Locking You (The Boston Kirkpatrick's #2)

by S. Donahue

  “Hey babe. What’s going on?”

  “Maybe my meeting will cut short and I can come home and make sweet love to you.”

  “The offer sounds appealing, but I’m doing a stakeout tonight with Wilson.”

  “Okay sweetie, I’ll see you when you get home.”

  Strange, very strange. He no longer cares that I’m working with Wilson. I know he trusts me, but he went from insanely jealous to calm peaceful Brendan. I can’t dwell on it…time to hit the paperwork until I leave at six.

  Chapter 18

  Brendan

  I disconnect the call with Joella and toss my phone across my desk. It’s killing me that she spends all of her time with Wilson. Besides the fact that I think he has ulterior motives. I just don’t trust him. Cameron has been following them which eased my mind a little bit. I also have Cameron looking into Mrs. O’Malley and all the suspects in the investigation. It won’t hurt to have my own investigation going on. I’m not going to let something happen to the love of my life. I know Joella can handle her job, but no one will look after her like I can. She has no idea. If she knew, we would not be getting married in a week and a half.

  While Joella was in the shower last week, I installed trackers in our cell phones. It’s for our own safety. Cameron suggested it. I think it was a great idea. If I had directly asked Joella to install it she would have fought me to no end. It’s an invasion of privacy, I know, but she will thank me one day.

  Jocelyn knocks on my door.

  “Hi Joc, come on in.”

  “I cancelled all your meetings for Friday.”

  “Great, thanks.”

  “I can’t believe the wedding is almost here.”

  “I know. It’s exciting. I picked up my tux last night.”

  “I’m really honored that you and Joella asked me to help plan the wedding. It means a lot to me. I’m so proud of you Brendan. Stan would have been too.”

  “You are like a second mother to me, Joc. You were there for me when no one else was.”

  “I’ll always be here for you.”

  “I know that.”

  I’m so lucky to have Jocelyn in my life. She is amazing. She sees the good in everyone. I stop and think…so does Joella. I need to let her do her job.

  I call Brad on the phone. “Hey dude, you ready for that conference call tonight?”

  “Yes, this is going to be huge.”

  “I’m sorry about our plans getting messed up a few weeks back.”

  “That’s okay. We’ll get to see the facility Saturday afternoon after we dock the boat.”

  “Looking forward to working with you, I’m ready for this presentation. Hopefully, we get the bid.”

  “I think we’ll be fine,” Brad says confidently.

  “I hope. I’ll talk to you later tonight.”

  I’m working on this business deal with Joella’s cousin’s husband Bradley Roberts. We are looking to open a mall on a NJ resort island. This is going to be a major investment. If all goes well, we want to franchise across the U.S. This is a great opportunity for both of us.

  I get up from my desk. One person should not have this much stress. I’m getting old.

  “Joc, I’m going to the restaurant in case you’re looking for me. Are you hungry?”

  “No, I ate. Thanks.”

  “Okay, I’ll be back. I’m meeting Connor for lunch.”

  “Have fun.”

  “God only knows what he wants.”

  “Good luck with that one.”

  “Thanks I need it.”

  Chapter 19

  Joella

  “Why is there so much traffic everywhere we go?” I complain while playing with the radio in the car.

  “We should be there in two hours,” Brendan says ignoring my outburst.

  “Great. I hate these things. I don’t like being the center of attention and I don’t like people doting on me. I’m a private person and my family is nosy.”

  “Listen, there’s something I have to tell you. I’m not supposed to but…well I promised I wouldn’t. I just don’t like keeping secrets from you and I feel bad.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s Connor. I had lunch with him the other day.”

  “And what else is new,” I say being sarcastic.

  “We argued.”

  “What? You didn’t even argue when you found out he was alive after seven years.”

  “He and Wendy are through. She went to Louisiana, took Connor Jr. with her and left him with Callie.”

  “What the fuck?”

  “Yeah, Callie’s driving to Philly with my Ma.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “He cheated on her, but she doesn’t know who it’s with.”

  “Do you know who it is?”

  He’s staring straight ahead and not answering me. That can’t be good.

  “Brendan, who is it?”

  “You sure you want to know?”

  “Very sure.”

  “It’s Sarah.”

  “Sarah who? Wait!! What??? He’s fucking my sister. Are you kidding me?”

  “”Sweetie, you can’t say anything and get how you get.”

  “No wonder Gabe moved out. Is she fucking crazy?” I say ignoring his comment.

  “Well, I think they both are.”

  “My mom has no clue. She was telling me the other day that something was wrong.”

  “I’m fucking livid. How long has this been going on?”

  “A while.”

  “A month, three months, a year.”

  “He goes to Philly on business at least since December. He said no one knows.”

  “Five months. The kids are the ones who fucking suffer.”

  “Don’t say anything.” He pleads.

  “I don’t need to say anything. I’m just gonna kill her.”

  “Let them handle it. Apparently they are in love according to him.”

  “Yeah she loves Gabe too…so she said.”

  “How do I look at her now?”

  “Maybe she’ll tell you now that Gabe left.”

  I sit in silence the rest of the way. I can’t believe my sister ruined her marriage for Connor. She’s an idiot. Gabe was a good guy, so I thought.

  We arrive at six thirty. I’m so exhausted from the ride. My mom is at the door pacing. “You’re late.”

  “We drove from Boston. There’s traffic.”

  “At least you’re safe. I was worried.”

  “Mom, it’s fine. I’m here now.”

  She hugs and kisses Brendan. “The groom.”

  “That’s me,” he says laughing. He thinks my mom is hysterical. I keep my opinions to myself. He doesn’t get calls all day long from her.

  “You’re room is cleaned and ready for you. You can bring the bags upstairs, Brendan.”

  God forbid something is out of place for one minute.

  “Everyone’s in the kitchen,” she says holding me.

  “Who’s everyone?”

  “Sarah, (I roll my eyes) Gia, Rachel and Aunt Lotty. We’re doing the favors for the Bridal Shower. The guys are in the yard playing cards. Grab a beer and some food when you come down.”

  “Thanks. My mom, Aunt Carol, Connor and Callie are about an hour behind us. They are checking in at the hotel before they stop over.”

  “Ah…great, I can’t wait to see them,” my mom says.

  Great, just great. Connor and Sarah in the same room.

  “Hey everyone,” I greet them. Looking at them all together in my mom’s kitchen brings back memories of us growing up together. Gia runs up and gives me a big hug. We were always close. Sarah and Rachel always hung together.

  “Aunt Lotty, you look great. Have you lost weight?”

  “Yeah, I’m on Weight Watchers.”

  “Wow, you look amazing.”

  “Wait until she starts counting her points,” Rachel says with a sarcastic look on her face.

  I laugh. I miss being with my crazy family. Bre
ndan comes down the stairs.

  “Hey ladies,” he says to everyone in the room. My mom already has his plate of food and beer ready. He takes it and heads out to the backyard.

  “Jojo, he’s a hottie,” Aunt Lottie says.

  “Come on…yeah I guess he is.”

  She loses all that weight, now she’s a man eater. Don’t let daddy hear you saying that,” Rachel quips.

  I notice Sarah is being very quiet.

  “Hey sis,” she says as I look over at her.

  “Hey.” She must think I know. Does she realize she’s banging my almost brother-in-law and his wife left him.

  “Mom, can I get some wine? It was a long ride.” I divert my attention.

  About two hours later the doorbell rings. I’m feeling good from the wine. It’s the Kirkpatrick clan. I kiss them all hello and introduce them to the rest of the family. They know my mom and sister obviously.

  “Connor, you remember Sarah,” I say. He’s oblivious as usual.

  “Yes, sure. Um…hi Sarah. It’s nice to see you again.”

  She looks at me. She definitely knows that I know now.

  “Um hi, hi…great to see you.” There’s an awkward silence in the room. My mom breaks it. Thank God. Connor the guys are all outside. She hands him food and a beer.

  “Excuse us,” Sarah says grabbing my arm and dragging me up the stairs to my bedroom. She shuts the door and locks it.

  “What’s your problem?”

  “What are you talking about? Where’s Gabe?”

  “With his brother.”

  “Is he coming over?”

  “No”

  “Ever?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “We’re getting divorced.”

  “Why? You love him.”

  “No I don’t.”

  “Why?”

  “Stop asking me why.”

  She starts pacing the room.

  “You’re making me dizzy.”

  “It’s the wine.”

  “No, it’s you. Tell me what’s going on.”

  “I love someone else.”

  “Who?”

  She looks at a picture of me in my cheerleading uniform from high school.

  “Connor”

  “Come on. You can’t be serious. You love him. You do realize you’re both married.”

  “Yes.”

  “He’s married to a stripper. Has a kid with another stripper who’s in prison. He was presumed dead for seven years. What’s not to love?”

  “We can’t control who we fall for.”

  “He will bang you and leave you. He lives in Boston. You live in Philly. You both have kids.”

  “We love each other.”

  “Do you know how many times I have arrested him?”

  “People misjudge him.”

  “Look, I love him like a brother, but you’re my sister and I will kill him if he hurts you and I guarantee you I’ll throw away the key.”

  “I know what I’m doing.”

  “You don’t, but I will be watching you. You better tell mom soon…”

  “He told Mrs. Kirkpatrick before they left to come here. We’re going to talk about things while he is here this weekend.”

  “Great, now my mother-in-law knows that my sister is banging her son. You better know what you’re doing,” I say as I walk out of the room.

  My sister is a fool, but she is smart. She needs to learn the hard way. I’ll see what happens, but I’m going to be fighting people if she gets hurt.

  “You okay?” my mom asks.

  “Yep. Great.”

  I talk and laugh with everyone for the remainder of the night. I’m not going to let this ruin my time here. I love them both. It will work out.

  As Brendan and I are lying in bed, he puts his arm around me.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too. Get some sleep. You have to get up early,” I laugh. The roosters will be calling you.

  “Yeah, so do you.”

  “I know except it will be my mother calling.”

  “Sweetie, I know you’re upset about Sarah and Connor, but I know him well and he really loves her a lot. He told me he never felt this way about someone before.”

  “Well he better not fuck with her.”

  “It’s gonna be okay. All you need to know is that I love you and that’s it. Good night Gawgeous.”

  “Good Night, babe.”

  Chapter 20

  Brendan

  Talk about roosters. Italian fathers are worse. Tom screams when he talks.

  “Yo Brendan, Pretty boy, get up! Time to go fish”

  I open the door to his bright smiling face. “It’s early.” I mumble.

  “Come on son, let’s get a move on. Uncle Don’s downstairs.”

  “Okay.”

  I sleep walk to my bags. I grab my clothes, toothbrush and go into the bathroom. I love fishing on the boat and all but they are killing me with this time. I’m sure fish are out later in the morning. I kiss my fiancé goodbye and wish her luck at her bridal shower today. I head downstairs where all the guys are waiting drinking coffee and eating donuts. My future mother-in-law knows me so well.

  “Let’s roll,” Uncle Don yells out. I stuff the donuts in my mouth.

  I drive down to the Jersey shore with Brad, Connor and Carson. Uncle Don and Tom drive down in Tom’s car. We are driving down to Uncle Don’s shore house and taking his boat out onto the Atlantic Ocean.

  It’s great to just relax and not worry about anything. Joella’s safe with her family. I took her work phone so she doesn’t sit and work the whole time she’s there. Her mother actually made me take it. I guess she would rather I be the bad guy.

  We arrive to our destination an hour and ½ later. We throw our belongings in the house and head out to the boat. Don and Tom go fishing all the time so they are professionals.

  After our fishing trip this afternoon, Brad and I are going to check out our property and the others are going to head back to Philly. This could eventually mean big changes for Joella and I, but for now we’ll just go on as normal. All I want to do is make Joella happy. Everything I do, I do it for her.

  Chapter 21

  Joella

  The bridal shower is at an elegant venue in South Philadelphia. My mom made sure every aspect was perfect from the center pieces to the food. I know we don’t see eye to eye but I know that she loves me very much. I couldn’t have asked for a better day. She invited my friends from school that I use to hang out with. All of my family is in attendance. I really enjoyed catching up with everyone.

  My sister was actually great the entire day and spoiled me rotten. I apologized for coming down strong on her and she apologized for lying to me. I told her this was ultimately her decision.

  After the bridal shower, we all went back to my parent’s house to play our favorite card game, Phase 10, just like old times. The guys strolled in about seven. They said they stopped at a bar on the way home. Brendan and Brad had a business meeting, so they waited around for them.

  I didn’t realize how much I actually missed Brendan until he walked in the door. Sometimes we take the people we see every day for granted. My heart filled up when I saw him after being away from him the entire day. It was a different feeling than when we go to work and come home. That is just a ritual.

  He kisses me and embraces me in a hug. He doesn’t care who knows how much he loves me. I am so lucky to have found someone as great as him. I think of Rachel and her heartache she had to endure and Sarah’s marriage falling to pieces. I count my blessings every day for my overprotective crazy maniac fiancé. He makes my life all the more interesting. I may be leaving my family again tomorrow morning but I am the safest I can ever be in this man’s arms.

  Chapter 22

  Brendan

  Connor asked me to meet him at Hush tonight. He wants to talk about him and Sarah. I hope he didn’t get her pregnant or something. Joella will snap the fuck out. All the
lights are out as I walk up to the club. Did he forget that he was meeting me? I turn the knob and the door is open. Is he meditating in the office? What the fuck? I walk in the dark room and all the lights go on and everyone screams surprise. Connor walks up to me and hits me on the back.

  “I got you, didn’t I?’

  “Yeah, what the fuck?”

  “It’s your surprise bachelor party.”

  “Are you crazy? Does Joella know?”

  “Yeah, I told her what was going on.”

  I say hi to all the guys. There are a whole bunch of regulars mixed in the party as well. Connor has everyone in on the surprise. Mike isn’t bartending since he’s a guest at the party. He walks up and shakes my hand. “You’re next,” I say to him.

  I down a shot of Fireball and start on my Yuengling. Connor has a table setup for my whole party by the stage. The girls are coming on at eight. These skanky bitches better not try to dance up on me. I walk over to talk to my boy Discharge.

  “Man, I haven’t seen you in forever. You’re Dj-ing the wedding right?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I miss you man. We have to catch up. Maybe play some golf.”

  “Call me.”

  It’s great to see everyone. I spot Patrick at the bar, my best friend who has been my sidekick since I was a kid. We sit at the bar and catch up. We are throwing them back one by one. I actually can feel a buzz already. I don’t usually drink so much but it’s been too long since I hung out with just the guys. These Fireball shots are going down too easy.

  I hang out at the bar for a couple hours with him talking about the past. The liquor is starting to get to me.

  “Pat, I’m going to the bathroom to take a piss. I’ll be right back.”

  I really need some air. I’m not use to drinking like I’m twenty-one. I see Connor on my way to the bathroom. “Dude, you look trashed.”

  “I feel trashed. I drank too much too fast. Liquor doesn’t agree with me anymore.”

  “I need some air. I’ll be right back.”

  “Where you going?”

  “Outside.”

  “You calling your fiancé?”

  “No.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “Whatever dude!”