Brother's Keeper V: Wylie (the complete series BOX SET): NEW RELEASE + Series Box SET included!

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  If she knew, she wouldn’t want him. No one would. He had subscribed to that life, settled with the idea that it was his destiny. He was a soldier, made to do what he did. He was the enforcer, for good, but that didn’t matter. There was blood on his hands. There was blood everywhere. Thanks to him. It was his job – it was what he did. Sometimes, he broke a nose. Sometimes, he took a life – always without hesitation.

  Daisy was something he never knew he wanted, didn’t think he could have. Even if he did, he couldn’t imagine his life any other way. He was committed to his work. Righting wrongs at any and all costs without guilt because the world was a better place after he was done, whether he put people behind bars of six feet under. He was the enforcer, a soldier. His skeletons were piled high, and he lived without regret. Until now, because the life he lived – the life he was born to live – may cost him the very thing he didn’t know was made for him. Daisy was made for him, but he couldn’t have her. He was too broken, dark, and she was the light.

  At the end of the waterfront, he came to a quick stop, lungs burning, legs aching, especially the leg that cost him his career. While Gibson drank from the fountain, he paced back and forth, trying to collect himself. He’d acknowledged and faced all of his issues in a single run, but was no closer to resolution than when he began. His life wasn’t simple anymore. He was the same man, a soldier, but he no longer knew what he wanted or how to be the man Daisy needed him to be.

  He walked back to Watermark to give Gib a break and himself more time to pull his head out of his own ass. Sweet Hooligans Bakery was in the Watermark building as one of the street level retail shops. He grabbed a box full of her favorite donuts, hoping she’d indulge. He didn’t like that she became so pale and gaunt in such a short time. Maybe the donuts would help with that.

  It struck him in that moment that he knew something like that – her likes and dislikes. Her habits. It was another one of those moments most couples would high five over, but for Luke, it was a reminder of what he would have to somehow learn to forget when their time together was over. Rather than find a solution to his dilemma and a way out that would spare both him and Daisy, he found more reasons to be together, which translated into more opportunities that would ultimately end in hurt – for them both.

  It was quiet when he walked into their apartment. He’d expected to find her on the balcony, taking in the sunshine and writing her song. Odd. Was she still asleep? He went to his room looking for her, only to find her splashing cool water on her face in the bathroom.

  With a gentle knock to the doorframe, he caught her attention, which earned him a wide smile.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, concern lacing his words.

  “Oh, yeah. Just brushed my teeth.” She shrugged off his concern.

  A lie, he thought. He was trained to read people. He knew she had been sick, but she looked more tired and frail than the evening they Facetimed. Worry settled in – she was tiny to begin with and didn’t have much to lose.

  “Are you sure? It’s been days since the tacos. Maybe we need to have you seen.” He sat the box of donuts on a credenza just outside the bathroom and walked in to meet her.

  “No. I’ll be fine, promise. I feel better today. Just don’t have my appetite back. I think it was actually a bug or something – not the tacos. City has it too.” Another shrug, as if she hadn’t given it a second thought or worry.

  That was a lie too. She didn’t feel better. If anything, it was worse. If he wasn’t already glad to be back, he was now. A sudden urge to take care of her overwhelmed him, and it took all he had not to scoop her up and put her back in bed. He decided to put his arms around her and pull her close instead.

  “There was a text.” Luke decided to change the subject. “Since the boys and I ruined Sunday dinner, Ma wants to have it today if you’re up to it?”

  “Sure. Sunday dinner on Tuesday. Sounds good to me.”

  “Actually, she’s calling it Tuesday huddle – after lunch – but before dinner. Apparently, it’s different and more casual.”

  “Sundays are pretty casual.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, Ma lives in a slightly different world than the rest of us.”

  When Daisy tossed her head back and laughed, that pinch in his chest ached again. He loved the sound of her laugh.

  Holding her like he was made him want to change their afternoon plans. Just like he loved the sound of her laugh, he loved the feel of her in his arms. “If you’d rather stay in…”

  “No, I’ll be fine.” Daisy looked up and brushed his hair from his forehead, not missing the concern in his eyes. “Like I said, I’m feeling much better. Besides, your Ma will just bring it all here if we don’t show up.”

  Another lie, he thought. She didn’t feel better, she just didn’t want him to worry. A family gathering would provide enough distraction for her to fly under the radar.

  “Okay. It’s at Liam’s,” Luke added, trying to put his mind elsewhere. “She wants an update on Carter. I think she’s just using Liam to get Carter on one of his big screens in his home office so it feels like he’s there and she can drive him crazy remotely.”

  “Remotely? He isn’t here?”

  “No. We detoured to McKenzie Ridge General Hospital. We have friends there who will keep his presence quiet. He’ll need to take a minute and heal some busted up ribs and stuff anyway.”

  “He needed a hospital,” she said, a statement, not a question. The guilt she was feeling became evident. He took that beating to protect her.

  “He said he didn’t, but it’s better to keep him there for a few days to heal, and to keep him away from the lair. He’ll try to jump back on the case.”

  “McKenzie Ridge – that’s where your sister lives.” She’d learned a lot about the friends and family in McKenzie Ridge from her long visits with Colleen and even Lydia, who had family there too.

  “Carigan, yes. It’s about four hours from here. Called in favors. He’s in his own room in a secluded part of the hospital with protection.”

  “You hid him?” she questioned, the concern growing in her tone.

  “For now – until we know more. It’s better to be safe than sorry, right?”

  “That’s good.” Her words lacked confidence, and her head dropped as she stared off. “I can’t help but feel responsible.”

  “You didn’t kill the senator, Daisy. This isn’t your fault.”

  “I know it’s silly, but they were looking for me.”

  Luke pulled her close, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed the top of her head. Though he didn’t blame her for what had happened, he understood why she felt the way she did. If he could take that stress and pain away from her, he would. In an instant.

  With her head on his chest, she wished they could stay there like that forever. It was so good to have him back, she didn’t think she’d be able to let him go again. “Do you need to get to the lair?”

  “No. Liam is still working on leads – using that software to find what he’s looking for. The committee overseeing its development will be back later this week, so he’s giving it a good workout. If anything good can come from all this, I guess it’s that we’re able to use this experience to better a product that will improve national security.”

  “Wow. Impressive. Saving the world, huh?” she laughed, but read between the lines. This wasn’t a win for the good guys. “You don’t think you got the right guys then.”

  Luke shook his head, confirming her suspicion. “It was too easy of a fight once we found Landry. Just a bunch of cartel muscle. There weren’t any major players there. We know who they all are and who they work for. It’s like they were nothing more than hired help – bodyguards. They don’t know anything.”

  “They’re in jail?”

  He laughed. “More like a super-max prison. Highest security prison there is. Zero contact with anyone inside or outside while they’re being…interrogated. They’ll probably never get out. What they did to Carter a
lone gets them life. He’s a US Attorney.”

  “Now, to find the smoking gun.”

  “You let us worry about that. We’re close – really close.” He pulled away and turned to the bedroom where Gibson was laying on the bed, fast asleep. “Right now, I’m thinking Gibby has the right idea.”

  “You wore her out, huh?”

  “Yeah, it was good for both of us. We needed it. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I’m going to join her. Want to nap with us?”

  Daisy laughed. “I thought you’d never ask, but first…you shower.”

  “Good idea. I did run pretty hard.” Without hesitation, he started to remove his clothes and tossed them in a nearby hamper. The hungry stare Daisy pinned on him gave him another good idea. “You should join me. You were hugging me and stuff.”

  “Are you saying I’m…dirty, Luke O’Reilly?” She ran her hand down the front of him, her eyes trailing the path. The affect she had on him was evident by the time her hand reached his already hard length.

  “I’ll say anything you want as long as you keep doing that thing with your hand and join me in the shower.”

  “Luke O’Reilly, you better get me in that shower, then take me to bed.” She snaked her hands around his neck as he lifted her from the ground and wrapped her around his waist.

  They had lost time to make up for.

  Showering was just one of those things. It was right up there with brushing your teeth and using deodorant. On this day, however, it became one of Luke’s favorite things to do with his lady.

  Snuggled in bed, her body wrapped around his, she went right to sleep. He didn’t need a nap, or want one, for that matter, but knew Daisy wouldn’t take one herself unless it was for him. She still wasn’t feeling well and was lying about it. This was his remedy for the situation. Maybe it was just a bug – City had it too, after all – and the stress was getting to her. It was certainly getting to him. He’d lay in bed in the middle of the morning for a few hours if that was what she needed.

  He held her tight and wondered how he was supposed to let her go and never think about her again. How it would feel not to know where she was, how she was doing, if she was feeling okay…how would he let her go have a normal life?

  He’d be no different than his brother Dace – chasing after a girl for years he couldn’t let go of. Was that the shape his life was taking? Running off for days at a time looking for Daisy like Dace did Ivy? Dace was miserable – the unhappiest asshole he knew. Was that his destiny too? His mind wandered, and he wondered if that was the only way. If, despite all he had done, there was a way for them to have a forever. He was definitely beginning to want one.

  14

  As predicted, Carter was live on Facetime, on a large screen in Liam’s home office. With the bruises they saw in that original text fading to yellow, and new bruises a brilliant purple, the boys teased that Carter’s stitches weren’t noticeable at all. It was also pointed out that his fat lip appeared barely there because his swollen black eye offset the imbalance.

  “Collie, turn away,” Carter instructed, to which she complied, and when she did, he generously flipped the O’Reilly boys the bird. “You can look now.”

  “I’ll give you that one for free, Carter Landry. Next time, you lose dessert and I’ll make sure it’s a night I make your favorite.” Colleen knew exactly why he’d asked her to turn away. Having raised five rowdy boys, there was no fooling her.

  Her tone turned emotional, which translated to bossy. “Get home, boyo! Ya hear me? I’d like to have all my boys home for a change.”

  And with that, she left the office to tend to the meal they were about to have. Carter was in good spirits, on the mend, but it was hard to see anyone in the condition he was in. When Colleen called everyone to eat and told them to let him rest so he could get back to Watermark, they each said their goodbyes. Home for Carter was Washington DC these days, but if you asked Colleen O’Reilly, Portland was home for everyone she loved.

  “Daisy,” he called out before the video call was ended. “Can you stay a moment?”

  Liam stood, giving her the chair to his desk, and left her alone to speak to Carter.

  “Hey, Luke?” he said, causing Daisy to look around the empty room. “I know you’re there, man. C’mon in.”

  To Daisy’s surprise, Luke popped his head in with a sly smile before he pulled up a chair next to Daisy. “Caught me. Sorry, just—”

  “Just doing you, man,” Carter laughed. “It’s fine – you should hear it too.”

  Anxiety flooded Daisy. He had some sort of news, and for the first time, she wasn’t sure which way she wanted it to go. Best case: her days there were numbered because they caught the killer. Worst case…her days were numbered because they caught the killer.

  She finally asked, “What is it, Carter?”

  “I…uh…” He cleared his throat. Sheridan appeared in the picture, sitting at his side, holding his hand. “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry?” Daisy looked at Luke with confusion before turning back to the screen. “I don’t understand.”

  “They didn’t get anything from me, but a couple ‘your mama’ comments, hence the stitches, and a whole lot of silence. They don’t know who you are.” Carter searched for words, riddled in some sort of hero’s guilt. “I’m sorry I didn’t get him. I was close. I was so damn close, but—”

  “Carter, stop.” A force came with Daisy’s words, a scolding pitch that surprised each of them. “You don’t get to be sorry. Look at you. You took everything they threw at you – for me. To protect me. You have nothing to be sorry for, except maybe to yourself for being such a…such a…” she looked around the room, as if the word she needed would be written on a wall, then threw up her hands, “for being such a baby.”

  Sheridan snickered. Daisy’s tough love needed some work, but she earned points for trying. Carter’s jaw dropped, and Luke laughed.

  “I’m sorry, Carter. Oh my God, that was awful to say. You’re in the hospital, looking like that, I’m sure everything hurts, and I just called you a baby.” Palming her face, Daisy collected herself, then tried again. “What I mean is thank you. What you did for me, and everyone else, was heroic. So, no apologies. No next times. Just get better and come back, okay? No more close calls.”

  When Daisy choked on her final words, emotion consuming her, Carter smiled a crooked, swollen smile and nodded. Sheridan grabbed Carter’s hand as tears filled her eyes.

  Daisy shook her head, willing her own emotional break to move on. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I owe you so much, Carter. You have no idea how much I owe you.”

  When she turned to Luke, he put an arm around her, and everyone on that call knew what she was thanking Carter for. With emotions high, and brutally raw, there wasn’t anything left to say.

  The deep timbre of Carter’s voice was a mere mumble. “See you soon, kid.”

  Sheridan blew a kiss at the camera and waved goodbye before hitting the red button, ending the call.

  Daisy laid her head on Luke’s shoulder as they sat in silence, staring at the dark screen. “He’s going to be okay,” she whispered.

  The afternoon grew long, as it often did when everyone was together. Colleen made enough food to feed an army, and that’s exactly what she fed. These were the times the O’Reillys loved best, despite the minor protests here and there. Family was everything to them. It had become everything to Daisy now, too.

  It was an afternoon of sitting around and catching up. The dogs were the center of attention, then the children, then back to the dogs. Nobody talked shop; they were just a regular family who didn’t have mysterious villains lurking in the shadows, or assassins to hunt.

  A round of laugher filled the room, but was quickly muted when Dick the dog came into the room with toilet paper stuck to his paw and a box in his mouth. Gibson was right behind him, with toilet paper around her neck, trying to get the box from Dick.

  “What the hell have those two gotten
into now?” Declan chided, following the dogs around, grabbing the loose toilet paper.

  “Looks like they were playing in the bathroom again. What is it with the toilet paper roll and those two?” Lydia laughed.

  When Declan tried to get the box from Dick, Liam intercepted. “Oh, hey. I’ve got that. Dick, you little shit, give it to me.”

  When the dog ran from Declan, it became a game of keep away. A dog that size didn’t go down easy. When Luke finally inserted himself in the contest of wills, he simply snapped his fingers at the unruly dog, who promptly sat, as did Gibson. He grabbed the box to throw it away, but Liam’s shifty reaction caused him to give it a second look.

  “Pregnancy test?” he asked.

  An uproar of chatter and excitement filled the room. Though they didn’t know who the test belonged to for sure, given whose home they were in, they had a good idea.

  “Felicity Nichols…something you want to tell us?” Lydia scolded.

  When she smiled, they all cheered, realizing what it meant. Liam and City were having a baby.

  “So, we might need to move the wedding up,” City giggled. “Instead of a Christmas wedding, we’re thinking…soon.”

  Daisy’s smile faded when she realized if City was pregnant, she didn’t share a bug with her – nor did she have food poisoning. Was it a big coincidence? She tried to keep her calm, and hoped like hell nobody else caught on – especially Luke. She needed time to wrap her mind around all the possibilities. But when City caught her eye and lifted a single brow, it was clear she wasn’t the only one questioning Daisy’s being ill. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be – could it?

  What were the odds, really? Daisy didn’t believe in coincidence. Everything happened for a reason and had purpose. So, what was the purpose here other than to shock the shit out of everyone, if there was cause for shock? She held her breath, plastered on a fitting smile, and joined the festivities of passing around hugs and congratulations.