Sempiternal

by K. Renee

  When I open the door, I see a black car with tinted windows parked. The trunk is slightly popped, and no one is around. Conaill shoves the fecker in the trunk and closes it before turning towards me.

  “What ye want to do now?”

  I run me hand down the side of me face and look around the dark alley.

  “We find out who is targeting me lass.” He nods, and we make our way back inside. As we walk down the hall, we see Rory coming out of the other room.

  “Ye find anything?” he asks.

  “No, we put the fecker in the trunk that was meant for Stana. If anything they won’t check to see who’s in the trunk until they leave. They’ll be surprised when they find that bastard in there instead of me lass.”

  The door to the room opens, and the girls both come stumbling out. “Jerick!” Stana says happily. She’s completely knackered again. She stumbles over to me and wraps her arms around me waist like nothing happened. Cara is giggling behind her and pulling Rory in fer a kiss.

  “Stana, love,” I murmur. She looks up at me with her beautiful eyes, and I see the whole world in them. It would be so damn easy to fall in love with her. She’s everything that I wish I were minus the dark secrets that she continues to keep. She doesn’t like to share stuff still, but I will change that. I’ll help her see the world. Try new things that she would never have done without me.

  “Ye ready to go home?” She nods her head and leans in to press her mouth against mine. I let her do as she wishes. She kisses me sloppily, but I don’t mind. Just having her in me arms makes everything better.

  “Jerick, I’m going to get me drunk wife home now. I’ll catch ye later.” Rory says from behind Stana. I nod me head, and I look over to Conaill. He doesn’t move until I do.

  “I need to get this one home too,” I state. “We can walk together just in case Ciaran is out there.” Both men nod, and we lead the drunken girls out of the club and towards the parking garage.

  As we walk towards the parking garage, I see Conaill scanning the area. When we get to Rory’s car, we wait fer him to get Cara in the car. “Jerick!” she yells. I turn me head towards her and see the huge grin on her face. “I like this one! Don’t mess it up!” Rory looks over at us and just shakes his head.

  “This is yer fault, arsehole,” he says before shutting the door on Cara. I laugh at him as he walks to the driver’s side and gets in. Stana has her head on me shoulder as I continue to hold up most of her weight. She waves at Cara and Rory as they take off into the night.

  “Let’s get ye to the car, love,” I murmur against her temple. She nods her head but doesn’t move from the spot she’s standing. Wrapping me arm around her, I lead her towards the car with Conaill following us. When I get there, I see that me tires are slashed and me windows are busted out.

  “Mother fecker,” I bite out.

  “Shit,” Conaill says behind me. “Come on, I’ll drop ye off.”

  I nod me head and walk with Stana towards Conaill’s car. Her eyes are wide, but she doesn’t say a word about the car. I don’t know if it’s because she’s knackered or because she’s scared. “I’ll have one of me men come and get the car. It can be fixed by the end of tomorrow.” He’s already pulling his phone from his jeans.

  “Aye, I need ye to have a truck pick up Jerick’s car in the parking garage outside of Sinkhole.” He listens fer a second before he says anything else. “Broken windows and slashed tires.” Stana wraps her arm around my waist and hugs me closer to her as we walk.

  “Who would do that to your pretty car?” Her speech still slightly slurred.

  “Don’t know love, but I will find out.”

  “Me guy will be here in the next hour to get yer car.” Conaill hits the button on his key fob to unlock his truck. I help Stana into the backseat and scoot her over getting in next to her. “Am I taking ye to yer place?” he asks when he starts the truck.

  “No, South Main.” I give him directions when he needs them; otherwise, the ride to her place is quiet. When I look at her, she has her eyes closed and her cheek resting on me. “Thank ye, Conaill,” I state when he puts the truck in park outside of Stana’s apartment complex.

  “Ye know I’d do it without ye even asking. Yer me brother.” I lean forward and shake his hand.

  “I’ll give ye a call tomorrow about getting me car. I owe ye one.” He brushes me off, but I know if he needs something he won’t hesitate to call. He doesn’t do this shit for any reason but being like family. He doesn’t want the glory or attention on him. He just wants to live his life with no regrets or rules.

  I get Stana out of the truck and wave to Conaill as he pulls away from the curb. Picking Stana up, I carry her to her apartment. When I get us inside, I scan the parking lot before shutting the door and taking her to bed.

  Thirteen

  Stana

  The minute Jerick drops me off at work on Monday morning; I can’t help but have a stupid grin on my face until I step into the building. It’s like I’m floating on cloud nine after our weekend together. Sure there were a few moments that literally sucked, like when I puked my guts up all morning Sunday and when he had to go get his car after someone vandalized it in the parking garage. But we didn’t let any of that affect the fantastic weekend together. We still had fun lying in bed most of the day yesterday, being lazy and having a little fun.

  He is fantastic and sexy. I just can’t get enough of him. I know things are moving kind of fast, but for some reason since he saved me that night, he is the only thing I can think of. I feel Max’s eyes on me as soon as I walk by his cubicle. I try to ignore him as much as I can until he starts to speak.

  “You know who he is right?” He has one eyebrow raised as he eyes me.

  “What does it matter?” I ask sounding really defensive.

  Part of me feels like I need to protect him and the other part just doesn’t know. The truth is I don’t know who he is. I have no clue, but even if I found out something terrible he did, I don’t know if I could stay away from him now. The feel of his skin against mine is addicting.

  “He’s a thug. He’s bad news,” Max states. He looks like he knows everything about Jerick, but he doesn't say more than that.

  “A thug?” I admonish.

  I sigh and move my purse to the other arm before I say anything. He just nods his head at my question, not providing me any proof. “He isn't a thug. He’s a good guy, and he has a job,” I state defending him. I’m not even sure why I said he has a job. It seems stupid now that I’m thinking about it.

  “He’s a murderer Stana. A man like that only brings trouble. You should stay away from him.” He gives me a stern look, but I ignore him. He doesn't know Jerick. How could he? They’ve never met before… unless they have and I just don’t know about it?

  “How do you know that?” I finally ask. My hands are shaking, and my stomach is starting to turn at the thought of him hurting anyone else. There’s no way, he saved my life. He can’t be a murderer.

  “He murdered my father.” Max’s eyes darken, and I feel like I can’t breathe. No. He couldn't have. I shake my head, but he moves closer to me. “He killed my old man in cold blood over not paying on his debt. He works for the Brannigan family. They are involved in shady shit, and he’s smack dab in the middle of it.” My throat feels dry, and I’m having trouble trying to make sense of what he’s telling me.

  Jerick had been following me for months after I was attacked or so he said. My phone beeps in my hand with a new text message and I know it’s him. “That’s probably him. Why don’t you ask him if you don’t believe me?” His face is full of anger, and I can imagine what he’s going through. My parents have been gone for a while, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday that I got the news.

  Starting college was always a dream of mine. My parents supported my ideas one hundred percent and always told me I could do anything I set my mind to. My first semester went amazingly, and I couldn’t wait to go back for the second semest
er. I spent the break with my parents at home in my small hometown of like three hundred people. Although I hated being back in that town, I don’t regret going. The weekend after I came back to school, I got the call that changed the course of my entire life.

  A police offer called to inform me that there had been an incident and that I needed to come home as soon as possible. I remember getting into my small black Honda and driving nonstop until I reached my hometown. When I pulled onto my parent’s street, I could see the police cars and crime scene tape blowing in the wind.

  Running towards the door, someone grabbed me to hold me back, and I started to scream. I screamed so loud that it was the only thing I could hear until my voice went hoarse and my body numb.

  I didn’t listen to the police officer telling me to calm down. I couldn’t make sense of anything. I was just with them. If that person who killed them had come one week earlier, I would be dead too. Half the time I wish I died with them. Maybe then I wouldn’t be living this life that still doesn’t even make sense to me.

  I feel my heart beating out of my chest, and I have a hard time trying to catch my breath. I hear Max telling me to breathe, but I can’t get any air in my lungs. He hands me a cup of water, and I just stare at it in my hands, not really seeing it. I refuse to drink it because I know that it won’t help, nothing will.

  I need fresh air. When I run out the office doors, I stop and hunch over in front of the large building, hands on my knees gasping for air. I hear a voice yelling my name, but I can’t focus on it. Two hands grab my upper arms, and soon I’m being pulled back into a hard body. His scent fills my nose, and I feel myself start to calm down.

  “Breathe lass,” he whispers against my hair. He presses a kiss to my forehead and then pulls me into his waiting arms.

  “I’m right here lass.” His hand runs up and down my back in a soothing manner, and I feel my head clear entirely from the memories of my parents.

  When I calm down enough, I pull away slightly and look up at him. “What are you doing here?” I sniff a few times before wiping my eyes. He watches me intently, almost like he’s afraid I’m going to break down again.

  “I sent ye a text to tell ye I was bringing yer wallet by.”

  My mind travels back to when he dropped me off. Before I could get out the door, he was pulling me back into the car and kissing me until I was breathless. I ended up spilling the contents of my purse all over his floorboard.

  Something catches his attention behind me and his eyes narrow. “Get your hands off her,” Max growls. When he reaches us, he tries to pull me out of Jerick’s grip.

  “Mind yer own business,” Jerick seethes.

  “She’s my friend,” Max states, not backing down. I try to diffuse the situation by putting my hand on Jerick’s chest. His eyes meet mine for a second before they go back over to Max. Just when I think that Jerick is going to say something else, he surprises me.

  He grabs the back of my neck and pulls me in for a mind-blowing kiss. When he finally breaks our kiss after what seems like hours, I can’t even remember where I am or why I’m having trouble breathing. The only thing I can focus on is him. My eyes wander along him, and I can’t help but think that every part of him is impressive. My fuzzy head snaps back to reality when he hands me my wallet. I can feel Max’s hand on my arm, trying to get me away from Jerick.

  Jerick leans in and runs the back of his fingers down the side of my cheek, then down my neck, cupping the side of it. “See ye later banphrionsa princess.” He gives me a sweet peck on the lips before he leaves. He looks over my shoulder at Max for a second before he walks to his car.

  “He’s dangerous,” Max grits out behind me. I don’t turn around to look at him; instead, I focus on Jerick as he watches us. When he finally pulls out and takes off down the street, I feel like I’m suffocating again. There is no way that I could possibly feel this much for a guy that I barely know. What if Max is right, what if he is a killer?

  After spending my whole workday researching the Brannigan family, to say I’m confused is an understatement. I don’t know what to think right now. I know somewhere deep in my heart that he isn’t an evil man. Well, at least he isn’t to me. At least a dozen articles were stating all the different laws that Jerick and his father have broken. Murder, corruption, illegal betting, intimidation, and so much more.

  According to the sites, there has never been enough proof to bring charges up against Jerick or his father. After scanning the files a few more times, I feel like I’m in a bad mob movie. Do you trust the man that saved your life or the man that has been your only friend the past seven months without question or doubt about your crazy self and panic attacks? Gah, I don’t even know what to think.

  I want to believe that Jerick wouldn’t hurt anyone, but all signs are pointing to him being the villain. No, I can’t jump to conclusions. I’ve had that happen to me before, and it doesn’t feel pleasant to be accused of something without proof.

  My phone beeps with a new message and I see Jerick’s name on the screen. Looking at the time, I jump out of my chair and grab my things. As I walk by Max, I can see the frown on his face. He’s worried, and I get that, but I can make my own decisions. In my heart, I know that Jerick won’t hurt me – he saved me. If it weren’t for him, I’d be probably dead or wishing I were already.

  “Stana,” Max says my name on a plea, but I don’t stop walking towards the door. When I make it outside, I see Jerick leaning against his car.

  “Hey, babe.” His eyes lighten as he takes me in and it makes me feel excited and nervous all at once. I don’t know why he gets to me this way.

  “Hey,” I say lamely, giving him a small wave. He pushes off his car and closes the distance between us. When he’s at arm’s length, he wraps me up in his arms and presses a kiss to the side of my neck. A small moan slips from my mouth, and I try to remind my body that Jerick and I need to talk before anything else can happen. No dirty time until I find out the truth from his mouth.

  “Ye ready?” I nod my head and look over my shoulder to see that Max is watching us from the glass door. “He a problem?” Jerick asks, bringing my attention back to him.

  “No, he just thinks I’m in danger.” I can feel his body tense at my words and my stomach drops. Maybe Max is right about Jerick.

  God, I sure hope he’s wrong.

  Fourteen

  Jerick

  Judging by her body language, that fecking bastard is telling her that I’m a bad guy and that she should stay away from me. To say to the girl I’m fecking that I’m a bad guy is horseshit, unless he’s trying to get her to be his. Feck that. She’s mine, and I won’t let that fecker say anything to ruin that. Getting her in the car, I can only imagine the shit he told her.

  “Jerick,” she whispers. I turn me attention to her and wait fer her to speak before I say anything. “Talking to Max I learned a few things I didn’t expect…” She trails off before she continues again. “I’m asking you to be honest with me because over the last few weeks I’ve developed…” She stops this time and doesn’t continue.

  “Ye what, babe?” I ask even though I already know the answer.

  “Have you ever killed anyone before?” The answer she is looking fer isn’t something that I was hiding from her. I’m not ashamed of the man I am, but I won’t tell her more than she needs to know. Instead of giving her the answer she is looking fer, I think about what she was going to say to me. She almost said something informative about what she thinks has been developing between us, but she chickened out.

  “The answer won’t change things. I’ll still be the same lad ye have come to know.” I pause and wait fer it to sink in fer her.

  “I have to know who you really are,” she states quietly. She’s messing with her hands, so I reach out and put mine on hers. I feel her hesitation, but after a few seconds, her fingers intertwine with mine.

  “Aye.” It’s the only word out of me mouth. I can see her tension come back and her eyes w
iden. “I won’t lie to ye.” I watch her as her mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. She is completely shocked, and I hate not knowing what’s running through her mind.

  “Why?” She finally stutters out.

  I’m not telling her here. Who knows who is listening and I won’t be going down fer some shit. “We’ll talk about it when we get to yer place.” I don’t wait fer her to say anything. Pulling her hand to me mouth, I kiss her knuckles before putting the car in reverse.

  The whole car ride is tense, and I know she’s probably only thinking the worst about me now. Instead of heading to her gaff, I make our way to mine. I know fer sure that there are no bugs at me gaff. I can at least explain shit to her without the huge risk I’d take out here in the streets.

  Putting the car in park, I shut off the engine and reach over to grab her hand. She jumps at the contact then settles back into her seat. When she looks around the car, I can see the confusion written all over her face.

  “Come lass. We can talk inside.”

  When I get out of me car, I walk around to her side and open the door. I reach inside and grab her hand, pulling her up and out of the car. Her eyes are surveying the parking garage. “Where are we?” She finally asks. I don’t say anything at first; I just grab her hand and lead her towards the elevator that takes us up to me place.

  She follows me without any more words, and I can tell by the way her shoulders are hunched and the tight grip she has on me hand that she is nervous. She has no idea where I’m taking her, yet she lets me lead her towards it anyways. When we come to me front door, she blows out a small breath. Unlocking the door, I push it open and motion fer her to walk in front of me.

  Her grip on my hand lessens as she walks into me place. I shut the door and watch as her eyes bounce from wall to wall. They scan over everything in me gaff, and I can’t get a read on her face. The sound of a phone ringing echoes through the open room, and she doesn’t even move to answer it. Once she finally has a chance to look at everything in here, she turns to me. Her beautiful blue eyes meet mine, and I’m drawn in.