Page 27 of The Lies That Shatter
I can’t fuck Mac and then let Mel kiss me. It just wouldn’t feel right.
I know McKenna says she’s supportive of this assignment, but I can’t do that to her. It’s not right. I can’t claim her as mine, until I know for sure that I’ll never have to leave her.
As soon as I take Mac for the first time, I won’t ever be able to stop, and I sure as fuck won’t want to. So, we agreed to keep things simple until this is all over.
Which is exactly why I’m driving like a madman to get to the safe house to meet with my family. We need to come up with a plan to bring this shit to an end—and fast. Mortimer was far tooclose to my girl for my liking, and as much as I need this to be over, I have to make sure she’s fucking safe.
Mortimer’s an unpredictable psycho, and I meant what I said to McKenna in the car last night. If he even thinks about harming one hair on her head, I will destroy him. In fact, we’re going to exterminate him anyway—like the cockroach he is—so we may as well just get on with it.
“Hey, stud. How's the cougar?” Kian sings as soon as I walk through the door, before he starts to hum the tune toYou Sexy Thingfrom the movieFull Monty. I don’t know why the hell he thinks what I do is anything like being a male stripper, but he used theMagic Mikesongs last time we met, so at least he’s branching out.
I push past him, ignoring that cocky grin he always wears, as I walk into the living room of the safe house. It’s an old-fashioned farmhouse, out in the middle of nowhere. It’s simply furnished, but clear that nobody lives here. It’s the place we keep for if any of us are in danger and need to get away. It’s literally in the middle of acres of open farmland, and there’s only one lane that leads up to the drive, so we can see anyone approaching from miles away.
Kellan has security rigged up all around the perimeter, so we’re alerted if anyone approaches on foot. If someone were to casually stumble across the house, it looks like a small, cosy little farmhouse that anyone could live in—as long as you don’t godown into the basement that’s been converted into a dungeon with a torture chamber for my sister-in-law, Bree.
Usually she uses the main warehouse for all her kidnap and torturing needs, but it’s good to have a backup location in case that’s compromised. We have in the region of ten safe houses all over the country, but not everyone knows about them all.
In fact, I think only Kellan and Kian know the locations of them all, as they both sort out the security. We each have one that we’re told to retreat to in an emergency, as it wouldn’t be safe if we all gathered in the same one.
As soon as I enter the room, I see Red sitting on the couch in front of the log burning fire. She’s got a bundle of blankets wrapped up in her arms, and she’s singing softly whilst placing little kisses onto her son, Nate’s, head. She casts her eyes up to meet mine and gives me a bright smile before turning her attention back to the baby.
My youngest brother, Liam, is sitting by her side, just watching his wife and son like they’re the most important people in the world. He’s staring at them like they’re one of the seven Wonders of the World, and he’s never seen anything quite as amazing. My heart swells for him, and a part of me hopes to one day have what he has. The idea of seeing McKenna swollen with my baby does stupid things to my insides. She would truly be mine then.
Kellan is sitting in one of the armchairs off to the side, his laptop resting on his knees as he clicks away at the keyboard—always attached to some form of technology. I’m a little surprised to see that his little monster, Hallie, isn’t running around causing carnage like she normally is.
Kel doesn’t even lift his eyes from the screen when he calls a quick hello to acknowledge my arrival. I greet everyone as I look around the room, my eyes seeking out the people I’m desperate to have a serious conversation with.
As Kian comes back into the living room, after locking the main door behind me, we both latch eyes on the only remaining comfy chair. We’re an equal distance away from it, and neither of us hesitates. We break into a run, throwing ourselves at the chair at the same time.
Thankfully, I’m a little quicker than Kian and manage to get my ass in the seat just in time for his body to land on top of mine. I quickly push his bulk off mine, and he lands on the floor with a grunt.
“Fucker!” Kian yells as he rubs his hand over his elbow, which took the brunt of the fall.
“Language in front of the baby,” Red snaps, as I chuckle, whilst wiggling my ass to get comfy.
Kian mumbles incoherently under his breath as he shuffles his bum until he’s sitting on the floor with his back against the wall. The scowl on his face as he tries to get comfortable makes me laugh even more.
“Beaten by a pretty boy. You should be ashamed,” Kellan says to Kian, not even trying to hold back the laughter. Those two love winding each other up, and I should’ve known Kel wouldn’t miss out on this opportunity.
Before Kian has the chance to reply, with something that will no doubt be unsuitable for my baby nephew’s ears, I cut him off, getting the meeting back on track. “Where is everyone?”
The question isn’t aimed at anyone in particular, so Liam starts to answer. But before he can, I hear shuffling coming from the kitchen. My eyes narrow and I prepare myself to confront Dad and Evan.
As the door swings open, I’m more than a little surprised to see Shane walk through, carrying a couple of steaming mugs. He gives me a smile as he hands one to Bree and the other to Liam. “Hey, Finn. Wanna coffee?”
Nodding with thanks, I remind him that I like milk and one sugar in mine as he makes his way back into the kitchen. It’s not long before he returns with drinks for everyone. As we sip from our steaming cups, we wait for someone to begin.
Liam, remembering my earlier question, speaks first. “This is everyone. Were you expecting someone else, Finn?”
“Dad said he’d be here,” I snap, and understandably, all eyes narrow on me, picking up on the anger behind my tone.
Liam lets out a sigh. “What’s he done now?”
“It’s not just him this time. Now that fucking Mini-Me replica is doing it too,” I say through gritted teeth, as all the rage I’ve been trying to suppress bubbles to the surface.
“Who?” Kellan asks as he closes the lid on his laptop, giving me his full attention now it’s obvious something has got me wound up.
“Evan,” I grind out, before adding, “Are either of them coming?”
