Damien’s jaw dropped open. “I don’t understand. How?”
“I’ve no idea,” I said with frustration at my situation. “I asked about it, but Ryder threw up his wall and blocked me out so eventually I stopped askin’ and just started payin’ the bills and for food out of me own wages.”
Damien looked more confused than I felt.
“It gets more mind bogglin’,” I frowned.
“Jesus, how?”
I gnawed on my inner cheek.
“Dominic’s money is gone too, and so is Alec’s. Ryder told me about a bad investment they made with Brandon Daley. It’s why Dominic started to fight again, he needed money and he knew fightin’ got ‘im good money and that bein’ a personal trainer didn’t. He tried the ‘normal’ side of workin’ and it’s obvious he finds fightin’ is best suited for ‘im. I’m sure me sister is in the dark as to what happened to his money, too, she’d tell me otherwise.”
I hated not telling Bronagh the real reason I thought Dominic was back fighting, but I couldn’t do it. Not now. Not while she was pregnant for him.
I turned my attention from my thought back to Damien and noticed he was processing everything I told him, I could see the wheels turning in his mind as he thought.
“How could I not know any of this?” he whispered after a few moments of silence.
I frowned. “You’re the baby of the family. From the start, the deal was to keep you out of the life they were roped into, and I guess they’re still tryin’ to protect you.”
Damien growled. “I don’t need any fucking protection. I’m not a damn child, Dominic is only four minutes older than me!”
I sighed. “I know that, sweetie, it’s just that you’re precious to them. They risked everythin’ to see you safe, it’s a trait that’s instilled in them. You can’t blame them for wantin’ to keep you safe from harm, can you?”
“No,” he agreed, “but I’m not in danger anymore. Marco and Trent, they’re dead.”
“And thank God for that,” I said and blessed myself.
“I don’t see why they couldn’t fill me in on their problem. I’m a brother, too.”
“Of course you’re a brother, too. You’re my favourite Slater brother, if I’m being honest… don’t tell Alec that though.”
Damien managed a snort. “You say I’m a Slater brother, but since that day back in New York with Trent when he baited me into a fight about my dad, I’ve felt like nothing but an outsider to my own flesh and blood.”
“Damien,” I whispered.
He sighed. “I’m cool, it’s cool. Don’t worry about me, you’ve got enough going on.”
I wanted to argue that I’d always worry about him no matter what I had going on, but he didn’t give me a chance.
“You stay here in case Ryder comes back, I’m going to see Dominic. I’m bringing all this to him. He may be silent with you, but let’s see him give me the run around.”
I blinked. “You look a little scary right now, Dame.”
His lips quirked. “Well, hell, I might be a Slater after all.”
“Smartarse.”
He kissed the crown of my head then walked out of the kitchen, and a few steps later, out of the house, closing the front door behind him. I didn’t like the silence, so I got my phone and dialled my sister’s number. I put my phone to my ear and waited for her to answer.
“Hello?” a cheery male answered.
Dominic Slater.
“You word twistin’, weight liftin’, fight pickin’, cock suckin’, son of a bitch!”
My future brother-in-law gasped. “I have never, and will never, suck someone’s cock you misinformed wench!”
I gripped my phone tighter. “I’m goin’ to end you when I see you, Dominic.”
He was silent for a moment then he said, “Ryder spoke to you then?”
“Oh, Ryder spoke to me all right!” I snapped. “He came home and accused me of cheatin’ on ‘im, and he said he is goin’ to break one of Ash’s limbs and it’s all your fuckin’ fault!”
“What the hell is that screamin’ about?” I heard my sister’s voice. “Who are you talkin’ to, babe?”
“Bronagh!” I shouted.
“Is that Branna?”
“Yes, but—no, give that back to me now!”
“What’s goin’ on?” Bronagh asked me.
Her voice was clear now, a sign she took her phone from Dominic without much of a fight.
“Dominic told Ryder I was cheatin’ on ‘im!” I stated to my sister. “I told the lyin’ prick that Ash was me friend when he mistook us jokin’ around for somethin’ more than friendship, but he still called Ryder and told ‘im his views. Ryder thinks I’m cheatin’ on ‘im, Bronagh.”
“This has to be a joke,” my sister said. “It’s a joke, right?”
“No,” I growled. “And if that bastard you call a fiancé comes near me house again, I’ll gut ‘im!”
“Tell me she is lyin’!” I heard Bronagh growl.
“This dude had his hands on her hips—” I heard Dominic’s voice in the background.
“Did you tell Ryder you thought she was cheatin’ on ‘im?” Bronagh snapped, cutting Dominic off.
“I told him what I saw, and what it looked like to me, but he came to his own conclusions.”
“You didn’t tell ‘im that Branna told you he was harmless?” she pressed.