4. Kael

4

KAEL

What the feck ?

I blink at Declan. "What? I must've misheard you because you sure as hell aren't suggesting?—"

Declan nods. "That's exactly what I am suggesting."

"Declan, that's..." I pause, trying to gather myself. "That's crazy. Paige hates me. She's always hated me."

"She doesn't hate you." He looks away.

"You're making your lying face."

"My what face?" Declan chuckles.

I frown and cross my arms over my chest, his gaze slicing through me.

"Okay, maybe she hates you. But that's part of the draw. Well, for me, at least. The only person I want around my baby sister twenty-four seven is someone that I know would never touch her."

I make a face. "Of course, I wouldn't. Wait. Twenty-four seven?"

Paige might be what, twenty-six, twenty-seven? But she's a spoiled little mafia princess. I don't want anything to do with those types. They don't understand real life. They don't understand real struggle.

And I know Murphy's a mean son of a bitch, but why do I have to be the one to give up on everything and babysit her?

I take a deep breath. Count to ten in my head.

No need to explode at Declan over spoiled little Paige.

I work for the Burkes, and I can't disrespect them. I don't want to. They're like family to me. Besides, a paycheck is a paycheck. I just have to deal with it and hope this shit's over and done in a couple of days.

Yeah, right. But still. Grin and bear…well, without the grin part.

I owe them a lot. Maybe my life and my mother's, too.

After my father died, a lot of people came collecting. Apparently, he wasn't just out on jobs or screwing around with other women. He was also busy out gambling what money he made. And then some.

At the time, I'd called Declan to vent, have a friendly ear, a fucking shoulder to lean on because I had no idea how to dig me and my ma out of the hole the old man had dug for us.

When I finished telling my best friend everything, he went very quiet.

A couple of days later, Patrick Burke comes calling. I knew him not just because he was Declan's da, but also because my father also used to do the odd job for him.

Patrick told us to get packed and get going, and neither my ma nor I had asked questions.

And ever since, I've never questioned a job from the Burkes. They help us have a roof over our heads and hot food on the table. So, I'm not about to start now, even though I find this particular job boring and annoying at the same time.

I shrug. "All right. I'll babysit the little one."

Declan groans. "Don't call her that; she'll kill you."

I snort. "Like to see her try."

"Until all this is over with Murphy, I don't want her alone for a second. You hear me?" Declan's gaze in mine is as serious as I've ever seen it.

"Loud and clear."

Declan slides an envelope stuffed with cash across the desk, and I pick it up, placing it in my pocket.

"Thank you, Kael. It means a lot to me that you're taking this job."

"I'm glad you trust me with it." I grin. "Not like I'm the most clean-cut guy you know, but I got you."

"Well, since Paige isn't a stripper or a lady of the night, I figure you're not interested."

"Not in the slightest."

My penchant for working women is pretty solid—you don't get attached, and you don't have to worry about them becoming attached. One way or another, you're paying for a service, whether it's dancing or escorting.

I don't do relationships, and as far as life is concerned, my ma and my work are all I need to keep me busy.

My loyalty is to Ma and the Burkes alone, and I guess that includes little, annoying, pain in my ass Paige.

I shift, about to get up, but Declan holds out a hand to stop me.

"There are a few conditions."

My jaw tightens, but I force a smile. "Of course, there are."

"We need you to move in with her. "

I stare at him. "What the feck , Declan. You cannot be serious."

"I know it's asking a lot." Declan runs a hand through his hair. "But as long as she stays there, she's a target. And this might be a longish job. You will not be sleeping in your car for the duration. That's just crazy. We need you inside the house, making sure all entries and exits are covered at all times."

"You think Murphy's going to hit her place?"

Sure, Niall Murphy has been after Patrick for years, but he wouldn't actually attack her house, would he? Surely, not even he would be that stupid.

"He won't do it himself," Declan agrees. "But he's likely to send men to do it if he gets desperate enough and knows she's vulnerable. He's up in arms after what happened with Bree, and he's off his rocker."

So, he wants me there as a bodyguard and also as security. That makes a little more sense.

"You just had to go kidnap and marry a Murphy while I was out of town, didn't you?" I mutter, and Declan grins.

"She's a Burke."

"Sure, sure. Now she is. But you gotta admit, you really kind of jumped the gun there."

"It was Da's idea."

"Something tells me that it didn't stay that way."

Declan laughs. "I guess you're right. It all started with me wanting to piss off Niall, but it grew into a lot more."

"Because you fell in love or whatever."

"Or whatever is right." Declan chuckles. "And now we are having a baby."

"Wnaht? Congratulations, man. When did that happen? "

"Thanks. I just found out on my honeymoon. I'm over the moon!"

I smile at him. "It shows. Good for you!"

He shakes his head. "You just can't imagine being a one-woman man, can you?"

"If I wanted someone in my life, that's exactly what I'd be. But since I don't…" I shrug and smirk.

Ma's wanted me to settle down and get married, have a bushel of grandkids for years. Ever since I turned thirty, it's all she wants to talk about, but I always tell her that she's the only woman I need in my life.

I think it's kind of funny, but she doesn't.

I've just never been the type of guy to think much of relationships. My da cheated. My ma was unhappy. I don't want to repeat that cycle, not that I'd ever cheat, but still.

And honestly, I just don't trust most people. I don't have some tragic backstory of some girl that broke my heart, nor do I want one. Besides, I do know this lifestyle, and I don't need to be giving anyone ammunition against me.

And I have seen relationships that don't work or make people miserable. In fact, I'm surrounded by them. Either people are terrible human beings that should not be in relationships, and they hurt their loved ones by cheating or being abusive or just plain not caring, or they die too young, and their loved ones are left to hurt just the same.

"I wish you all the best with married life, Declan, especially now with the baby on the way, but all that ball-and-chain nonsense's not for me."

Declan nods. "That's another reason I'm using you for this one. Paige is pretty, you know? Somebody else might fall in love."

I make a face. "Yeah, no, thanks. "

Declan laughs out loud and stands, and I stand with him.

"Dec, have you told Paige about this?"

He winces. "Not yet."

"Don't you think you'd better?"

Declan sighs. "I guess I have to. And there's no time like the present, so I guess we should just do it?"

"Wait. You're expecting me to start... today?"

"Of course." Declan shrugs. As if it's obvious. As if that's not totally insane. "In fact, let's start now. Give me your phone, and I'll set you to have access to the tracker on her phone now."

I wonder if it's a good thing that I don't even have time to think about what's about to happen. Less chance of backing out.

I hand him my phone. This is happening too fast. "I'll need to go by my place and grab some things."

Declan nods.

"Of course. Just meet me at Paige's after you grab what you need, and we'll set you up. Here, all set." He passes me my phone back, and I put it away.

Feck me. I was antsy to get something to do. But this was not what I had in mind.

I have to let Ma know that I won't be around the house for a while again, so that she can air the place once in a while.

It's a good thing I always keep a go-bag ready. I've left for other jobs last-minute before, and this isn't that different.

"Is there a room close to the front door?"

Declan smiles. "She has the perfect place."

"What, a springy couch in a mudroom?"

He snorts out a laugh, and I stand, heading out to the car .

A babysitting job.

Jesus Christ.

I head home, walking quickly to my upstairs apartment, which is just above my mother's apartment.

Since I'm here, I grab the go bag, and then gather some additional things, shoving them into a second duffel bag and a backpack.

Once I load them into the car, I walk back up to my mother's place, knocking on her door for the second time today.

She opens it with a frown.

"Kael? I wasn't expecting you until later, for dinner. Is everything okay?"

"I have a job."

She sighs. "Already?"

I hand her the money Declan had given me, pressing the envelope into her hands.

"This is my first week's pay. I'll send you more next week."

"You going out of town again, mo leanbh ?"

I shake my head. "Not this time, Ma. I'll be in town, and I'll still try and visit if I can, okay?"

I lean down to kiss her cheek, and she pulls me into a tight hug.

"Be careful." She kisses my cheek, and I smile at her.

"Don't forget to take your medicine today," I call, and she waves her hands to dismiss me.

Hoping that means she's already taken them, I head back to Paige's with a sigh.

This is certainly going to be an experience. When Declan tells Paige what's going on, she's likely to punch him. Or me. Or both of us .

But she needs the protection, especially since she was almost kidnapped.

I don't want to imagine what Niall Murphy would have done with her.

Thirty minutes later, I arrive at the Paige's house.

When I knock, Declan answers the door.

"You know this is going to go badly, don't you?"

"Aye." He nods. "Shall we?"

I shrug. "No time like the present."

This is going to be a long mission.