Page 30 of Royal Beast (Royals of the Underworld #1)

KELLAN

T he office is alive with the hum of activity, phones ringing, people rushing in and out, but I barely notice any of it.

My mind is still riding the adrenaline rush of last night’s move—the hit we delivered to Anatoly’s empire was a thing of beauty.

The press is eating it up, the Russians’ carefully curated alliances already starting to crumble.

A grin tugs at my lips as I glance over a few reports on my desk. For once, everything feels like it’s moving in the right direction.

Then the phone rings.

I let it go to voicemail at first, thinking it’s one of the endless calls about the aftermath of the club leak. But it rings again. And again. Finally, with a growl of irritation, I grab it.

“This is Brannagan,” I snap.

The voice on the other end is cheerful in a way that immediately puts me on edge. “Mr. Brannagan, this is Steve Mallory from WKMT News Seven. I’m hoping you’ll comment on some new developments regarding your family.”

My grip tightens on the receiver. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Oh, I think you’ll want to make time,” he says smoothly. “We’ve received some rather… compelling information about your father, Lachlan Sr, and the mysterious departure of your mother. We have sources that say she didn’t just disappear, that he possibly murdered her…”

The blood drains from my face, replaced by a cold fury. “What did you just say?”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll read all about it soon enough. Our sources we quite… informative,” he continues, the glee in his voice unmistakable.

I hang up without another word, slamming the phone down so hard it rattles on the desk.

The high from earlier vanishes, replaced by an ice-cold knot in my stomach. Anatoly didn’t just strike back—he went for the throat.

Within minutes, the fallout begins. Calls flood in from our legitimate businesses, concerned board members demanding explanations. Then come the questions about our father’s integrity, about the image we’ve fought so hard to maintain.

For the rest of the day, I’m in full damage-control mode, fielding calls, meeting with PR, and trying to put out a fire I never saw coming.

By the time the office empties, my hands are clenched into fists and my jaw aches from grinding my teeth.

Anatoly didn’t just attack our operations.

He’s coming for our legacy, our reputation.

There’s no way in hell I’m letting this slide.

He can go after our businesses, our men, but going after my father?

That’s a line you don’t cross. If the bastard thinks I’ll let that slide, he has another thing coming.

Once I head home, my bad mood continues and I find myself snapping at Darcy unfairly. I’m just so stressed and worried, especially now that Anatoly has proven he’ll go after family. What if he targets them next?

I see the hurt in Darcy’s eyes, but I don’t know what to say to make it better right now.

And then the call comes in.

The second I see Darcy’s expression crumble, my anger dissipates like smoke in the wind. Whatever frustration I was clinging to is drowned out by the sheer panic in her eyes. She’s clutching her phone so tightly her knuckles have gone white.

“Darcy?” I step closer, my voice steady, but she doesn’t respond right away, frozen in the moment.

Finally, she lowers the phone from her ear, her voice trembling as she whispers, “It’s my dad. He collapsed. They’ve taken him to the hospital.”

She looks up at me, her face pale and her eyes brimming with worry. It’s like the world has dropped out from under her feet, and I can see her struggling to hold herself together.

I don’t hesitate. “Go to him,” I say firmly.

“But Rose…”

“I’ll take care of her,” I interrupt, stepping closer and taking her free hand in mine. “You don’t need to worry about anything except being there for your father right now. I’ve got this.”

Her lips press together, and I can see the war raging in her head. “I don’t want to leave her,” she murmurs, her voice shaky.

I cup her cheek gently, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Darcy, listen to me. Rose is safe with me. You need to go to the hospital. If you need anything—anything at all—call me, and I’ll be there in minutes. But you need to be with him right now. He’s your father, and he needs you.”

She hesitates, her brows knitting together. “I don’t want to leave you…”

“I know,” I say, my voice soft but insistent. “But this is what you need to do. For him. For yourself. I’ll take care of everything here. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Her lower lip trembles, but she nods, the fight in her yielding to the weight of the situation. “Okay.”

I squeeze her hand. “Go get your things. I’ll make sure Rose is set for the night.”

She hesitates again, glancing toward the hallway where Rose is playing, then back at me. Finally, she nods once more and disappears down the hall, leaving me standing there with the weight of her worry pressing down on my shoulders.

I inhale deeply, already running through a mental checklist of what needs to be done. Rose will be fine, I’ll make sure of it. Right now, Darcy needs to know that someone has her back. I’m not about to let her down, not now, not ever.

Darcy leaves in a blur, grabbing her bag and coat with shaking hands and giving Rose only a brief hug and a rushed explanation. “I have to go check on Grandpa, sweetheart. I’ll be back soon, okay?”

Rose, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her stuffed animals, looks up with wide, confused eyes. “Is Grandpa okay?”

Darcy hesitates, her face tight with worry, and it’s me who steps in. “Your mom’s going to make sure he’s alright, Rosie Posie,” I say gently, crouching down to her level.

Rose’s gaze shifts to me, uncertain but trusting. “Really?”

I nod firmly. “Really. Your mommy is the best person to take care of him, and she’ll call us if there’s anything we need to know.”

Darcy presses a quick kiss to the top of Rose’s head. “I’ll call you later,” she murmurs, and with that, she’s out the door.

Rose turns back to me, clutching her favorite stuffed rabbit. “Is Grandpa sick?”

I sit down on the rug beside her. “He’s not feeling well, but your mommy’s going to help him feel better.”

She frowns, mulling that over before tilting her head at me. “Kellan?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

She hesitates, then blurts out, “Are you and Mommy gonna get married so you can be my daddy?”

The question hits me hard, like a sledgehammer to the chest. My breath catches in my throat, and as Rose’s big, hopeful eyes lock on mine, I have to take a moment, trying to figure out what to say to her.

Finally, I clear my throat, making my voice soft. “Your mommy and I are already married, Rose. But you know what? You don’t have to call me Daddy for me to care about you like one. I already care about you like you’re my own.”

Her little face lights up, and she gives me a shy smile. “You do?”

“Of course I do,” I say, ruffling her hair gently. “And I’m not about to go anywhere. You’re stuck with me, kiddo.”

She giggles, leaning into me, and I feel my heart ache in the best way.

“Now,” I say, shifting the conversation, “Let’s get your dinner. Mommy was making our plates when she had to go. I bet it will help her if we eat it all up while she’s gone and she can see we were good for her. Then we can get some ice cream. I think you deserve a special treat tonight.”

She nods enthusiastically, the worry in her eyes replaced with excitement. As I stand up and head toward the kitchen, my thoughts are already racing ahead, filled with plans and promises.

I’ve made up my mind. When things settle, I’ll talk to Darcy again. Rose deserves security, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she knows she has it. But for now, I get Rose situated at the table with her food and go to make some calls.

I’ve already called the hospital once to check on Max’s condition, but this time, my questions are more pointed. It doesn’t take long to get the answers I’m looking for. The cost of his cancer treatments is staggering, and I can only imagine the weight Darcy’s been carrying trying to manage it.

Without hesitation, I give the billing department my details and settle the outstanding balance, plus the cost of tonight’s visit. “Make sure everything’s covered,” I tell the woman on the other end of the line, my tone leaving no room for argument.

When the call ends, I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. It’s a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but if it means easing even a fraction of Darcy’s burden, it’s worth it.

By the time I step back into the living room, Rose is halfway through her plate. She grins up at me, her mouth full of carrots. “Are we still gonna get ice cream, Kellan?”

“Of course, Rosie Posie,” I say, managing a smile despite the tightness in my chest. “We’ll order some from your favorite place and they’ll bring it right here. Do you want to watch a movie while we eat the ice cream?”

After dinner, I help Rose wash her hands and clean the food residue from her cheeks. She chatters the whole time, telling me about a book they read at the library and how she wants to learn to ride a bike.

Once she’s cleaned up, I order some ice cream for delivery from a place around the corner and we settle on the couch to watch one of her favorite movies, Moana .

By the time the ice cream arrives, we’re already halfway through, but Rose doesn’t mind.

She eats her dessert with enthusiasm, giggling at the stuff on the screen and asking me a million questions about the movie that I don’t know, delighting in the made-up answers I give her.

It’s nice. It’s easy. A rare pocket of calm in the stormy times we seem to be living through.

By the time the credits roll, Rose is curled up against me, her little snores soft and steady. I carry her to her room, tucking her in with her stuffed rabbit. She stirs as I brush her hair from her face but doesn’t wake.

I linger for a moment, just watching her. She’s so small, so unaware of the chaos that surrounds our world. I want to keep it that way.

When I return to the living room, my phone buzzes on the coffee table. Seeing Darcy’s name on the screen, I pick up immediately. “Darcy?”

Her voice is shaky, and I can tell she’s been crying. “Kellan… it’s bad. He’s very sick. The doctors don’t think my dad has much time left.”

My stomach twists. I grip the phone tighter, searching for the right words, but there’s nothing that can make this easier for her. “Darcy, I’m so sorry. What can I do?”

“I don’t know,” she says, her voice breaking. “I just needed to tell you.”

“You’re not alone in this,” I tell her firmly. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”

There’s a beat of silence, and when she finally speaks again, her words are quieter. “Thanks, Kellan.”

The call ends, but the weight of her words lingers. Max doesn’t have much time left. I don’t know what I can say or do to help Darcy right now, but I’m going to make sure she knows she’s not alone. I’m here for her, whatever she needs from me.