First and Only (Callaghan Brothers #2)

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Everyone believed he was cold, cruel, for keeping Lexi at arm’s length. But none of them understood that what he did, he did out of a love so deep, so true that he would sacrifice everything to keep her safe. Living like this was hell, but it was nothing compared to what life would be like if she wasn’t in it at all.

“Maybe not. But let me tell you what I do know. I know that Lexi loves you more than anything else in the world. That she would give anything if you would treat her like the loving, caring woman she is instead of a contagious disease. And that she still cries herself to sleep every night, holding on to a pillow that’s wrapped in a shirt you left behind in Benton, because you can’t man up and be there for her when she needs you the most.”

Ian blinked. She still slept with his shirt? He remembered the first time he saw her wearing his T-shirt, how good that had made him feel. It still did, only now it was accompanied by a familiar ache, the one that made him cranky. Because he wanted to be the one she held on to, the one she turned to in the middle of the night, not his shirt.

But to suggest that he wasn’t man enough to be there for her? Christ, he felt like he was dying inside. Staying away from Lexi was the hardest thing he had ever done.

Ian gave her a look that could have frozen Niagara Falls, but she just waved him off. “Don’t even try, Ian. Jake’s death scowl is much scarier than yours. And let me tell you this – you think you’re protecting her, but you’re killing her more than that damn disease ever could.”

“Hey,” said Shane, blowing into the kitchen and grabbing some of the Cheerios from Patrick’s tray. “What’s up, big man?” He put his hand up for a high-five and Patrick obliged. Then he tickled beneath Riley’s chin, making her giggle. Shane didn’t acknowledge his brother. Ian was used to it. At first they had pleaded with them. Then they pointedly avoided him. Now they just ignored him.

“Have you heard anything yet?” Shane asked Taryn.

“Not yet.” Taryn’s eyes shot over to Ian and back in a silent but blatant warning. Shane took the hint and rerouted himself toward the fridge. Ian narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but said nothing.

Sean thundered in, giving his twin a shoulder bump. “Well?”

Ian materialized out of the shadows. Normally he was more than happy to stay out of their group discussions, especially where Lexi was concerned, because those discussions inevitably turned into something akin to an intervention. Today, however, he was already on edge, and their non-attention was pissing him off.

Something was going on, and it had something to do with Lexi. Ian felt that despite his own self-imposed distance, anything to do with Lexi was his business. But before he could say anything, Taryn’s cell rang, the sweet sounds of AC/DC’s Highway to Hell filling the kitchen.

“Yeah?” she answered into the phone, the hopefulness in her voice unmistakable. At that moment Riley decided to let out a wail, so Taryn stuck one finger in her ear and turned away. Even from where he stood Ian could easily see the slump of her shoulders.

“I see... And there’s no... Yeah, okay... No, no problem, I can do that... Yeah, thanks Stace.... ‘K... Bye.”

She disconnected the call and took a deep breath before turning around. She looked at each of them briefly – Ian excluded – and shook her head.

Judging by their reactions, it was not good news. Shane and Sean shared a look, then made their exit, but not before shooting daggers at Ian.

“She’s not coming,” Ian said.

“No,” Taryn agreed. “Patrick’s going to hang out with us tonight, aren’t you, big guy?” Taryn said with false cheeriness, picking up a washcloth and wiping the Cheerio remains from between his fingers. He grinned and giggled.

Lexi lived for her son. There was no way she would just leave him there without a damn good reason. The cold weight in Ian’s stomach intensified. “Why not?” The mountain sized chip on his shoulder seemed a lot smaller suddenly.

Taryn paused. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Taryn,” he warned.

“Ah, damn. Lexi’s probably never going to speak to me again for this, but...”





Chapter Twenty-Eight


“There’s nothing I can do, Ian.” Michael’s expression was as calm as ever, but Ian could sense the turbulence, see the frustration in his brother’s eyes.

Ian sat across from him in a state of mild shock. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard those words come from his brother’s mouth, but those other times had been few and far between, and they had never applied to someone in their family. And Lexi was family, which was the only reason Michael was even discussing this with him in the first place.

The test results from Lexi’s first three months of the treatment showed very little improvement in her blood chemistry, and her overall health had taken a decided downturn, so much so that Michael had admitted her to a private room for the night for monitoring and rest.

“I thought the treatments were working.” Ian’s voice was hoarse.