Page 56 of An Angel's Share
I don’t get a chance to talk to anyone, or her, as she disappears into her room and locks the door. Telling her dad she’s had a busy day and is off to bed. The board meeting is tomorrow and she needs to rest.
I close my eyes. I’d ignore the lock and go in, but I daren’t. I might make it worse. She’ll tell me to get lost again. No, not get lost. Stay away from her. Not my son, her. I don’t fucking want to. I can’t do it. I need her. She’s it, everything. Hook, line, and sinker. I told her I was all in right from the start. Fair enough it was a bit of a stretch, but looking back, it wasn’t. I was telling the truth, and I think I’ve demonstrated that at every turn.
I’m pacing the floor in the library after dinner as my brothers file in after me. Thank god my sister has not joined them yet. I’m for it, the abuse coming my way is going to be epic. I could see her bottling it all up at the dinner table. Getting ready to unleash it the first chance she gets.
“Brother, what the hell happened?” Jackson asks. “Oneminute you’re hugging her, the next she looks like she wants to rip you into pieces, and stamp on them.”
I scrub my hand down my face, no clue whatsoever, looking up to the ceiling, hoping the fresco will provide some inspiration. My heart rate is running like a Formula One race car.
“I fucking don’t know. I said one word, and the next she’s asking me if she is my job. And for a job, seethief.I told her I didn’t think she was, but evidence is pointing at her.”
“Fuck me, Jonno, you didn’t.” Jude is aghast. “You called the woman a liar. Your baby mamma a fucking thief.” He stands with his hands on his hips. He’s clearly been spending too much time with Evie, it’s her classic pose.
“I didn’t call her a thief. I said she looked like one. Someone is making it look like her.” I’m waving my hands around trying to explain myself.
“So yeah, you called her a thief. Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck. It’s a duck. And you’re a sitting duck when Kitten gets hold of you.” Jude confirms what I already know.
“I know. I saw the death stare coming at me all dinner. Someone ring Kell and Xander, try to head her off. Ring James, ring Bucky. Ring the fucking peace keeping force. I need help.” I’m trying to make light of it, but I’m gritting my teeth with anxiety.
Jackson starts to laugh. “Well I didn’t realise I was walking into this drama when I came for a holiday.”
The door swings open on cue. “Well you’re getting a reprieve on why you are actually here, when there’s a search party out for you in LA.” She points at him. “You’re a wanted man. Kell said some people were putting up posters of your face. They’ve all been called asking for information. Xan said it was like ‘Have you seen this man’ ‘Wanted dead oralive.’” Kitten has landed. “But luckily for you, you’ve been upstaged, Jackson. By our youngest but possibly most stupid brother.”
She’s stood with her hands on her hips. I grin at Jude. We’re all three stood lined up like we’re in the headmaster’s study awaiting the interrogation. And the punishment that we know will follow.
“I’ve seen professional interrogators who are less intimidating than her,” Jackson says to us under his breath, a grin on his lips.
“I heard that, Jackson. You’re the next brother on my hit list. Don’t think you’re getting away with anything.” She points at him, then spins on me. “Sit, Jonno, and explain your behaviour,” she commands, pointing to the sofa.
“What was I supposed to say?” I plonk down opposite her. “She asked me more or less if I thought she was the thief. I asked her the question back. Was she? I told her I didn’t think she was, but that someone was making it look like her.” My hands are flapping around in the air trying to deflect Kitten’s intense stare. “She was off and running then. I watched her face when I asked her if she had a middle name. Said you had said she didn’t.”
My hair gets blown back by the backdraft of the explosion that hits me.
“You said I told you. I didn’t, I hadn’t spoken to you. You listened in again. You need to pack it in, Jonno. Do we need to send you back to stalking rehab AGAIN.” Evie has jumped up and is stomping around the library. “She’ll think we’re all watching and interrogating her. That’s why she’s pissed at you. You should have asked her last week. You said you didn’t think it was her. You should have trusted your gut and come clean. Told her about the thefts, presented the stuff you had. Instead, you've pussyfooted around and madea mess. Jesus Christ, Jonno. She is six months pregnant, with your baby. You turned up in her life, an unprecedented shock. Then you start to interrogate her?“
“I haven’t done that.” She looks at me with areally?expression on her face.
“You’re telling me that you’ve not quizzed her within an inch of her life. Getting all the little details. I don’t believe you. It’s second nature. They were at it today.” She points to Jude and Jackson sitting on the settee like naughty school boys.
“Well, so were you. My earpiece nearly fell out when you brought the conversation around to middle names. Well done by the way, you were very good.”
She huffs at me and sits down. “Well, what are we going to do? I feel so bad. She must think we’re a total set of arseholes. We concocted a plan and lied to her best friend today. Totally callous, let her cousin-in-law think her husband is a good guy when he is a negligent fool.” Her lip curls in disgust at Patrick. “She thinks I was questioning her, and asked her all about New York. Probably replaying every conversation she’s had with all of us.” She wafts her hands at us all. “Combing through them in case she’s said something that proves she’s a fraudster, and stealing from her own family.”
She looks down with sadness in her eyes. “We’re very bad people. How could we think that? What does it say about us, that we thought it? And worse, are prepared to ignore it.” Evie is upset by it all, her face a picture of worry.
“Well, it tells me I love the woman. Because regardless of what she’s done or not done, I want her. I want our baby. I want to be a family. I will do anything to make that happen. If I have to throw myself on the floor at her fucking feet, I will.” I stand, puffing my chest out.
“Yeah, but you might actually enjoy that. Especially if she starts to stand and stomp on you, and whip you.” Jackson starts to laugh and Jude joins in.
Evie just shakes her head. “You are a bunch of weirdos. I love you, Jonno, but you need to make this right, and fast. It’s the board meeting tomorrow. Will you do it before that?” Evie’s grey eyes are storming. She wants action.
I shake my head. “No, she’s got enough going on. I’ll just support whatever she does, as long as it’s right of course. I won’t jeopardise your and Marshall's trust in me. I just didn’t get a chance to tell her anything else.” I'm scrubbing my hand down my face, my heart rate off the charts.
“Well, we’ve been here before with someone else who was off and running like a gazelle at a hunting party. Headless chicken style. But also pregnant at the time.” Jude nods at Evie and ducks as she throws a cushion at him.
“We also need to catch the fucking thief. Stop that dickhead Liam from stealing Christy’s cash. We need to get busy. Did we find out if Aoife definitely has a middle name? I know she said not, but we need to fact check everything at this stage.”
I’m clutching at straws, and they know it. Normally I would do this by myself or with James, but I’m all over the place. I know I need help.
