Chapter 8 #2
“Fair enough,” Aria said with a quick laugh before she sobered, looking more serious than Goldie had ever seen her.
“So here’s the thing. Selfishly, I’d love nothing more than to have you become part of the family.
But I couldn’t live with myself if I wasn’t completely honest with you.
Brody, for all his bossy, dickish ways, was right when he said real life isn’t like your books.
It’s dangerous and bloody and heartbreaking.
And while I wouldn’t trade the life I have with Killian now for anything, I can’t say it’s the life I would have chosen for myself or my child if I’d known who he was the first time we met.
So I guess what I’m saying is just… be careful. Don’t go rushing into this blindly.”
There was something about hearing the truth so bluntly from an O’Rourke bride that hit differently than being warned off by Brody. The latter she could brush off, convince herself he was just being an overbearing asshole.
But Aria had no reason to scare her off. More than that, though, there was something in her eyes, a haunted look that hadn’t been there the first time they’d met that told Goldie she really had seen some things she wished she hadn’t.
And it was that look more than anything that had Goldie nodding in agreement.
“Okay. Yeah, I’ll be careful.”
Brody
As much as he loathed the idea of not having eyes on Goldie personally, he had to settle for putting her under the watchful eye of one of their men so he could head to Killian’s.
He found his cousin where he expected to, holed up in his office, poring over some report or another with a scowl on his face that told Brody whatever he was looking at wasn’t making him happy. “Bad news?”
“Sometimes I wonder if we shouldn’t just keep to the illegal shit,” Killian muttered. “The profit margins are certainly better.”
“Maybe. But we all sleep better knowing we’re going legit.”
“Except for Reagan.”
Dropping into one of the plush visitor’s chairs opposite Killian’s desk, Brody frowned. “Still?”
“Still.” With a sigh Brody knew came from his very soul, Killian leaned back in his chair and scrubbed a hand over his face.
“And I think it’s gotten worse since we learned Richard Williams killed our parents.
Some nights are better than others, but Aria hasn’t been sleeping all that well because of the baby and more often than not Reagan is up with her. ”
“Well, hopefully taking care of Williams will give her some peace.”
“Hopefully.” One dark brow raising, Killian raked his gaze over Brody, the corners of his lips twitching. “But I assume you aren’t here to discuss my sister’s insomnia.”
“I’m not. Your wife is on her way home and I wanted to be here to watch the fireworks.”
Even that small hint of amusement fled his cousin’s expression. “I swear I’m going to be fully gray by the time the baby arrives. What was she up to?”
“She met up with the menace.”
“Jesus, that’s just what we need, the two of them conspiring. Did you happen to catch any of what they were talking about?”
“No. They grabbed food from Rev and Roll then went back to Goldie’s apartment.” He didn’t add that he’d sat and watched them for another hour from his hidey-hole across the street. There were some things his cousin didn’t need to know.
“So what I’m hearing is that you did not, in fact, succeed in scaring off your little menace last night.”
The memory of Goldie, her pink bottom draped over his knee while he finger-fucked her to a screaming orgasm popped into his mind. “I suppose I didn’t.”
“Is she going to be a problem for us, Brody?”
He wanted to say no. The O’Rourke name didn’t strike fear into the hearts of even the most hardened criminals for no good reason, and despite his commitment to shedding the less savory aspects of their empire, Killian was a significant part of that reputation.
But he’d never in his life lied to any of his cousins, especially where the family business was concerned, and he wasn’t about to start now. “Maybe. Her father’s a cop.”
“Fuck. One of ours?”
“No. I’ve done a little digging and he seems clean so far. And not very ambitious from what I can tell. He’s been a sergeant for a good while now and all signs indicate he’s happy there.”
“That’s something, at least. Last thing we need is some cop looking to make a name for himself all up in our business.”
“Agreed.”
“See what else you can find on him, and if need be, I’ll put Tiernan on him for a bit.”
“Done.”
Killian’s phone beeped and a wicked smile curved his lips as he glanced down at the screen. “My naughty little wife just returned home.”
Matching his cousin’s grin, Brody leaned back in his chair and waited. Sure enough, the office door flew open a few minutes later and Aria stepped inside.
But the bright smile she was wearing faded at the sight of Brody, who lifted his hand to waggle his fingers in greeting.
“Fuck.”
“Something the matter, princess?” There was a sharp edge to Killian’s voice, one that had left men bleeding at his feet by the time he was done with them.
His wife, on the other hand, only jerked her chin up, fire blazing in her eyes. “Clearly you’ve figured out already that I lied about Brody babysitting me today.”
“I have. Care to explain?”
“Not really.”
“Aria…”
Despite her defiant stance, color bloomed on Aria’s cheeks. “I had an errand to run and I didn’t want your narc all up in my private affairs.”
“Then you could have asked him for privacy instead of lying to my face.”
The pink in her face deepened as she cleared her throat. “You’re right. I’m sorry I lied.”
“You are certainly going to be by the time I’m finished with you. But before I address your dishonesty, is there anything you need to share with us about your conversation with Marigold Quinn?”
Eyes narrowing, Aria glared at Brody. “I knew you were a fucking tattletale.”
Brody raised a shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. “Only doing my job, love.”
“Does your job include being a total dick to my friend? You haven’t even had the decency to text her today. What kind of Daddy are you?”
Guilt pricked at him, but he didn’t let it show. No need to give Aria any ammunition to take back to his little menace. “The kind who’s more worried about protecting her life than her feelings.”
“Right, because clearly as a woman she’s far too stupid to take care of herself.”
“Aria.” Killian’s tone was heavy with authority. “Enough.”
“No, it’s not enough. Not when he—”
“Aria Grace.”
At the low growl of her husband’s voice, Aria snapped her lips together, though her eyes continued to hurl daggers at Brody.
Rising from his chair, Brody laid his hands on her shoulders, meeting her furious gaze.
“I don’t blame you for being pissed at me.
But I have my reasons, and I can promise you they have nothing to do with seeing women as weak or stupid.
How could I possibly think that when I have you and Reagan for cousins? ”
As he’d hoped, her expression softened considerably. “Fine. But at least text her and check in on her, would you?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Still gripping her shoulders, he leaned in to press a kiss to her forehead. “In the meantime, I believe your Daddy has some things he’d like to discuss with you, so I’ll give you two some privacy.”
“Thank you, Brody.” From the corner of his eye, Brody watched his cousin rise from his chair and shed his suit jacket. “Aria, I want you here, bent over the desk with your elbows on the wood. I think it’s high time I introduced you to the cane.”
Sympathy welled in Brody’s chest as the color drained from Aria’s face. “The cane? Don’t you think that’s a bit of an overreaction?” she stammered out.
“An overreaction to my wife sneaking out of the house without a guard while our family is at war?” Eyebrow raised, Killian popped the button of his shirtsleeve to roll it up to his elbow. “If anything, I believe I might be underreacting.”
“What happened to the notebook? Keeping track of things for after the baby is born?”
Killian’s expression softened, just a bit. “That’s for minor infractions. This is too big to wait. But the cane is very thin and won’t hurt the baby, which is part of why I’m using that rather than my belt.”
“You’re sure.”
“Very sure.” Leaning over, Killian tapped the surface of the desk. “Now please get in position, Aria.”
Moving so slowly it was downright comical, Aria crossed the room to position herself per her husband’s instruction. And damn if Brody didn’t feel a tiny bit jealous that he didn’t have his own babygirl to punish on a regular basis.
After the war. Once things were settled and he didn’t have to worry that loving someone would be putting them directly in harm’s way, then he’d get serious about settling down.
And he’d try his damndest not to regret that it wouldn’t be a certain nosy, whiskey-eyed author over his knee and in his bed.