24. Chapter Twenty-Four

24

Chapter Twenty-Four

Phoenix

J ackson has stayed buried in his office all day. I’m over him ignoring me. I didn’t do anything wrong so I’m not going to be treated like I did. After working up the nerve, my feet carry me all the way to his office and my fist knocks on the door. The glass is frosted over for a semblance of privacy in the otherwise see through office. A gruff, “Come in.” is shouted from the other side of the door. Wasting no more time I push into his office, shut the door, and sit in one of the visitor seats on the opposite side of the desk from him.

“Okay Mr. Hall, come out with it. Whatever reason you’ve been avoiding me, spill it.”

His eyebrows raise at my no nonsense tone, “I’m sorry?”

I have to fight pretty hard not to roll my eyes, “Come on, you’ve avoided me all day. You answer my questions with no more than a grunt like a caveman. This can’t be because of Kieran.”

“It’s one hundred percent because of Kieran. I don’t know what he told you, but I can almost guarantee it isn’t the truth. Did you know he almost killed me? I was in a coma, Brittany. That’s not a man you want to be with. He’s unhinged on his best days. I mean do you even know what his family is? What he does for a job?”

Pushing up to my feet, I place my palms firmly on the top of his desk staring down at him with rage, “Yes, I do know who he is and what his occupation entails. I know all about his family seeing as my best friend is married to his oldest brother. Did you know your brother almost killed him? He almost bled out. I know about the fight, I know about his healing, what’s happened since and even what happened before. Looks like you both have more in common than you think.”

Pure malice is on full display as Jackson looks me in the eye and delivers the blow I never expected, “I think it’s best if you take paid time off this week. We’ll reconvene next Monday and decide your future at Philips and Grant.”

My jaw drops before I school my features, “If that’s what you feel is best. Have a great week, Jackson .”

I’m about to close my door when I hear him say, “You as well, Ms. Mitchell .”

I am not going to cry. I’m stronger than some insecure man making me take a week off because his ego is bruised. I make my way to my desk, pack up my things, double checking that I have everything, then with my head held high, I walk out of the office. My phone is to my ear before the elevator doors shut.

The phone clicks and I rush out, “Mom.”

“Hey, Nix. What’s wrong?” Her voice sounds strange, but I just brush it off as she’s distracted.

“My new boss just made me take a week off because the guy I’ve been seeing beat him up years ago.” Okay, that’s an extremely oversimplified version of what happened but she doesn’t need the details.

She chuckles, “Oh, Nix. Only you would find yourself in a predicament like that.”

“It’s not funny, they’re just men having a pissing contest.” I groan, shutting my eyes.

“Over you my sweet Phoenix. And why are they all up in arms about you?”

“I’m too old to do this.”

I can practically see the smile tugging at her lips when she responds, “You’re never too old for this, come on.”

I let out a playful sigh while walking out the elevator as soon as the doors open, “Because I’m worthy, I’m strong, and smart. I’m Phoenix Walker, I rise from the ashes of the flames they tried to burn me alive with.”

I’m not paying attention to where I’m going and practically run straight into Kieran’s solid chest. He grabs my forearms gently to stop me at the last second, that stupidly sexy smirk firmly in place. Carrie is in my ear still telling me about how beautiful and perfect I am.

“Hey, Mom. I gotta go okay?”

“What’s the phrase, Nix?” Concern and mild panic lacing her voice.

“Grandpa will call at seven, got it.” I can hear her lungs emptying of the breath she was holding.

“Okay, call me later. Tell Kieran I say hi. I love you, Nix.”

“I love you too, Mom.” I hang up the phone, taking a moment to study Kieran’s confused face before pushing up on my toes and giving him a quick kiss.

He pulls back in slight confusion, “What Grandpa? Why do you look upset? And this isn’t where I asked you to wait for me.”

“Take me home, Kie. I’ll tell you everything when we’re there.”

* * *

The ride home is silent. I can tell he wants to ask more about the conversation he overheard, but he doesn’t. He just holds my hand, pulling it in his lap to rest on his thigh and gently rubs my finger with his thumb. Pulling into the parking garage of his penthouse, Kieran parks before checking his surroundings and opening my door for me. He leads me into the elevator, silently waits for it to arrive then leads me off.

“Kie-” Abruptly I shut my mouth as he holds up a hand to me then presses a finger to his lips. He pulls out a box from a spot under his coffee table, turns it on, and waits for the light to flash before he sighs.

“Okay, you can say whatever you want, no one’s tracking us.”

“Uh, is that something I should normally worry about, because I’ve gotta say, I talk about a lot of stuff on my phone, and in my apartment.”

“No. I’m just being careful now that we know he’s out there, and has your number. I’m calling a meeting here tonight that I want you to be a part of. My brothers will be here and so will Ryan. I know you’re going to be pissed, but I’m also assigning you a detail.”

Has he lost his mind? That’s not happening. “Kieran, I love you, but you’re not assigning me guards. I don’t need them. I’m fine.”

He runs his hands through his hair in frustration, “Please, I know you’re brave and strong. I get it, it’s why I call you Brave Girl, but please let me do this. You probably don’t need them, and I’m probably being dramatic, but I’d rather be over prepared. I’m going to put Ryan on you. You know him already, and he’s my best friend. I trust him fully, he’ll switch out with Collin and Ian. You’ll meet them tonight as well. I can’t work how I need to if I’m freaking out about you here. The only way to solve that is if I know you’re covered when I’m not around.”

Every part of me screams to argue back with him, to tell him to shove it and that I don’t need any help. Except my stupid heart kind of melts at what he says. He’s nervous and I want to settle his fears. So instead of continuing to fight with him, I move in front of him, leaning my head onto his chest. His hands instinctively wrap around me and his lips press into the top of my head, “Fine, but seriously, I’m not going to need much for this week seeing as Jackson and I got into it and he volun-told me to take the week off and we’ll meet next Monday to discuss my future at the firm.”

Kieran’s muscles stiffen as I talk, “I’m sorry, he what now?”

“It’s fine, his ego is just bruised, and now I have all this free time to do recon.”

He forces a smile that looks a complete contrast to the lazy smirk he usually gives me. He’s trying to drop it for me, or he just wants me to think that. I’m not sure which one it is, yet.

“You’re right, his ego’s probably just in the way.” He kisses my cheek then turns and heads into the office, whistling. Kieran Byrne is whistling and it’s unnerving .

“Kie— Kieran, why does that sound like you’re going to do something stupid?”

I follow him into the office just in time to catch that mischievous grin he loves to give.

“Me? I’m offended. I would never.” The fake indignation in his voice ringing loud, telling me all I need to know. He’s going to say something to Jackson.

I give him my most stern expression, “Kieran I’m serious, let me handle it.”

A look of annoyance immediately takes over his face, “Fine, I’ll let him be a pansy bitch and act completely unfair to you, whatever you say, Mo Stóirín.”

Trying not to laugh at his theatrics I press my lips to the underside of his jaw, “Thank you, Kie.”

He lets the tension out of his posture with a deep breath before turning back to his desk.

“Okay, we have a few hours to spare, let’s start with the notebook and work our way through it.”

* * *

We’ve been combing over the notebook for hours when the elevator chimes signaling someone has arrived. Kieran’s trying to decode my terrible handwriting from the early days, while I’m trying to piece together things from my own memory as well as the preteen years written out in front of me. A knock sounds on the door frame causing my eyes to lift up and catch Declan walk in. It surprises me just how much Kie and his brothers look alike. Seriously, a couple of inches, as well as hair and eye shades really are the only thing that separates them .

I gather up everything we’ve been working on while Kieran and Declan greet each other. It’s not that I’m hiding it from the others. I’m actually pretty sure I’ll have to tell them tonight. I just want to be the one to tell them, not my red tattered old spiral band that caught their eye. Once everything is put away I turn my attention to Declan. He’s a prickly one, he has the same charisma as the others, he’s easy to talk to and be around, but there’s something else there. Hurt recognizes hurt, every single time. However, I don’t make a habit out of making other people’s business mine. Unless it’s Kieran, or the men we’re now hunting down.

Declan nods at me, his hands placed firmly in his pockets, as he rocks back on his heels, “Hey, Britt.”

I nod at him in response, “Declan.”

Kieran lets out a low whistle from behind me. “Why did it just drop fifteen degrees in here?”

Before I can tell him I have no idea what he’s talking about Ryan struts through the room like he owns it, giving Kie a handshake-hug thing, then immediately wrapping me up in a bear hug and spinning me around.

“Hey, Brave Girl.” My eyes go wide at the use of the nickname only Kie uses, and if the growl from behind me tells me anything it’s that Kieran isn’t a fan either.

“Ryan.” Kieran barks out in warning.

Ryan chuckles, clearly getting the reaction he wanted from Kieran. “What? You mean to tell me I’m not allowed to acknowledge how brave she is after the last time I saw her?”

Declan chimes in, intrigue lacing his words, “When’s the last time you saw her, Ry?”

His eyes pop wide, but he recovers quickly, “The other day? Just because she doesn’t like the lot of you, doesn’t mean she doesn’t like me.”

Of course at that moment four more brown hair, green eyed men strut through the door. I’ll just go die of embarrassment now. One of the twins must have caught what Ryan said because he’s not even fully in the room and he’s already inserting himself into the conversation.

“Who doesn’t like us, and why? I’ll have you know I’ve been on my best behavior recently.”

Mac pops him upside the head as he passes, “That would be because you’re in season and closing in on a playoff spot, and not because you all of a sudden have a burning desire to be a good person.”

They all file in giving both Kieran and I a nod of acknowledgment. Two other men I don’t know make their way into the office too, and I’m all of a sudden thankful that this office alone is the size of my apartment. Kie takes my hand and guides me behind his desk, motioning me to sit in the comfortable overstuffed chair. He moves to the back of his chair and rests his forearms on top of it. The symbolism of him handing me the reins and standing behind me for backup should I need it is enough to knock me off my feet, if I was standing. His brothers take note of this too. Most of them fighting grins.

“So I’m going to let Brittany take over, but before she does I want to point out that whatever is said in this room has to stay in this room. No going back to wives, girlfriends, friends, or bed buddies. I love every single one of you, but I’d slit your throat without even a moment of hesitation if you so much as disagreed with her nail color. You can’t even fathom what I’ll do if you break her trust. She doesn’t have to tell you shit, how little or much she decides is completely up to her but we’re in the cone of silence, is that understood? ”

Everyone nods except Rowan, who narrows his eyes at his brother. “You’d threaten the Captain so nonchalantly?”

“Oh, brother. I’m devoted and dedicated to this life but don’t ask questions if the answer will offend you.”

Rowan nods slowly at Kieran’s response and turns to me along with everyone else.

“Okay, well I guess we should start with the most pressing matter here. My name is not Brittany Mitchell. My name is Phoenix Walker. And my dad and his friends trafficked me from the age of six, until I escaped at fourteen.”