Damien (Slater Brothers #5)(115)

Still, I couldn’t speak.

“When Damien has been helping me, it was looking at other locations to build apartments. He wasn’t doing anything illegal. He was just helping me and didn’t tell you because I asked him not to. I’m sorry if I made you doubt him.”

I closed my mouth and just stared at Kane.

“Let me have it,” he said. “Scream, shout, do what you must.”

I raised a brow. “I’m not goin’ to scream and shout at you.”

“You’re aren’t?”

“No, I rarely scream and shout at anyone.”

“You really aren’t like the other girls.”

I frowned. “I know I’m nothin’ like them.”

“Hey.” Kane frowned. “That is not a bad thing. You’re a cool girl, Lana. So chill.”

“You’ve called me chill twice.”

“Because you are.” He shrugged.

I looked at my fingers before I realised something and looked up at Kane with widened eyes.

“Oh, my God,” I croaked. “I knew this apartment was too good to be true. You’re rentin’ it to me way cheaper than it’s worth because I told Aideen I couldn’t afford the rent increase at me old place and—”

“Hold it,” Kane cut me off. “I own the building. I can rent to my tenants at whatever price I want.”

“Bullshit,” I snapped. “You’re rentin’ it to me for eight hundred a month because you pity me.”

“Alannah,” he deadpanned. “If that’s the case, I’m renting to all of Aideen’s brothers because I pity them. They’re my family; you are my family. I give you a discount just like I give them a discount.”

I raised a brow. “You rent apartments to all of Aideen’s brothers?”

“Dante is moving into this building next week,” Kane explained. “JJ and Harley, too. This place is going to become a whole lot more interesting, that’s for sure.”

“Do not put Dante or Harley on this floor,” I warned. “I’d lose me mind and kill them in their sleep.”

“Noted,” Kane teased. “I’ll keep them far away from you.”

I was amused but didn’t smile.

“Gavin still lives at home with his da, does that mean that he doesn’t get an apartment? That wouldn’t be very fair since you’re givin’ them away like Oprah. You get an apartment, and you, and you, and you.”

Kane laughed and fighting off a smile became a whole lot harder.

“He isn’t living at home anymore as of an hour ago,” Kane said with a shake of his head. “After Gavin dropped the baby bombshell, Aideen demanded that he move into one of the apartments in this building so she can help him when his baby is born. I’ve also put his baby’s mother in the apartment opposite him. Aideen got her number from her brother, phoned her, and apparently, the woman is staying at a friend’s place, something about family troubles. She accepted the apartment before Aideen could finish asking her if she wanted one. Both Gavin and this woman are going to have it tough raising a kid they didn’t plan, especially when they hardly know one another. I help people when I can, Alannah … I guess I’m trying to make up for all the wrong I’ve done in my past.”

Admiration filled me.

“I’m proud of you,” I said. “Saying that when I’m angry at you tastes like vinegar.”

Kane smiled, and I loved what it did to his marred but still very handsome face.

“It means a lot to hear you say that.”

“It does?”

“Yes, because I know you don’t know the reasons we did the horrible things you were told, so knowing you’re proud of what I’m doing shows your true character. You’re a good girl. A good woman. And my brother is a lucky bastard to have you.”

I felt my cheeks burn with heat.

“Are still threatening to kick me out if I don’t talk to said brother?”

“Yes.”

“Arsehole.” I scowled. “You’ve gone mad with power.”

Kane’s grey eyes lit with amusement

“Can I go and tell him you’ll speak to him? Please say yes. The kid is pleading for another chance, Alannah. He loves you so much he can’t function without you. Trust me, I’ve seen him over the past two weeks, and he is a mess. He literally needs a good woman like you.”

Damien needed me just like I needed him.

“On one condition.”

“Name it.”

“You let me keep Barbara even though no animals are allowed in the buildin’.”

Kane snorted. “Done.”

Before I could overthink a reason not to, I said, “Go get ’im then.”

I was dreading what he was going to tell me, but I needed to hear it, and I had a feeling that whatever it was, Damien needed to say it as much as I needed to hear it. For once, I was going to push my fear of the unknown aside to do what I feared the most and face my hurt head-on. I didn’t know what the outcome would be, but I could do nothing but hope and pray for the best.

What’s meant to be, will be.





“Alannah?”

My heart just about stopped as apprehension filled me.