AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Finally reaching the door on shaky feet, I place one hand on the frame to steady myself as I open it.
Surprise ripples through me to find all three of my brothers standing before me, as casual as ever. Finn with his cheeky grin, bright green eyes and fiery red hair, looks so much like Ma it’s scary. He pushes past me as Killian sighs, following him in, waving a take-out bag of food as he passes. The smell makes my stomach grumble, and I can’t decide if I want to eat it or vomit. He chuckles as he places it on the table and takes off his leather jacket.
I let out a breath as Connor places a hand on my shoulder and hands me a large coffee. Man I love this guy right now. I nod and give a half smile, stepping aside as he enters, closing the door behind him.
I turn around, facing my brothers. Killian is leaning on the table, rifling through the bag, pulling out breakfast sandwiches. Finn sitting on the bed, grinning like a fucking child at Kill, waiting for his food.
Connor takes a seat in the one chair in the room, crossing his ankle over his knee, sipping on his coffee.
I snort a laugh as I realise we always dress the same without even trying. We’re all wearing jeans, same style T-shirts, just different colours, and leather jackets. We even wear the same damn style boots… except for Finn, he always wears converse.
Kill raises an eyebrow at me as he hands me a sandwich. I smile as I take it from him and shake my head.
Connor clears his throat as I take a seat. I don’t look up, I don’t know what I’ll see, but I’m not ready, I’m too hungover to deal with their pity, judgement or disappointment.
“I’m glad you reached out, you’re not alone, Ronan, we’re in this together––all of us. So, we heard you have a few names who might know some things. I say we eat breakfast then we go round these fuckers up and see what they know.”
I look at my brothers, and they each smile and nod at me, then go about eating their breakfast like it’s no big deal.
I sit there dumbstruck for a few minutes, not knowing how to respond. Its only when I see them sitting eating that I realise they aren’t expecting me to, they are here for me. Connor was right, I’m not alone. And for the first time in I don’t know how long, I don’t feel as though I am.
* * *
Nine hours later and we are in the warehouse with two guys unconscious and chained from the ceiling.
Finn is laying out the weapons on the table, while Connor finishes removing his shirt.
The fact they are now down to their underwear means this isn’t going to be pretty. My demon is beyond excited; he can’t wait to be released.
I’m readying myself, focussing on the task in front of me, preparing the questions in my head, when Killian comes up behind me.
“We need to do this together, Ronan. Remember, we’re a unit. Before we start, you need to tell us how Rory pulled you out of it. How did he bring you back from the darkness?”
I turn my head to look at him. “I don’t know what to tell you, I don’t know, he just did.”
I sigh, walking over to the table, inspecting the weapons.
“Look, there are two ways to do this. Either we let my demon control the show, and he’ll back off when he’s gotten what he needs, or you can’t let me fall too deep.”
“If we let your demon run the show, there’s a risk that you won’t be able to differentiate between us and them.”
Connor surprises me. He gets it, I don’t know how but he does.
Nobody says anything, and they watch me as I walk towards the guys we have chained up. Taking them both in, deciding which one to start with first, I tilt my head a little so they can see part of my profile, but I don’t turn fully, I don’t want to see their faces.
“When I lose control, it’s like I’m under water. I hear ripples, I know that people are talking but I can’t make out what they are saying––it’s like echoes. When I’m lost to my demon, in the dark, touching me, it burns, it feels like my skin is on fire, and I see a haze like a dense fog… that’s when I can’t tell the difference between enemy or not. I feel a sense of panic and lash out to regain a level of control. My demon won’t take over until I have the answers we seek or until I’m satisfied they don’t have any.”
I grab a bottle of water, gulping half of it down. Casting my eyes back over the weapons, I pick up a small, bladed knife, pushing the tip to my finger, adding a small amount of pressure, testing how sharp it is, and when a drop of blood appears, I’m satisfied.
I face my brothers, about to give them the answer they need.
“Liv.” My voice cracks as I say her name, and I clear my throat before continuing. “She is the only person other than Rory that has ever been able to pull me back from the brink. Her touch is the only touch other than his that doesn’t burn. I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but whenever she is around me, I feel a sense of calm, a sense of peace settles over me––a peace I have never known, and that… well, that scares the shit out of me.”
Killian comes up next to me, choosing a knuckle duster as his first weapon of choice.
“Let’s pair up. Why don’t we take the guy on the right, Con and Finn can have the guy on the left. If I think you’re falling too far, I’ll pull you back.”
“And if you can’t? If I’m too far gone?”
