Page 47 of Dylan
“Stop looking so nervous. Ya can make yerself at home,” Taegan says as she lets us all into Dylan’s home.
I’m not even going to ask about that one. Ciarán looks around excitedly. This kid is on cloud nine.
Taegan makes her way over to the couch while I continue to stand close to the door. I’m trying to think of something to come up with so Ciarán and I can leave.
It’s lame, but I think I finally come up with something. I open my mouth to make our excuses when the thud of footfalls catches my attention. I turn toward the staircase on my left.
Can I express how mind blowing this place is? The apartment is almost as breathtaking as the man jogging barefoot down the suspended glass staircase. Dylan looks like he just stepped out of the shower.
He has on a pair of black slacks and an open white dress shirt. Once again, thatVand those abs are on display. His hair is still damp and has a curly wave to it.
“Hey, Dylan,” Ciarán croons. “This place is sick.”
“Thanks. Make yourself at home. Can I get you guys something to drink?”
“I’m cool,” I reply as I pull my phone and check it like I have tons of messages waiting for me.
Daliah and Vega are my only friends and Daliah is at work today and Vega is doing Vega. My phone has been dry as shit since we left Seattle. I can’t risk calling anyone back there.
Everyone I knew was somehow tied to the Youngs. It’s better this way. No contact, no connections.
“Everything okay?”
I look up to find Dylan towering over me. I force a smile and nod. Cupping my face, he searches my eyes for a beat.
“You were never any good at lying to me. What’s wrong?”
“I’m tired. I want to go home.”
He purses his lips. I can see the frustration that fills his eyes. We’re going to need to get a few things straight.
“Listen, Dylan. I’m grateful for your help and all, but I have a lot going on. I don’t think I’m in a place to date anyone.
“Especially not someone I’m already getting threats over. I need to stay under the radar. This … whatever this is. It’s complicated. I don’t have time for complicated.”
“Someone threatened ya?”
The way his face changes as pure rage rolls off him causes me to take a step back. He looks like he’s about to murder someone. He has a crazed look in his eyes.
“Cadlha thought she would claim her territory. She blew around a bit of smoke, but yer girl handled herself,” Taegan calls out from the couch. “Ain’t nobody thinking about that bitch. Ciara, please.”
I groan. “This is what I mean. You guys keep calling me by a name I’m not even sure it’s safe for me to use. What are we doing here, Dylan? This is my real life.”
He cups the back of my neck and pulls me to him. His body heat engulfs me, and his cologne wraps around me like a warm hug. I look up into his eyes and get lost.
“Cadlha doesn’t have a death wish. Ya don’t have to worry about her or anyone else. No one will ever lay a finger on ya. I’ve been waiting for ya since I was ten years oul. I’m not about to lose ya again.
“This is yer home as long as yer here. Nothing complicated about it. I’m here, yer here. We belong together.”
“Aye, kid. Let’s go for a walk. I’ll treat ya to some ice cream for yer birthday,” Taegan sings to Ciarán as I stand frozen in Dylan’s grasp.
“All right,” Ciarán croons.
“When ya return, his gift is in the blue room. Ya can take him there,” Dylan murmurs to Taegan, not looking away from me.
“Got ya, boss.”
Taegan and Ciarán move past us to leave. I knit my brows, trying to figure out what to do next. I’m drawn to him, but my common sense is telling me this could be a colossal fuckup.
