Page 38 of Royal Beast
“The tall building by the waterfront is Irish territory,” I explain. “Rory owns the building, but he leases it out for affordable housing tenants. It’s one of his pet projects, making sure everyone has a place to live.”
Darcy seems impressed by this, and I smile, explaining how all of us Brannagan brothers have our own way of giving back. “Liam pays for the school lunches for everyone in the Irish district, and Lucky’s always volunteering at the homeless shelters.”
“What about you?” Darcy asks, a smile on her face. “What do you do?”
I duck my head a little, the tips of my ears burning hot. I don’t like people to know this because I don’t want anyone to know about my soft side, but for Darcy, I can share.
“I bought two buildings and turned them into women’s shelters,” I explain. “My ma, she was always under my father, Lachlan’s, thumb. She couldn’t take it anymore, so she left when I was just a teenager. I didn’t want anyone else feeling like they had nowhere to go, so…”
Darcy reaches out, caressing my fingers with her thumb. “There’s so much more to you than I expected,” she admits, the smile growing on her face.
We continue talking, and at some point, the conversation drifts to Rose. Darcy’s smile fades a little, replaced by a thoughtful look as she picks at her food, her gaze momentarily distant. “It was hard at first,” she says quietly, her fingers fidgeting with her napkin. “I’d always wanted to be a mom, but I never thought I’d be doing it alone.”
She looks up, her expression softening. “There were days I thought I’d never make it. Like I was on my own island, and I was figuring it out as I went along.”
I watch her, realizing I’ve only ever seen bits and pieces of this part of her life. She’s strong, no question about it, but hearing this makes me see all that strength with a new perspective. “She’s a lucky kid,” I say, meeting her gaze. “To have you, I mean. Not every parent would go through so much to make things work.”
Her cheeks color slightly and she smiles, almost shyly. “Thanks,” she murmurs. “Sometimes, when I see her smile or hear her laugh, I think maybe… maybe I’m doing okay after all.”
At that moment, under the glow of city lights, she looks at me with a vulnerability that almost scares me. She’s sharing a piece of herself she’s never shared with anyone else. The urge to protect that piece of her, to ensure that no one ever dims that light, rises inside me.
“You know, I’m surprised you didn’t drag the father into her life kicking and screaming,” I admit. I reach for my wine glass and take a sip.
Darcy’s eyes dart around and she begins to fidget, clearing her throat. Before she can say anything, though, the waiter arrives with our dessert. It’s a rich chocolate mousse with chocolate shavings and a dollop of cream on top.
I pick up my spoon and take a careful bite, studying Darcy’s expression. There’s something on her face that makes me wonder, once again, if there’s something she hasn’t told me yet.
Darcy scoops a little of the mousse onto her spoon and closes her eyes, savoring the taste as she brings it to her lips.
I hesitate before speaking, but I have to know.
“Darcy. Is Rose my daughter?”
19
DARCY
Kellan’s words hang in the air between us, my worst fears coming true.
“She’s not yours, Kellan,” I quickly answer, forcing the words to come out steady and calm. “Rose was the result of a one-night stand. Before you and I met.”
The silence that follows is heavy, almost suffocating. His expression is unreadable, but I catch the faintest flicker of disappointment in his eyes and my heart wrenches.
I can’t look at him. I let my gaze drift to the skyline instead, watching the lights blur as I blink, willing myself to feel nothing. But the lie tastes bitter, twisting low in my stomach. I remind myself that I’m doing this to keep the peace, to protect Rose from whatever chaos the truth might bring.
He nods slowly, almost reluctantly, but he doesn’t press me further. That shadow in his gaze lingers, and though I’ve dodged one storm, I know I’ve stirred another. As much as it aches, I convince myself that I’ve done the right thing—for Rose, and maybe selfishly, for myself.
The waiter brings our check. Kellan guides us out of the restaurant and down to the waiting limousine. His hand rests onthe small of my back as we walk, his expression soft, eyes warm. I feel the sting of my lie. I watch him for any sign of the hurt I saw earlier, but he’s carefully tucked it away, pulling me close beside him, making me feel like we’re right back where we left off.
As the limo glides through the city lights, he pours two glasses of champagne, handing me one with a slight smile. “To an unforgettable night,” he says, his gaze holding mine.
I clink my glass against his, letting myself ease back into the comfort of his warmth. It feels so good to be with him like this, to have him look at me like I’m the only one in the world, even if I know I’m keeping something from him. I tell myself that it’s better this way, that preserving the peace we have is worth it. But the tiny voice of guilt in the back of my mind lingers, and I feel as if I’m holding this fragile moment with trembling hands.
When we get home, Kellan’s hand trails down my arm as we walk up to the building, his gaze darkening as he pulls me close, his lips ghosting over my neck. “I don’t want this night to end just yet,” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that sends a shiver through me.
His phone buzzes, shattering the moment. His face hardens as he checks the screen, his eyes flicking to mine apologetically. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Just give me a moment.”
After a few moments, he returns with an apologetic expression. “There’s some business I need to attend to. Sorry about this.” He walks away, giving me one last lingering look, and I ride the elevator alone.
