Page 65 of Ruthless

Rory twists his body toward mine, and I tilt my head down to meet his gaze. “This conversation never happened, and as much as it pains me to admit it.” He pauses, looking like he’s about to swallow something sour. “They’re good at what they do.”

“As good as you, you mean.” I bite the corner of my mouth to keep my jaw from dropping. My brother has never given anyone outside of the family a compliment like that.

“Now, I didn’t say that.” Rory shakes his head, but I don’t miss the humor in his eyes.

“Yeah, you did.” I cock an eyebrow at him.

“I admit nothing.” He rolls his eyes at me and falls back against the cushion.

“Thanks, Ror.” I smile, feeling a sense of lightness for the first time today.

“Anytime.” He shrugs and goes back to watching Castle. “Just promise me something.”

“What’s that?” I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose, wondering where he’s going with this.

“That I get first dibs on holding my future niece or nephew.” He jerks his chin toward my growing stomach as his lips curve into a smile.

“Deal.” I laugh at what he’s just signed up for because my other brothers will be giving him shit for this when they find out. My phone vibrates against the table, making me jump. When I see the unknown number, my eyes narrow. It rings a few more times, and I debate sending it to voice mail.

“You gonna answer it?” Rory asks as he lounges farther back against the couch.

“I don’t know the number.” My eyebrows scrunch together as to who it could be.

“Want me to get it?” Rory offers.

“No. That’s the last thing I want. I can only imagine what you would do.” I answer it before he can, prepared for it to be a solicitor asking about my car’s extended warranty. “Hello?”

“Kennedy! Thank god. You seriously scared the shit out of me.” A deep sigh exhales into the phone as Fiona’s voice comes through the other end. Her voice cracking as alarm bells going off.

“Are you okay?” I sit up straighter against the couch, squeezing my phone tighter as if that’ll somehow help.

“I’m at your apartment, or what’s left of it. What the hell happened? It looks like afreaking bomb went off in here.” Her voice wavers, and I cringe as I picture the mess she’s seeing. I haven’t been back there since it was broken into, and I can only imagine how bad it must look to her.

“What are you doing at my apartment?” It isn’t like her just to show up unannounced like this. “And whose phone are you using, Fi?” Calling me from an unknown number only adds to the weirdness of this whole situation.

Rory sits up ramrod straight and scoots closer to me at the mention of her name. He’s hanging onto my every word, and I suddenly feel like I’m in the hot seat.

“It’s a long story. The short version is that my dad’s a major asshole, and I needed a break. I came here and found your place trashed. Your turn.” She never takes a breath from the moment she starts talking.

“Someone broke into my place, so I’ve been staying at Zane’s until we can get it taken care of.” I do my best to keep my tone casual and not freak her out. It doesn’t escape my attention that she never even bother to answer my second question.

“What? Why didn’t you say anything to me?” Her quick, shallow breathing echoes into the phone.

“I’ve been trying to call you for days, but you haven’t answered.” I do my best not to sound like a nagging parent, but I have been worried out of my mind.

“I am so sorry that I’ve been such a shit friend. I swear I didn’t mean to disappear on you. Things have been a little crazy at home, and I took off to have some space to breathe.” I hear a loud bang, followed by a familiar bark. “Oh my god! What a cute dog.” Fiona claps as I hear a muffled voice in the background.

“Is Mrs. Baker there with you, Fi?” I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose as my gaze travels to the television. Having my brother’s scrutinizing stare fixated on me makes this conversation more awkward than it should be.

“She just came over to check on me and brought her cute little guy with her.” She coos into the phone as she no doubt lathers Thor with attention, then she sighs. “Shit.”

“What’s wrong?” I twist at the collar of my T-shirt to keep from losing my sanity with her.

“My phone’s about to die, and I forgot the stupid charger at home.” I don’t miss the hesitancy in her voice as she says that. It’s a dead giveaway my friend is lying to me. I’m just not sure why she feels the need to.

“Why don’t you go wait with Mrs. Baker, and we’ll be there as fast as we can.” The sooner we get to her, the sooner I can get my answers.

“We?” she squeaks out loud enough for Rory to hear her through the phone.

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