“We’ll tell them when we have a ring, Bronagh won’t believe me otherwise.”
Ryder nodded. “It’s going to work out, darling.”
I smiled. “We’ll get there.”
“Yeah, sweetness, we will.” Ryder smiled as I wrapped my arms around him. “We’re a family, we can make it through anything.”
We’re a family, we can make it through anything.
If I had known then that over the next few years our families were going to be tested to the limit to see what we could survive, I’d have hugged Ryder a little longer and loved him a lot harder. As a matter of fact, I probably would have never let him go.
Present day…
“And he just walked out of the house? Just like that?”
I nodded even though my sister couldn’t see me.
“Yep,” I sighed, and adjusted my phone against my ear. “He told me that we weren’t broken up, and that we’d never be done.”
“Damn,” Bronagh murmured. “Ryder’s more possessive that I thought he was.”
You have no idea, little sister.
I grunted. “Lucky me.”
“Maybe this could be good,” my sister said, her voice raising an octave with her excitement. “He said he’d answer all of your questions in two days, right? Once he does that you can both work through everythin’.”
I felt my shoulders slump.
“It’s not that easy, Bee, he has ripped out me heart over and over. I’m a ghost of the person I used to be, and it’s because of my and Ryder’s relationship over the last year and a half. I don’t think I have the strength to try and piece back together what’s been broken. I’m tired.”
My sister was silent for a moment, and then she said, “If you think leavin’ ‘im is best for you, then I’m fully behind you. No questions asked.”
I licked my lower lip when it wobbled.
“Thanks, Bee.”
“No thanks necessary. You’re me sister and I always have your back.”
And I thanked God for that every single day.
“I’m so antsy sittin’ here,” I admitted. “I wish he would just come home so I can get this over and done with. It’s drivin’ me up the wall, I just want to get it out of the way so I can start the process of movin’ on.”
“It’s goin’ to be bad, Bran. You know that, right?”
I nodded again even though Bronagh still couldn’t see me.
“I know, Bee, but it’s somethin’ I have to do.”
“I understand.”
“Is Damien still at your house?” I asked.
It was after seven in the evening and was pitch black outside.
“He and Dominic left the house about twenty minutes ago,” my sister said. “Kane rang them and told them that he and Alec had spoken to you so they went out to help find Ryder.”
For some reason, I was worried about him when I should have remained angry with him for storming out on such an important conversation.
I swallowed. “I hope he is okay.”
“He’ll be fine,” Bronagh assured me. “Oh, Dominic told me he agrees with me idea of all of us sittin’ down and gettin’ this shit out into the open.”
“He did?” I asked, surprised.
“Yeah, he said all of the brothers would force Ryder to tell you what he does every night and why he has changed so much over the last sixteen months if he refuses.”
That caused me to furrow my brows.
“They know what he does every night and why he has changed?”
Bronagh said, “Yeah.”
“And they never told me?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“Trust me, I can’t believe it either. Dominic never let on to me that he knew what Ryder’s problem was and why he was being so weird. I couldn’t even look at ‘im when he told me.”
“I can’t believe it,” I said, my voice tight.
I felt betrayed by a group of men who I considered my brothers.
“Me either, I’m surprised at Aideen though.”
My heart stopped. “What do you mean?”
“Dominic said that she knew Kane would be gone off with Ryder and called ‘im out on it at the end of her pregnancy. He didn’t go into detail, but that’s the gist of what he said.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, as a feeling of shock, dread and anger swirled in my stomach.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
A different form of betrayal shot through me like a bolt of lightening.
“I’ll call you back,” I rasped then without waiting for a reply, I hung up on my sister, and instantly dialled Aideen’s number into my phone. She answered after the fifth ring.
“Hey, Bran.”
“You knew Kane was goin’ somewhere with Ryder behind me back when you were pregnant and you never fuckin’ told me?” I snapped.
Aideen was silent for a moment then she said, “I’m sorry.”
I wanted to scream.
“Sorry?” I hissed. “You’re sorry? You knew he was goin’ somewhere with Ry and you never talked to me about it! Kane knows where he goes, Dominic and Alec know, too, and none of them talked to me about it!”
“I don’t know though,” Aideen stressed. “I only knew Kane was off with ‘im, but I never actually knew what they were doin’, and I didn’t even cop it until the end of me pregnancy. I was so caught up with fear after the attack and I didn’t even think to talk to you about it. I’m so sorry.”