31. Chapter Thirty-One

31

Chapter Thirty-One

Phoenix

A s soon as the boys walk out of the room Clara springs up, and moves so she’s facing me criss-cross applesauce style, “You’re not going to believe this. My entire day is ruined. I’ve developed a complex.”

It clicks what she’s talking about, my eyes widen as I force myself to sit up and lean against the headboard. This is a conversation we can’t have laying down, “No, you’re lying.”

“brITTANY, she didn’t tell me again today!” She throws her hands up in aggravation.

I match her intensity because this is just what we do, “She can’t do that!”

“You can’t tell me you love me one day, then never say it again. I have abandonment issues.” She says with mock disdain.

One of Rhett’s preschool teachers accidentally told Clara she loves her when she was getting Rhett out of the car for school the other day. It’s now the running joke between us, especially since this teacher has acted super awkward since and avoids talking to her now.

“Does she want to be sent your therapy bill? You’re so lovable, I can’t believe she’s going to act like she didn’t say it at all. You can’t just tell someone you love them then never say it again, that’s so rude.”

“Thank you!” Clara tosses her hands up. “See you get me. Rowan looks at me like I’m actively having a psych break every time I bring this up to him, but just love me, dammit.”

We both break character and fall back into the bed with the most unladylike cackles. The silly bits we have drive Rowan up a wall. Half the time he can’t tell if we’re serious or not, but we love them so they stay. We’ve settled back into the bed when Clara sighs then says what’s on her mind.

“So, want to talk about what happened yesterday?”

I hate that I’m lying to her. She’s going to be pissed when she finds out, but I guess there’s not a better time than the present to come clean.

“Uh, so I might have something to tell you.”

She gestures for me to continue, “The floor is yours.”

“My name isn’t Brittany, it’s Phoenix. We changed it when I left home. After everything that happened with David and Robert we had to make sure they couldn’t find me. Obviously that didn’t work because they in fact found me already. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you the truth. I was so scared even uttering it would jinx it and they’d find me.”

Clara’s face is impassive as she responds with just one sentence, “Why are you sorry?”

Completely confused, I answer, “What? ”

“You were keeping yourself safe the best way you knew how. I don’t care what your name is as long as you don’t get a personality transplant. I know who my best friend is, I know who my son’s godmom is. A name is a name, Phoenix. I don’t care about that stuff.” The tears flow freely down my cheeks, she’s so understanding. I don’t deserve her but I’m so thankful that she deemed me worthy, because her love and loyalty is unmatched.

“Okay, now that that’s settled. Who do we think is going to make it to the altar this time?”

We settle back into our typical conversations and my heart feels a little less heavy. Settling back into the bed and getting comfortable, we both turn our attention back to our show. We have to find out how this season ends. Our new bits that we’ll use to drive Roe crazy depends on it.

* * *

I wake up hours later to an empty bed. She left me, that whore. I bet it was Rowan, he’s so needy. Deciding to go look for Kieran, I get up, go to the bathroom, then make my way out of the bedroom. Searching around the third floor I come to a room on the opposite side from what I know is Mac’s room, I knock quietly.

Mac’s deep voice cuts through the wooden door, “Open.”

I push the door open as quietly as possible. This room is insane. There’s so many monitors. One big desk that covers half of the wall space and holds at least eight monitors, most of them doing different things at one time. Mac sits with his back to me. He has a forest green hoodie on, and a black baseball hat sitting on top of his head. He doesn’t look behind him as I enter.

“Hey, you can sit down if you want. What’s up?” His eyes never leave the monitors as his fingers continue to fly over the keys. Sitting on the love seat at the far wall, not far from where his desk starts, I curl up and lean my head on the arm of it. It’s almost calming watching him work, hearing the tap tap tap of the keys.

“I came looking for Kie but you look lonely so maybe I’ll just hang out here with you. I mean if that’s okay?” I’m suddenly unsure of myself. Mac tosses a reassuring smile my way before focusing back on his work.

“Yeah, I don’t care. It may bore you but if you’re looking for calm and mainly quiet, this is the place for you.”

I let him work in silence for a while, pulling at the dark gray cable knit blanket on the back of the couch and draping it over myself. Mac has that same calming sense that Kieran has, like he wouldn’t let anything happen to me or any other woman. But where Kieran also makes my body alight with electricity, Mac just makes me feel safe. He’s attractive, you’d have to be blind not to see that all of the Byrne brothers could scorch the Earth with one singular smolder. He’s not my Byrne though. I think this is what it feels like to have a brother, I can’t be too sure since I’m an only child, but I think so.

“Brittany, Phoenix, whatever I’m supposed to call you, I can hear your brain going a million miles an hour, it’s distracting. What’s wrong?”

“First off, rude. Call me whatever you want. I actually just told Clara. So everyone in this house can call me what they want, I’ll respond. Second, is this what it feels like to have siblings? I’ve never had them, but I feel safe with you guys when Kie isn’t with me, which seems like maybe it is.”

“You sure about the name thing?” He asks with a hint of something I can’t place.

“Yeah, I don’t care.” Is he just going to disregard everything else I said?

“Okay, Pigeon. The closest thing I’ve had to a sister is Clara, and yeah this feels like that. Ask her what it’s like having us as brothers, especially the twins. You’re going to have a constant headache but I like to think we’re worth it.”

I think my brain short circuited, “Pigeon?”

He gives me a mischievous smirk, “Should have specified that name thing, huh?”

Yeah, this definitely has to be what it feels like to have brothers. “Oh, fuck off, Mac. If you call me Pigeon I’m calling you Quail.”

He shrugs in indifference, just as the door swings open and every other Byrne man files in the room all looking various degrees of shocked that I’m in here. All except Kie who just sits beside me and pulls my legs into his lap. “Hey, Mo Stóirín. Whatcha doing in here?”

“I was looking for you but then it was just so quiet in here.”

Kieran gives me a knowing smile as he chuckles, “Yeah, Mac’s space will do that to you, I get sucked into here too.”

“Oh, hey, boys guess what? Brittany slash Phoenix here has given us free reign to call her whatever we want to… I picked Pigeon.” All the boys burst out laughing and agree I am now Pigeon to all of them. I cut my eyes at Kie before he can say anything, “If you call me anything but, Phoenix, Nix, Brave Girl, or Mo Stóirín I’ll cut your balls off in your sleep.”

He sobers and gives me one firm nod, “Yes ma’am. ”

I smile at him, “Want to go work? My mind won’t stop spinning.”

Mac cuts in, “You don’t need to. I’ve got our next guy in my cross hairs right now, guy named Eric?”

I feel the color draining from my face, “Eric is Robert’s other best friend. If you’ve found him, you’re hovering right over Robert and David too.”

All six sets of green eyes lock onto me, Kieran’s the one who speaks up but he’s not talking to me, he’s talking to Mac, “Last name? An Eric is my next target too?”

Mac and I answer him at the same time, “Stone.”

Kieran brings one hand to the back of his neck and squeezes, “How the hell is that possible? That’s my guy too. Did he break off when they were caught to start his own thing?”

The realization hits me like a bullet to the chest.

“Oh, my God. They never stopped.”

* * *

I’m exhausted, grumpy, and my uterus is trying to fight its way out of my body. In short, I don’t have time for this bullshit today. Too bad for me, I’m walking to my office to have a meeting with my boss. I’m not apologizing. I have nothing to apologize for. He’s a big baby who can’t handle that he lost an underground fight, that he shouldn’t have been a part of anyway. Ryan stays about five or so steps behind me, Collin about five or so ahead.

This is really the first time I’ve been with them alone and these are not the same men who joke around at the house with Kieran and his brothers. They’re stoic, with their ‘don’t talk to me’ expressions, and all black suits. You can tell they take this job as seriously as they would if they were protecting Kieran himself. Collin reaches the door to my building first and holds it open for me.

“Thank you, Collin.”

“Ms. Mitchell.” is his only response.

He takes up his spot in front of me again as we make our way through the large lobby. The walls are glass, the ceilings are impossibly high, and everyone bustles around trying to get to meetings or their offices. It doesn’t take but a minute to step inside the elevator and make our way up to my floor. The doors open and Simone lifts her head up from her desk in front of Mr. Phillips office. Her eyes widen as she takes in the two men flanking me, both easily six foot four or so, both incredibly handsome in their own right. I give her a small wave as we move past her and to Mr. Hall’s office door.

Before I can knock Ryan leans down and whispers, “Who is that? Is she single?”

I try to stifle my laugh and mock glare at him, “Excuse me, you’re working Mr. Murphy. Focus, we can gossip about how single Simone is later.” He straightens and gives me a singular nod. Gone is the playful Ryan that was there just a second ago and back is the down to business man who has been trusted to protect me. I knock on the door and a moment later a gruff, “come in” filters through the space.

Collin pushes the door open and moves directly in front of me. After the room is checked to his contentment he moves behind me, allowing me to enter WHILE both men flank my sides. Jackson looks thrown off but doesn’t comment until he notes Ryan on my left.

“He can wait outside.” He practically snarls.

“No can do Jamie-boy. I’m on assignment. If I go Ms. Mitchell has to go too.”

His eyes snap to mine, “Assignment? You in danger Brittany?”

“That’s not your business, Mr. Hall. I’m here to discuss my future, or lack thereof at this firm.” With calculated steps I move to the chair in front of his desk and sit crossing one leg over the other while straightening my spine and lifting my chin. I can feel my detail move to stand on each side of the chair.

“Listen, Britt. I know you’re still pissed, I get it , but I don’t think you do . The Pit isn’t safe. You were there alone, crying, and anything could have happened. I overreacted but I really was just worried. You have to be safe.”

He’s confusing me. I thought he was mad I was with Kieran, but his voice is laced with so much concern and he sounds like he’s trying to talk in code. His eyes widen to the size of saucers a second before the door to the office slams open and chaos breaks out everywhere.