by L. A. Casey
We were going to see who the unlucky lady was, but Keela ran out of pregnancy tests, which of course was just fucking typical. She was on her way to go get some more tests when the bastards I mentioned before showed up and things got put on the back burner for an hour or two.
Things were calm now though, and Keela went on her way to our local supermarket with Kane Slater, we don't like him, to get more tests. I was impatiently waiting for them to return and so were the lads.
All three of them—Nico, Ryder, and Alec, were sat in the sitting room of Alec and Keela's house trying to piece a fucking shattered vase back together. I knew it was a lost cause, but I came over to Ryder's house for glue when he asked for it.
I had to go the toilet though, and that's how I ended up sitting on a toilet staring at a pregnancy test. I spotted the box on the counter and it had one test left in it. I knew Branna would've obviously wanted to use it, but I had to know if it was me who was pregnant.
I had to know.
Plucking up the courage to actually check what the result was turned out to be more difficult than I anticipated.
I was about to peek at the test results when my phone buzzed for what had to be the tenth time in the last five minutes. I didn't look at it when it first rang because I thought it was Gavin, but when I took it out and glanced at the caller I saw it was Keela.
I clicked answer.
“Aideen! Finally!” Keela's voice cried.
I froze. “Keela? What's wrong? Are you okay?”
“No,” she whimpered. “It's Kane, he collapsed.”
My heart stopped beating, my stomach churned, my throat clogged up and my head spun. I was acutely aware of how I felt in that moment—I was absolutely terrified.
“What the hell do you mean Kane collapsed?” I shouted into the speaker of my phone after a not so long pause.
“I mean exactly that. We were in Tesco and he just dropped. No warnin', he just fell. The ambulance is here and the paramedics have him on a stretcher. I'm goin' to head to the hospital with him. Can you go to the brothers' house and tell them to get their fucking arses to the hospital right away? None of them are answerin' their bloody phones.”
My voice was raspy as I asked, “What about the girls? Did you try them?”
Keela hissed. “Their phones are ringin' out too. I'm goin' to fuckin' kill them all. I'm scared shitless and none of them are answerin'.”
I blinked my eyes and was surprised when tears fell onto my cheeks.
What the hell?
I quickly wiped under my eyes then took a few deep breaths to calm myself. I would be no good to anyone if I freaked out. I was pretty focused until my best friend showed signs that she was cracking. I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard Keela sniffle on the other end of the phone.
“It'll be okay, Kay,” I said, hoping the comfort I offered helped her, because it did shit for me.
“Just get the brothers and meet me at the hospital, please.”
She hung up and for a long moment I stood unmoving and tried to process what she just told me, but I couldn't, I just couldn't. It was probably best because I quickly sprung into action by jumping up and running out of the bathroom and the Slater household without a backwards glance. I sprinted across the road and crashed into Alec and Keela's front door slamming it opened.
“Lads!” I screamed, as I ran into the sitting room.
“Aideen!” Ryder shouted and grabbed hold of my shoulders when I stumbled into the room. “Calm down and tell us what's wrong.”
I inhaled and exhaled a couple of times trying to get my breath back, and when I did I looked from Ryder to his brothers and back again.
“Keela called me… from the supermarket.”
Alec moved closer. “Is she okay?”
I nodded my head. “She is.”
Nico moved closer too. “And Kane?”
Tears gathered in my eyes. Again.
I shook my head. “She said it happened so fast. He was standin' beside her one second and on the floor the next.”
All the brothers widened their eyes, and from behind them Branna and Alannah gasped.
“She tried to ring, but no one answered their phones,” I continued. “She is on her way to the hospital with him, but we have to go there right now.”
The next few minutes were a blur of activity with the lads shouting and the girls crying. We all ran out of Alec and Keela's new house, and piled into cars. I went with Ryder and Alec, and Nico went with the girls to get Bronagh.
“He's goin' to be okay, isn't he?” I asked the lads as Ryder flew down the bypass with Nico following close behind before he turned down the road to go get his girl.
I felt a hand grip onto my shoulder. “He is going to be okay.”
I hadn't talked to God in a long time, not since my mother died when I was little, but on the drive to the hospital I prayed to find out what was wrong with Kane and if he was okay. I prayed harder than I ever had before, and I begged Him to let Kane be okay.
I jumped when my phone went off.
I quickly answered it, “Hello?”
“Where are you all?” Keela cried.
She was sobbing, I could hear it in her voice.
I broke down with worry. “We're nearly there… is he okay?”
The brothers held their breath when I asked the question we were all thinking.
Keela bawled, “I’m tryin' to find that out, but I'm not related to him so the brothers need to be here.”
“Why?” I asked, terrified to hear her reply.
“Because they won't tell me if he is dead or alive.”
I can’t believe this is my fourth book in the Slater Brothers series that I have published. I am amazed. I am in love with this group of lads and their sassy ladies. I love writing their stories, and I can’t wait for you all to dive into the rest of the brothers’ books.
As usual, I had the fabulousness of my team to help me get Keela ready for you all to read. I would be lost without each and every one of these ladies.
My sister Edel – my outlining partner. Thank you for always supporting me and loving the brothers as much as I do. Love you.
My mini me – Thank you for allowing me time to write these books, you’re the most patient five year old I know. I love you to Neptune and back!
My family – for the continued support you all give me. Thank you.
Jennifer Tovar from Gypsy Heart Editing. You’re my girl, and without you publishing would never be possible. You’re awesome, and make editing less grey hair inducing. Thank you for putting up with me! Love ya, babe.
Julie from JT Formatting. Thank you for making my book pretty to read, you’re awesome!
Jill aka superwoman aka the world’s greatest PA. Thank you for constantly being on top of your game and always looking for new ways to get the word about me, and the brothers out there. You’re a dear friend, and I love you!
LJ Anderson from Mayhem Cover creations. Just like the rest of the times I’ve mentioned you, I have to praise and thank you. You never fail to create a cover I don’t love. Thank you!
Nicola Rhead – the world’s greatest proofreader. Thank you for saving my arse with Keela. You’re an angel!
Yessi – my pregnant bitch. Actually by the time Keela published, the spawn of Satan you harbour in your womb will be here, but you’re pregnant right now while I’m writing this so I’m not changing a thing. Deal with it. I don’t like saying nice things about you, but I guess I love you. Being my best friend and all, I kind of like you. Kind of. Stop smirking! God!
Mary – my lovely, wonderful Mary. You’re by far the sweetest person I know, and probably the bitchiest, which is awesome! I love your random rants of bitchiness, and I love your friendship. You’re a gem, and I love you loads!
My lasses from my street team. You’re all the best group of crazies I could ever wish for. Thank you for your support, and for everything you do for me. I love you all. Hard.
And most importantly my readers.
Thank you for sticking by me and the brothers, I hope you liked some more from Keela and Alec. Stick around for Kane, he is coming soon! I love you all <3
L.A. Casey was born, raised and currently resides in Dublin, Ireland. She is a twenty-three year old stay at home mother to an almost two year old German Shepherd named Storm and of course, her five year old—going on thirty—beautiful little hellion/angel depending on the hour of the day.
She is the author of Amazon Bestselling book series, Slater Brothers.
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NOW AVAILABLE
FROZEN
DOMINIC (SLATER BROTHERS, #1)
BRONAGH (SLATER BROTHERS, #1.5)
ALEC (SLATER BROTHERS, #2)
COMING SOON
KANE (SLATER BROTHERS, #3)
AIDEEN (SLATER BROTHERS, #3.5)
RYDER (SLATER BROTHERS, #4)
BRANNA (SLATER BROTHERS, #4.5)
DAMIEN (SLATER BROTHERS, #5)
ALANNAH (SLATER BROTEHRS, #5.5)
BROTHERS (SLATER BROTHERS, #6)
