Page 18 of Fractured Memories

“Because I had him take Nolan to check on Eden before breakfast this morning.”

I jerk my gaze away, flinching at her name. Her voice echoes through my head, despite all my attempts to drown the words out.

Let me go.

I don’t know you.

This isn’t my home.

What did you call me?

It’s enough to have me pushing out of the chair, stumbling over to the bar. I feel Rohan’s eyes on me as I grab the bottle closest to me. But he doesn’t say anything as I shakily pour myself a new glass.

I swallow down the burning liquid, leaning heavily on the bar to stay upright. It helps to quiet the memories, and I try to refill the glass. But then Rohan’s at my side, pushing me away.

“That’s enough, Kieran.” I glare at him as I’m knocked off balance. He uses it to his advantage as he shoves me back into a chair. “You are practically flammable at this point. You need food, water, sleep. Not more whiskey.”

“Fuck off,” I grumble, shifting away from him. My eyes fall closed, and I can’t be bothered to fight him.

I could go home, where no one would be monitoring my drinking. Unless they send Jude to keep an eye on me, though he might be the only one who would be understanding in this situation.

Except Eden is in our home. Being that close to her is too hard for me right now, and this drunk I’ll probably do something stupid like try to reason with her. With Eden, that usually involves blood or death threats.

“Ro?” Lochlan’s voice cuts through my foggy thoughts, and I know that I’m definitely not getting another drink now. “Have you seen…Kieran?”

I don’t lift my head as I hear his footsteps stop. He’s spotted me, and I have no doubt my state is a little unnerving. I’m as rigid as Rohan when it comes to maintaining my control, so my all-night binge is extremely out of character.

“Is he dead?” Lochlan whispers.

“Not as close as he’d like to be, I’m sure.” I don’t need to look up to know the look Rohan is giving me. “Though he’ll be feeling like he is soon enough.”

“This is fucking bad.”

I snort. They have no idea.

“Fuck! I didn’t know he was awake.”

I tilt my head to eye Lochlan, who is clutching his chest. I’m in no mood for his theatrics. “Go away.”

His dark blue gaze flicks up from me, and I’m certain he’s looking at Rohan. I don’t have a clue what silent conversation they are having, but when Lochlan looks back at me, his gaze is filled with worry. “Kier, maybe we should get you some food.”

“You can both leave me the fuck alone,” I grind out, shifting in my seat. I go to push myself to my feet, but Rohan just knocks me back down.

“Will you fucking stop?” At least his tone has a familiar bite to it. “I didn’t make you tell me what happened last night, but at this point, you have to talk to us about what’s going on.”

I drag a hand over my face, but the whiskey has loosened me up enough to answer instead of glaring at them in silence. “She called me a liar.” I whip my head around to look at Lochlan. “You said I should try to explain, so I did. I told her she was home, that she was my wife, and she called me a liar. Said she was a fucking prisoner.”

“Fucking hell,” Rohan breathes behind me.

Lochlan moves closer, his brows pinching together. The way he’s studying me is so unnerving when I’m far more comfortable with his loud, party persona. “Maybe Nolan will give us a better idea on how to handle this. He might be able to figure out what happened, how to get through to her.”

I want to shut down the idea. The mere concept of her rejection is enough to level me, and her actual words have the power to flay me alive.

But I didn’t give up the first time when it came to her. If there’s a possibility that there’s some information that will help her, I need it.

She made me work so damn hard to earn her trust the first time. Even if she was much more receptive then than she has been this time, I’ll still do it all over again. She’s never made it easy on me, and while I’ve never been any good at being patient, I’ve always found a way to make it work with Eden.

Clinging to that, I nod, pushing to sit upright in my seat. “I’ll eat something,” I rasp out, realizing how dry my throat is.