Page 81 of Dangerously Safe

“I’m good, just on my way to the salon. I’ve been so busy helping your father lately that I haven’t had much time to myself.” Ronan quickly looks at me before looking back at the phone. “What are you boys up to today? How’s Harper doing? I’m sure she’s going crazy stuck in that apartment with you three brutes all day. You boys better be treating that sweet girl well!”

“Oh, she’s managing just fine,” Ronan says smugly. I force myself not to let out a laugh.

“I know your father is trying his hardest to get to the bottom of everything with Declan so she can return to her life. The poor girl must be terrified. I can’t imagine what she’s going through.”

There it is. At that moment, I had the answer I needed. The concern in her voice is genuine. We’ve all spent years learning how to read people, we’re not as good as Finn, but we can still tell a lie from a mile away. And unless our mother has suddenly become a super spy who masters in deception, there isn’t a hint of a lie in her words. But I know he needs to ask her outright. We need to understand why she was in contact with Max. We need to be sure.

I know Ronan is thinking the same thing I am as he lets out a heavy sigh. “Mum, I need to ask you something. You’re going to be upset, but I need you to promise you’ll tell me the truth. Okay?”

“Sweet boy, you’re worrying me. What’s going on?”

“How do you know, Max?”

I see her brows pinch in confusion. “You know Max?”

“Yeah, Mum. We know Max.”

“Your father has had me working with him the last few months. We’ve been intercepting shipments Declan Whelan has been sending over. Your father told me he’s been trying to gain footing here in New York. Sneaky bastard. It wasn’t enough to make us leave Ireland. Now he’s trying to take this home from us too.”

“Mum… those were our shipments. You’ve been stealing from us.”

“What do you mean? I would never steal from you. Not from my own sons. I wouldn’t make you appear weak like that.” Ronan pauses a moment, waiting for her to put the rest of the pieces together. Sadness flashes across her face instantly, “Ronan… is that why I haven’t heard from Max? Did you kill him?” Her voice is angry now, but my brother does his best to keep a level head.

“Yes. I killed him.” He says matter-of-factly.

“Ronan!”

“I didn’t have a choice, Mum. He and his crew were stealing from us, and I can’t let that shit stand. Not from anyone.”

“Why was your father having me steal from you? I don’t understand. None of this makes any sense!” I watch as a tear rolls down our sweet mother’s face. She’s hurt that she hurt us, and I know it.

Ronan doesn’t answer her. We don’t have a good answer for her yet; the less she knows, the better. “I need to ask you something else, okay?” She nods into the camera. “Are you safe with him? With Dad?”

She inhales a shaky breath, and I immediately feel the bile rising in my throat. “It’s complicated, Ronan. He’s my husband. I’d be nowhere without him.”

“Mum…” Ronan bites angrily, but I can tell he’s still trying to control his temper. “Answer the damn question.”

“It’s never been this bad. He’s always had a temper, but since he’s stepped back as leader, it’s gotten so much worse. It’s like since he can’t take out his anger on his enemies, he takes it out on me instead. I didn’t want to say anything or put more pressure on you. I know you boys have your plates full, and the last thing I want to be is a burden.”

That’s fucking it. I can’t take it anymore. I stand behind my brother as our mother lets out a pained sob. “Mum, you are not a burden. Ever. We will protect you with everything we have. Even against him. If he has ever laid a hand on you, even once, it’s one time too many.”

“I don’t want you boys to do something you’ll regret. I can handle your father.”

“I will regret nothing! He is no father of mine! He has made my life a living hell, and now he’s trying to tarnish everyone I love. I will not stand for it any longer.” I can feel the rage boiling inside me, but I can’t control it.

Ronan looks up at me, not missing that I said, “Everyone I love.” I shoot him a look, now is not the time to get into it.

“Cormac…” Our mother sobs.

“No, Mum. He has gone to fucking far. He’s done.”

Ronan takes over, sensing I’m about to spiral. “Here’s what’s going to happen, Mum. You’re going to go to your appointment as planned. Once you’re done, you will go home and pack a few travel bags. If he is there, just tell him you decided to go on a last-minute spa trip.”

“Ronan, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. I will send one of my drivers to pick you up with a set of instructions. You need to make sure you follow them to the letter. You’re going to go stay with my friend, Pascal, in France until we get this all figured out. Okay?”

Pascal is a frequent VIP flier at Kings and one of our older customers. Though, his gray hairs don’t stop him from having a way with the ladies. I swear that man gets more pussy in a year than the three of us have had in our lives combined. We’ve become close friends with him since we opened Kings, and the best part is our father has no idea who he is or that he even exists. When he’s not visiting New York, he lives in Saint-Jean-de-Luz along the southern coast of France. He’s the type of friend who wouldn’t think twice when it comes to helping his friends. As a ruthless businessman, he’s no stranger to people trying to take from him. He knows what it takes to protect what he loves.