Page 134 of By His Rule

“Steal it?” I deadpan.

“Nah, way too much hard work, babe.”

Kian sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth, but as much as I might want to see his expression right now, I don’t take my attention from Kieran.

“Stroke their egos. Make them feel special. Treat them. And in return,” he says, sitting back and holding his arm out to gesture to the room, “you can create magic.”

“Arrogant fuck.”

I can’t help but snort at Kian’s comment.

“Takes one to know one,” Kieran quips, shooting his big brother a look before returning his gaze to me. “You want anything out of my big brother here, I just gave you the keys to the castle, babe.”

“I don’t want anything from Kian.”

A deep laugh rumbles deep in Kieran’s chest.

“Babe, from how close the two of you were sitting when we came over, I’d beg to differ. And anyway, every woman on the planet wants something from the three of us. With King now off the market, it’s allowed me and K here to do God’s work.”

“Fuck my life. Is it too late to change tables?” Kian barks.

“You wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, and you know it. By the end of the night, Lori is going to know everything.”

And to my surprise, Kieran does a very good job on following through with that promise.

Despite having two dates to entertain him, tonight’s MVP spends almost all his time talking to me and winding Kian up to the point I’m pretty sure steam started coming out of his ears.

It was during a particularly amusing story about Kian’s first crush that he’d finally had enough, shoved his chair back, and stormed away.

“You’re evil,” I tell Kieran honestly.

“Pfft, asshole is more than used to it. Funny, though, he’s never cared this much before. I wonder why that is.”

As Kian promised, dinner was incredible. And with a Callahan brother sitting on either side of me, I was saved from making small talk with Kieran’s dates or the others sitting at our table.

Kian’s still gone when the compere steps up on stage and asks for everyone’s attention.

Silence falls around the room before he finds Kieran in the crowd and invites him up to the stage to a thunderous round of applause.

I’m so lost watching the man of the moment move through the crowd, shaking hands with men and kissing women’s cheeks as he goes, that I don’t notice Kian return.

“That’s sure to help his ego,” he mutters, reaching for his drink and draining the glass.

“He’s doing a good thing. Let him have it.”

I feel Kian’s side-eye burn down my face, but I don’t turn to look. Like the rest of the room, I’m too enthralled with his little brother.

32

KIAN

I’m immensely proud of Kieran. Firstly, for standing up to our father and refusing to bend to his wishes. Kieran had a dream, a dream that he knew he could make a reality. He didn’t care that our father had his life already planned out. He knew what he wanted, and he’s worked his ass off every single day to get it.

He’s kind, caring, smart, determined, hard-working, and a kickass football player. He’s also the best little brother anyone could ask for, despite him being a bit of an asshole at times.

But none of that stops a little bitterness trickling through my veins as the entire room—Lorelei included—focuses every bit of their attention on him as he makes his speech introducing the foundation and the good it does.

Kingston is the boss. He’s the oldest who’s been handed everything.

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