*
The curtains in one of the second story windows moved slightly, enough to allow Rebecca to see the shadowy figure turn and walk away. Her eyes followed him all the way to his truck, holding her breath until the lights came on and he drove away.
Then she curled up in bed, wrapping her arms around Angus, who looked at her with soulful blue eyes.
And then she cried.
Chapter Seventeen
Aidan was already halfway through the fifth of Kentucky bourbon when Kane entered the Pub. The bar wasn’t crowded. Most people were home with their families, napping off the after effects of a day of gorging. Taryn and Lexi had taken the exhausted kids upstairs. Sean and Nicki had gone back to their place over the garage. Kieran and Shane were in the back kitchen, no doubt already devouring the leftovers Maggie had sent home with them.
“Well, it’s about fucking time,” Aidan muttered as his eyes tracked the eldest Callaghan. Jake and Ian exchanged concerned glances. Aidan had been practically mute since he’d come in two hours earlier, but it was obvious that he was battling some demons. The few attempts they made at getting him to unload were unsuccessful. Since whatever it was probably had to do with Rebecca, they let him be. Sometimes family matters needed to remain just that.
Ian had already confiscated Aidan’s keys, planning to give him a ride home when he’d either decided he’d had enough or passed out. Hell, since Mick and Sean had moved out, they had plenty of room for him in their private quarters upstairs.
Kane’s appearance at the Pub was unexpected. After his hasty departure from Michael’s, they’d figured one of two things would happen. Either Kane would wise the hell up and fix things with Rebecca or he would head right back up to the mountains to indulge in his self-loathing privately. If they had known he would find his way here, Ian would have made sure Aidan was safely home by now.
Kane ignored Aidan and headed to the far end of the bar, wasting no time in pouring a drink for himself. He drank it straight down, and without pausing, poured himself another.
Perhaps if he had been slightly more clear of mind Aidan would have sensed the bone-chilling cold emanating from Kane, or noticed the very clear do-not-fuck-with-me aura. But he wasn’t. And he didn’t. Or maybe, Aidan Harrison had simply been pushed too far.
“You know, I just can’t figure you Callaghans out,” Aidan said, standing and beginning to walk towards Kane, his movements slow and careful, as if it took all of his concentration to stay upright and steady. Jake and Ian stiffened, and began to prepare for the worst. Jake started moving to the far end of the bar, positioning himself for intervention should it became necessary.
“Aidan,” Ian warned quietly. “Not a good time, man.” Most people had the good sense not to poke a stick at an angry bear. But apparently good Kentucky bourbon and a perceived injustice against a man’s sister played havoc with that innate sense of self-preservation.
Ian set down the glass he was wiping, clearing the way to vault the bar and save the stupid bastard’s life if need be. Hell, he liked Aidan. And mouthing off or not, Aidan had been there for Lexi when she really needed him. She would be quite upset if anything happened to him. And Kane, well, Kane was looking about as mean as Ian had ever seen him.
But none of that seemed to register with Aidan. Or perhaps he just didn’t care.
“I mean, I get that you’re all arrogant as hell,” he continued. “It’s just the way you are. I can accept that. Respect it even, because you guys are the real deal right enough. Except ... it seems like you have some incessant need to try to destroy the women I love. First Lexi, who is like a fucking sister to me – no offense, Ian. Everything turned out for the best, I guess, but you really did a number on her, man...”
Ian winced inwardly at the stark reminder of how close they’d come to losing her.
“... Then Rebecca, who is my fucking sister. The sister I half-expected to be identifying the remains of when they brought her home in pieces from those godforsaken places she insisted on living. But instead I get to watch her suffer from a beating from those stupid fucks she cares so much about, see her heart get fucking broken right here in goddamned Pine Ridge. Thank God my mother is still in Georgia or - ”