I pressed one on the screen and brought the phone back to my ear.
“Hey, it’s me. Look, I don’t want you or the others to worry, but I’ve been keeping tabs on Big Phil and his boys. Before Ryder says anything, I’ve been keeping them from a distance. I was just curious who was running the compound now that Marco is gone. Turns out Big Phil has made himself at home there.”
Damien paused when a noise sounded in the background then resumed speaking a moment later.
“Anyway, I swung by when everyone was out and found Manny on watch. Can you believe it? That dude is still the worst drunk I’ve ever come across and he is on guard duty. Fucking idiots.”
Damien paused when another noise sounded in the background. I snorted when he said, “Fucking broken window.”
He either left the room he was in or moved away from the window; wherever he was now it was quiet. Real quiet.
“So I asked Manny how things have been. He didn’t know it was me because I had a hat on and a scarf covering my face. He was kind enough to let on that the new boss was heading to Ireland because Dominic’s name resurfaced in the underground. Brandon runs his end in the underground legally now so word has spread that Dominic is his fighter, and if anyone wants to challenge him, it’s fifty grand a head. Fifty. Grand. Dominic better be getting a nice pay cheque for that price. Tell him to hit training hard. No doubt those ball busters in the underground will want that purse.”
Fucking hell, people had to pay to get their arse kicked by Dominic?
I mean, really?
Why on earth would anyone want that type of hurt for free, let alone pay for it?
People baffled me!
“Be on the lookout and keep lying low. Especially you Kane. Manny said he has some unfinished business with you. I gotta go, my shitty apartment is falling apart. I’ll call again later. Bye.”
I lowered Kane’s phone from my ear and looked at the screen. I didn’t move for a couple of minutes as I tried to process what I just heard.
“Hey, what’s taking you so long?”
I turned my head to face Kane when he entered his room. He looked at my hand as I lowered my arm to my lap. He had focused on the phone for a few moments before he looked up to my face.
“Who was that?” he asked, taking a step closer to me.
I blinked. “I missed the call, but accidentally entered your voicemail.”
Another step forward.
“Who left me a voicemail?”
I licked my lips. “Damien. He was warnin’ you and your brothers that he heard someone was comin’ to Ireland.”
Kane kept his eyes on mine. “Can I have my phone?”
I lifted my arm and held the phone out for him to freely take.
“I’ve a question.”
Kane swallowed as he took his phone from me. “Shoot.”
“Who is Big Phil and what business do you have with him?
“I don’t understand the question.”
I stared at Kane. “It’s a pretty direct question. Who is Big Phil and what business do you have with him?”
Kane opened his mouth to speak but closed it when no words were spoken.
“Kane?” I pressed. “Why can’t you just answer the question?”
He continued to stare at me and after a further silence he parted his lips and said, “Because I don’t want you to know who Big Phil is.”
I blinked. “Why not?”
“Because you’re pure to me and Big Phil taints everything he has involvement in. I don’t want to discuss him with anyone, especially you. I can’t give you a direct answer, so this will have to be good enough.”
I hated that his reply made me more curious to know who this Big Phil was. But instead of arguing, I raised my eyebrows and said, “Okay.”
Kane licked his lips. “I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me.”
“I’m not,” I replied, honestly.
He eyed me, unsure if I was telling him the truth or not. “Really?”
I shrugged. “Kane, you don’t have to share every aspect of your life with me. We are just havin’ a baby together. We don’t need to know one another on a deep personal level.”
My reply made him frown, but he said nothing.
“Are you ready to show everyone the DVD?” I asked, hoping to get out of his room and away from the sudden awkwardness and lingering silence.
Kane nodded his head and held his hand out to me and pulled me up to my feet.
“They’re all in the living room waiting.”
I snorted, “It’s so weird you have your sittin’ room on the second floor.”
He raised his eyebrows at me. “The two most important rooms have to be next to one another, the kitchen and the gym.”
I snorted. “My two favourite rooms right now are me bedroom and the bathroom. Luckily they’re next to each other in me apartment.”
“That’s only because you pee more than you eat right now.”
My stomach rumbled and it caused me to grunt, “Damn you for mentionin’ the kitchen.”
Kane lightly smiled. “Come on, we’ll get you something to eat before we play the DVD.”
I was down for that.
“I’ll give you your injection, too.”