3. Chapter Three

3

Chapter Three

Clara

D o you ever get the feeling like someones watching you? When the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, goose flesh cloaks your arms, and your heart rate automatically picks up? That's how I feel right now standing at the edge of the playground watching Rhett play on the slides. My head feels like it's on a swivel, I keep reminding myself he can't find us here. We avoid any and everything that could alert him to where we are. It's why Rhett hasn't gotten hearing aids yet. It's why we nurse colds at home and pray to whoever will listen that it never needs further medical attention. It's why I'm thankful Kellum O'Brien has no problem sending my paychecks to an account with a name that isn't the name I gave him when I was hired.

I was born Clara Randolph, and Rhett was born Rhett Donovan. But here we're ‘The Sanders', and no one has a reason to question it. So when my checks go to an account held by the name Brittany Mitchell no one bats an eye. I have the only card linked to the account, and my best friend gets her Saturday evening face times every week and random texts throughout to keep up with each other in return, which reminds me. I wave both arms until I catch Rhett's attention and sign " Come on baby, time to go home and call Auntie." Rhett pouts the most pitiful pout that he's mastered over the past six months, he gets that lip as far out as he can manage and makes those hazel eyes as big as he can and signs back ‘ One more slide, please Mama, please." He's got me and he knows it. I dramatically sigh, making him giggle and nod, " Only one more, I'm serious." A smile breaks across his whole face as he climbs to the tallest slide and giggles the whole way down.

Meeting him at the bottom and reaching for his hand to lead him to the car. I'm looking behind me when I hear, "Whoa!" Jerking my head forward I stop just short of running into a solid wall of muscles and abs. My eyes spring up to his and lock onto pools of green. Green that looks almost identical to the eyes that captivated me in Mr. O'Brien's office, but this is not the same man. This man is younger and his hair is shaggy, he shakes it out of his eyes that are full of amusement and pops an air pod out. "Hey, you guys okay?" He squats down to Rhett's level, "You okay little man?" Rhett darts behind my legs. Mystery man looks up at me and smirks, "He's shy?"

I hate when men do this. Rhett literally cannot hear them. I mean he also is very wary of men, but still. I roll my eyes and snap, "No he can't hear you. We're fine, but we were just going." I pick Rhett up and move around this man with the kind eyes. Even men with kind eyes and a face that almost sends a shock to my heart but not quite can't be trusted. Carrying Rhett to the car he keeps his face in my neck.

After settling him in his seat I scan my surroundings again, the flash of a camera pulls my eyes to the tree line. My heart stops in my chest. Standing across the playground is a man who looks an awful lot like Preston. My hands shake and I blink hard, when I open my eyes again.. He's gone. I glance everywhere to see where he went but it's like he was never here. Am I so paranoid now that I'm seeing things?

The man with the green eyes is watching me with an eyebrow raised. But he's not alone anymore, a taller, broader man with dark brown hair and eyes just a little lighter stands beside him. He watches me for a moment before turning and scanning the crowd. What is going on? Shaking my head and sliding into my front seat I find myself hitting the lock button as soon as the doors are shut. Mentally I'm repeating to myself ‘ He can't find you here. There's no way. You're safe. Rhett is safe. He can't hurt us anymore." Looking in the rear view I notice Rhett staring at the men inquisitively. He doesn't look scared, just curious. Pulling out of the park, I've decided to take the long way home, just in case. We have nap time, and a call with an Auntie who misses us when we get home. But all that can wait an extra fifteen minutes to make sure we aren't being followed.

* * *

Rhett has napped, played some more, eaten dinner and had a bath. He sits on our thrift store couch in his fresh PJ's with little turtle heroes all over them, his curly, wet hair giving the illusion that it's somewhat maintainable. My phone is propped up on the coffee table as he signs as fast as his little hands will allow telling Auntie all about the park, and the amazing day he's had. He and Britt talk until it's bedtime, just as they have every other Saturday night for six months. I pick up my phone and my little boy then the three of us go through his whole routine together. Thirty minutes later he's snuggling his favorite stuffed turtle and drifting off to sleep.

I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge and plop down on my couch, bringing my feet under me. Brittany has been my best friend since Preston talked me into moving to Arizona right out of college. I went no contact with my abusive and alcoholic parents when I was nineteen so it wasn't like I had much of a home to go to after graduation anyway. We met at the library looking in the romance section, and as they say the rest is history. She's the sister I never knew I needed, and she's my platonic soulmate.

"I don't know Britt, I swear it was him. Same blonde hair, same looming demeanor, hell same slight curve to his nose. What if he found us?" Britt studies me while she responds, "He didn't find you guys. You went from suburbia Arizona, to the middle of some city in some state on the east coast. If I don't even know exactly where you are, no way he does." She's right, we made a pact when Rhett and I left that I wont tell her exactly where we are. That way when Pres inevitably came to her she could say she didn't know. And if he tried to hack her phone he still wouldn't know. I'm even under her eighth grade boyfriend's name in her phone. She takes our safety seriously, and it's one of my favorite things about her. We would still be there or be dead if it wasn't for her.

Britt changes the subject, "Okay tell me again about Mr. tall, hot, and dangerous from the other day. Is there really no chance you'll see him again? I'm not saying you have to do anything, Clara, BUT you do deserve, at the very least, something nice to look at. Just text him, you have his number now."

We burst into a fit of giggles as I tell her, "There's zero percent chance I'm seeing or talking to Rowan Byrne again. That's the only interactions with him I've had in the six months I've been here. And let's not forget how mortifying those situations were. Even I'm not that unlucky."

* * *

Sunday flew by and now it's Monday again. I've dropped Rhett off and am now walking into the office ten minutes early to talk to my boss about my hours. I put on my favorite navy dress that hits right below the knees with a modest neckline, my hair in a low neat bun and my favorite kitten heels on. I'm feeling good, I've got this. Rounding the corner to my desk in front of Mr. O'Brien's office my feet stop on a dime and I almost fall on my face from the abrasive move. Nolan sits in the waiting room. No, oh no, no this cannot be happening.

My body warms and my cheeks heat as a hand lands on my lower back, electricity zaps through me as I stiffen and spin around looking up into the green eyes that have starred in my dreams and dirty fantasies for the past three nights. Backing up quickly, I trip over my own feet. Rowan's hand shoots out and gently wraps around my forearm, balancing me. Instinctively I flinch back and put space between us, "I'm, I, uh, I'm s-s-sorry. I'll let Mr. O'Brien know you're here." Spinning back around I'm trying to play it cool, but I'm practically running straight to his office door.

After knocking his distinct deep voice vibrates through the door, "Come in!". I walk into his office and just rip off the band aid, "Mr. O'Brien I am so sorry about Friday. I swear I didn't know you were in a meeting."

He holds his hand up stopping my ramble, "Clara it's fine. I'm sorry it was so dramatic. Nolan O'Connor is a react first ask questions later kind of man. What did you want to talk about?"

I nod because what do you even say to that? "Um yes, sir. Because of the childcare I have lined up I have to pick my son up by ten past five every evening. So I was wondering if instead of my hours being nine to five if there was any way I can work eight to four that way if I have to stay late some days I'm still on time to get him."

Mr. O'Brien mulls it over for a minute or two before answering, "Yes, that should be fine. I've been meaning to move up my own hours anyway." He shoots me a small nod, "Now, Clara, what's my first meeting today?"

"Well actually Mr. Byrne is outside."

He rolls his eyes, "Of course he is, send him in." I nod and quickly leave his office. Once I'm settled at my desk I look up to Rowan and smile my fakest smile, "Mr. O'Brien will see you now."

* * *

Rowan

"Mr. O'Brien will see you now." If her voice didn't roll over me like the most captivating song I've ever heard, I'd have been annoyed. Like she can't feel the pull between us, like I'm just some guy with a meeting not someone who called to check on her and only popped up at her job to catch another glimpse of her. I can't think about that right now though. Pushing all thoughts of Clara Sanders this morning to the side for now, I feel the weight of the gun in my hand.

Looking around the musty dark warehouse, this is where we keep the product we distribute to other organizations. It's also where we keep the scum who cross us while we work them for information. I'm not a good man, nor have I ever claimed to be, but I try to be fair. At least that's what I tell myself while circling my soldier who is tied to a metal chair. He looks nothing like he did six hours ago when we caught him on CTV loading some of our new guns into the trunk of his car. Guess that's what happens when Kieran gets to you first, oh well.

Turning to my brother and lifting a single brow, Kieran just shrugs, "He tripped, what was I supposed to do?" Chuckling then turning back to the man in front of me.

I grit my teeth and spit out, "You think you can steal from me and I won't find out?" His nose is definitely broken, his eyes almost swollen shut, cuts, bruises, and burns cover what I can see of his flesh. He mutters something I'm unable to understand.

"SPEAK!" I bellow.

He lifts his head, "I'm sorry, boss. It won't happen again" Of course it won't, because he won't live to tell the tale, nevertheless repeat the offense.

"Who do you owe? What was so important that you steal from us?"

He stays silent long enough for Kieran to get twitchy before he finally spills, "You don't understand. He told me if I didn't help him he'd kill me and come after my family." Pulling back and throwing all my weight behind my fist as it connects with his jaw, snapping his head to the side from the force.

I grab his head by the hair and snatch it back, "You have five seconds. Five…four…three…"

He rushes out, "Pakhan'' and my temper snaps.

I start to the table holding all our favorite accessories for these types of meetings. I toss a crowbar to Kieran and grab my favorite paring knife. "Let's make an example out of him now, Kieran. Remind everyone what happens when you mess with the BOCG." His screams echo through the building as Kieran and I get to work. No one's coming for him, but apparently the Bratva is coming for us and stealing our shit.

As I finish with what's left of the rat, turning to Kieran who's covered in blood that isn't his I give him the most " You look disgusting" face I can manage. "I've got other shit to do. Clean this up, then take a fucking shower before you go home."

He lets out a loud boisterous laugh, "Pot meet kettle. Check a mirror, Roe." I roll my eyes and head to the office we have in the front of the warehouse. It has a bathroom with a shower and we keep it stocked with a change of clothes for each of us.

I turn on the shower and take my clothes off while I wait for the water to heat. I'm not new to this so I grab an empty trash bag from under the sink, and carefully place every article of clothing I had on my body in the bag then tie it up. I check the temperature of the shower before stepping in. Leaning my head on the tile I let the water beat on my back. Thoughts of the skittish Clara flash through my mind without permission, the way she flinched back when I caught her, how her head is constantly on a swivel. She was on edge the entire time I watched her and her son at the park.

Speaking of, I need to check in on her. Making quick work of washing my hair and body, not a speck of DNA is on me that doesn't belong to me when I finish. I quickly towel off and get dressed. Storming out of the warehouse I quickly dial Nolan, needing an update.

He answers on the first ring, "Boss?"

"Is she still at home?"

Nolan clears his throat, "Uh, Yeah she picked her kid up and came straight here. She hasn't left again."

I nod to myself, "Okay, call in Killian for the night shift. I want to know if her curtains blow in the wind."

"Sure thing, Boss. I'll see you at the house." I grunt an agreement then hang up. What happened to you, Clara Sanders? And how can I fix it?

I'm on the way home from the warehouse when my mind spirals to thoughts of Clara. She seems to make her way to the forefront of my mind constantly. Why? No clue. How? She must be a witch or something. Seriously, I need to get it the fuck together. I met her like three days ago. Do I know most things about her because I had my brother pull whatever he could find? Well, yes. But that's no one elses business.

Sighing, I'm disappointed in myself because I know I've lost this battle, but at the same time not caring enough to stop myself. Bringing up Clara's name in my phone I hit the call button. It's only six so she shouldn't be at work, she should be home by now. Holding my breath I wait for the call to connect. I'm positive it's going to go to voicemail, but right before it does the most angelic voice fills my SUV.

"Hello?"

There's noise in the background telling me she's more than likely cooking while her son plays in the room. Smiling at the thought of the two of them in their element I remember I haven't said anything yet. What a loser. My fingers tap on the steering wheel to expel my nervous energy. I'm not sure what about her makes me so nervous. I don't get nervous, my hands are surgeon steady, and any ‘nervous tick' that I've had in the past was quickly brought to my attention and worked out of my system.

"Pretty Girl."

I can hear the confusion in her voice as she responds, "Rowan? What's up?"

The corner of my lip tips up at the sound of my name on her lips. "I was calling to just see how the rest of your day went."

"It was uneventful, look I'm in the middle of something. I'm not trying to be rude, but what can I help you with?"

"Can I take you to lunch tomorrow?"

The line goes silent on her end aside from the toys banging around. Now I'm starting to worry that she's going to turn me down. Shit, this isn't how I wanted this to go. I'm not my siblings, they seem to move around with such finesse and charm. That skipped me, my parents didn't develop whatever gene that is until after I was born. That's not me being self deprecating either, it's just the facts. I'm a straight shooter, erring on the more cold and calculated side. Not to say that I'm completely non-feeling, but those are things I only let loose at my house with my brothers.

"I don't leave the office for lunch."

"I'll bring it to you, we can eat and talk at the office." I rush out before she has a chance to end the call.

"You'll bring lunch… to the office?" She's skeptical, it shines in her voice as clear as the summer sun.

"Yeah, I'll bring us lunch. Please?" Even to my own ears the desperation rings through.

"Why? We've only met twice?"

Oh, Pretty Girl, because I'm completely enamored by you. Of course I can't say that, so I shove it back into the depths of my mind where it came from.

"You seem to have captured my attention Ms. Sanders. So what do you say?" She mulls it over for a few beats for relenting.

"Okay, but this can't turn into anything, my life is insane. I have no more space or energy to add anything else to my plate."

"Deal."

I'm bluffing, this isn't just going to be a one time thing, but I'll take my foot in the door anywhere I can get it. She doesn't sound disinterested, if she did I'd find a way to drop it. I mean I'd probably have someone tail her to give me updates on who she's with and where for the rest of her life. But I wouldn't force her to be with me. I don't think that's what's happening here though. She seems skeptical, I know she's skittish to put it mildly, and she flinches if you move too quickly towards her. Someone's hurt her, and I'm going to be the one to help her fix herself.

"Deal, I go to lunch at twelve." I can hear the smile in her voice, that's interesting.

"Okay, I'll let you get back to your evening. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Rowan."

"Have a good evening, Pretty Girl."