Page 6 of Eye Candy

“That’s true,” Kieran spoke, measured in walking around the chair and sitting in it. “I was talking about your hand, though. Too soon to make jokes?” He lifted his left hand, wiggling the two fingers I’d lost.

I let out a chuckle, though it was one of disbelief. “Yeah, it’s too soon.” I guess I’d forgotten how much of a sarcastic little shit Kieran was. Always thought he was funny. Always had a smart comment, no matter what the situation was. That was mainly why I’d found him so annoying before.

He stopped wiggling his left pinky and ring finger, dropping his hand to his lap. “Right. I’ll wait a while, then.” His black eyes studied me intently. “Are you all right, though? You can tell me the truth.”

Hah. As if I believed he wouldn’t repeat everything I told him to my dad and his sister, who was now my stepmom. Yeah, no thanks.

“I’ve never been better,” I deadpanned.

That got him to chuckle. “Ah, so you’re allowed to make jokes, but I’m not? How’s that fair?”

“Life isn’t fair.”

“That’s a moody thing to say, isn’t it? But, technically, I guess you’re still a teenager, so you’re allowed to think that way. Soon enough, you’ll realize that life is a miraculous thing that—” Kieran abruptly stopped. “You know what? No, you’re totally right. Life isn’t fair, and no matter how old you get, it doesn’t change.”

He was talking like I was in the hospital for a sprained wrist or something, not that this was our first meeting after being kidnapped and kept for two years. Like a normal day. Although, if I had the choice between him acting normal and him acting like my dad and Tessa, I guess I’d choose normal.

“So how busy is my dad now that he’s mayor?” I asked, picking at the blanket draped over my lower half. Whatever it was made of, it was uncomfortable, itchy fabric.

“He’s busier than ever. He’s always got meetings or places to be. You’d be surprised at how popular your dad has gotten with everyone in this city. He’s got friends in high places.” Kieran paused. “Or low places, depending on how you look at it.”

My voice came out low, a whisper, “He’s not doing shady stuff, is he?” He had to be, but I had to act like the concerned daughter, not that I wanted to hear that he’d been knee-deep in shady stuff these past two years. Hell, I didn’t think you could become mayor to a city like this without getting your hands dirty and keeping them dirty.

But then again… that’s why men like my dad had men like Kieran.

Kieran didn’t answer right away. He simply stared at me with those piercing dark eyes, as if his expression said enough. I supposed, in a way, it did. “He does what needs to be done.” He opened his mouth to say more, but right then my dad stuck his head into the room, calling for him out in the hall. He stood up, told me, “Duty calls,” and wandered over to the door, leaving me alone as he joined my dad and Tessa in the hall with the police.

I stared at them in the hall for a while, wondering what it’d be like at home now that Tessa would be living there. Was my room untouched? Was Kieran living with them as well? I could only take so much of him, but… hmm. Maybe having a stepmom and an uncle close by wouldn’t be so bad.

If I wanted to make my dad miserable, if I wanted him to pay, I had two people to start chipping away at his foundation.

Chapter Three – Kieran

Laina was doing remarkably well, all things considered. I think her father and Tessa both assumed she’d be traumatized after what she’d gone through, but she wasn’t. There was a lot she said she didn’t remember, but she still had that fire in her eyes, that defiant spark that told anyone asking her stupid questions that she was done with them.

My sister wasn’t very happy, of course. I think she thought she’d start a brand-new life with Vance, have a new family, etcetera. She didn’t want to show her unhappiness, though, so anytime she visited with Laina in the hospital, she kept a smile on her face.

I didn’t have to pretend to smile. Laina was funny, and she was tough. I was glad the last two years didn’t break her. I did wonder what was going on in her head, though, what she thought about it all.

The doctor wanted to keep her in the hospital for a week because of her injuries. Her face had gotten cut up—minorcuts. Her shoulder had been dislocated and, of course, you couldn’t forget about the two fingers she was now missing. They were still bandaged up, but from what I understood, the cut had been clean. It sounded like a knife had cut through both fingers at once, right above where the lower bone attached to the knuckle.

So she had nubs, just no fingers there anymore. I’d told her I would hold back on making jokes about it, and I would. For now. I could be gentlemanly when I wanted to be.

Vance didn’t tell Laina until he brought her home. We were all there. Me, Tessa, Vance; all of us shadowing her from afar to make sure she was okay. We let her check out her room—which had remained untouched, mostly—and then it was time to sit her down and tell her what her father had planned.

And when he told her, oh, her eyes widened. She sat on the couch in the living room on the first floor, while Tessa and Vance stood opposite her. I leaned against a nearby wall, my arms crossed. I had a gun neatly tucked away beneath my shirt. Being the mayor, winning over the incumbent in a not-so-tiny landslide had earned Vance some enemies, ones who didn’t agree with him on some policies.

Had to always pack in a city like this. You couldn’t be too careful.

But, anyway, back to the present.

“What?” Laina blinked, her voice a tad shrill. “You’re joking. Please say you’re joking.”

Vance stood strong in the face of his daughter, to his credit. If I was in his shoes, I’d be half-tempted to bend to her will, to do whatever she wanted. “I’m not joking. This is a serious matter, honey. Someone broke into this house and kidnapped you. I don’t ever want you to be alone in this house again. It’swhy I’ve decided to move Kieran in with us. Anytime you’re here, anytime you’re out and about, he’ll be with you. He’ll keep you safe.”

“I don’t need abodyguard,” she declared.

“That man is still out there,” Tessa said, glancing at me. “My brother has kept us both safe for years now. He’s good at what he does. This is not a matter that’s up for debate, Laina. Whether you like it or not, he’ll be watching over you.”

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