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Here she was, the sister who they’d looked up to all of their lives, and she was being pitied by them. If Tom hadn’t attacked her, everything would still be okay. Things would be as they had been. Suddenly, Kayla realized she wouldn’t have met Duncan, and the thought hurt her from the inside. Just the thought of losing Duncan was making her sick.
Perhaps that was what she needed to focus on. At least one positive thing had come from this whole ordeal.
Just then, as if he somehow sensed that she needed him in that moment, her phone vibrated on the coffee table with an incoming text from “Dunc.” He was there for her even when he wasn’t there physically. She felt loved, and she couldn’t wait to introduce him to her sisters.
“Why are you smiling? I don’t know what you’re smiling about. This is all so weird.” Errin looked over at Calum.
Calum grinned as he shook his head. “Kay-Kay is in love, girls.”
Kayla took in Calum’s pleased expression and knew he approved of her choice. He smiled lovingly at Kayla as he always did and then joked, “She’s got it bad. And he might even grow on me too.”
Kayla knew he was downplaying it, as he had a twinkle in his eye. Kayla arched an eyebrow at him in response.
“Okay. I like the fucker,” he admitted.
Errin choked on a gulp of Irish hot cocoa, spraying it out of her mouth over the coffee table. Their brothers never, ever approved of a boyfriend they’d brought home. Cole, whom Kayla dated for two years, was called “shithead” by her brothers. Even during Thanksgiving dinner, Calum asked “shithead" to pass him the gravy. Cole did as he was told and didn’t even bother to say anything back to Calum.
Oh, how different the first meeting was between Duncan and Calum in the elevator. Kayla could still see Duncan standing there, asking her if she was okay, demanding that Calum back away from her. Even after finding out that Calum was her brother, he made sure that Calum knew his name was Duncan and not “fucker.” As if Calum could see what she was thinking, he nodded at her.
“Where is the whiskey? I’m in need of a refill.” They all chuckled at Errin as she stood up from the couch and walked toward the kitchen with her mug.
“I’m sorry you’ve been through so much, and all the while being here on your own. I’m so sorry that I didn’t push you when I knew in my heart that something wasn’t right.” A tear rolled down Kate’s cheek.
“Who hurt you, Kayla?” Errin was back in the living room, and she’d brought napkins for the spill, as well as the bottle of whiskey and her refilled mug with cocoa.
“It was a colleague named Tom,” Kayla said.
Kate went rigid on the couch, as if she was suddenly hit by a realization. Errin had been about to sit on the sofa after she’d wiped the coffee table, but Kate was in the way. Even after she’d nudged Kate’s knee with her leg, Kate didn’t move. “Kate?”
“Hmm? Oh, sorry, Errin.” Kate scooted over next to Calum, making room for Errin.
Calum laid his big hand on Kate’s as he asked, “Did he hurt you too?” using his cop voice and speaking calmly.
“No, he hasn’t hurt me. I only talked to him once when Kayla and I had been jogging and ran into him, but I’ve been bumping into him for a few weeks now, and he’s always smiling at me. Not with a nice smile, but with a weird smile, like he knows something I don’t. I don’t know if it makes any sense. Sorry, I’m blabbering.” Kate looked up at Calum.
“That’s the reason why we wanted you girls to come here,” he confessed. “I’m afraid we have some information about Tom. It seems that he has taken an interest in you, Kate. Duncan’s brother Donovan is Kayla’s boss at Mills Security, and we’ve asked him to look into it for us. He tracked Tom down, and I don’t know how he did it, but he watched some security footage of your school, Kate, and it seemed that Tom was lurking around there.”
“That asshole. We need to stop him, Calum.” Errin jumped up and paced behind the couch.
“Did he stalk Errin too?” Kate asked. Kayla shook her head; Kate was thinking about others while she’d just discovered that she was being stalked by the man who attacked her older sister.
“It seems like he’s targeting you because he couldn’t find Kayla after she left so abruptly.” Calum took Kate’s hand in his and gently stroked his thumb over the back.
“I’m so sorry for all of this. If I hadn’t left, then—” Kayla started.
“Don’t be dumb,” Errin said.
Calum said, “Stop it, sis. You couldn’t know.”
“Calum is right, Kayla. Don’t beat yourself up about it. We’re here, and we’re safe. Don’t say that, please,” Kate said softly.
“What do we do now?” Errin asked as she plopped down onto the couch again.
“I was thinking it would be for the best if you girls stay with Kayla for a little longer. We can protect you better here, as New Jersey is his home turf. Here in Austin, he’s at a disadvantage, and we have Duncan and his four brothers who have our backs. Duncan’s brother Declan works at the local police force, Donovan has a PI branch at Mills Security, and Duncan and Ronan throw a mean punch being MMA fighters.”
“Your boyfriend has four brothers? MMA fighters? Where do I sign up for one of those?”
Kate giggled softly at Errin’s joke, but Calum’s scowling face and grunt brought them back to the problem at hand.
