Chapter 5
CORMAC
There is a knot in my neck the size of a softball. I’m so stressed.
It’s been three days since Brenna has come here to live with me, and I don’t think I’ve slept more than twelve hours the entire time. I keep waiting for the nightmare I’m living to be over. For me to go down the hall and not have her there.
I don’t want her in my space. Don’t want to have to hear any added noises in my space.
I’ve made it so the security stay outside by the front gates, but even hearing them walk their patrol at the top of every hour has me questioning my sanity.
A sanity I barely have a grip on as it is.
The shadows are restless, and the whispered words are getting louder. Now I really can’t determine if it’s all in my mind or if they are coming from the intruders who have carved their way into my space.
Brenna still refuses to speak with me, but at least she’s not as silent as she was when she first got here.
She’s asked for food and where she should go to shower.
The room I gave her doesn’t have an adjoining bathroom.
I’m not sure why I chose that one for her.
Maybe in some weird way I want to make sure she’s still moving around.
I go about my regular day with the added responsibilities my father has thrown onto me. Along with the alliance that we made with the Doyle family came a piece of their business.
The Doyle family is known for having a stranglehold on the construction trade. Both in Ireland and in America.
If anyone wants anything built, it’s not the unions they have to worry about; it’s the Doyle family they have to work with.
Of course, we don’t think to try to take over any of the actual construction work, but the security aspect of it has now fallen on the O’Sullivan family.
Security and protection have never been one of my strong suits. It used to fall to my other brother, Declan. Unfortunately, Declan has found himself in jail. He’ll be in the clink for another few months. I can’t wait for him to get back so he can take this part of the business back over.
Usually I’m the one who makes sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing.
That shipments make it to where they are supposed to be on time.
The one collecting the money that is due to come to us.
Pushing that money through the appropriate channels so my father can live his carefree lifestyle back in Ireland with his whores and sheep.
I can do all of this from the comfort of my home. At least I could in the past; with all my father is trying to get me to do now, I’m sure I’ll have to be leaving more often than not.
Rubbing my hand down the side of my face, I realize that my beard has gotten a little out of control. I could trim it. Maybe look a little less like a scruffy homeless person. Then again, who am I trying to look good for. Not Brenna. There’s no need. I’m not here to impress her.
I’m not.
I shake off the errant thought and watch as the fire flickers in the fireplace, a strong wind coming from somewhere as if fighting to get my attention back.
This house has had a hold on me for as long as I can remember. I can lose hours in a day just sitting here watching the fire dance.
That’s exactly how I like it. There’s no need to change.
I’m not sure how long I’m sitting here when the phone on the side table starts to ring. It’s not connected to the outside world, which means Maxim must be trying to get hold of me.
I groan and send up a small prayer that Brenna has thought to test my patience again by trying to run away. This time I’m subject to let the dogs have their way with her.
She’s safer in here than she’d ever be outside. I don’t know what part of that she doesn’t understand.
I push up from the chair and walk over to the phone.
“Yeah?” I answer, already agitated I have to move.
“Mr. O’Sullivan, your brother is at the door requesting to see you.”
Killian’s here? I wasn’t expecting to see him again so soon. This is unlike him. Hell, it’s unlike anyone.
“Fine, let him through.” Before I hang up the phone I add, “In the future, if my brother comes to see me he can be let in. You don’t need to call for approval.”
“Noted. I’ll let the others know as well.”
I hang up once he lets me know that he’s gotten the order.
For a second I wonder if Maxim is as pissed being here as I am having him here.
All of the security here now were chosen by my father.
I have no connection with any of them. I don’t know how well they are suited for this job or if they have any ill will toward me.
I guess it doesn’t matter as long as they stay where I put them.
Seconds later I can hear the sound of footsteps coming in my direction. I guess Killian doesn’t have to search for me. There is only one place I’d be in the house. The parlor room.
“You don’t do very much, do you.” Killian jokes as he enters the room. This time he doesn’t hesitate at the sight of father’s chair. Instead, he grabs one of the side chairs and pulls it next to the large one I have situated in the middle of the room.
“What is there for me to do. I’ve already handled all the business I am going to handle today.” I shrug and slump down into the chair.
“Yeah, I guess that’s the perks of not having a night job.” He yawns and stretches his arms over his head.
“You were the one who chose to go into the brothel business,” I remark.
“Brothel. Brother, that’s an insult. I provide an exclusive and posh experience for the discerning customer. I’ve never had a complaint.” He smirks at me.
“Of course you don’t have any complaints. You’re giving those spoiled bastards a place to get their dicks sucked. Who is going to complain about that.”
Killian laughs and leans back in his chair, his eyes focusing on the fire.
“I’m assuming you didn’t come here just to sit and stare.” I voice what I’m thinking, but I don’t bother to look at him.
“No, I came to check on you. I heard the marriage went through without a hitch.” He tilts his head, “Or I guess it did go through with a hitch. You are hitched, aren’t you.”
I lift my left hand to show the plain black band there. My father demanded that I wear it. I still have the band meant for Brenna in my desk. I know I should give it to her, but I haven’t felt the need to yet. She signed the contract. She said the words. She already knows we are married.
“Well, congratulations, Big Mac. I have to admit I never thought you’d be the first one of us to get married.” He shakes his head.
“No? Which one did you have your money on?”
“Honestly, me.” He laughs a little more.
“In order for you to get married, you’d have to spend more than one night with a woman.”
“Why, you didn’t spend any nights with Brenna and you’re still locked down.”
He’s not wrong about that. I guess in our lives stranger things have happened.
“Everything is fine. You don’t need to come and check on me.” I’m getting a little uneasy with him being here. My eyes keep darting from corner to corner as I watch the shadows change shape.
“I did. It’s been too long since I’ve come to just check on you. I want to change that. We used to be close. I want that back again. I’ve missed you, Cormac.”
Sentiment. I hate it.
“We were kids. Of course we were close. We’re both adults now. Things have changed.”
“Not much. We’re all still under our father’s thumb. Did you hear Father is trying to persuade the parole board to let Declan out early. He could be home as early as Christmas.”
I guess that should surprise me. It doesn’t.
“That’s good for him.”
“You’d think that, but it’s not because our father wants him to be a free man. There are a few small-timers our father thinks need the touch of a real enforcer. No one puts the fear of God in someone like Declan.”
“That’s true. At least he’s only being put back to work. That could be a welcomed change for him.”
Killian waits a beat before he starts talking again. “And this situation you’ve found yourself in isn’t a welcomed change?”
Now I have no choice but to look at him. I stare dead in his eyes. He can’t be serious.
“A welcomed change? I have a woman I don’t know, who doesn’t want to be here, walking around my house. No, this isn’t a welcomed change. I don’t want her in my space. I didn’t ask for this.” I hiss at Killian.
“Cormac, she didn’t ask for this either. Neither of you were begging to be married off, but it’s what happened. Don’t you think you should try to make the best of this? I mean, what do you think of her? Is she nice? Sexy? A good woman?”
I scoff and slam back in my chair.
“How the fuck am I supposed to know. We don’t talk.”
“What the hell do you mean you don’t talk. She’s living with you. I know this place is big, but it’s not that big. Surely, you two see each other at some point.”
“No, she stays in her room and I stay in here. Just the way I like it.”
Killian sighs hard, “Big Mac, ”
“For fuck’s sake, stop calling me that.”
“Fine. Cormac. You can’t just ignore her. How the hell are either of you supposed to move on with your lives, figure out how to deal with this shit, if both of you are so focused on fighting each other?”
“I can do whatever I want to do. That’s the whole appeal of being an adult.”
Killian smirks and stands up out of his seat, “You don’t know many married people, do you.
I’m almost excited to see how this turns out.
Living with an angry woman is nothing like you’ve ever experienced.
I only hope you figure that out sooner rather than later.
” He takes a few steps to the door as if he’s ready to leave, “Yeah, this is definitely going to be good for you. You just don’t realize it yet. ”
He’s talking out of his ass.
Nothing about this situation is going to be good for me.
I’ve known Brenna all of a hot second, and she’s already proved to be the very bane of my existence. It can’t get any worse than this.
brENNA
They’re talking about me.
I’ve been going absolutely stir-crazy in that room locked up by myself.