“Of course you’re a brother, too. You’re my favourite Slater brother, if I’m being honest… don’t tell Alec that though.”
Damien managed a snort. “You say I’m a Slater brother, but since that day back in New York with Trent when he baited me into a fight about my dad, I’ve felt like nothing but an outsider to my own flesh and blood.”
“Damien,” I whispered.
He sighed. “I’m cool, it’s cool. Don’t worry about me, you’ve got enough going on.”
I wanted to argue that I’d always worry about him no matter what I had going on, but he didn’t give me a chance.
“You stay here in case Ryder comes back, I’m going to see Dominic. I’m bringing all this to him. He may be silent with you, but let’s see him give me the run around.”
I blinked. “You look a little scary right now, Dame.”
His lips quirked. “Well, hell, I might be a Slater after all.”
“Smartarse.”
He kissed the crown of my head then walked out of the kitchen, and a few steps later, out of the house, closing the front door behind him. I didn’t like the silence, so I got my phone and dialled my sister’s number. I put my phone to my ear and waited for her to answer.
“Hello?” a cheery male answered.
Dominic Slater.
“You word twistin’, weight liftin’, fight pickin’, cock suckin’, son of a bitch!”
My future brother-in-law gasped. “I have never, and will never, suck someone’s cock you misinformed wench!”
I gripped my phone tighter. “I’m goin’ to end you when I see you, Dominic.”
He was silent for a moment then he said, “Ryder spoke to you then?”
“Oh, Ryder spoke to me all right!” I snapped. “He came home and accused me of cheatin’ on ‘im, and he said he is goin’ to break one of Ash’s limbs and it’s all your fuckin’ fault!”
“What the hell is that screamin’ about?” I heard my sister’s voice. “Who are you talkin’ to, babe?”
“Bronagh!” I shouted.
“Is that Branna?”
“Yes, but—no, give that back to me now!”
“What’s goin’ on?” Bronagh asked me.
Her voice was clear now, a sign she took her phone from Dominic without much of a fight.
“Dominic told Ryder I was cheatin’ on ‘im!” I stated to my sister. “I told the lyin’ prick that Ash was me friend when he mistook us jokin’ around for somethin’ more than friendship, but he still called Ryder and told ‘im his views. Ryder thinks I’m cheatin’ on ‘im, Bronagh.”
“This has to be a joke,” my sister said. “It’s a joke, right?”
“No,” I growled. “And if that bastard you call a fiancé comes near me house again, I’ll gut ‘im!”
“Tell me she is lyin’!” I heard Bronagh growl.
“This dude had his hands on her hips—” I heard Dominic’s voice in the background.
“Did you tell Ryder you thought she was cheatin’ on ‘im?” Bronagh snapped, cutting Dominic off.
“I told him what I saw, and what it looked like to me, but he came to his own conclusions.”
“You didn’t tell ‘im that Branna told you he was harmless?” she pressed.
“No, I didn’t because—”
“Get out!” She snapped. “Get the hell out of this bedroom. You have no idea the trouble you have just caused them!”
“Pretty girl—”
“No, Dominic!” Bronagh spat. “Get. Out. Go find Ryder and make this right or I swear to God I’ll make you miserable!”
Things were silent for a moment then Dominic said, “How miserable?”
He was such an arsehole!
“Very miserable!” My sister warned. “You think you have blue balls now? You have no idea of the term, but unless you fix this you will. I promise you!”
I think I heard a door slam then came my sister’s tired sigh.
“I’m so sorry, Branna,” she said, and I heard the sincerity in her voice. “I can’t believe Dominic would do somethin’ like this. I don’t know why he didn’t believe you when you set him straight.”
My lower lip wobbled. “Me either.”
“Don’t cry,” my sister pleaded. “Not over that prick I call me other half, he isn’t worth it.”
I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. “Ryder said he was goin’ to hurt Ash, do you think he will?”
Bronagh was silent for a second then she said, “I don’t know, Bran. Maybe you should call Kane and Alec, they could help find ‘im? He’d listen to them quicker than the twins.”
I nodded. “That’s a good idea, I’ll do that now.”
“I’m goin’ to get showered and dressed then I’ll come over to see you, okay?”
“Okay,” I said to my sister. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
When the phone line went dead I opened up my messenger app, and sent a message to both Kane and Alec to come to my house as soon as they could because I needed to speak to them about Ryder. I added to the message that he was okay just so they wouldn’t worry. Thirty-seconds after I sent the message I got two messages back saying they were on their way to my house.