RYDER (Slater Brothers 4) (5 page)

I nodded solemnly. “It was a bad one. He was so insensitive about me feelin’s with Bronagh’s baby. He called me jealous and told me it was me own fault I wasn’t pregnant because we never have sex.”

I left out the crude things Ryder said because Ash didn’t need to know how he spoke to me.

“What a fucking prick,” my friend grumbled, surprising the hell out of me.

I widened my eyes at him and he shrugged his shoulders unapologetically. “I’m not sorry,” he stated. “Your fiancé becomes a bigger dick every time you tell me about him. Does he not realise how good he has it with you?”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “I don’t think I’m anythin’ to fuss over, Ash.”

“You bloody well are,” he countered. “Don’t allow him to make you feel less than perfect, you’re all of that and more. Own it.”

I was mortified.

“Stop, Ash,” I whispered to avoid hearing the tremor in my voice. “You always embarrass me when you talk about me like that.”

He chuckled. “I know, but I’m hoping the more I go on about how fabulous you are, the sooner you’ll realise it’s the truth.”

I waved him off. “Your sugar sweet words will get you nowhere with me, cowboy.”

Ash winked. “I know, because you’re loyal to the core. You’re a good woman, and fuck Ryder if he can’t see that.”

He had a very odd way with words.

I smiled, appreciatively. “Thanks, Ash.”

“You got it, Angel,” he replied.

I lost my smile and growled. “If you ‘Angel’ me one more time—”

“I’m going to bring up a patient from Peter’s ward, catch you in a few.” He laughed and jumped off the counter before I could catch him and whack him upside the head.

“I’ll be here when you get back.” I wickedly grinned and wiggled my slapping hand at him. “Waitin’.”

He only smirked at me, the challenge I set clearly amusing him. I shook my head, smiling when he went out of view. He was great and I knew if Ryder wasn’t in my life I would be fawning over him and doing almost anything to be with him because not only was he gorgeous, he was so sweet and caring, but having him as just my friend meant so much to me.

I knew he would help me get through my break up with Ryder when I eventually ended things. I knew he would be there for me. That was just the kind of person he was. He was a sweetheart.

Thinking of how sweet Ash was brought on thoughts of how different he was compared to Ryder. My fiancé wasn’t horrible… he was just different now. For the first several years, he was so sweet and caring and put me at the centre of his world. Everything between us was so incredible. Things had certainly changed between us over the last year and a half.

Every time I saw him I felt just like the first night he entered my life, and that was both comforting and soul shattering because I had to break up with him knowing that he breathed life into me from the darkness.

Five years ago..

“I’m not feelin’ Darkness tonight, Ado,” I sighed into the speaker of my phone as I twisted my waist length brown hair around my fingers. “Bee had a bad day at school today, I think she got into an argument with someone. She won’t tell me what happened, but she is
really
out of sorts, she hasn’t picked up her Kindle at all today and that isn’t like her.”

Aideen, my life-long best friend, groaned. “She is a big girl, Bran. If she won’t tell you what’s up then maybe she just wants to deal with it herself
without
her big sister pokin’ her nose in.”

That hurt my feelings.

“I don’t poke me nose into her business... I just worry.”

“Aye, mama bear, I know,” my friend agreed, “but she isn’t a kid anymore. She’s a teenager and they keep a
lot
of shit bottled up.”

I knew that and I knew Bronagh was almost eighteen and wasn’t considered a child anymore, but I couldn’t help but stress over her. It had been my job to worry about her for the last nine years, and I couldn’t just switch the instinct off. She was very much my little sister and baby wrapped into one.

I sat on my bed and frowned, deeply. “I suck at this parentin’ thing.”

Aideen chortled. “Don’t even go there, you’re a better parent to Bee than most people are to their biological children.”

I appreciated her saying so.

“I try very hard with her,” I sighed, “but the older she gets, the harder it gets. I’m worried sick that she will get cabin fever and go insane because she is always indoors. She hardly ever socialises, her teachers at school tell me durin’ parent teacher meetin’s that they’ve never met a girl so closed off.”

“Listen to me,” Aideen began. “There is
nothin’
wrong with that girl, she is perfectly fine, she just deals with things—and others—differently.”

I glanced up at the picture of my parents on my bedroom wall and looked away when tears threatened to fill my eyes. “I don’t know of she’ll ever fully accept that they’re gone, Aideen,” I swallowed. “She doesn’t even like seein’ pictures of them, never mind talkin’ about them. I’m very concerned for ‘er mental health.”

Aideen grumbled to herself then said, “She’ll accept it eventually, it just takes longer for some people. Trust me, her hormones are goin’ to kick in eventually and she will have boy fever, you mark me words. These conversations will be replaced by typical big sister complaints like, ‘I have to re-stock the condoms in the bathroom because Bee is shaggin’ too much.”

“Aideen!” I shouted with unexpected laughter.

She cackled through the receiver of the phone, snorting every now and then.

I shook my head. “You can seriously tell you were raised with all lads, Ado. You do
not
speak like a lady.”

“Darlin’,” she chuckled. “I’m perfectly okay with not being a lady, a lady wouldn’t land herself a man like Skull, would she?”

I still couldn’t believe she dated someone that went by the name Skull. Even more, I couldn’t believe that before she dated him,
I
had a very brief fling with him. It was the tattoos that drew me to him; he had a mean as fuck tattoo on the side of his head that travelled down his neck and ended at his hip bone. If the tattoos and his incredible good looks didn’t sway me, his manners would have. Skull might look like a menacing man, but he was most definitely a sweetheart.

“His nickname still gives me the creeps,” I shivered. “Can’t you just call him Trevor when we speak about him?”

Aideen cackled. “Nah, I like how freaked out you get when I say it.”

“Bitch,” I grumbled.

She wasn’t bother by my insult.

“Can you let your sister sulk on her own for a few hours and come dancin’ with me? We haven’t had a night out in
forever
.”

Guilt settled in my chest. “Aideen—”

“Please, Branna,” she cut me off. “
Please
.”

I groaned. “You’re makin’ turnin’ you down very hard.”

“That’s what she said.”

I laughed. “Okay, loser, I’ll come out.”

Aideen whooped. “Brilliant. Wear somethin’ sexy, I want you to
at least
kiss some hot piece of man flesh tonight.”

I grimaced. “You’re vile, Aideen Collins.”

“I know,” she laughed. “Do you want to meet at Darkness or at me apartment?”

“Is Skull pickin’ you up?” I quizzed.

“No, he is on shift at the club tonight. He is on at ten, but we won’t be goin’ ‘til half eleven or so.”

I gnawed on my inner cheek then said, “I’ll meet you at the club. It’s already half nine and I need to shower and get ready. I’ll have more time if I just meet you there.”

“‘Kay, bitch.” Aideen cheered. “I can already taste the Vodka.”

I snorted. “See you later.”

“Byeeee.”

I lowered my phone from my ear when the beep signalling Aideen hung up sounded. I plugged my charger into the base of my phone then headed out of my room and went down the hallway to my sister’s bedroom. I knocked on the closed door and waited.

“Come in, Branna,” Bronagh called out.

I opened the door, and the sight I was greeted with caused me to smile. My sister was tucked up in bed with her covers pulled up to her chin. I glanced at her television and chuckled when I saw she was watching
Supernatural
. It was quite possibly her favourite television show. She watched it religiously.

“Are you okay?” I asked Bronagh when I climbed up onto her bed and settled in next to her.

She nodded. “I’m good, school was just a little... hectic today.”

I wanted to press her for information, but I knew it would just lead to an argument. Aideen was right; she would talk to me about whatever was bothering her when she was ready to.

“Okay, well, if you want to talk to me. I’m here.”

Bronagh’s lips twitched as she watched her program with focused eyes. “Thanks.”

I played with her hair for a minute or two then said, “So Aideen asked me to go out with her for a few drinks tonight, do you mind?”

Bronagh shook her head. “I’m goin’ to sleep after this, so nope.”

I knew she wouldn’t mind, but it relaxed me hearing her saying it.

I loosened up. “Okay, great. I’ve already locked the house up before I came up here, but before I leave I’ll check once more and set the alarm.”

Bronagh lifted her arms out of the covers and gave me two thumbs up. I leaned over and kissed her forehead and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow after school. I’ve to head to class in the mornin’ then I’ve to go to the hospital in the afternoon.”

My sister nodded. “Can you leave some money out for me? I’m going to the deli on my lunch hour tomorrow.”

I kissed her head and stood up. “Okay, I’ll put it on the kitchen counter for you.”

Bronagh looked at me then and grinned. “Be good.”

I raised my eyebrow. “I’m always good.”

“You’re right,” my sister smirked. “Maybe you should be very
bad
then.”

“Bronagh!” I gasped making her laugh.

I folded my arms across my chest. “I’m still not used to you makin’ jokes like that.”

“Get used to it then,” Bronagh snorted. “I’m sure when I see you tomorrow I’ll take the piss out of you again.”

“You’re a bitch,” I grumbled.

“And proud.” My sister smirked.

I playfully rolled my eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I walked out of her bedroom and closed her door just as she shouted, “Have fuuuuunnn!”

I grunted to myself as I headed in the direction of the bathroom. After I showered, dried and styled my hair I glanced at the clock on my bedroom wall and groaned. It was twenty to eleven, and I hadn’t even decided on what to wear yet. I groaned and slumped back onto my bed, and stared up at the ceiling.

“This night is goin’ to be a
disaster
.”

“Where are you?” I impatiently asked Aideen. “I just pulled up outside in a taxi and I don’t wanna wait around on me own.”

“I just got here, too. I’m over with Skull at the entrance to the club.”

I relaxed. “Okay, see you in a sec.”

I paid the taxi driver then got out of the car and brisk walked past the lengthy queue of people and made my way to the top of the queue. Aideen’s face lit up when she saw me. She let go of Skull’s arm and hugged me when I reached her.

“You look gorgeous!” She gushed.

I looked down at my black tube dress that stuck to me like a second skin and pushed my boobs up, then switched my gaze to Aideen.

“Me?” I quizzed and brushed the compliment off. “Have you
seen
your boobs in that dress?”

“But of course,” my friend wickedly grinned. “They’re me best asset.”

I raised my eyebrow. “That’d be your brain.”

Aideen snorted at my correction and took hold of my hand as we moved over to Skull who greeted us with a bright smile. “Well if it isn’t me fantasy threesome partners,” he teased.

I playfully rolled my eyes while Aideen cracked up with laughter, which caused Skull to smile. He flicked his gaze to me and winked.

“How is Branna this evenin’?” he asked.

I teasingly fanned my face. “I’m great, how is Skull keepin’?”

“Grand,” he said and jabbed his thumb at Aideen. “I’ve this one on me arm, I couldn’t be better.”

Aideen snorted. “You’re already gettin’ laid later, there’s no need to sweet talk me.”

“Maybe I
like
sweet talkin’ you.” He grinned.

I pretended to heave. “You’re both too cute, stop or I’ll be sick.”

They laughed and Skull moved us inside the club’s entrance and instructed us to go down the stairs. He promised to meet up with us later after the door was clear of punters. I thanked him then took Aideen’s hand as she led us down the flight of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs a bouncer who guarded the main entrance to the club greeted us.

“Heya John,” I said with a wave.

His face brightened up. “Branna, how are you, babe? Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“I’m good, this one dragged me out tonight.”

“I expect nothin’ less from Miss. Collins,” John teased.

I smiled as he stamped
Free
on my left wrist, and
Darkness
on my right in thick black ink.

“Thank you,” I smiled warmly as he did the same for Aideen.

“You got it, darlin’.” John winked. “Have a good night.”