Page 55 of Stay, Swear.

Mac barely conceals his laughter as he follows behind ournephew who is wise beyond his years.

Standing back to my full height we watch as Little Bear leads him over to the trampoline to talk about girls. The three of us are laughing at the moment but I know Mac’s loving this. Talking about Riley in this light may be exactly what he needs. My eyes shift back over to Nix, who’s blatantly checking me out. Letting a full smile overtake my face I watch her back and just wait. Eventually her eyes make their way to my face. She realizes she’s been caught and the prettiest blush creeps up her neck and cheeks. Fuck, I love when her skin turns that shade of red. I mouth‘I love you.’to her and watch as her face flushes before mouthing it back.

“Earth to Kie. Can we stop eye fucking our girl for one second.”

I reluctantly pull my eyes from the only woman I see in a room of thousands to focus on my second oldest brother, “Weweren’t doing anything and she isn’touranything. What do you want?”

“I asked what happened earlier? With the note. What’s the deal?”

I note that Rowan is also paying extra attention to me now, “I’m not talking about any of that right now. Meeting in the office after Rhett’s in bed. Until then, watch Mac. I hate to say this but be easy with him. He’s going through it right now.”

“Riley? I figured all this would hit him pretty close.” Declan finally drops the‘I don’t care’facade and a look of worry takes its place. He’s always had a soft spot for Mac.

“What do you think he needs from us?” Rowan chimes in, the concern bleeding through his tone. Mac was really Rowan’s first “kid” when our parents died. Mac was barely eighteen. He hadn’t even hit his graduation day yet. Roe wasleft with Mac and the twins overnight. Not that Dec and I didn’t and don’t need him. We lean on him as if he was Da, but he didn’t have to get us through the second half of our senior year, or become our legal guardian. His relationship with the younger three is different than it is with Declan and I. We went through our parents’ deaths together. He parented Mac, Flynn, and Sully through it.

“I think he just needs to be heard. Riley hit us all, I’m not saying she didn’t, but you and Dec were older than us. Even if it wasn’t this way, it felt like it wasn’t as big of a hit to you two. That girl flipped his little five year old heart inside out and then some sick bastard ripped her out of his life.”

“Is that what you think? That Riley didn’t affect us the same way she affected you guys? Kie, Rowan and I have been looking for her for sixteen years. Every single day. We know Mac is still looking too, and we know you ask every person who makes his way into the warehouse about her but so do we. Our connections are looking for her constantly. She was more than the girl Mac was best friends with for us. She was our first ‘sister’. That means something. We don’t just give up on family. Rossi hasn’t given up on her either. I’m sorry that that’s how he feels, but it pisses me off that he thinks he’s the only one who gives a fuck.” Declan moves his hand to the back of his neck and subtly pulls on the short stands of his hair.

“It’ll all come out tonight. We have things to discuss. Just be prepared because he’s going to blow up. Don’t fight back with him, let him feel it.” Rowan and Declan nod in agreement and I go back to watching my Brave Girl. She’s so relaxed right now, she almost looks carefree. I’ll do whatever I have to to make sure she stays that way.

28

Chapter Twenty-Eight

MacQuillian

Standing in the doorway of my nephews room while he’s fast asleep, I can’t help the small smile that tugs at the corner of my lips. He’s so innocent and perfect. Listening to him tell me about the little girl with the curly brown hair in his Kindergarten class was the highlight of my week. Kieran boldly states that he’s Rhett’s favorite Uncle, but I’m the one he comes to when everyone else’s crazy gets too much. Which is ironic because I’m also who Kie comes to when the noise gets too loud. Kieran is who everyone goes to for protection and when they want comic relief. But I’m who they come to when they need to sit in the silence. When they need someone who’s steady and unchanging.

I don’t mind it. Kieran struggles with people not seeing the deeper levels of him, and I can see that, a lot of pressure is put on him constantly but that doesn’t mean I feel the same way. Ilike being the quiet one who stays to himself most of the time. I’m dependable, and they know exactly what they’re getting when they get me. I don’t like getting my hands dirty nor do I enjoy yelling to be heard over my brothers. I like silently striking. One could argue that that alone makes me the most dangerous. It’s really easy for me to lull people into a false sense of security. My Da used to say it was my superpower.

“Everyone has superpowers, MacQuillian. Rowan’s are his love for his family and the way he commands respect without being arrogant. Declan’s are his unwavering loyalty, as well as his desire to help everyone. Kieran’s are his protective streak and his brute strength. But you? Oh you, my boy, are steady as a surgeon’s hands. You are not easily shaken and you listen when others are too busy responding. Your intelligence and calm spirit may just be the most powerful of all.”

My Da got me without me ever having to explain my thought process or why I was the way I was, he just knew. He had five fiery sons, then there was me. I was always just like Ma. I think her steady demeanor is what drew my Da to her in the first place. I think that’s why he understood me as easily as he did. I wish I could talk to him now. To ask him if I’m being a bleeding heart by still searching for Riley or if it’s just my desire to be her steady stream when she makes it out of this nightmare.

I’m not stupid by any means, I know logically she probably isn’t alive anymore, but something deep within my soul tells me she is. I would have felt it if she wasn’t here. I know it sounds dumb and we were only seven when she was taken, but the connection she and I had is one that they write books about. When boy meets girl, they become best friends, fall in love and live happily ever after with two point five kids, apicket fence, and a dog. We could have had that, we would have had that, if Brittany’s- sorry Phoenix’s- dad and his fucked up army of scum hadn’t have taken her.

My phone buzzes in the pocket of my jeans, reminding me I have a meeting to get to with my brothers. I shut Little Bear’s bedroom door and make my way down the stairs to the office. All eyes look my way, making me realize I am the last one to walk in. Muttering a sorry I take my seat beside Flynn and get comfortable. I don’t talk in these meetings. I analyze, I listen, and I make a plan, or list for myself to do as soon as I walk out of here. I’m just the behind the scenes dude. Any physical violence is reserved for the heavy bag or one of my brothers as we spar in the gym downstairs. Occasionally for our enemies, but that’s such a rarity it isn’t even worth noting. Speaking of the gym, I’m definitely going down there after this to work out my fucked up head.

“Thanks for joining us, Mac. We know you’re so busy with other shit.” I move to push Sullivan off the edge of the couch, but Rowan beats me to it, silencing the room with a single look.

“Shut up Sully, if I’m not mistaken you barely squeaked in on time after taking an exceptionally long time taking Elena home.” His face flushes red as he crosses his arms, effectively pouting.

“Anyways, Kieran. What’s going on with Britt? The truth this time, the whole truth. I know she skimmed the surface with most of us, but I want the truth.” Kieran looks to me and I just nod, it’s going to come out eventually and I’d rather him say it before I have to.

I know all about Phoenix, and I do meanall, not just what she told us yesterday. I know everything. I know everythingabout everyone who interacts with my family. Just like I know what happened to Elle almost a year ago that caused Sully, Flynn, and the other guys to practically put her in a bubble. I know it all, but that doesn’t make any of it my story to tell. Rowan needed to hear about Clara’s abusive exfrom her. Kieran needed to hear about Brittany/Phoenix’s nightmare childhoodfrom her. And one day, Sullivan will hear all about what actually happened to Elle, you guessed it,from her.

Now what happened to her dad’s soldier who went missing, and was never found? Well that’s a secret I’ll take to the grave. I don’t like getting my hands dirty that doesn’t mean I won’t. What Iwon’tdo is take a woman’s power from her, ever. Especially when some entitled little boy, posing as a man, strips it from her.

“So as you all know by now, Phoenix was trafficked by her sperm donor from the age of seven until the age of fourteen when she escaped. She was fostered by one of the officers who found her, and Nix eventually testified against Robert and his goon. They were released not long ago and have since claimed to have found her. Her apartment was broken into last night and a note was left. It was from one of the men who had her held captive.” He takes a shuddering breath before continuing. It’s hard to hear, but I can’t imagine how hard it is for him to replay when he’s talking about the woman he’s in love with. He’s a strong motherfucker.

“She went into this flashback thing when she was telling me about it. Mac ended up in the room with us and we were able to get her calmed down. During it she remembered another girl. She said they called her Thirty-Three. But the girl was insistent that her Da and her best friend, as well as her best friend’s family were coming to save her. Her best friend’sname was Mac…. her name was Riley.”

I have to physically lean forward to breathe. I knew what he was going to say, obviously. I was there, but still it knocks the wind out of me and I can feel my eyes prickle with tears. I failed her, I wasn’t her constant, I couldn’t save her. Now she’s God knows where, and just like that day fourteen years ago, I’m just as helpless. I’m going to find her if it’s the last thing I do. She deserves a man who will stop at nothing to bring her home. No matter if that’s to place her in my arms for the rest of my days or to lay her to rest so that hopefully some part of her soul knows she was so deeply loved.

29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

---