Page 15 of Haunted Nights & Savage Sins
“Yeah, I guess that’s the perks of not having a night job.” He yawns and stretches his arms over his head.
“You were the one who chose to go into the brothel business,” I remark.
“Brothel. Brother, that’s an insult. I provide an exclusive and posh experience for the discerning customer. I’ve never had a complaint.” He smirks at me.
“Of course you don’t have any complaints. You’re giving those spoiled bastards a place to get their dicks sucked. Who is going to complain about that.”
Killian laughs and leans back in his chair, his eyes focusing on the fire.
“I’m assuming you didn’t come here just to sit and stare.” I voice what I’m thinking, but I don’t bother to look at him.
“No, I came to check on you. I heard the marriage went through without a hitch.” He tilts his head, “Or I guess it did go through with a hitch. You are hitched, aren’t you.”
I lift my left hand to show the plain black band there. My father demanded that I wear it. I still have the band meant for Brenna in my desk. I know I should give it to her, but I haven’t felt the need to yet. She signed the contract. She said the words. She already knows we are married.
“Well, congratulations, Big Mac. I have to admit I never thought you’d be the first one of us to get married.” He shakes his head.
“No? Which one did you have your money on?”
“Honestly, me.” He laughs a little more.
“In order for you to get married, you’d have to spend more than one night with a woman.”
“Why, you didn’t spend any nights with Brenna and you’re still locked down.”
He’s not wrong about that. I guess in our lives stranger things have happened.
“Everything is fine. You don’t need to come and check on me.” I’m getting a little uneasy with him being here. My eyes keep darting from corner to corner as I watch the shadows change shape.
“I did. It’s been too long since I’ve come to just check on you. I want to change that. We used to be close. I want that back again. I’ve missed you, Cormac.”
Sentiment. I hate it.
“We were kids. Of course we were close. We’re both adults now. Things have changed.”
“Not much. We’re all still under our father’s thumb. Did you hear Father is trying to persuade the parole board to let Declan out early. He could be home as early as Christmas.”
I guess that should surprise me. It doesn’t.
“That’s good for him.”
“You’d think that, but it’s not because our father wants him to be a free man. There are a few small-timers our father thinks need the touch of a real enforcer. No one puts the fear of God in someone like Declan.”
“That’s true. At least he’s only being put back to work. That could be a welcomed change for him.”
Killian waits a beat before he starts talking again. “And this situation you’ve found yourself in isn’t a welcomed change?”
Now I have no choice but to look at him. I stare dead in his eyes. He can’t be serious.
“A welcomed change? I have a woman I don’t know, who doesn’t want to be here, walking around my house. No, this isn’t a welcomed change. I don’t want her in my space. I didn’t ask for this.” I hiss at Killian.
“Cormac, she didn’t ask for this either. Neither of you were begging to be married off, but it’s what happened. Don’t you think you should try to make the best of this? I mean, what do you think of her? Is she nice? Sexy? A good woman?”
I scoff and slam back in my chair.
“How the fuck am I supposed to know. We don’t talk.”
“What the hell do you mean you don’t talk. She’s living with you. I know this place is big, but it’s not that big. Surely, you two see each other at some point.”
