14. Kael

14

KAEL

Fecking hell, watching Paige's curves on that scrap of fabric is torture. How had I not noticed them before?

Better yet, why the feck am I noticing them now?

The problem is, I can't stop noticing since they became clear.

I am so screwed right now. Because Paige is all wrong for me. On so many levels. And yet, here I stand, drooling over that sinful body that I'd love to wreck.

I'd break her so beautifully and build her back up only so I could start all over again. And again and again.

Feck, feck, feck!

I can't stop the reaction from my body any more than I can stop breathing.

What are they talking about? Is she telling her friend how I made her come on my thigh? How I'd love for her to ride my cock next?

Stop that, Kael!

This is Paige, Declan's sister. His baby sister. Except, there is nothing baby-like about her. No! She is all woman. And feck if I don't want a piece of her.

That's why I needed Sunday off. I needed Darla to get my head on straight.

But as soon as she uttered the words, pleading for me to stay, I knew I was lost. I knew there was no way I'd be anywhere but by her side.

And that's a problem. A huge one.

I should ask Declan to have someone else watch her. Remove myself from an equation that is turning out to add up all the wrong results.

But I don't trust anyone else to keep her safe. Anyone else to sleep in her house, spend the day with her. Spend the night so close to her.

So, even though I really should ask, I won't. Because I want to be the one looking after her, protecting her, making sure she eats. Making sure she sleeps, be there to have her back after a nightmare.

But what I really shouldn't be thinking of is how much easier that would be if she was sharing my bed.

Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I nearly jump out of my skin.

Declan holds up his hands, laughing.

I turn to face him, plastering on a smile like I wasn't just checking out his little sister. Thinking all the wrong things about her.

Jesus, why is it so hard not to think about her coming on my thigh?

"Wanted to talk to you." He pauses. "Without Paige."

My brows furrow. "What's going on?"

"When we talked before, there was something I left out. I didn't want to say it in front of her, but we have reason to believe they're targeting her specifically. "

"How can you be sure?"

"The attack wasn't random. They sought her out, knew where she'd be shopping. She's always with Lara, has at least a couple of men following her. I have no idea what happened this time, but she was alone. How did they know, huh? The answer is, they couldn't, unless there's a rat."

"A rat? In the family? Who?" I'm going to personally make sure they never speak to another soul again.

"We don't know yet. But whoever it is feeds information to Murphy, and we have to nip this in the bud before someone else gets hurt. Or worse."

The growl comes from deep within me. "I fecking hate rats."

"Me, too. But we have a plan to exterminate." Declan grins wickedly.

"I want to be a part of it, when you find him."

"Of course. You'll have to wait in line behind me, though."

"Fair enough."

Rats don't last long in the Irish mafia, and I've seen only one in my lifetime. I was a teenager, staying at the Burke mansion, and Patrick found out that one of his men was informing to the feds.

He killed him in the middle of a dinner party, slicing his throat with a kitchen knife in front of the whole clan.

I never forgot it. It gave me a healthy respect for Patrick. With all they had given me, I'd never even think about betraying them in any way. I hate the idea of being betrayed, of the Burkes being betrayed.

And that show of discipline, of power, was enough to remind me of what was at stake for those who dared turn on the Burkes.

And I'll be first in line to enact punishment for those who break the rules. The Burkes are family. And no one fecks with my family!

"For now, we need you to keep protecting her until we can chase down the vermin." Declan's voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

"I'll protect her as long as you need."

Forever .

What the hell?

He nods, clapping me on the shoulder, before leaving to go upstairs.

I head out to the pool to check on Paige, and she's getting out of the deep end when I walk around the corner.

Her curly hair is slicked back, flowing down her back and dripping water. That bikini of hers leaves very little to the imagination, and heat rushes through my body as she looks over at me, frowning slightly.

Feck .

My cock is hardening in my slacks, and I clear my throat, adjusting myself so it's not so obvious.

Paige walks up to me, drying her hair with a towel.

"We have to take Sophie home," she drawls, clearly a little tipsy.

I can see it in her glassy, wide green eyes. "Sure."

I'm grateful when Paige wraps a towel around herself. I can't look at her curves much longer without doing something about it.

Five minutes later, I'm waiting in the foyer for Paige and Sophie, rubbing a hand across my face.

Declan comes down the stairs, and he throws me a weird look .

"You okay, Kael?"

I jerk my head up, blink, and turn to look at him. "Yeah, fine. Why?"

"You have a weird look on your face."

I snort. "What's that supposed to mean? Stop being a girl."

Declan laughs. "I just know you well enough to know something's off."

"Just need to blow off some steam."

"Want to hit the gym? We can have Paige stay here a while longer."

I sigh. "That's okay. I'll work out at her place."

Declan nods. "Thank you, by the way. For all of this."

"Of course. I'll always help out."

Paige and Sophie have showered and sobered a bit, and they only stumble a little getting into my car. I'm glad we didn't ride my bike.

I don't realize I've said it out loud until Paige looks up at me.

"You have a bike? Like a motorcycle?"

"No, a dirt bike." The look I throw her is lost in the still slight haze of alcohol. "Yeah, of course a motorcycle."

"I've never seen you ride."

"You want to?"

She looks up at me, curiosity evident in her green eyes. "Yeah, I do."

"Stop flirting. I'm nauseous," Sophie manages, and I laugh.

"Not flirting," Paige mutters, and I roll my eyes as I get into the driver's seat.

It's about a twenty-minute drive, and on the way, the girls chat idly .

"You know, Ronan O'Malley was asking about you," Sophie says, and I stiffen.

Ronan is well known to the Burke clan, and not for anything particularly good. They only hired Ronan when the shit really hit the fan because he's vicious.

Paige looks at her friend. "Ronan's hot, but I don't know."

My blood is practically boiling, and I clench my jaw. "You're not going out with O'Malley."

Paige gives me a scandalized look. "And what business is that of yours?"

"It's plenty my business. I've been hired to look after you, and O'Malley is a thug."

"Aren't you a thug, too?"

"It's different." There's a muscle ticking in my jaw, and I can't seem to stop it.

Paige huffs out a breath.

I look in the rearview mirror, and Sophie is dry heaving.

"Shit." I pull over.

She runs out and throws up in the bushes.

I narrow my eyes at Paige. "You guys aren't allowed any more mimosas for a while."

"You can't tell me what to do." Paige's words slur slightly.

Maybe the shower didn't sober them up at all.

Finally, Sophie feels better, and we're able to drop her off.

Paige helps her inside, and then comes back to the car, giving me a death glare.

Whatever .

If she wants to be a brat, so be it. I'm just trying to protect her.

I'm not jealous of Ronan fecking O'Malley with his sleeve of tattoos and his stupid eyebrow piercing. He tries to go after Paige, and I'll take him down. A slow and painful lesson not to mess with her.

"What's your deal tonight?" Paige asks as we head back to her brownstone.

"Nothing."

"Oh, it's definitely something."

"I just need to work out."

Paige is quiet for a moment, but not long. Her silence is brief as always.

"Will you teach me some more moves?"

"You want to learn moves after drinking half a dozen mimosas?"

"It was only four."

I snort out a laugh, unable to help myself.

"If you want to learn, I'll teach you, but you have to sober up first. Sleep it off."

Paige sighs. "Fine. Should we meet in a few hours?"

I nod slowly. "I'll be in the basement."

Paige makes it inside and upstairs just fine.

I take in a deep breath, trying not to look at her ass as she ascends the stairs. I fail.