Page 62

M olly decided to take the role of being our bartender while Joel locked up after last-call.

That was a few hours ago.

My poor liver.

After having about ten too many tequila shots in Joel’s office, it is now four thirty in the morning and I am drunk. Molly gets pretty insistent when she wants to and I don’t know how she is able to still function but she has nearly managed to drink us all under the table.

Kieran seems to be the only one of us who is still seemingly in his right mind. Joel passed out on the leather sofa in the corner about twenty minutes ago, and by the looks of it, Fintan is as buzzed as I am.

“Babe, we should get going,” I say in a slur as I reach out and grab Molly’s arm, stopping her before she pours another round of shots. “Ah, really?” she pouts, placing the bottle down on the bar counter.

“M, it’s nearly five o’clock. We all need to get some sleep,” I say, gesturing to my passed-out cousin. He must have been working all day again because he always outlasts me when we drink together.

She huffs out a laugh and nods when she looks back at me, holding her hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. I can let you guys out,” she chimes.

I smile, thanking her for the night before walking over to the boys, nearly tripping over my own feet as I move. Fuck.

“We should get going. Molly’s going to let us out,” I stumble over my words. Fintan nods in agreement, the alcohol making him more agreeable than usual.

“We can go to the apartment,” Kieran says, finishing off his drink before setting the empty glass down on the bar. Molly gives Joel a pat-down in search of his set of keys.

She flashes a triumphant smile as she holds them up, the metal glinting in the lights overhead. “Off we go!” she sings as she leads us toward the door to the staircase.

Molly slings an arm around my shoulder as we stumble out of Joel’s office, Kieran and Fintan following closely behind; chuckling at the way we cling to the railing as we try to walk down the stairs without falling.

“So you’re really doing it?” Molly asks as we walk side by side. “What?” my brows knit together as I turn to look at her. She removes her arm from around my shoulder and hooks our elbows together.

“You’re making content on Hush,” she says, her smile dropping slightly. “It’s part of the plan, M. I will be safe, I promise,” I offer, tucking my hair behind my ear before she stops in her tracks, causing my movement to cease as well.

“Have you thought this through, Lexi?” her eyes flash with concern.

“What do you mean? We’ve discussed the plan.”

“Yeah, but what happens when Hush doesn’t respond the way you hoped? Are you just going to keep making these videos? I just want you to think about all the outcomes this plan can have,” Molly whispers before unhooking her arm from mine as we near the exit.

The club is eerily quiet now, the pulsing music long gone, leaving only the echo of our drunken chatter to fill the void.

As we step outside, the cool early morning air hits me like a slap in the face, instantly sobering me up a bit.

We decide to walk back to Fintan and Kieran’s apartment instead of waiting around for an Uber at this hour. “Text me when you get there and please think about what I said,” Molly murmurs as she pulls me in for a hug.

Nodding in response to her request, I step out of her arms and wave her goodbye before the three of us set off walking.

The streets are empty, save for a few stray cats darting between shadows and a lone car passing us. Fintan and Kieran keep up a steady stream of chatter all the way to their building.

Molly’s words rattle around in my head as we head toward the apartment and that, along with the fresh air, has me sobering up faster than I would have liked.

So much for relaxing and celebrating for one day after posting that damned video.

As we reach their building, Fintan fumbles with his keys before managing to unlock the door to the studio.

We make it upstairs, shedding our shoes and jackets haphazardly by the entrance.

“You okay, baby?” I ask as Alex stares out the large doors that lead to the balcony. “You haven’t said a word since we left the club.”

Fintan pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lights one as soon as he plops down on the sofa.

Alex slowly turns to face me, a distant look in her eyes. “I’m fine,” she responds, though her voice lacks its usual conviction.

She walks over to the balcony doors and pushes them open, letting in a rush of cool early morning air. Leaning against the railing, she stares out at the city below, her thoughts seemingly a world away.

Fintan takes a drag from his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of smoke that hangs in the air like a ghostly veil. He eyes me for a moment before the silent understanding passes between us and we join her outside.

Fintan places a hand on her shoulder and she takes a deep breath before turning to face us, her expression troubled.

“I just can’t shake off what Molly said to me back there,” she confesses, her voice barely above a whisper.

“What if this plan goes wrong? What if Hush retaliates in a way we didn’t anticipate?

What if we posted that video for nothing? ”

I wrap my arms around her in a comforting embrace. “We’ll figure it out together, little Dove,” I say, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Fintan exhales another cloud of smoke, watching us with a furrowed brow.

“These are all valid concerns, but we need to focus on the end goal. The plan might change or deviate but as long as our goal remains the same, we’ll be fine,” he chimes in, his usual smirk replaced with a rare display of seriousness.

Alex leans into the hug, finding solace in our presence. “Thank you,” she says, her voice stronger now. “I agree. We need to be more proactive with this plan. Molly is right, we can’t just post and hope for the best. We need to create chaos on their platform.”

Fintan inhales the last bit of his cigarette before snuffing it out in the ashtray, seeming deep in thought as he mulls over her statement.

“I agree. The video was our in , but we need more. We need our content to flood the platform. Drown the others. We need all eyes on us so they are forced to reach out, and when they do, we have our shot.”

They remain silent but offer a nod to my suggestion and as the first light of dawn kisses the horizon, I realize that no matter what challenges lie ahead, we’ll face them together.

“Let’s get some sleep,” Fintan says in a yawn as he turns and heads inside. Alex offers me a small smile before we follow Fintan to his bedroom.

“We’ll find a way to take them down, little Dove,” I say as we enter his room. Fintan nods, holding out a t-shirt for Alex to sleep in.

As Alex changes, I watch her closely and I notice the determined look that settles over her features. She may have moments of doubt, but when it comes down to it, she is a force to be reckoned with.

Fintan grabs a spare blanket from the closet and tosses it onto the bed, strips down to his boxers then flops down unceremoniously. “Join me,” he mumbles, sounding like he’s already halfway to dreamland.

I settle in next to Alex after stepping out of my clothes, wrapping my arms around her as we both lie down next to Fintan. Alex is sandwiched between us and the way the three of us mold together has my heart warming in ways that will take me some time to get used to.

As sleep begins to claim me, I murmur softly, “We’ll make it through all of this.”

I stir awake in my bed, stretching as a groan escapes my throat. Alex’s bare leg is draped over mine and I grow hard instantly at the sight of her like this.

Wearing only my t-shirt and her red thong, my dick seems to wake before I am able to form a clear thought. Kieran has his arm around her waist, holding her like he’s afraid to let go, even as he sleeps.

They look peaceful like this. Alex lets out soft, soothing breaths as I comb my fingers through her hair and tuck the strands behind her ear. She doesn’t wake from the touch but instead, nuzzles her cheek into my palm, letting out a soft moan.

Fuck, I don’t want to wake them but I am so goddamn horny.

Deciding not to disrupt their well-deserved sleep, I check the time on my phone. It is past noon already so I get up and decide to get started on breakfast.

Sliding my legs out from under hers without waking her is a challenge and it would be even if I didn’t have a raging hard-on.

Several minutes pass, but I finally make it out to the kitchen and start the coffee maker. While I wait for the machine, I drag my feet over to the fridge, hoping that the eggs aren’t spoiled since we haven’t been here for a couple of days.

As luck would have it, they’re fine, and so is the loaf of bread. After popping two slices into the toaster, I get started on the eggs.

I realize that I have no idea how Alex likes her eggs so I opt for scrambled. It’s the safest option. Kieran likes his sunny-side up and slightly runny, whereas I like my yolk cooked until firm. I am not taking any chances with Alex’s preference.

The coffee maker beeps as I take out the last two slices of toast. With breakfast prepared, I place all three plates on the island and pour the freshly brewed coffee.

A chuckle leaves my lips as I hear Alex and Kieran groan in the bedroom. It’s adorable. Alex is like a bloodhound when it comes to the aroma of coffee.

Our sexy little caffeine addict.

As I place our mugs near the food, they come stalking into the kitchen. Sleepy smiles on their faces as they seat themselves.

“Ah, you are amazing, Fin. A girl could get used to this,” Alex chimes as she lets out a content sigh before picking up her mug with a smile.

She takes a sip and the look she gives me over the edge of her mug as my cock straining in my boxers again.

“Thanks for breakfast, Mo mhuirnín,” Kieran smiles as he pops a slice of buttered toast into his mouth. Alex lifts a brow, “ Mo Mo-what now ?”

Kieran and I burst out laughing at Alex’s butchering of the nickname.

“It’s Irish Gaelic. It translates to ‘my darling’,” he explains, his expression filled with warmth as he looks at me. My heart feels as though it is doing somersaults in my chest and I feel my face heat at his words.

“That is so sweet,” Alex sings, placing her chin in her hands as she rests her elbows on the counter. Her eyes flick between me and Kieran and I can practically see the affection in them like a cartoon character with pulsing pink hearts glowing in their eyes.

“Okay, enough of the mushy feelings and shit,” I laugh and Alex shrugs as she pops a forkful of eggs into her mouth. She makes everything look so goddamn sexy, even the way she eats has a sensuality to it.

Then, as if reading my thoughts, she swallows, but not before training her eyes on mine and letting a moan vibrate from her as she does.

“Damn,” Kieran smirks beside her as he watches her every move, clearly also feeling the heat wave she’s emitting. She giggles, taking the last sip of her coffee before standing from her seat with a wicked grin.

My t-shirt barely covers her ass and as she walks toward the sofa. Her hips sway seductively and I can see a sliver of her bright red underwear peeking from underneath.