9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Ethan

"E than, my boy." Da says as I walk into the house. He's sitting in the parlor with a glass of brandy in his hand. "You care for a drink?"

"No, thanks."

He gestures with his chin to my nose. "How's it feel?" He asks, concern written all over his face, as he observes the broken bone.

"It'll be fine in a couple of days."

"More like a couple of weeks, from the look of it. Caleb got you good this time. Sure hope it heals before the wedding, or the pictures will look godawful." He looks at the stuffed bear in my hand. "What's this?"

I divert an answer by circling back to the wedding. "When are they getting married? Have they decided on a date?"

My brother Maverick walks in, just overhearing. "Next weekend."

Da takes the bear from me, as I stare at my brother. "That quick, huh."

He nods. "Aye. Laney's starting to show. The seamstress can alter the dress a time or two, but that's it."

My cousin Malcolm walks in behind him, carrying a beer in his hand. "What the hell are you doing here, pipsqueak?" I joke, using my pet name for him, as I pat him on the back. Malcolm might as well be another brother, that's how often he's at the house.

"Ran out of beer." He teases.

Da looks at the tag on the bear's ass. "Freya Stewart? Who's Freya Stewart, son?"

"Isn't she that lass that invented some of that accounting software?" Malcolm inquires, and then takes a sip of his beer.

My gaze darts to him. "How the hell do you know about that?"

He shrugs. "A buddy of mine uses it. She's a hot little number that's always at that geek convention. Works with Gill Rogers."

"Gill Rogers?" Dougall says contemplatively. "How do I know that name?"

Caleb is finishing a call as da asks this. I didn't notice all the vehicles in the driveway when I pulled up. I had no idea we had a full house in here today. But that's nothing I shouldn't be used to. This house has been a revolving door all my life. Family, friends, business contacts, they come and go all hours of the day and night around here. Da's interest is suddenly on Caleb. "How's it going, my boy? How's the bairn?"

"All is good. That was Colton Ford. He's coming over shortly."

"Colton Ford? What's he want?" Da asks conversationally.

"He's got some advice. Heard about the kidnapping."

"Ah." Da nods.

"What's the bear for?" Caleb asks.

I look at Caleb speculatively. "Freya gave it to me to give to Peg."

"Freya?" Caleb inquires, brows furrowed. "You went to see her, did ya? With your nose like that?"

Da looks at us both. "Who is Freya to you two?" But the way he says it, I think he's already figured it out.

"She's the reason for the left hook, da." Caleb answers. "It was a little misunderstanding."

Maverick snorts a laugh. "What happened? Did she play you two? Shagged one and then the other?"

My gaze darts to Maverick, but Caleb seems unscathed. "You'll keep your fucking mouth shut if you know what's good for you, brother." I seethe.

Maverick lifts his hands up in the air in defence. "Easy, killer. Clearly it rattles you more than it does Caleb."

"He got it out of his system." I add, touching my nose.

"I'll say." Malcolm chuckles.

Caleb draws in a deep breath and takes a seat on the couch. "The lass means nothing to me anymore. Never did, really. The only reason why I hit Ethan is because he never told me about her. Made an ass of myself when I called on her to help us with the kidnapping."

Maverick points to me and then to Caleb, putting two and two together, and then he laughs. "Oh, she's a smart lass, then. She played you both like fiddles."

I dart up to knock him out, but da puts his hand out quickly, catching me. "Enough, Ethan. Don't you think you've taken enough heat for this?" He tilts his head. "And why do you care so much, hm?"

I divert my eyes. "I don't care. I just don't want anyone talking about it."

"What's with the bear?" Malcolm teases, taking it from da.

"He went and saw her." Caleb points out, catching on.

"To give her a piece of my mind." I point out, argumentatively.

"And she ended up giving you a bear?" Malcolm asks, as if my argument is so weak, it's humorous.

"It's for Peg, stupid." I spit. "She said it was given to her by her aunt, when she came to the states. She was terrified, and the bear was the only thing that made her feel safe."

Da looks at me. "And you and your brother both had a relationship with the lass? Is this some kind of weird bedroom thing that I don't want to know about?"

Caleb shudders. "Da, no! God!" He gasps. "I fucked around with her here and there, but there was no chemistry! She was just something to fill in the gaps when I didn't want anyone to know. What Ethan and her did, I have no fucking clue."

Da looks at me again. "How come you never told me about the lass, son? Was she just a roll in the hay to you, too?"

Suddenly, I feel defensive. Like I need to defend Freya's honor, since she's being made out like a whore. "No, da!" Then I hesitate, realizing what I've admitted to.

"Are you in love with her, son?"

I swallow, staring at my hands. My brothers and my cousin are standing over me, like this is a fucking interrogation. "Would you fuck off!" I bellow. "I'm not answering with these assholes standing over me."

"I'll take that as a yes." Maverick surmises.

"Look." I sigh quickly. "I was in love with her. Before I found out about her fucking Caleb, too."

Caleb looks at me. "Why the fuck do you care? It was moons ago, man. We never lasted more than six thrusts and it was over."

Now it's my turn to shudder. "You want me to puke?"

"God, grow a pair, man." Caleb chuckles mirthlessly. "Twenty bucks says that if we each made a list of all the lasses we've fucked around with over the years, some of them might line up. Who the fuck cares?"

Malcolm interjects. "Yeah, me and Maverick here fucked the same lass, but that was his recommendation."

"You two are sick." I wince, kicking Maverick further away from me.

And that's when Declan, my other brother, walks in. "What am I missing?" He asks, holding his laptop in his hand, like a large notebook. He's also got his earpods in his ears, looking like he just got off the phone.

"Ah, Ethan's all bent out of shape because he and Caleb fucked the same lass." Maverick waves.

He furrows his brows. "Gross."

I lift a hand, voice raised an octave, emphasizing my words. "Thank you."

"She some kind of desperate whore?" Maverick adds, and I feel my fist ball up. "No, she's not, asshole." I say through gritted teeth. "And the next jerkoff that alludes to that is going to taste my knuckles."

"Someone's still in love with her." Malcolm says in a singsong voice, and then he sips his beer.

"I am not, shithead. How could I be in love with her after she...did...what she did." I gesture with my hand, as though speaking the actual words is too repugnant.

Da sits next to me on the couch, folding his arms across his chest. "Ethan, what is it that is so repulsive about this lass, huh?"

I look at my brothers and Malcolm. Da picks up on my hesitation. "Don't you boys have something to do?" They seem to find their way out the door. "Caleb, you stay." I roll my eyes, resting my head on the back of the couch, in exasperation. Caleb sits next to da. "Go on, son. Answer me."

After drawing in a deep breath, I look at the floor, feeling stupid. "Nothing, da." I answer honestly.

"Well, then why didn't you pursue her further, Ethan? She seems like a lovely lass, giving Peg a bear, when she hasn't even met the bairn."

I look at da. I've never seen him like this before. Ever since Laney and Peg came into our lives, da has softened beyond recognition. And now that Caleb and Laney are getting married, and Laney is with child, it's like all da's dreams have come true, and I've never seen him happier. Mama, too. What was once a dictatorial, hard-nosed, cold house, is now just about as close to a real family as you can get. It's unnerving. "She's a banker, da. She invents software on the side practically giving it away."

Da looks at me, expecting more. "And?"

Caleb sits up, sighing. "He didn't think she would be worthy of the Harris name, da."

"Is that it?" Da asks me. "Did you think I wouldn't approve of such a lass, son?"

I nod. "That's part of it." I clear my throat. "It still turns my stomach, knowing that she was with Caleb first."

Da winks. "She was cutting her teeth on your brother first, lad."

Caleb chimes in. "Ah, I get it. You were afraid that when she was making it with you, that she was picturing me, is that it?" He scoffs. "Because if that's what you thought, believe me, it isn't true. The lass never called me, I always called her, and she showed little interest other than a shag. And even then, it wasn't much, man. No offence. She was like a four out of ten."

My tone is flat. "Thanks."

"No, I mean it, man. I'm serious. I don't even know why we got together. I was fucking lazy, and she was always available."

Flat tone again. "Once again, thanks."

"Ethan, all your brother is saying is that she didn't mean anything to him, and he didn't mean anything to her. It was just sex, son. And if you had any feelings for her, you shouldn't have let this hangup sully it."

"I told you, da, that wasn't all of it."

"I get that, too. But if I wanted to set you up with someone, I would have told you, like I told your brother. You're free to see anyone you like."

"Da, it's over. What happened between us happened like a year ago. The only reason why I went to see her is to give her a piece of my mind on account of not helping out with Peg."

"Say what you will, son, but I sense there's unfinished business there." Da adds.

I rise, gesturing to the bear, looking at Caleb. "If you want to tear the tag off it, so Laney doesn't get offended, Freya said it's fine."

"Do you honestly think Laney will be offended?" Caleb asks rhetorically.

"Up to you. I'm just relaying a message."

"Well, it's unnecessary." Caleb says.

"Tell Freya we say thank you." Da adds.

I look at them both, irritated. "Tell her yourself." I walk out of the room, and I hear da say to Caleb under his breath.

"Invite her to the wedding."

My eyes roll involuntarily. "God, this family is gettng more and more fucked up." I murmur to myself, and head into my old room. An hour later, Caleb comes up to get me.

"Colton Ford is here. Do you want to come downstairs?"

"Sure." I nod, glad that he isn't bringing up Freya again.

As we walk downstairs, I see the billionaire mogul on the couch, talking to da. "Hi, Colton." I greet, shaking his proffered hand. "What brings you here?"

The man is dressed in a suit, matching the rest of us. I swear I have one for each day of the week, and another set for fancier meetings, plus casual ones for dates, it's crazy the wardrobe that we all have.

"I heard about what happened with the little girl, and I wanted to offer some advice." He explains, as my mama sits in the corner, all but staring at him. I notice he gets a lot of attention, as do the rest of the Ford boys, whenever they go anywhere. I've never seen my mama fawn, but if that's it, she's fawning.

"That's very kind of you, Colton." Da says.

"Not at all." Colton nods. "My girls have two private detectives and two bodyguards with them at all times, including when they're at school. They were nearly killed once when someone tried to blow my truck up, and then a kidnapper tried to take them, so I'm no stranger to trouble when it comes to my kids."

Caleb nods. "That's along the lines of what I was thinking. We have a private detective on the case now, since it doesn't look like the police are going to take this matter as seriously as we'd hoped."

"I certainly would." Colton agrees. "Although I'm not downplaying the job that our boys in blue do, we certainly send them enough work, that sometimes they can't keep up. Our kind tends to attract troublemakers, unfortunately."

"I couldn't agree with you more, Colton." Mama interjects. "I know that at Caleb and Laney's wedding, we need to be extra careful."

"Yes, definitely." He nods. "How many were you thinking would be attending?"

Caleb and da exchange a look. "Laney and I would like a small wedding, however, with this family and with the business, I'm not sure if that's possible."

"Especially since the list seems to be growing, even with non-relevant people." I add, letting da and Caleb know that I overheard their conversation earlier.

"Weddings of this caliber shouldn't be taken lightly, son." Da argues kindly. "Caleb is well known in the media, as is most of this family, and so is Laney and her family. We cannot disregard that. And Caleb and Laney have discussed it and have decided that as long as they can get married quickly, before the adoption papers are final, they are fine with having a larger wedding than originally planned."

Colton sits up higher. "Well, I hope I'm not overstepping, but my wife Julia and I, and my family, have discussed it, and we'd be honored if you'd host your wedding at our ranch house in South Carolina. I have top-notch security there, and the horses are better than any security guards could offer." He looks around the room. Da is frowning and nodding, so is Caleb. "Think about it all you like, and there is absolutely no pressure. We just felt that we could help in this regard, seeing as our family's karma has been shot recently, and perhaps giving back might be the best solution here, no matter how hokey that offer sounds."

"It's not hokey at all, Colton." Caleb says. "I appreciate it very much. It's not often that business associates try to lend a hand like that. I'll talk to Laney and see what she thinks."

"Logistics wouldn't be a problem, either." Colton adds. "After all, we own an airline, and my brother is a pilot, plus Julia's father owns a private jet. We could get everyone to the wedding safely and quickly."

"That sounds great, Colton." Caleb says.

"Oh, one other thing." Colton volunteers. "We have an annual fundraiser at the ranch, and so I have access to a lot of charities and advertising, things like that. My sister in laws run it with Julia. If you wanted to ask for donations in lieu of gifts, that can easily be done, but again, that's up to you."

As I sit here, witnessing this exchange, I start to understand more and more why Freya does what she does. The warm glow I'm getting inside at just the thought of giving, makes me smile. Caleb, after helping Gretchen and Peg, and now adopting Peg, seems to be a changed man, for the better, and not just because he fell in love, but because he's doing all these things that he never did before. I don't know if it's just because Colton Ford, one of the richest, most respected men in the business, proudly gives of himself, but I feel like we've caught a bug here in this family.

...and it feels good.