Page 13 of Royal Beast
My brothers are relying on me to keep everything together. But thinking about the way she looked at me last night makes my pulse race, dragging me away from the work in front of me. She’s a distraction I can’t afford, not right now.
Lucky clears his throat, bringing me back to the present. Yesterday’s bourbon still lingers in the warm air, and I suddenly realize how stifling my office feels as I shift in my chair, trying to ease the tension.
I glance up and meet Lucky’s gaze, taking in the sight of my youngest brother, arms crossed over his chest, his jaw set tight. He’s giving me a pointed look, his patience clearly worn thin.“Are you listening to me?” he demands, his voice sharp, cutting straight through the haze of my mind.
I clench my fists under the desk, my own jaw tightening as I resist the urge to snap back at him. He’s unaware of the weight of everything I’m holding in—Darcy, this deal, the way things are spiraling. It all simmers just below the surface. I’m not in the mood to deal with his attitude so I simply shrug, brushing it off.
“I’m listening,” I say, my voice tight.
“No, you aren’t,” Lucky retorts, narrowing his eyes. “Why did you and Rory go after the Russians without consulting us first?”
The room feels smaller by the second. The blinds cast long, jagged shadows across the floor, slashing through the otherwise sterile atmosphere. His presence, usually a source of calm, now grates on my nerves. Of all of us Brannagan kids, Lucky has always been the most level-headed, but there’s something off about him today, a frustration that seems to have been building for a long time.
I’ve seen it coming for a while now. Lucky’s been angling for more responsibility, more control, begging for bigger assignments and looking to gain more of a leadership role. He’s been itching for this fight, and I’ve been letting him push just enough. That is, until now.
“We needed to send a message,” I tell him, my voice stern as I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest. I narrow my eyes, locking onto his. “We had to remind them who they’re dealing with. If we waited, it would have made us look weak.” The words feel like they should carry weight, but I know Lucky isn’t buying it.
His expression tightens, the frustration building in the clench of his jaw. “Bullshit. You and Rory always act like the rest of us don’t matter when it comes to making big decisions like this. You treat us like we’re just your foot soldiers, but me andLiam, even Alannah, we’re just as much a part of this as you two!”
I tighten my arms across my chest and take a deep breath, forcing my frustration down. “We’ve always handled things this way,” I calmly respond, brushing his words aside. Lucky’s always been eager to prove himself, eager to show that he’s capable, but he doesn’t get it. He’s the youngest brother so he can’t always see the bigger picture.
Lucky shakes his head, hands balling into fists. “This was a mistake,” he snaps. “Going after them so hard was a terrible idea. It’s not going to stop them. If anything, it’ll just make them retaliate worse.”
I turn my head, refusing to engage, tapping my foot on the floor as I try to think of a way to explain this to him without being condescending. For a few moments, the soft tick of the wall clock is the only noise in the room until Lucky steps closer, circling the desk and getting right into my space.
His breath is quick, his eyes hard with anger. “Listen to me, Kellan!” His voice rises, more desperate now. “We can’t keep fuckin’ escalating! If we aren’t careful, we’re going to end up in a war we don’t want!”
I stand and push him back, keeping my voice low. “It’s already done. You don’t need to question us, kid.”
“Don’t call me kid!” Lucky yells, stepping forward, fists clenched, but before he can lash out, Rory strides into the doorway, sensing the tension.
“What’s going on in here?” Rory asks, leaning casually against the doorframe, though his eyes quickly zone in on us.
Lucky’s face twists with anger. “I’m sick of you two making reckless, irresponsible choices without consulting the rest of us!”
Rory’s laid-back demeanor vanishes, and he stands up straight, posture rigid. “I think you forget, dear brother, that I’min charge here. If I want to make a decision, I don’t need your permission. Now back off before I send you to babysit Alannah.”
Lucky glares at both of us but knows better than to push further. He throws his hands up in exasperation and storms off.
As the door slams, Rory turns to me, raising a brow. “So, what’s your deal? What’s got you so worked up?”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Sorry,” I mutter through gritted teeth. “I was just being a dick.”
“That’s usually true, but it doesn’t answer my question. Why were you fighting with Lucky?”
I groan. “It’s… there’s a lot happening. I talked to Darcy yesterday. We went to dinner.”
Rory cocks an eyebrow. “And?”
I hesitate before admitting, “And we may have slept together.”
I wince, waiting for the inevitable lecture.
Rory sighs as he rubs his hand over his face. “Fuck. I told you this was a bad idea, didn’t I? You’re getting in over your head. You’re gonna lose sight of things if you keep thinking with your dick, Bro.”
Something inside me snaps. I’m tired of being told that I don’t know what I’m doing, tired of people questioning my every decision. Squaring my shoulders and setting my jaw, I turn toward my desk and face away from Rory, my pulse racing.
“You know what?” I begin, my voice cold, “I don’t have to take this. I’ll prove to you that I can handle it.”
