RYDER (Slater Brothers 4)(57)

Aideen and Jax were Kane’s life; of course he was going to make sure they were protected after a twisted human being tried to take them away from him. And there was no one better to watch over them than one of her brothers’ when he couldn’t do it himself.

“I don’t blame ‘im,” I said with a firm nod. “There’s more than enough room here, his room is still his room. We haven’t changed it.”

“Good. Go and get to bed, I’ll be there before you know it. I love you.”

“I love you too, and I’m sorry for shoutin’ at you, I’m just out of sorts right now.”

“You have every reason to be pissed, I flaked and that’s not cool. Don’t think about it until we can talk, okay?”

“I’ll try not to, see you soon.”

“See you, hon.”

I leaned back against the chair I was sitting on, tilted my head back and stared up at the ceiling of my kitchen. The silence in my house was deafening, but my thoughts seemed to be on full blast because I couldn’t escape from them.

I jumped when I heard the noise of car doors closing and without hesitation; I jumped to me feet, zoomed out of the kitchen, down the hallway and straight to the front door. My heart slammed against my chest as I looked through the peephole. I hoped it was Ryder with his brothers. I could try breaking up with him again and with them here they could help me get it into his head that he didn’t have a say in my decision.

It wasn’t Ryder though... it was his twin brothers.

I quickly locked the door from the inside and put the latch on, too. When one of the twins tried his key in the door and found it wouldn’t open so they both rapped their fists against the door.

“Go away!”

“Branna?” Damien called out. “What are you doing? Let us in.”

“I’ll let you in, but not him!”

Another round of knocking.

“We have to talk, Branna.” Dominic stated.

“Stay away from me!”

I heard him sigh. “Branna, please—”

“No!” I snapped. “I’m not listenin’ to anythin’ you have to say. You’re a manipulative little pox and I never want to be in your presence again. You’re dead to me.”

Through the door I heard his sharp intake of breath.

“Take that back, Branna.”

My heart hurt because even when I was furious with the little prick, I still loved him to death, just like I would a brother. I didn’t mean what I said, but I was too angry to acknowledge that.

“No.” I said firmly. “I won’t.”

“You don’t mean it so take it back. Now.”

I slapped my palm against the door, ignoring the sting.

“Don’t tell me what to do when you’ve instilled a lie in Ryder’s head. He thinks I’m cheatin’ on ‘im because of you!”

“I f*cked up, okay?” he said. “I wanted him to go and beat on Ash to ensure he stays away from you, I thought if he thought another man was stepping up to you, he’d snap out of his bullshit and react like any of us would, but he didn’t, and I’m so sorry.”

I was furious with him, but a part of me also understood him. Dominic’s logic was different to mine. He and his brothers’ were raised differently in a diverse environment and things that seemed crazy to me were normal for them. I knew in Dominic’s head that what he did was the only way he knew of to gauge a reaction from Ryder.

He thought he was helping.

On a sigh, I unlocked the door, opened it wide, and stepped to the side so the twins could enter the house. Damien kissed my cheek as he passed me by and Dominic stood in front of me.

“I’m so sorry,” he repeated, his eyes trained on mine. “It was dumb of me to bait Ryder when I know how much stress he is under.”

I saw the truth in his grey orbs, and I had to fight with myself not to hug him because I didn’t want to break down and cry. I had done enough of that.

Instead, I gave him an affectionate smile and said, “I know, kid.”

He stared down at me, unmoving and unblinking.

“What?” I quizzed.

Dominic nervously shifted from foot to foot, and after exhaling a shaky breath he said, “Take back what you said… please.”

I hated that I said what I did because I saw fear in him. He believed I truly meant the vile words I spewed and unless I said otherwise, he would continue to think that way.

A lump formed in my throat as I said, “I take it back. I didn’t mean a word of it, I swear. I’m sorry, sweetheart. You’re me brother, and I love you dearly, just like I do Bronagh. Nothin’ will ever change that, okay?”

He exhaled a relieved breath. “Thank you.”

As he spoke, he hugged me tightly and kissed the crown of my head.

“It’s going to be okay,” he murmured. “We’ll fix everything.”

You can’t fix what’s already been smashed to pieces.

I hugged him back then closed the front door of the house when we separated. I watched as Dominic dropped his car keys on the table in the hall, then I followed both of the lads down to the kitchen and automatically filled the kettle with water and popped it on to make tea.

Tea was necessary.

“I know this is a stupid question,” Damien began, “but are you okay?”