Page 42 of Fractured Memories

Which leaves me rethinking everything.

I turn to finally head back to my room, desperately needing to get my head on straight, and it’s then I remember that I don’t have any underwear on. I glance down, looking for the scraps to pick up, when I realize they aren’t there.

Blinking, I look down the empty hall, biting back a laugh as it hits me that Kieran took them. And I’m not sure why, but it makes me like him a little more.

CHAPTER 14

KIERAN

Fourteen months before Eden went missing…

Iroll up my sleeves as I head for the garage, my hair still dripping wet from the shower. Lochlan managed to drag me into a meeting with Miles today, which nearly made me late. Jude will be here any minute.

Over the last month, Eden and I have fallen into a pattern. I send Jude to pick her up from her place in the city at least twice a week, and we spend the night out on the patio, eating and fucking. Most of the time, I can convince her to spend nights with me, and while I’ve never been particularly interested in sharing my bed with anyone before, there is something about having Eden there that I really enjoy.

Mika has also started to encroach on my time with Eden. Of course, Jude doesn't have it in him to tell his wife no, which means I have a hard time prying her away from my girl.

I round the corner, nearly dressed and hoping that Eden isn’t here yet. I can’t give Mika the chance to swoop in⁠—

“Kieran.”

Only years of practice keep me from jolting at the sound of my name. I turn slowly, my brows pulling together when I find Lochlan standing in my home. “What are you doing here?”

“We were in the middle of a conversation when you left.” His gaze sweeps over me, and I don’t know what he’s looking for. “What happened?”

“Miles is a dumb cunt, and I was finished listening.” It’s mostly the truth.

His brow quirks. “And me? I’m not worth listening to, either?”

I fight back a sigh. “No, Lo. I wasn’t ignoring you.”

He steps closer. “Kier⁠—“

“Why are all your guards outside?” Rohan calls as he walks in, and I bite back a curse. Neither of them is supposed to be here.

“They are guarding my home,” I snap.

I can feel Lochlan’s gaze boring into the side of my face, but I need to get them out of here. Eden will be here soon, and despite how much Jude has been pestering me—and it’s been a lot—I haven’t told Lochlan or Rohan about her. I have stayed out of the cage fights like Rohan requested, but they’ve still been very suspicious of me. Mostly because I’ve never tried to avoid them like I have been.

“And they can’t do that inside?” Rohan reaches us as he asks the question.

This time, I do huff. “Is that really why you’re here? To pester me about where my staff’s posts are?”

He’s clearly surprised by my aggressive reaction, but all I can focus on is that I’m running out of time. “No, it’s not.” His eyes scan down my frame. “But now, I think I need to know the answer.”

“Does it have to do with why you rushed out of our meeting?” Lochlan’s question makes me grind my teeth.

“Can the two of you kindly fuck off?” I start toward the side door that leads out to the pathways to their homes. “I’m in no mood.”

When I don’t hear the footsteps behind me, I turn to find neither of them has moved. My nostrils flare. Why are they being so daft today?

“What crawled up your arse?” Rohan frowns, and I have no doubt it was the same question Lochlan was going to ask me. One I don’t want to bother with.

“Besides being questioned in my own home?” I cross my arms, tension lining my muscles. I’m annoyed at my night being disrupted, and fuck, I’m pissed at myself for letting this lie build up like this.

It’s not even that I want to hide Eden. At first, I did so because I knew that Rohan would berate me about how stupid it was to let someone this close. Lochlan would be more liable to make unbearable jokes since he has no problem finding a warm body at night—though he never goes anywhere private with them. A guard is always nearby in case, and then he’ll come home alone.

But now, I don’t know how she will react to them or if she wants anyone to know she’s here. She’s handled Mika well, but what if she views Rohan and Lochlan as threats? What if they view her as one?