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THIRTY

KEIRA

Daddy Issues (Remix) - The Neighborhood, Syd

T omorrow is the day everything hinges on. The last year of pandemonium all wrapped up in one little family reunion. If only I could sit this one out. Nervous energy hums steadily through my veins, no matter what I do to try to quell it. It’s not only the meeting itself, but what comes after. We have no clue what Domenico is after. This could be the first in a long line of shit kicked our way, and that’s without Patrick’s involvement.

My muscles tense the longer I sit in the middle of my yoga mat—another idea to try to relax my racing mind. Anyone who tries to tell you meditation is the perfect way to settle the mind has never had the shit I’m dealing with on their plate.

I throw up my hands and sigh in defeat. Opening my eyes, they land on a very entertained Harkin, watching me untangle my limbs to stand. My feet are half asleep from being in one position for too long, and I hobble over to where he sits on the chest press bench.

“When did you come in here? I didn’t hear you.”

“About ten minutes ago,” he answers with a soft smile.

“Shit, maybe the meditation was doing something, then.”

“Still in your head about tomorrow?” he asks, lifting a finger to push an escaped strand of hair behind my ear.

“I just want it to be over and done with. I hate not knowing the most. When we can handle whatever it is Dom’s after, I’ll feel better.”

“Me too, sweetness. But until then, I need you to come to my office so we can go over the plan for tomorrow with James.”

Tangling his fingers in my messy bun, he pulls my lips to his. He doesn’t linger, but it’s more settling than anything I’ve tried in the last hour.

“I don’t know what you two think we can plan for. The way I see it, if this doesn’t end in some old western shoot-out and we walk away without any new holes in our bodies, I’ll call it a win.” I tell them and drop into one of the chairs in front of Harkin’s desk.

James leans against the massive bookshelves, his arms crossed tightly against his chest. He doesn’t respond, but the look he shoots me tells me he has some opinions on my assessment.

“We’re doing what we can to ensure we walk out of that pub in one piece.”

“So, extra guys around the building. How many do you think can find hiding places between the three of us all having them on standby? Having those two in one place is the NYPD’s wet dream.”

“You’re not wrong there.” James finally speaks. “I’m confident the building will be surrounded, likely the rooftops too. Plus, Domenico's security will consider any quick escape. But this place is in Patrick’s pocket. It’s his home turf. I’m shocked he got your father to agree to meet him there.”

“Don’t call him that.”

“You can try to deny it all you want, Keira, but you’re a Morelli by blood. That shit isn’t going away,” James chides.

“Don’t forget my other half,” I remind him sarcastically, as if any of us could. “So, what I’m hearing is we show up and hope for the best. Great plan.” I huff and pop up from my chair, heading for the office door. There goes the last hour of trying to shut down the possibilities running through my mind. Maybe I can convince Harkin to fuck me senseless.

I leave them to their plans, escaping into the quiet of our bedroom. My body hits the mattress with a bounce, and I sink into the blankets, wishing they’d swallow me whole and deposit me into a new reality.

This is ridiculous. This sullen feeling sorry for myself and the situation is annoying even me. “Ugh!” I huff into the comforter, vocalizing my frustration.

My thigh starts to vibrate, and I reach into the pocket of my leggings to snag my phone free. The phone continues, letting me know it’s a call, not a text. Stacey’s beautiful face shows on the screen.

“Where are you?” I ask by way of greeting my best friend.

“I’m glad you asked, because I need you to come here now.” There’s worry deep in her tone.

I push off the mattress, sit up, and look around, making sure I can’t hear the guys from here. “What’s going on? Tell me where you are right now. Should I tell James?”

“God, no. Don’t tell him. Just come. I’m at home. I fucked up, Keira.” She pauses. “So, fucked,” she whispers, but it’s more to herself than me.

I stay on the line, quietly pulling my shoes on and stepping out into the hall. I can hear Harkin and James in the office, and I creep in the opposite direction toward the front door. There’s no reason for the theatrics. He’ll know when I open the front door and race for the elevator. I’ll be lucky to make it on before he’s after me. But this is my best friend, and I’ll deal with his ire when I get back or, more likely, when he catches up.

“Okay, I’m coming! I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I hang up the phone, and the elevator dings.

“Keira!” he roars down the hallway, but the elevator doors close on his arrival. Something slams against the other side; if I had to guess, it’s his fist.

My intention isn’t to make him worry, but her adamant refusal to let James come with me is concerning. Would Harkin keep it from him if I ask? He once said something that makes me think he wouldn’t.

I shoot him off a text anyway.

I’m not running into trouble. I’ll be safe. And you know how to find me. Please don’t be mad.

His reply is almost instant.

Get your ass back here right now, Keira. You know I’m right behind you, and when I get to you, sweetness, that idea of chaining you to me looks more like your reality.

I can’t help the chuckle that falls from my lips. He threatens that like it’s a bad thing. I race through the building’s front door and down the steps to the sidewalk. I won’t chance the subway, but I also need to get away from our building as soon as possible before I’m accosted on foot.

It must be my lucky day, because a woman climbs from a taxi to my left. I wait until she moves away from the door and hop in, slamming it behind me. The cabbie jumps when I shout the address a little louder than necessary in my haste to get moving.

A hand slaps against the door, but we’re pulling away from the curb, and it doesn’t give Harkin enough time to grab the handle and stop us. My eyes lock with his through the window, and instead of the fury I expect, I see so much hurt that my stomach churns with guilt and despair.

My phone dings again in my hands. The unexpected noise pulls my eyes from the window into my lap.

Why?

The one word settles like stones in my gut. I just hope whatever is going on with Stacey is worth the trouble this little escape will cause.

My rushed footsteps echo off the narrow hallway as I finally reach Stacey’s front door. Shoving my key into the lock, I swing the door open and slam it behind me, not trying to hide my arrival.

“Stacey!” I yell, not seeing her in the kitchen or living room as I walk into the open space.

She doesn’t answer, and I can’t hear anything else in the apartment. It’s quiet. Too quiet. She must be here. There’s no way she’d tell me to rush over, then pick up and leave. I slam to a halt at her bedroom door, scanning the messy room for the blonde bombshell.

My eyes land on the en suite bathroom door cracked open. Soft whimpers break past my heavy breaths, pushing me forward hesitantly.

“Stace? Babe, I’m here,” I call out again, a little softer, feeling the energy shift as I push the door open.

My beautiful best friend is a heap on the floor, her back against the giant self-standing bathtub, hands in her hair pulling at the roots. Red-rimmed eyes lift and meet mine in the doorway.

“Keira,” she calls out on a choked sob.

I move on instinct, falling by her side on the floor and drag her into me. It’s a ridiculous sight with my tiny body holding her lengthy one, but she collapses against me the second my arms wrap around her shoulders.

“What the actual hell is going on?” I ask as soon as her breathing comes under control.

“I fucked up. He’s going to kill me.”

“First off, no one’s going to kill you. They’ll have to go through me first. But you have to give me more than that, babe. What’s going on?”

Her hand disappears into her lap, and a little white stick pulls free. She rests it on her knees between us.

“Oh,” I say, shocked. The “shit” that comes next is only mouthed because I know she doesn’t need to hear it from me when her mind’s already there.

“This is why you didn’t want me to tell him.”

She nods, resting her head on her arms wrapped around her knees. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I’m too young. Life’s too crazy. And he’s—Well, he’s James. We’re not even dating,” she rambles, getting the jumbled thoughts in her mind out.

“Uhm… does he know you think the two of you aren’t dating? Because he’s like Harkin. He decided you were his the moment you started sleeping together, regardless of if you were on the same page. Also, you should expect both of them to show up at any minute. I kind of left in a hurry and didn’t exactly tell Harkin what I was doing. You know how he is.”

“I can’t deal with him right now. You have to stop him.”

The words fall from her lips, and at the same time, a pounding starts at the other end of the apartment.

“He doesn’t have a key?” I ask, genuinely surprised.

Her broken laughter lightens the mood slightly between us. “Not from me. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he has one tucked away. He’s just smart enough not to use it right now.”

Interesting. Locked door or not, it’s not likely to keep Harkin out for much longer. I can guess the only reason the door’s still on its hinges is because it’s Stacey’s place.

I jump to my feet, looking down at the devastation written all over her puffy face. “If I open that door, you know I can’t keep him away from you without bodily harm to both of us. I’m willing to try, though. For you, I’d do that.”

“You’re so stupid.” She laughs, grabbing the pregnancy test and reaching her hands up for me to help her off the ground.

I leave the one with her pee stick free and heft her into my arms for one last quick squeeze before heading out to the front door. Stace stays behind in her bedroom, safe for a few moments longer.

The guys tumble in through the front door as soon as I pull it open. Harkin’s eyes find mine, taking stock of my body from head to toe. A quick flash of relief passes before they tighten with anger. I ignore the man plotting my ways of punishment and grab James’s arm in a tight squeeze before he can push past me to look for Stacey.

“If you hurt her, I will kill you, and I’ll use those family connections to hide your body.”

His eyebrows pull down in confusion, but he quickly nods before shaking me off. Then he disappears down the hall, and I draw in a deep, calming breath before turning to my own raging bull.

“I’m sorry,” I throw out before he can reprimand me. I wait on bated breath for his ire to come. Instead, strong arms pull me tightly to his chest.

“I should paddle your ass black and blue, sweetness,” he whispers into my hair. “But I know she needed you.”

I shove against him so there’s enough space for me to look up into his softened gaze. “You do?”

“James told me.”

“Wait? How does he know? She literally just found out.”

“Sweetness, you think I wouldn’t know the moment your cycle was late?”

“Jesus Christ! I can’t with you two.” I laugh, shaking my head.