The girls go running off to their grandmother, and I take a solid few seconds to inhale a couple breaths. Maybe even calm myself down, but the moment I see him moving his lips, a rush of anger wipes through me. “Has she compared notes on who’s better in bed yet, or is the jury still out on that?” Keeran questions, and all I see is red.
I pull my fist back and plummet it straight into his nose. A pop sound rings out, and he stumbles back a few feet. Sure enough, the guy has some willpower. He uses all of his body weight to rush toward me and collides his body around my waist, bringing us both to the ground.
“Fuck! Stop it, both of you!” Sloane hollers with all her might. From the stressed tone of her voice, I can tell she’s upset, but she’ll be okay.
Keeran grabs onto my throat, and I kick him in the ribs. We both jump to our feet and like boxers in a ring, we circle each other. “You should’ve kept your fucking mouth shut,” I grit, fully intending on breaking more than just his nose.
“And you should’ve stayed where you were. Were you even captive this whole time?” The moment he asks the final question, I watch the ‘oh shit’ moment cross his features. Not only have I heard what he’s said, but Sloane too. Tears well behind her eyes, and she turns around to shield her emotions from what he said. For a strong woman, words hurt her more than anything else.
“Fucking hell, mate. What’s wrong with you?” Luca snaps at Keeran, and Keeran’s eyes go wide. He knows he’s fucked up here.
Luca’s about ten feet away, so I make my move while I can. I cross the distance between us and ram my fist against his mouth. I don’t hear any cracks or pops, but he stumbles back again, and blood spreads down his chin. Looks like I got a good hit in.
“Shite, you’ve got to be kidding me,” Luca groans as he comes running over. He positions himself between the two of us when an intense huffing comes our way.
“I turn my back for one minute when I saw Luca and . . . and something else happened?!” Sloane’s not happy and she’s making it obvious as hell.
“Keenan here doesn’t know when to shut his fucking mouth,” I inform her.
“Keeran, my name is Keeran.”
“I know, dumbass. That’s what I said, Keenan.” I’ll keep fucking with him as long as I want. He crossed a line and he knows it, and since hitting him again is frowned upon, this is my only option.
“You’re seriously going to allow a sociopath like this around the girls? Will it even be safe for them, Sloane?” And somehow, he’s crossed another line. But this time, I won’t let him get away with it.
I shove Luca to the side and collide my hands with Keeran’s chest, shoving him to the ground. “If you ever talk about my girls again, I’ll make sure next time you won’t be able to draw a single breath. Is that understood?” I sneer, glaring down at him.
His nostrils flare and rage storms through him as much as it does with me. It’s ironic how we both care about the girls, and we’ll never be able to stand each other. I was hopeful a bit ago we’d be able to be adults, but Keeran has shown me it’ll never happen. Still, I respect what he’s done for my daughters and I won’t ever rip him from their lives, even if he deserves it.
They don’t deserve to be punished, not when they’ve sacrificed so much already.
“Aleksei, we need to go, now,” Sloane orders as she comes up beside me. She grabs onto my shirt and tugs me along with her, not giving me the ability to say no. I’m not sure where we’re going, but I’m certain I don’t want to find out.
Something tells me I could be in the doghouse.
Chapter Thirteen
Sloane
I can’t believe this. I mean, I figured something would happen between them. How couldn’t it? Aleksei was the one I thought I’d lost forever, and Keeran was the man who kept me sane while he was gone. Still, he knew how I felt. I told him how Aleksei coming back had nothing to do with us breaking up. Though his behavior shows he doesn’t believe me. I heard what he said. I heard the vile words coming from his mouth, and not only am I in shock, I’m disappointed. I’ve known Keeran for years and I never thought he would stoop so low.
Tears continue to well behind my eyes even as heat rushes over my face. I’m holding onto Aleksei’s hand, dragging him down the path until we’re through the gate. “I won’t apologize for what I did,” he states matter-of-factly.
His words don’t even fully sink in. How can they? After what I witnessed and heard, I don’t know what to think. How could Keeran even ask him something like that? Does he think Aleksei would’ve purposefully been away from me? Hell, screw me. He wouldn’t have ever been away from his brother. The man has an incredible amount of loyalty to his brother. He’s devoted his entire life to furthering his cause, whether it was offering security or simply being beside him.
“Sloane, hold your horses,” Luca’s voice rings out from behind me, and the creaking of the gate signals he’s rushing after us.
“What’re you doing?” I question him immediately, and I know I sound like a bitch. I just don’t care.
“I’m driving you, obviously,” Luca tells me while he digs for his keys in his pocket.
I shake my head. I’m not going to have him babysitting me when I have Aleksei. He’s more than capable of taking care of me, and if this altercation with Keeran has told me anything, it’s how we need to have more conversations. He’s been gone for years and things can’t just go back to the way they were. Sure, we haven’t been going down that route, but we’re damn close to it.
I have my crossbody purse over my shoulder, so I grab my keys and show Luca I have intentions to leave. “No, you’re not. I appreciate it, but after what just happened, I think we both need some time to decompress.”
Luca gives me a curt nod like he completely understands. Which begs me to wonder, does Keeran even realize how hurtful what he said was?
My cousin takes a few steps toward us and looks right at me, then at Aleksei. “Look, I know I can’t control the man, but please accept my sincerest apologies on behalf of him. He’s hurting and is taking it out in the worst way possible. Aleksei, I know you don’t know Keeran well, but he isn’t as bad as he’s making himself out to be.” Luca would come to his defense. To try and play the peacekeeper. He’s the leader of the security team and he’s related to the Mackenzies. If anyone’s truly stuck in the middle, it’s him.
“Don’t take this in the wrong way, but I want nothing to do with him. I don’t give a flying fuck if he’s hurting or disappointed. That’s life. He can be a man and take life by the balls, instead of this pussy bullshit,” Aleksei grunts.
I want to laugh at the latter part of his statement, but I don’t. Right now isn’t the time for laughter.
Luca nods once. “True. You’re packing, yeah?”
“When have you known me not to?” Aleksei responds, pulling his gun from the back of his jeans.
Luca nods again and releases a breath. “Alright. Fine. No chaperone for you two. You plan on coming back tonight?”
“Yeah,” Aleksei quickly responds, but I interrupt.
“No, we’ll be going to the family cottage in Grange. I think we need a bit of a break. We’ll come back in a couple of days,” I state, much to Aleksei’s surprise. If he’s going to argue we can’t leave, I’ll lose my mind. We need this more than he realizes. Both of us do.
Mom pulled me aside after Aleksei came back and insisted we run off and take a few days anyway. She said she’d watch the girls if we needed her to, but I didn’t want to inconvenience her.
“All right, then. Just be careful. You both go on back to get a duffel bag. I’ll get Keeran away from the house for a bit, and I’ll ask Sofia to watch the twins for you both.” Looks like we think the same way too.
Luca heads off first, and we both stand in the lot waiting for a couple of minutes. After they pass, we head inside and both go to our rooms to grab a change of clothes and the essentials. We meet at the bottom of the stairs and walk side by side to my car.
We get in my
car, and I plug the address into the GPS.
“Almost three hours, huh?”
“To get to a completely different way of life? Yes. It’ll be worth it. I promise.” He’s been thrown from complete isolation as a prisoner to back in the life he was living before the accident. I can’t imagine it’s been easy for him, but the man hasn’t even complained once to me. Aleksei never will, though. He’s too proud. He’d deem it as weak and would never put himself in such a position.
He nods and leans his seat back in the car.
I glance over at him for a second. “Take a nap. It’s a hell of a ride and it’s only the countryside.”
“No, I don’t need sleep. All I need is to be here with you.” Aleksei puts his right hand on my leg, and I bring a hand down to hold it. Such a simple action, yet the impact is calming. To even be in this car with him driving off to the countryside is mind-blowing.
When I was falling asleep last night, I had a dream, or a nightmare, really. In this nightmare, I woke up from my life to find I was deranged, quite frankly losing my damn mind. I had imagined Aleksei coming home, and everyone in my family was speaking in hushed tones while they discussed how I’d be okay. How they’d send me off to the hospital and would get me the best doctor’s money could buy. I woke from the dream in a sweat, terrified after the night.
All I want is some time with Aleksei, some much-needed alone time where we can talk about things. Sure, we’ve been spending time together. It hasn’t been emotional or not as much as it should’ve. I know I’m keeping my emotions shoved deep down inside. Any person would after experiencing what we have, but I need to let all of this out. If I keep it bottled up, it’ll kill me one day.
He’s home. He’s safe. He’s back with us.
I have no reason to keep things bottled up. Not one.
Aleksei’s slight snoring breaks me from my thoughts, and I crack a smile. Most women would find it insufferable, but not me. It means he’s relaxing, something he needs to do so much now.
The drive ends up flying by, and while I drove, Aleksei slept. He woke up in a great mood, and now we’re pulling down the lane to my family’s cottage. It sits on the top of a hill and there aren’t neighbors for miles. Our view looks over the water, and seagulls fly through the air.
I put the car in park, and we both exit the vehicle. Upon stepping foot on the gravel, I inhale sea salt air and smile. It’s nice to be here, so far away from all our problems and threats. It may sound crass, although we’ve needed a damn break.
“Didn’t know your family had a place out here,” Aleksei speaks lowly as he takes in the scenery.
“Yeah, we didn’t. Not until last year. Mom talked Dad into buying this place, said how she loved the serenity it brought. I’m certain when they’re ready to leave the estate, they’ll end up living out the rest of their days here.” Every word I say is true. The cottage even has a small house attached to the side in case they want some help here.
Aleksei grabs our duffel bags from the back of the car, and we both walk up to the dark aqua doors. I put my finger on the electronic lock and it scans my finger before allowing us entry. Only Mackenzies can get into the house. We walk into the cottage, and I head straight for the living area. Aleksei sets our bags down on the tile floor of the kitchen and meets me in the living room. I sit down on the couch, leaning against the back, and he sits beside me.
With the way Aleksei’s focusing on me, he knows I’m holding something back. He takes hold of my hand and runs his fingers over the back of it. “What’s bothering you?”
I inhale through my nose and debate whether I should tell him this. He’s going to tell me I’m crazy, how I’ve lost my damn mind, how I have no reason to feel this way. I understand why, but it doesn’t mean anything is different. It doesn’t change the pain in my heart and it won’t. Nothing ever will.
He lets go of my hand and brushes his fingertips along the side of my face. “Sloane, tell me. What is the matter?” His accent comes out thicker, and I allow my face to fall against his hand. His skin brushing against mine, it’s better than any five-star massage I’ve ever gotten.
“Guilt plagues my mind, Aleksei. All day, every day, I feel nothing but guilt. I shouldn’t have ever moved on. I know it, and what happened back at the house was horrible. The words he said, how he treated you. I’m so sorry. If I had the slightest inkling that you were alive, I wouldn’t have moved on. I would’ve waited, I would’ve—” Tears coat my cheeks through my words, but Aleksei’s lips on mine keep me from speaking.
His tongue pushes past my lips and he wraps his arms around my body, pulling me closer to him. I give in the way I always do, melting into him. He’s everything to me and he always has been. My girls, God, they’re just like their father. They have his temperament and mine, which makes them absolute firecrackers, but I love them so much.
We kiss for so long I don’t even know how much time has passed. Eventually, he breaks our kiss and stares into my eyes. “Thoughts of you were the only thing to get me through. I love you, Sloane, and I love our girls. You have nothing to feel guilty for. I’m glad you weren’t alone, and what I said earlier to him, I meant it. I appreciate what he did by being there for you and the girls, even if he is an asshole.”
I don’t say anything in response. I simply lean against his chest and relax in this man’s embrace. The next few days are about connecting with each other without everyone else’s eyes on us. We can talk, relax, and quite honestly . . . fall even more in love with each other.
Chapter Fourteen
Sloane
We’re finally back at my family’s estate. After three lovely days in the Irish countryside overlooking the ocean, I’m ready for things to be back to normal. While I loved the one-on-one time with Aleksei, I’m ready to see our girls. Mom called me every day, so I knew they were okay and I spoke with them before bed. Aleksei was there too, but he felt odd speaking to them. Though, ever since we left this morning, the man has been so nervous.
We’re going to be at the stables on the property with the girls in just a bit. No one is doing any riding, but we figured it would be a good place to all chat. They love it there and it’s familiar territory. There’s even a table under an old oak tree that’s within sight of the paddocks.
Luca said he’d meet us down here with the girls, so we’re already sitting at the picnic table. I spot Luca coming down the gravel lane with the girls in the back of a golf cart. They’re smiling and waving dramatically until the moment Luca parks the vehicle. They jump down from their seats and come running over. Meanwhile, Luca walks into the barn, out of earshot.
“Mummy!”
“Mumma!”
Both the girls rush over until they have their arms wrapped around me. “I missed you so much, my babies.” I squeeze them hard like I’ll never have them in my arms again. They giggle and grunt, shoving me away until I let them go.
“Who . . .” Drina starts to speak, but her eyes focus in on Aleksei’s face. He’s probably put on fifteen pounds since he’s been back. We’ve, of course, been feeding him well, and I’m sure he’ll gain more weight over the next coming months. He’s nowhere near as big as he used to be with his muscle mass.
Drina goes from looking at Aleksei straight to looking at me. “Mummy . . . is that . . .” she whispers lightly and doesn’t keep eye contact with me. I know she’s scared and it’s completely understandable. She thought he was dead, and now he’s here, here in the flesh.
“Is he who? Gosh, Drina.” Stassi crosses her arms and rolls her eyes, causing Aleksei to crack up.
“She’s got your sass,” Aleksei mutters under his breath, and I roll my eyes. Little does he realize they both do. So, I make it known.
“They both do, and your temper,” I point out, watching the smile vanish as quickly as it appeared.
“You’re joking.”
I shake my head. “Not at all. They were terrible toddlers, and I mean terrible.”
Drina pulls on my shir
t and whispers so low I can’t make out a word of what she’s saying. “Mummy, is that . . . is that Daddy?” I’m finally able to make out what she’s said and I smile brightly as I nod.
“It is.” Drina furrows her brows and seems very confused. “He was away and now he’s back,” I comment, speaking up loud enough for them both to hear. “Daddy is back, and he’s not going anywhere.”
Aleksei looks at both of our girls. Drina with her long, curly black hair, and Stassi with her blondish hair. While they look at each other, an overwhelming feeling takes over me. I’m so blessed. I’ve heard my mother say it thousands of times over the years, even when she was learning how to walk again. She woke up from a long coma and while most would hate how dependent they were on others, she smiled. She took every obstacle with grace and overcame it. When she was strong enough to speak in full sentences, she’d tell me how she was blessed to go through it because of her children. How she’d endure it all over again if she had to. I didn’t understand what she meant and for a while, I thought she was crazy.
Now I can say without a doubt I understand why she would go through it. I understand it more than I ever thought I would. If everything we endured would bring us right here to this moment, to all of us being a family, I’d do it all over again.
“Hello, my little angels,” Aleksei speaks in a calming tone, sure to keep eye contact with them as much as he can.
“You speak funny, like Uncle Aleks!” Stassi giggles, and Drina joins in on the laughter.
“His accent is much thicker,” I tease Aleksei, and the girls’ smiles both grow.
“Where were you all this time, Daddy?” Drina is the one to ask. My inquisitive, intelligent one. Stassi is nosey as hell, but Drina reminds me a lot of Greer. The one who asks questions and somehow silently demands answers.
Aleksei clears his throat, and I start to speak up, but he shoots me a glare, silently telling me not to interfere. I respect his decision and wait to see what he’s going to do.
Dangerous Love (Mackenzies Book 3) Page 7
