I can feel Riley’s eyes on me as I drive, as if she’s trying to gauge whether or not I’m shaken.
On the inside, my chest is hammering, and every nerve feels like it’s on fire, but she doesn’t need to know that. Right now, she just needs me to be in control.
When Ronan’s driveway finally comes into view, my shoulders loosen just enough to let me breathe properly.
After parking up, I get out first and scan the perimeter before walking around the car to open Riley’s door.
She’s barely out of the car before the front door opens, and Ronan comes storming toward us, his expression one of pure undiluted rage.
“What the fuck happened?”
Before I can even answer, he turns to Riley.
“Are you hurt?”
She shakes her head, but that does little to calm my brother.
“You better not have been fucking followed here, Kieran. Not when my pregnant wife is asleep inside.”
Riley flinches at my side, and I reach out to grip her hand, squeezing it once in silent comfort as I shoot Ronan a look.
“We need to talk.”
“No shit.”
“Can we at least go inside?” I flick my eyes to Riley, and Ronan’s jaw ticks, but he dips his chin before turning his back on me and stalking back inside the house.
I keep hold of Riley’s hand as we follow Ronan, not wanting to break the contact.
Her skin feels cold to the touch, and she looks seconds away from bursting into tears or vomiting, or both.
Ronan turns to head to the hall. “We should talk in my office?—”
The sound of footsteps has us looking up to a very pregnant Ciara.
“You should be sleeping,” Ronan scolds as Ciara approaches, looking just as angry as Ronan.
“Well, I’m not. Now, what is going on? Why does Riley look like she’s seen a ghost?”
Ronan narrows his eyes at me. “Kieran was just about to tell me.”
“Well, I want to know too.”
His eyes soften, just barely, as he turns back to her. “And I want you to go back to bed.”
“Don’t argue with me right now, Sullivan. You won’t win.”
Ronan lets out a breath before reluctantly climbing the stairs and placing a supportive arm around Ciara’s waist.
I wait patiently beside Riley until Ciara reaches the foyer, and then I’m being forced aside as the two girls embrace.
“Are you okay?” Ciara clutches Riley as tightly as her huge bump will allow.
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Riley glances anxiously over her shoulder at me before looking at Ronan. “We should talk.”
