I frowned at my sister as the wheels turned in her mind, and in that moment, I’d have given my left arm to know what she was thinking. She blinked her eyes after a few moments of silence just as Dominic said, “Is that why you have people issues, you won’t get close to anyone in school, or people in general, because you’re afraid you could lose them like you did your parents?”
Bronagh widened her eyes.
“Dominic,” Ryder snapped. “Show some compassion!”
“I was just asking a question.” He defended. “When our parents were killed you took over the mother and father role like Branna did, but I didn’t push everyone away from me because I was afraid they might die. That’s a pretty shitty way to live.”
I wanted to skin the little shite alive for being so blunt.
“I want to go home,” Bronagh said as tears filled her eyes.
“Bronagh,” I whispered and quickly followed her as she pushed past Ryder and ran for the stairs. I heard Ryder shouting at Dominic, and Dominic shouting to Bronagh that he was sorry.
The next few minutes that followed included more arguing and me trying to beat the crap out of Dominic for him being a complete dickhead to my sister. My sister, however, had enough of him and pushed him into the gym room so they could talk in private.
While they spoke I turned to Ryder and said, “It’ll be hard, but we can’t interfere with them, they’ll only argue with us and tell us to mind our own business. Unless we have no other choice, we’re keepin’ our noses out of their relationship or their not relationship or whatever it bloody is they have goin’ on.”
Ryder grinned as he put his arm around me and lowered his head to mine, “Yes, sweetie.”
“Oh, my God.” I laughed at the same time Alec and Kane said, “So it begins.”
Alec proceeded to make whipping noises, which only amused Ryder further. I could feel his smile as he kissed me, and it made me smile, too. I had a feeling about us. I didn’t know whether it was good or bad, but it was a very strong feeling and I decided then that Ryder was stuck with me too.
Maybe falling in love with him would be the best thing I ever did… at least I hoped it would.
Present day…
“Branna?”
I blinked as I was pulled from a memory and thrust back into my sombre reality.
On a sigh, I called out, “In the kitchen, Bee.”
I stood up as my pregnant sister barrelled into the room, her eyes wild until they landed on me. When she saw me, a breath of what sounded, and looked, like relief left her.
“You’re okay.”
I raised my brows. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
My sister crossed the room and hugged me, which caused me to smile as I felt her bump brush against me.
“I was scared you’d do somethin’ stupid.”
I frowned when we pulled apart.
“Because of Dominic?” I quizzed.
“Because you’re goin’ to break up with Ryder.”
Oh.
I swallowed. “How do you—”
“Damien showed up at our house before Dominic could go lookin’ for Ryder and he started askin’ ‘im a bunch of crazy questions. Dominic got mad and tried to move to a different room so they could speak in private, but Damien literally grabbed Dominic and pinned him against the sittin’ room wall.” Bronagh said, her eyes wide and she recited what happened. “Branna, I nearly wet meself I was so scared. Damien was bloody furious with Dominic, he said you filled ‘im in on things that Dominic and the other brothers should have told him about long ago.”
My sister took my hands in hers.
“Dominic wouldn’t speak on it when I asked, but Damien told me to talk to you to clear up some of me questions.”
Thanks a lot, Damien!
I groaned in annoyance. “I barely know anythin’ though! It’s one of the main reasons why I’m breakin’ up with Ryder!”
“Just start from the beginnin’,” my sister pleaded. “I’m so blindsided by your decision, and the shite Damien was talkin’ about. I knew you were havin’ troubles with Ryder, but damn, sis, you’re really goin’ to walk away from him? You’re really goin’ to walk away from Ryder?”
I swallowed down the bile that threatened to shoot up my throat.
“Yes, I’m really goin’ to walk away from Ryder.” I admitted. “I have no choice, Bee… he has left me no choice.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Join the club,” I mumbled.
“Bran,” my sister pressed.
I sighed. “Okay, I’ll start with Dominic. You know the way he announced on the day Keela and Alec moved into their house that he was back fightin’, and this time he would be fightin’ for Brandon Daley?”
“I’ll never forget it,” my sister grumbled.
I felt sorry for her. I knew it killed her that Dominic turned back to fighting, but he kept his promise to her. It wasn’t like his old life; he just fought in a circle and got paid.
“And do you remember how he announced his money—your money—was dried up?”
Bronagh nodded.
“Well, he wasn’t the only brother who suddenly lost his money. Alec and Ryder did, too, with some sort of investment with Brandon Daley. They should have known better since he is the only sleaze ball that they’re friendly with.”
My sister stared at me. “I asked Dominic last year about where the money went and he said he made a very bad investment.”
“Do you know what kind of investment?” I quizzed.
“I’ve no idea. He apologised to me, and swore his fightin’ at Darkness was to earn quick money to get us comfortable again. It’s been a year since he started back fightin’ and recently I told him I’d get a job to help out, but he doesn’t want me to work, he wants me at home with the baby when she is born.”
I stared at my sister as she spoke.
“I didn’t want to fight with ‘im about it, you know?” she continued. “I’ve done me anger management classes, and I’ve matured so much mentally that I didn’t want to start somethin’ out of nothin’ while we’re at such a good place in our relationship. As far as I’m concerned, the money Dominic had was blood money, and I was glad it was gone so I didn’t question where it went. I just accepted it and moved on.”