25. Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Four

Ronan

W e decided to stay downstairs while Skyla consoled Stephanie. I haven't seen her since I was probably fifteen. I remember her leaving Salem, vaguely. I was too caught up in my own shit to pay too much attention to it all, but I remember enough. I remember how hardened she became after Giselle's death. She became the black sheep of the Brethren overnight, and she was fine with that. I'm sure Henry was glad to be rid of his daughter and his late wife's sister all in one swoop.

I knew Skyla not telling her about all of us was going to cause problems, but I also knew that the right time hadn't come up yet. There was no secure way to have that kind of conversation an ocean away. Every panicked fear she spewed is something I've thought about a dozen times over. I'm sure the same can be said for all the guys.

She doesn't know us, though. She knew me as a young kid, always in my brother's shadow. She probably never met Asher, Liam, or Vincent. Maybe once or twice, but from my memory, Skyla was everything to her. Nothing else mattered.

At least an hour goes by, and we spend it in silence. Liam fucks around on his phone, Asher wipes down the kitchen only to start over again, and Vincent sits at the kitchen table, playing with his knife. Eventually, Skyla makes her way into the kitchen, alone.

"How is she?" I ask.

"Sleeping," she says with a shrug.

I open my arms up for her, and she comes to me easily, burying her face in my chest as she lets out a deep breath. I press a kiss to the top of her head as she murmurs against me.

"She was so mad. I've never seen her so mad at me."

I nod. "You gotta look at it from her perspective, baby. She's scared for you. You mean everything to her, and she's just trying to protect you."

"Want to watch some trash TV and eat some garbage food?" Liam offers, with a sympathetic smile that has Skyla letting out a choked laugh.

She nods softly, and I release her. Liam holds out his hand, wrapping it around hers as he walks her out to the living room, where he turns on a show. Vincent follows them, grabbing her favorite blanket from the basket in the corner, before laying it over her legs and lifting her feet to tuck the blanket beneath them as she leans on Liam's shoulder.

Vincent takes the other seat beside her, intertwining their fingers together, as Skyla stares mindlessly at the TV. I look to see Asher watching her with a pinched look of concern before his eyes come to mine. I know what he's thinking; it's the same thing I am. What does Stephanie know about Giselle? Clearly more than she's ever let on to Skyla before. She made it sound like she had a similar arrangement. A similar relationship?

That can't be, though. I would have heard about it. The rumors, the scandal, it would have been all anyone spoke about. Then again, I was sixteen when she died. I suppose it's possible there were things going on that I wasn't privy to yet.

Eventually, Skyla passes out on Liam's shoulder. Both him and Vincent remain still as statues, too worried about waking her up to move. Asher and I dig into some of the food Liam brought home, when soft footsteps come down the stairs. A sleep-mussed Stephanie steps into the kitchen, her eyes instantly seeking out Skyla's.

I point to where she's sleeping on the couch, and relief fills her eyes as she nods.

Wordlessly, Asher dishes her up a plate of food, pushing it towards her in offer. She glances down at it for a moment, before she nods her thanks and takes a seat. We all sit there, eating in silence, before she speaks in a low tone.

"I'm sorry I flipped out. I shouldn't have reacted like that."

I shrug. "It was understandable. You were caught off guard."

She shakes her head, grimacing.

"I hate it here. This town, this world, I…I hate that she's here, that she's in it. I knew it was inevitable, obviously, but…I love her so much," she says, through watery eyes. "I practically raised her. She will always be my sister's baby, but she's my baby too, you know?"

I reach out my hand, resting it on hers as I nod empathetically.

"Absolutely. I know she loves you with everything she has. You only want what's best for her."

Stephanie nods. "So, please. Do the right thing."

I grimace at that, shaking my head before looking up at her.

"That's a choice only she can make, Stephanie. I'm all in. If Skyla wants me, I'm here."

"You could be killed too, you get that?" she asks.

My eyes move to Skyla's sleeping form, her chest slowly rising and falling as she's squished between the two guys. I nod.

"And you're okay with that?" she asks.

"I've accepted it as a possibility. I think we all have. She's worth it."

Asher nods his agreement, forcing Stephanie to frown. She stares into her Lo Mein, silent for several seconds before speaking again.

"Then you'll keep her safe. With your dying breath, you swear?"

"Of course," I vow, never meaning anything more.

"All of you?" she questions Asher, before looking to Liam and Vincent.

They both have their heads turned enough to look at us, all three of them nodding in unison.

"Well, what can I say to that, I guess?" she shrugs helplessly.

"Maybe an ‘I'm sorry' to Skyla when she wakes up?" Asher offers like an ass.

Stephanie scoffs but surprisingly smirks.

"She definitely wasn't exaggerating about you being an asshole."

"No, she definitely wasn't," Asher agrees, before taking a big bite of his chicken.

I shake my head at him, and Stephanie actually chuckles before we go back to eating in silence.

When Skyla woke up, Stephanie practically tackled her, hugging her tight and apologizing profusely. They spoke for a while on the couch, a conversation we all pretended not to listen to, though we were all most definitely eavesdropping.

Skyla asked Stephanie about her mom again, about what she was going on about, but unfortunately, she clammed up yet again. She said she would tell her anything she wanted to know, except that. I can tell by the look in Asher's eyes, he's already thinking about what kind of resources he can utilize to look into this. I know because I'm doing the same.

I already texted Wesley and gave him some very rough information to go off. At first, he questioned me, but as soon as I clarified it was for Skyla, he was more than willing. My oldest friend has it bad for her. Though I'm fairly certain she feels something for him, I can't quite tell if it's on the same level as what she feels for us. I teased her about it yesterday, but there are worse men out there, by a long shot. He's one of the best men I know, and between my brother, this stalker, and them , it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have extra eyes on Skyla.

"How long are you staying for?" Skyla asks her.

Stephanie grimaces. "Don't hate me. I leave tomorrow."

Skyla frowns. "Really? I thought when you'd come to visit, you'd stay a while."

A sad smile touches her mouth as Stephanie pulls her in for another hug.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just can't handle being…here. It's already messing with me," she says as she shakes her head.

"Take me with you?" Skyla teases sadly.

"You know you'd be in my luggage if I thought we could get away with it. I love you so much, you know that, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Good, I reminded your boyfriends of that, and I think they understand if any of them hurt you, they'll have me to deal with."

All eyes come to Asher, and he looks at everyone before throwing his hands in the air.

"Why the fuck is everyone looking at me?"

Skyla and Stephanie laugh as Vincent answers.

"Well, you do have a nasty track record."

"Fuck you. At least mine isn't littered with dead bodies," Asher snarks back.

"All you're doing is reminding yourself that I'm extremely skilled in making underserving people disappear."

"Are they always like this?" Stephanie whispers to Skyla.

She nods. "Always."