AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The laughter that rises up my throat and spills over the kitchen island surprises both of us. Especially me. I can’t remember the last time I laughed.
“Why do I feel like you’ve really geared yourself up to come in here?”
With a pout, Aisling drops her book bag on the couch and steps out from behind it. “I have. I saw what you did to Ronan. I also saw what you did to the apartment. I’m the one who cleaned it up,” she adds, rolling her eyes.
As I take my time wiping my sticky hands on a cloth, I drink her in out of the corner of my eye. I’ve met her twice now, both briefly, but I haven’t ever properly looked at her. She’s striking. Long, dark hair, heart-shaped face, and gemstone eyes the color of Donnacha’s. They make him look otherworldly, but they make her look like a model.
“I’m sorry about the mess.” When she glances at the flour-dusted counter, I add, “Not this. I mean the other night. I was…angry.” I settle on a weak adjective because nothing near suitable comes to mind.
She pauses, pursing her lips. Then her face splits into a gorgeous smile that makes me warm to her as much as I resent her. “Yeah, I think I’d react the same if I was ever taken hostage. Well, maybe. Your balls are twenty times bigger than mine.”
I find myself smiling back. She braves the journey across the room and slides onto one of the stools opposite me.
“Are you the housekeeper? Assistant?”
She grimaces. “Try sister. I’m studying at NYU, and in return for staying in the sick-ass apartment downstairs, I help out around the building. Let the housekeeper in, water the plants. All that jazz.”
I look at her in a new light. Donnacha Quinn’s sister. But she’s so…human. “Sounds like a sweet deal.”
“It was until my darling brother decided to get married and make me check in on his unwilling bride twice a day.” Her abrupt honesty makes me splutter. She winks. “Call a spade a spade, right?” Then she nods to the gloop in front of me. “What are you making?”
“Muffins. Well, maybe.” I jab my finger toward the woman on the television screen. Her perfect blond curls bounce as she frantically whisks something around a bowl. Hopefully that’s not a step I’ve skipped. “I’m trying to keep up with a woman who bakes like she’s snorted three lines of coke ten minutes ago.”
Aisling laughs, eyes twinkling. But when she catches sight of the plastic knife on the counter, her brows knit together. “Fuck,” she mutters, guilt clouding her face. “You have a fridge full of food and nothing but blunt plastic to cook it with. You must think I was taunting you.” She waves a dismissive hand in the direction of the pantry. “Listen, there’s a private chef on the fourth floor. Before I head out, I’ll swing by and make sure he brings up three meals a day.”
I blink. Chef? Fourth floor? Jesus, what is this place?
“I’ll take that. Oh—and thanks for the clothes, by the way. I appreciate that.”
Her attention dips to my hoodie and sweatpants. “Yet you’re wearing the ugliest things I bought you.” She sighs dramatically, punctuating her insult with a wink. “Honestly, that was no problem. I love shopping. If I wasn’t studying to be a teacher, I would have studied fashion. And besides, I charged a few things for myself to Don’s Amex for the trouble,” she chimes, lovingly brushing her hands down the arm of her black cashmere sweater. It looks expensive. I’m happy for her. Then she raps her knuckle against the counter, just like Donnacha does, and hops off her seat. “That reminds me, here’s your card.” She slides a black Amex across the island. “I’ve gotta get to class.” Pausing as she picks up her book bag, she adds, “I’ll check in later tonight. Do you need anything before I go?”
“A key to the front door and a restraining order against your brother would be nice.”
She recoils like I’ve slapped her in the face. “Listen, I hate this as much as you do. I stay out of the family drama, and I swear to you that I had no idea why you were here when you first walked into the apartment. Don asked me to greet everyone and told me to make sure that when a Romy Daniels arrived, to bring her straight to the family lawyer.” She rubs a hand over her features. “I didn’t know it was to get married.” She groans.
There’s a sour taste in my mouth. Seems like I wasn’t the only one deceived by the Devil. It feels bad enough being married to him. I can’t imagine being tied to him by blood.
“I better get going,” she says, flashing me a soft smile. “See you tonight.”
Adrenaline. That’s what hums through my veins as she bounds toward the elevator.
Triggered by the sudden realization that she’s leaving the building.
She’s unarmed, and despite all her judo bullshit, there’s not a doubt in my mind that I could take her. A plan begins spinning around my brain, and when it slows, it’s fully formed. It’d be so easy—I’d attack from behind just as the elevator doors slide open. Bundle her in with my hand over her mouth to muffle her screams. Who’d stop me? Not the guards. They couldn’t risk their boss’s sister getting hurt.
A plan so perfect I can already taste the New York winter on my tongue. Feel the breeze rippling through my hair as I run through NoHo.
My feet are onboard before my brain is. I’m moving out from behind the island and stalking Aisling to the entryway. Ten feet behind, creeping slowly, like a lion honing in on its prey.
The doors ding, and now is my chance. She steps into the elevator, and I raise my arms, ready to attack.
Before my hands find her throat, she turns, flinching in surprise to see me so close, and breaks into a grin.
“You know, Romy, I’m pleasantly surprised that you’re so nice.” She hitches the strap of her book bag higher up her shoulder and stabs a button on the panel. “I can see why my brother is so infatuated with you.”
My arms fall limp to my sides. With one last glowing smile, she’s gone.
And I’m still here, rooted to the spot. My head’s thumping, wondering why the fuck I didn’t snap her neck and escape.
I’m too numb to know if I walk, float, or crawl back to the kitchen.
I stand there, staring at the extractor hood. The woman on the television won’t stop chirping.
Then I slide the muffin mix into the oven and head into the pantry to get ingredients for her next recipe.
