her. Even though Da has always been tough on us, Ma has always been the epitome of love.
"Ma, it will be okay," I tell her.
"I know. Sometimes it’s just hard to be a woman in this family," she says, giving me another sad smile.
"I know," I whisper because she’s right. Though Da respects Ma's opinions they don't weigh the same amount in our world.
Ma gets up and walks around the table, patting my shoulder as she mumbles, "It will all work out, Kieran. You'll see," then walks out of the room leaving just me and Henry.
"Well, Brendan always did know how to clear out a room," I say, pushing up from the table and heading toward the front door.
"Yes, he does," Henry agrees before adding, "It will be interesting to see how this all plays out."
“Oh, and Henry? Find the girl from last night’s auction. I need to know…everything.”