“Coming from the south, I lost him in Waterfront Park. He was headed north still then,” Dace said.
“I’ll go back and see if I can tap anyone else’s network along there, get a better look,” Liam said. “It’s gotta be Boyd, right?”
Felicity walked back into the room and sat on the coffee table in front of the couch Lydia was sitting on. Liam didn’t take his eyes off of her.
Declan broke Liam’s staring with more shop talk. “I can’t imagine it being anyone else. We were here a few hours is all. He said, ‘it isn’t over.’”
“Damn,” Dace fitted, angry he lost the bastard.
“He came from the south side of the building. I’m guessing the park between us and the next building,” Declan shared. “Plenty of tree’s – probably why she didn’t see him.”
“We have a blind spot, then,” Dace added. “I’m on it. We’ll get cameras up by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Alright, sweets, you’ll feel a lot better after you take a shower, but you’re cleaned up for now,” Felicity said to Lydia, trying to draw her attention away from the men’s conversation. “Just a tiny nick, right in your hairline. You don’t even need a stitch.”
A forced smile was all Lydia could muster, though she really was grateful for the help. “Thank you.”
Felicity patted Lydia on the knee as she stood, at which point, Lydia squirmed in pain. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry! Those are probably sore.”
“It’s okay,” Lydia said, trying to maintain that smile.
“By the way, I’m Felicity; you can call me City. I keep these boys in line,” the cute blonde said.
Lydia tilted her head. “City? It suits you.”
“Well, everyone calls me City but Liam, but that’s because he has a stick up his ass.” City straightened her dark framed glasses and tossed her shoulders back in confidence, clearly trying to cause a stir in Liam.
“Seriously? A stick now?” Liam asked, clearly agitated. “Is your name Felicity?
She nodded.
“Then?” Liam shrugged.
“Well, I’ll just let myself out. Call if you need me. Jax is just fine, sleeping away in there, and I think his fever broke,” City said. “I’ll check in with you in the morning.”
The brothers followed, each having their own tasks to accomplish that would likely keep them busy well into the night.
With everyone gone and adrenaline fading to exhaustion, Declan held out a hand to Lydia. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Attempting to stand, her sore knees, from hitting the ground with such force, protested. Declan swept her up, once again, and carried her to his room, gently sitting her on his bed.
He kissed the top of her head and said, “I’ll be just down the hall if you need me.”
He turned to walk away, but she grabbed his arm. “Will you stay…with me?”
“Of course, I will.” He had hoped that she would ask him to stay because he didn’t want to leave her. “Do you want to change first?”
“No, it’s just leggings and a t-shirt. I’m okay. I have this sudden overwhelming need to sleep, but…”
“You’re afraid,” he finished for her, to which she nodded.
Laying on the bed next to her, he pulled her close and held her tight. They both needed the closeness after the day’s events.
“You don’t have to be afraid. I’m here; I’m always here.”
Turning to face him, she put one hand on his face, stroking his cheek with her thumb. “And you’ll find me if I’m not.”
“Always, baby.”
A small whimper escaped her as reality settled in and what happened to her continued to haunt her. “I was so scared.”
Declan stroked the back of her head, while kissing her forehead, trying to comfort her while she let out whatever she needed to.
“All I could think about was Jax…and you,” she said.
“Do you remember when we first met,” Declan asked, “when Esteban assigned me as your driver and body guard? I’d only been undercover a short time.”
“I was so mad,” she giggled. “I called you my babysitter.”
“Yep. That’s when I knew.”
“Knew?” Tilting her head up, she gave him a puzzled look.
“That you were one of a kind and that I would do anything for you, keep you safe and make you happy someday.”
Smiling, she said, “You rarely spoke to me.”
“You were married, but I knew that wasn’t going to last long. I was there to end him, expose him, and I was patient…just like I am now. My feelings never changed for you – never will. I’ll wait until you’re ready because I know, deep down, your feelings haven’t changed either.”
“How could you possibly know that, Declan O’Reilly?”
“Because you wouldn’t be mad at me all the time, still, if you didn’t care.”
“Declan…I so badly want to believe you, believe we can have…us, but what happens when all of this is over, and we aren’t forced together – to depend on each other – like…last time?”
“That’s when we stop looking over our shoulders and look for forever instead.” He wiped a lone tear that trickled down her cheek and kissed her sweetly. His voice reduced to a whisper, and he said, “I love you, Lydia Prescott.”
He felt her relax into him, her breathing quiet and steady as she drifted off to sleep with those final words to dance in her dreams. Determined that there wouldn’t be a nightmare to follow, he stayed with her for a while, making sure she stayed asleep, especially after the day she had.
Careful not to wake her, he quietly slipped out of bed and went to the living room to make a call. He conferenced in his two brothers in Portland, and the two in McKenzie Ridge to get everyone on the same page.
“We had a fire over here,” Wylie said, “over at Jessie Clarke’s place. It was no accident either.”
“She was a big player when Esteban went down. She took down some men. Had a feeling she’d be a target. Blake with her?” Declan asked.
“Yeah, I offered to take care of her and almost got my ass kicked by both Blake and Jessie,” Dace said.
“Stay away from her, Dace. Might be your type on the outside, but she isn’t your type on the inside,” Declan reminded his brother.
Dace liked his women wild and loose, or so he wanted everyone to think. Jessie was wild, a real badass, but only because she wanted people to think that about her. She wasn’t a love ’em and leave ’em type like Dace had become. And…she was Blake’s…just nobody knew it yet.
“I got a question.” Luke was their strategist and dealt with tactical planning and weapons, using his military background. “How the hell was Boyd in Portland causing shit if he was burning shit up here in McKenzie just a few hours before that?”
“That’s what I would like to know, brother,” Declan added.
“It wouldn’t be the first time we saw someone set up a distraction, like a fire, and used a trigger to start it. He could have set that up yesterday or last week, for all we know, and followed us to Portland,” Dace reasoned.
“Yeah, could be. He would know exactly how to do it, too.” Declan wasn’t so sure though. That required an awful lot of planning. “If no one knew we were coming to Portland until this morning, though, how the hell did he manage it so fast? That would have required some planning; he didn’t have that kind of time.”
“I’m keeping Lydee and Jax here for a few more days, until we get a better handle on things over there,” Declan informed his brothers. It just wasn’t safe, running back and forth without cause or purpose.
“Maybe, he has help?” Luke suggested, not what any of them wanted to hear, but it was something they needed to consider.
Wylie let out a slow low whistle, and said, “Here’s the million-dollar question, boys…who?”
After hanging up the phone, Declan stood out on the balcony for a few minutes, looking over his city, wondering where the son of a bitch was, and praying he had the restraint he nee
ded when he caught the guy. If he did have help, who the hell was it? He’d spent two years searching high and low for his enemies and cleaned up any outstanding messes he came across. There wasn’t anyone left; he saw to it.
Though he was surprised Tom wanted revenge, he understood why. When Declan and company put him away, he lost everything. But where did he find an ally – if he had one? Declan was a patient man; he’d get his answers, one way or another.
Walking into his room and seeing Lydia laying in his bed made him nearly forget why they were there in the first place. That’s where she belonged, and he hoped, before long, she would be there every night. He crawled back in bed behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
Feeling him close, she nuzzled into him before whispering, “I love you, too.”
LYDIA WOKE UP smiling until she noticed the bed was empty and cold next to her. Panic reared its ugly head as the previous day’s events rushed back in, until she heard Jax’s laughter coming from just outside the bedroom door.
Perfect timing. They walked in, Declan holding a food tray and Jax holding a flower, like a couple of troublemakers up to no good. But they were good, everything good.
Jax leaped into Lydia’s arms. “Well, good morning to you too, my handsome boy! You don’t feel warm anymore – your fever is gone. Feeling better?”
“All da way better, mama. We made you breakfast!” he giggled, proud of his contribution, which appeared to be the toast that had a thick dollop of butter and jam, right smack in the center only.
“I see that; thank you! Going to join me?” she asked.
Declan finally chimed in, “We already ate – right after our work out. Right dude?”
“Yep. We went on the elevator, then made our muscles stronger.” Jax spoke in a nonchalant manner before flexing his muscles, to show off all of his hard work.
Lydia gasped, and quickly covered her mouth with both hands, as if she were genuinely surprised. “Impressive!”
“So,” Declan interrupted, “You eat and soak in a nice long bath. We’re going to go catch his show and chill.”
“O…kay. Jax, be a good boy and listen to Dec,” she reminded the little boy of his manners.
“Don’t worry,” Dec said, leaning down to kiss her, “we got this.”
“Yap,” Jax said, as he leaned in to kiss her too, “we got dis.”
Jax grabbed Declan’s hand and led him out of the room. “Let’s go Buddy.”
As she listened to them make their way down the hallway, she could hear their conversation still.
Jax asked, with a disgusted tone, “Why’d you kiss my mama?”
“Because I like her,” he replied.
“So you wanna kiss her a lot?” Jax concluded.
“Dude, a lot,” Declan finished, leaving Lydia to giggle.
Taking advantage of the quiet time, Lydia gathered her clothes and started the bath. Lost in thought, she skimmed over the food tray her boys left and picked something to eat while the water filled and warmed. If she was going to be pampered and get time to herself, she may as well enjoy it to the fullest. She took her coffee and the bagel breakfast sandwich from the tray and ate it in the bathtub. It would likely be the only time, before Jax turned eighteen, that she would have this opportunity.
Her lightly scraped knees stung as she sunk into the soothing warm water. They were badly bruised and a bit swollen, but she would be fine. Her sore, wound-up muscles began to relax. She needed this. Dec knew she did, hence the morning surprise.
He had said he could get used this, and truth be told, so could she. Not just breakfast in bed and long, lazy, uninterrupted bath’s – though it was nice – but having someone. The one someone. If she ever needed proof, a sign from the universe or fate to spell it out for her, yesterday was her sign.
He came for her. He was her someone. When fear owned her every emotion, consumed her, and she was certain her time was up…he came for her. When she was defeated, he was her champion. When she wanted to give up and give in, he wouldn’t let her. He loved her, and she believed him when he said she was it for him.
If anything good could come from a bad situation, it was this…it was him. Her confidence grew ten-fold with him at her side. He was all of the good things in life that she wanted. He was her silver lining.
Voices could be heard coming from the kitchen – not just Jax and Dec – they had company. Standing behind the large kitchen island, facing several of her children and who had to be her spitting image grandchild, was an older, petite red headed woman. With hands on her hips and a sharp look, she had the three larger than life grown men across from her, hanging on her ever word – Colleen O’Reilly.
Felicity sat at the opposite end with a smirk on her face that matched that of the little red head next to her – she had to be Reagan O’Reilly – Liam’s daughter and the apple of each uncle’s eye.
“Now that’s all that I will say ‘bout that. Ya hear me, boyo?” Her Irish accent and dialect was as unmistakable as her hot temper as she scolded Dace. “You’ll not miss family dinner again, ’less yer bleedin’ and half dead somewhere. In that case, I’ll be bringing yer dinner ta you!”
“Yes, ma,” he said as his brothers snickered like teenaged boys.
Colleen raised her finger, shook it at her other two boys, and said, “Don’cha be startin’ too…”
Declan quickly bit his tongue and straightened his smirk. “Wouldn’t think of it, ma.”
She slid down the counter and leaned in, looking at Jax. “Now you, little handsome – I’m these big babies’ ma, Reagan’s Nana. You can call me Nana too – or Collie if you’d rather.”
“Just call her Nana,” Reagan chimed in, speaking sweetly to Jax. “She says it’s her favorite word – and she’ll give you candy.”
Jax giggled through his enormous smile, smitten with both redheads it seemed. “Okay.”
“Ah, you must be dear Lydia. Nice to meet you love – I’ve heard an earful,” Colleen said to Lydia, drawing all attention to her.
“Oh? Uh. Good I hope?” Lydia teased, feeling a little under the spotlight.
“Of course, love. Seems this one has finally caught the bug,” she said, referring to Declan. “He fancies you – I can see why.”
“Ma, seriously?” Declan interrupted like an embarrassed love struck teen.
“Yes! Seriously! ‘Bout time you settle down.” Declan started to say something, but Colleen just kept on talking, not interested in his defense. “Now, I brought you all some food from the pub. Be sure to eat it so I know you’re taken care of while you sort out whatever mess you’re workin’ on now.”
Colleen moved toward Lydia and gave her an unexpected hug and kiss to the cheek. “Welcome to the family, dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you and the wee one. Be sure to eat.”
Stunned, she just smiled, unsure what she should say back. It seemed Colleen had her own way of thinking and doing things, and no one challenged her. Who was Lydia to start? Welcome to the family? She didn’t dare argue given the stern scolding she walked in on – she would let Declan handle it – she was his mother after all.
After making her rounds, giving everyone a hug and kiss to the cheek as she did with Lydia, Colleen stopped at Jax and rocked him as she squeezed him, giving him an extra kiss.
“And you, my handsome fella, I’ll be seeing you at Sunday dinner. Wait until Grandad gets a glimpse of you.” Colleen pinched his little cheeks in a grandmotherly way and turned to Lydia. “In case my boy forgot the manners I raised him with – family dinners are the last Sunday of every month at the Pub. We’re closed Sundays – the Lord’s day – so we gather there. We’ll see you there?”
Lydia assumed it was a real question, given how it was presented, and answered, maybe, but quickly realized it was a test to see if she had been paying attention. When Colleen gave her that stern scolding look, Lydia quickly changed her answer to okay, earning her a pleased smile from the woman who clearly didn’t take no or maybe for an answer.
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“Enjoy your meal – love you all,” She said as she walked through the door, tossing a wave behind her.
Jax giggled. “I like Nana.”
The men escaped to the balcony to talk business while Lydia and City stayed inside and chatted and the kids played. For a brief moment, life felt normal again.
THEIR DAY WORE on just as it had begun, like family. Felicity took the kids to the coffee shop downstairs, Wired – an internet café. Liam accompanied them as the muscle that kept them safe, though Lydia had a sneaking suspicion there was a tough girl underneath the cardigan and the dark framed glasses. City was a closet badass in hiding; Felicity was the sweet girl who kept Brother’s Keeper Security running with her cute nerdy librarian vibe.
When they returned, they played video games in the media room set up on Liam’s floor. He was the techy nerd of the bunch, so it made sense he had such a thing. Video games turned to crafts, crafts to movies and junk food. Jax was having the time of his life with his new friends.
Lydia’s heart was happy. They’d done well and had plenty of family and family-like friends in McKenzie Ridge, but something felt right about Portland, even if they couldn’t get out and explore at the moment.
Lydia was distracted from the book she was reading when an excited Jax came barreling in, asking to sleep over with City and Reagan.
“Mama, please? We’re staying up da whole night!”
“At the rate they’ve been going, I give them until 9:30,” City laughed.
“I don’t know, sweetheart. City might need a break to sleep – you’ve had her running all day.”
Liam sensed the reluctance in her voice – playing nearby was one thing – an entire night away from her son was an entirely different issue.
“Lyd, it’s safe here in the building. There’s no way anyone can get in – promise. Felicity…” he began, turning to City, making sure she caught the emphasis on her whole name, “has Reagan all the time; they’ll be fine.”
“I really don’t mind – I enjoy having them around – it’s fun. And if you just feel like he needs to come back in the middle of the night, or you want to check on him, so be it.”
Brother's Keeper I: Declan Page 26
