My heart is racing, and I can feel the panic setting in as I struggle to catch my breath. My eyes flick around frantically, as I try to think what the hell I’m going to do. He’s clearly stronger than me, but I won’t give in without a fight.
My instinct is to knee him in the balls and run, but I know if I do that I risk angering him, and my job here would be in jeopardy. So I’ll call that Plan B, and only bring it out if I really have to.
Finding as much nerve as possible, I hide the fear from my voice and stand tall. “No, thank you. I’m happy with my job. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get this up to your wife. She’s waiting for me.”
He stares, his face hardening as he lazily drags his gaze down my body, glaring in a way that makes me feel violated. We’re both frozen for a few seconds, just the sound of my rapid breathing filling the room. I’m starting to think he’s getting off on my fear, as he didn’t look impressed when I just stood up for myself, and so I try to pull myself to stand a little taller.
Scouring my brain, I try to come up with a solution for the situation I find myself in, but I keep coming up blank. I try notto project my fear, but it doesn’t stop the panic from building inside. Thankfully, a loud ringing from inside my pocket startles us both, and it’s enough of a distraction for Mortimer to step back.
I quickly fumble for the phone in my pocket and pull it out. I take in the unknown number on the caller ID, but answer the phone anyway, with an apologetic look towards Whitlock.
“McKenna, it’s Kellan. Pretend I’m Ethan calling you. Say hi now.”
The voice is firm and authoritative, not at all like the playful, sarcastic guy I know. Still, I do as I’m told, forcing a smile onto my face as though I’m really talking to my boyfriend.
“Hi Ethan, I’m at work. Can you just hold on for one second?” I ask.
“Tell Whitlock that you have to go, as it’s an urgent phone call you have to take. Apologise and get the hell out of there. Don’t give him a chance to argue,”Kel instructs firmly.
Lifting my gaze to Whitlock’s, I do as Kellan tells me. “I’m so sorry. This is an important phone call I have to take. A family emergency. You will have to excuse me.”
I leave no room for discussion, just the way Kellan told me, but still Whitlock doesn’t move. His sharp gaze continues to assess me in a way that makes me feel violated. But after several seconds of silence, the tension in the air almost palpable, he takes a step back, finally giving me room to breathe.
I don’t hesitate, not even for a second, as I run out of the room so fast. I can hear his dark chuckle echoing behind me, and it makes my skin crawl. He got pleasure out of every moment of that interaction, and I feel even sicker.
Once I’m back in Mel’s wing of the house, I remember I still have Kellan on the phone. I pull it back up to my ear, hating how much my hand is shaking. “I’m away from him now. I’m safe. Thank you, Kel.”
“No problem, Mac. I was watching the whole time. I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you. Finn would remove my balls if I did. Besides, I suspect Mia may want to have another baby soon, and that would severely interrupt our plans,” he adds, startling me from my spiralling thoughts.
I’ve known Kellan most of my life, but I’ve never considered us friends. I was always hanging around with Finn, and he was with Liam. Now that I know he’s their biological brother, I often wondered how the hell none of us realised.
He looks just like the brothers. I figured him and Liam spent so much time together, they were turning into each other. Now I know their bond is built on so much more.
Kellan’s been building up the relationship he has with all his siblings. Finn has spoken a few times about how it was an easy transition, adding him into the family, because he’s always been there, anyway. It makes me wonder if I’ll be welcomed just as easily. Kellan’s overly friendly conversation gives me hope.
“You’re ready for another baby? I thought Hallie was enough,” I reply.
I’ve only met the toddler for a few minutes on a couple of occasions, but to say she’s a whirlwind is like calling a tornado a bit of wind. The girl is a force to be reckoned with already, but she won me over with her gummy smile. Even when I walked away covered in bananas after she used me for target practice, I still left with a big smile on my face and love for the little terror.
“Oh, Hallie is more than enough. But I love Mia so much, I’ll give her whatever she wants,”he replies, and the adoration he has for his girlfriend is plain to see.
“Thanks for helping me, Kel. I know I signed up for this… I just never expected him to be like that,” I admit, hating the way my voice betrays how scared I truly felt.
“None of us thought he would be a threat to you. He’s known for liking his girls almost a decade younger than you, so wedidn’t see this coming…and I’m sorry for that. But I promise you, I will have eyes on you every second of the day until this is over. Hang in there, we’re nearing the end. I know we are.” He sounds so sure of himself, and it’s just what I need to calm my frazzled nerves.
“That’s good. I want to get the hell out of here and move on with Finn. I just want us to be together with no secrets or lies,” I confess, my heart aching as the longing hits me again.
“I know it’s none of my business, and Finn will probably chop off a ball for me saying this, but hang in there. He’s been in love with you since we were kids. It’s only ever been you. No matter what role he’s been playing, or the lies he’s been telling, it’s always been you. Every assignment he takes, it’s with one goal in mind. To do his duty to his Family until his debt is fulfilled, so he can leave it all behind to be with you. This is his last job, so just be patient a little while longer. I have a feeling you’ll both have everything you’ve ever wanted very soon.”
“You sound a lot wiser than I remember,” I tell him with a chuckle, and he just laughs.
“I’ve been through my fair share of shit, so I can promise you it will be worth it in the end. As the saying goes…love really does conquer all.”
“I will keep that in mind. Thanks, Kel.” I think he knows I’m thanking him for more than just reassurance.
I have no idea what he saved me from just now, but I know the situation would be a hell of a lot worse had he not been here. He’s also helped reassure me that waiting for Finn, putting up with all this shit, will be worth it when we get to be together.
No matter how hard we have to fight for it, we will get our happily ever after together.
