9. Chapter Nine

9

Chapter Nine

Kieran

I ’ve been running around all over Jersey searching for Daniel Smith. Yes, that’s his real name. Did my brother’s send me on this goose chase after I came home with a mysterious black eye, and I told them it was from Ryan again?

Also, yes.

They don’t believe me, but honestly I don’t really care. They have no proof so they’re forced to keep their theories between themselves.

Mac and Declan joined me about two hours ago once I had found his actual address. He wasn’t there, and from the looks of it he was in a hurry to leave. So now the person who would bring us one step closer to Jordan Hudson is in the wind. We’re all sitting in awkward silence, and I’m pretty sure our driver would rather die than sit in this car with us. Seriously, the tension is thick and out of all the Byrne’s we’re the three most stubborn. No one’s going to break first.

My phone vibrates against my leg bringing me back to earth. Pulling it out of my pocket right before it goes to voicemail I accept the call without checking who it is, “Byrne.” Both of my brothers look at me in confusion. They’re nosy by nature and I never answer my phone like this unless I don’t know who’s on the other end.

“Kieraannn.”

My brow furrows in confusion. “Mo Stóirín?” Now my nosy brothers are really paying attention to me.

“What’s that mean? Store-een. You said it the other night too.”

Smirking into the phone because I can hear the buzz in her voice, “Where are you Brittany? Let me come get you.”

“Nooo, no way. We were one night it’s done now.”

Hearing the slight slur in her words, I decide to push her and see what she’s willing to tell me. I’ve also got to be careful what I say, I do have listeners.

“Do you want it to only be that?”

She snort laughs into the phone, “It doesn’t matter, people like me don’t get to keep people like you. Not with all the light I shadow. Anyway, gotta go. It’s my turn for the bathroom.”

Panic zips through my veins, what is she talking about? Where is she? “Britt wait, where are you? Let me come get you.”

“You can’t. I don’t know much about your big bad job, Kieran BYRNE. But what I do know is you can’t come to Kneipe to get me. Gotta go Mystery Man, byeee.”

“No, Britt, don’t—” beep beep beep. Shit, she hung up.

Dec is the first to speak, “Want to tell us what the fuck that was? ”

My finger comes up to my chin and taps it while I pretend to think, “Yeah, no. Thanks for asking though.” We’re pulling up to the house as I finish my sentence.

Jumping out of the car my eyes lock on Mac’s, “You didn’t hear shit, because there isn’t shit to hear. Keep it that way until I say otherwise.” Mac nods, and I catch Declan’s nod too. Sprinting to my car and jumping into the driver seat my eyes fly to my brothers who have barely made it out of the SUV. Waiting to make sure they’re safely out of the driveway before I make my way past them and into German territory.

* * *

Pulling up to Kneipe I’m well aware that I have about ten minutes max to get in and out before the Germans are alerted that I’m here. Heading straight into the bar it takes me about three seconds for me to find her. Brittany is sitting at the bar talking to the bartender. Shit, It’s Jakob Fischer. Not only did he use to be best friends with Declan, but his dad does business with us. No shot am I making it out of here unseen. Not that a six and a half foot man makes it many places without being seen in the first place. Shaking my head at my own thoughts I make my way to Britt, her laugh rings out over the crowd.

“I’m sorry but no. I’m unfortunately one of those girls who likes a man but can’t have him.” Her head is leaning on her hand as she looks up at Jakob, deciding to see where this conversation is going, I stay back in the shadows.

“That’s too bad, is he taken?” He’s not hiding the way his eyes roam up and down her body, making me put in more effort than I’d like to make sure I stay where I am .

“I don’t think so. He’s my best friend’s brother-in-law.” I can’t help the grin that pulls at my lips.

She’s talking about me.

“It’ll complicate things, and I can’t block his light with my darkness like that. He acts like he’s darkness, storms, and shadows. But I know better, he’s light, sun, and hope.” Okay that’s enough of this. Moving in behind her my hands find her hips and my chin meets her shoulder.

“Hey Brave Girl, did you miss me?”

She stiffens and jumps in my arms before registering my voice and sinking back into my hold.

“Look who it is. Were your ears burning?”

My lips press against her temple before straightening up. “Something like that. You ready to get out of here?”

Jakob speaks up before Britt can answer me, “Byrne, what are you doing here?”

Putting my attention on him my eyes narrow, “Just picking up my sister-in-law’s friend. I’m not on business, just on mission ‘pick up the girl’.”

He stares me down for a few more seconds before nodding, “Just grab her and go.”

Of course Britt can’t help herself, “Hey, I wasn’t ready to leave yet. Let’s stay. Dance with me, Mystery Man.”

Damn, do I want to give her anything she’s ever asked of me. Unfortunately we have about two more minutes before my tires get slashed. “Let me take you home, please?” She huffs and pouts at me. The ridiculous move would typically annoy me, especially if anyone else did it. But on her? She looks so adorable. She tells Jakob goodbye as I take her hand and lead her out the bar and to my car.

* * *

The ride to her apartment was quiet. That’s probably because she passed out about thirty seconds into our trip, but that’s neither here nor there. She also didn’t want to wake up. So here I am, half dead from the toll today has taken on my mind and body, while carrying the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen up to her apartment. She said she likes me. She didn’t know I could hear her and she told another man that she likes me. I can’t fight the smile that I’ve gotten every time I think about it. Using her keys to unlock her door, I let us in and lock it behind us.

Looking around the two bedroom apartment it’s decent. It’s not like Clara’s old apartment, which was sketchy at best, but it’s also a long way from my house. Shit, it’s even a little hike from my penthouse that I have across the city for when I just want to be alone. My eyes glance around the living room where I found her curled in on herself just last night. She was so broken, it broke what small heart I have. Something tugged in my chest when she let me hold her together while she worked through whatever was going on. I want to know what that was about and I’m determined to find out.

After last night I think I actually like her. I’m not a hundred percent sure what it is or what it means. What I do know is that she stays on my mind, and when I’m not with her I want to be. I want to hang out with her constantly. These are the kinds of things we’ll talk about tomorrow.

Making my way to her bedroom as quietly as I can, I get her comfortable in bed before removing her shoes.

She stirs and lets out a sleepy, “Kie, what are you doing?” Shooting her a full smile that I so rarely give out, I tuck her in.

“I’m just putting you to bed. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”

She nods, still half asleep. “Yeah, okay. Tomorrow, swear?”

“Yeah, Brave Girl, I swear.” I press my lips to her forehead before pulling back to look at her face.

After memorizing every feature on her perfect face I turn and whisper to her, “Sleep well, Brittany.” Making sure to lock up when I leave, every part of me protests and tells me to go back to bed with her. Instead of giving into it. I head back to my car and shoot a text to the ‘Byrne Bros’ group chat. Mainly out of habit, we always check in on each other.

Kieran: On way home.

Rowan: From?

Flynn: Yeah Kie, where are you coming from?

Declan: *gif of little boy suspiciously looking around*

Sully: Spill it! What do you know??

Kieran: Nowhere and he knows nothing. I should have just text Rowan by himself.

Rowan: Kieran. Where are you coming from?

Kieran: Gotta go. Driving. See you in the morning.

Mac: He picked Brittany up from a bar in German territory then took her home. He’s been there long enough so I have questions, but not long enough that I think they fucked. But we aren’t supposed to tell Clara, or you… oops.

Rowan: brITTANY WHO????

Flynn: BE SO FUCKING FOR REAL RIGHT NOW!

Sully: OOOOHHHHH you’re in troubleeeeee

Kieran: You’re dead to me D&M

Declan: Hey! I didn’t say a single word.

Mac: Yeah, yeah. I hear you *eye roll emoji *

Kieran: *middle finger emojis*

Well, guess I’m not going home to sleep. Time to face the brothers…