by L. A. Casey
Ryder and Branna had their own sleepover last night, as well.
Dominic snorted at Ryder then looked at me. "I'm just happy."
I flushed.
"Please tell me you used a condom? I'll kill you if you get pregnant, Bronagh!" Branna swore across the table.
I gaped at her. "We didn't have sex!"
Branna raised an eyebrow at me. "I heard groanin' comin' from your room last night, don't lie to me!"
My face went beetroot purple!
"We didn't have sex!" I repeated and look away from her and everyone else.
"She's right, we didn't have sex, what you heard was me getting a fucking amazing blow-"
"Dominic!" I shrieked.
He burst out laughing and so did Ryder.
Branna blushed a little herself. "Oh Lord, me little sister was givin' head to her fella-"
"Branna!" I screamed.
Why were they doing this to me?
That stuff was supposed to be private!
I tried to make a break up to my room, but Dominic caught me at the end of the stairs and lifted me back against him.
"Don't be embarrassed, those two were fucking last night so they can't say shit about what we did."
Okay, that was disgusting.
"I don't care, you shouldn't have opened your mouth; that's supposed to be private! I won't ever be givin' you oral again if-"
"I'll never mention anything like it for as long as I live, I promise. Don't cut me off when I've only started getting some, please."
I inwardly smiled; I had all the power here, and it felt good, really good.
"Okay but no more talkin' about it, I don't like it."
Dominic kissed my cheek. "Deal."
He just hugged me from behind then, and it made me smile.
"You have to leave now," I said.
He squeezed me. "Yeah, yeah, I know. It's girl's day. Blah, blah, blah."
I laughed. "I'll see you tomorrow. We can hang out all day, okay?"
"I'm holding you to that, bitch." He grinned then laughed when I spun and tried to hit him for calling me a bitch.
He leaned in, pecked my lips then jumped backwards still laughing. "Bro, move it!" he shouted.
Ryder laughed when he walked out to the hall and had seen Dominic dodging my punches like he was shadow boxing. I couldn't land a single hit, and it bugged the hell out of me.
"Let's go bro, we've got business to attend to."
I stopped trying to hit Dominic and looked to Ryder. "What business?"
He smiled at me. "Just some family business."
I raised an eyebrow and turned to Dominic. "What is the family business? You never talk about it, you told me it's not important but I still want to know about it."
The silence that followed gave me a sick feeling in my stomach.
"I'll fill her in. Go on, get goin'." Branna smiled.
Ryder and Dominic looked at her, and after some sort of silent communication, they nodded and left. I stood staring after them for a moment before turning to Branna.
"Please tell me they aren't drug dealers," I joked.
Branna snorted. "They aren't drug dealers, but things they are into are a little worse than that."
What?
Fucking what?
"What is worse than being a drug dealer?" I gasped.
Branna sighed and looked me dead in the eye. "Workin' for one, a dangerous one."
I stared at Branna in horror then flat-out gaped at her back when she turned and walked into the kitchen.
"You can't just say somethin' like that and then walk away!" I bellowed as I stormed into the kitchen after her.
She glanced at me over her shoulder and shrugged. "I'm puttin' the kettle on. This is a conversation that requires a cuppa."
I knew she was right when I felt my hands shake and my knees start to knock together, so I made my way over to our kitchen table and slumped down onto a chair.
"Run this by me again, our boyfriends work for a drug dealer? A dangerous drug dealer?"
Branna scrubbed her face with her hands before she folded them across her chest, rested her hip against the kitchen counter, and looked me in the eye. Her left eye twitched a little.
"You're jokin'! I don't find this funny at all!" I shouted.
Branna didn't say a word, not a peep, and that made me feel sicker than I already felt.
"Dominic would have told me if he was into shite like that! He wouldn't have pestered me into goin' out with him if he was tangled up in things as bad as drugs! He doesn't even smoke Branna, and he rarely drinks because of his trainin' for his fights."
"I never said he took drugs. None of the lads do drugs, but they are all involved with them. Except Damien."
I stared at her for a long, long moment, as it all began to make sense in my head. All the hushed conversations between Damien and Dominic, then Ryder saying Dominic fighting in school brought them unwanted attention, and then Dominic telling me he didn't fight for fun but for 'family business', a family business he wouldn't tell me about.
I suddenly burst into tears. "I can't b-believe… why would he… oh my God, I'm goin' out with a drug dealer!"
I covered my face with both my good and injured hand and sobbed like a baby. My chest was hurting me, and my stomach was lurching something terrible. I knew I was going to be sick. And I was, all over the floor next to me.
"Don't move, I'll clean it up. Just stay put and focus on breathing so you can calm yourself, okay?" Branna said to me in a soft tone.
I numbly nodded my head at her while staring out to our back garden through the back door glass. I ignored the vile taste in my mouth and forced myself not to think of the pain in my stomach. But nothing I did stopped my chest from constricting in pain.
"I'm breakin' up with him," I said as I continued to look out at the back garden.
Branna sighed next to me as she finished cleaning up my vomit. I glanced at her, and she moved over to the fridge to get some juice then filled a glass full of it. She came back over to my side and handed me the juice, I drank it as she stroked my back with her hand.
"If it makes you look at this differently, they don't want to be involved with this man, they just don't have choice."
I snapped my head to her, I felt my face go red when she didn't explain that any further.
"Branna, stop cuttin' yourself off when you're tellin' me somethin' as important as this!" I growled.
She smiled a little at me. "I'm sorry, Bee, but I'm not sayin' any more. This is a conversation you need to have with Dominic alone. Just know that I fully stand by him, Ryder, and the rest of the lads. I would never go out with someone who would involve us in somethin' as dangerous as this, and I wouldn't allow you to go out with someone like that unless there was a good reason. The lads have got a handle on this so we don't need to worry."
I stared at her blankly, unblinking.
How in God's name was she so calm about this?
I shook my head at her, got up and left the kitchen and went up to my room where I flung myself onto my bed. I was still coming to grips with just dating Dominic and allowing myself to let him in. And now I had to deal with this fucking bombshell?
I shook my head into my pillow.
Was this why he fought at Darkness? Was it why he fought at all? Was this the reason why he was always battered and bruised when he came to school? Was this why he and his brothers were here in Ireland?
I had so many questions and zero answers.
I sat up, got my phone from my dresser, and unlocked it.
I need to fucking speak to you!!
I sent a text to his phone and sat back on my bed and closed my eyes and started thinking.
How the hell did my life get so complicated?
Only a few months ago I was invisible, boyfriend-less, bullied, and a complete and total loner until Dominic happened. I couldn't even remember how it felt not to feel for someone, I cared about no one bar Branna until he stormed into my life and turn
ed my world upside down. I did care about Dominic, I cared about him so much; I lived him, but this was something I didn't know if I could deal with. The things he was involved in were so much bigger than me.
I opened my eyes when my phone beeped and tapped on Dominic's face when his text came through.
I know I have a lot of explaining to do baby, but don't make any decisions until you hear me out. Please?
I frowned; he knew my automatic reaction would be to break up with him, and that upset me. The whole point of being with Dominic was to let go of my old insecurities, and I wasn't going back to running away from things that scared me or threatened my bubbled world. No, I was going to pull up my big girl trousers and listen to what he had to say. Any decisions I made about us would come after I'd heard everything and thought things over. I nodded my head as I tapped on my phone, replying to Dominic.
Okay, but know I'm beyond upset with you. This - you - have really hurt me.
I wasn't lying; I was hurting because of this. I didn't know if it was because Dominic kept the secret from me for so long or because of what the secret actually was. Both, I thought.
I looked at my phone when it beeped.
I'm sorry, pretty girl. I'll be over tonight; I've some stuff to sort with Ryder first but once I'm done, I'm coming straight to you. Have your girl's day with Branna and try not to overthink on this. Don't give yourself an unnecessary headache; I know you will understand once I lay everything out for you. I live you, babe.
I started crying again because I prayed he was right; I really did.
"What have you done with Nico? Like how far have you gotten with him?" Branna randomly asked me as we lay on the sofa in our sitting room. It was past nine at night and after a long day of shopping on Grafton Street, we were watching In Her Shoes. But the film was forgotten once that question was asked, even though we continued to eat the pizza in our hands.
I looked at Branna and tried to glare, but I was pretty sure I looked stupid because I could feel my cheeks getting warm.
Branna cackled. "Don't be embarrassed, sisters talk about things like this all the time."
I sighed and just shrugged. "Not as far as you've gotten with Ryder, which I'm sure is all the way and back again multiple times, but probably way too far for only a week of goin' out."
Branna pumped her eyebrows at me, and it made me laugh and cough around the pizza that was in my mouth, making her crack up and slap her knee. I shook my head at her, still smiling as she whipped her eyes.
"Details Bee, I need details."
I groaned. "I gave him a… you know."
She only raised her eyebrows at me, and I hated her, because I knew she was going to make me say the word.
"A blow job," I blurted out then squeaked and covered my face.
It was weird knowing I've done something so intimate with Dominic, and I just told my sister about it!
"You dirty minx!" Branna teased playfully making me kick her leg, which she snorted at.
"He also… you know… went down on me too and he… put his fingers up there as well."
Branna widened her eyes. "Holy shite, the lad doesn't waste any time does he?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
She grinned. "He has been tryin' to get with you since he moved here. He must have envisioned doing dirty stuff with you for ages and can't hold back now that you're together."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, tough shite for him because I've set limits. I won't go any further than the stuff we have done already until I know in meself that I am ready. He won't pressure me either; he values his life and dick too much to do otherwise."
Branna burst out laughing, and her laughter made me laugh. We stopped when we heard a knock on the door. I instantly knew it wasn't the lads because Ryder had a key, and so did Dominic - he stole Ryder's and made a copy for himself.
I looked to Branna and shrugged. "I'll get it."
She continued to eat her pizza, but she watched me as I walked out to the hall until I disappeared out of her view. I opened the hall door and froze a little because of who was on the other side.
"Hey, Bronagh. Can I talk to you for a second?"
I cleared my throat and said, "Sure, Gavin. Come on in."
"Who is it?" Branna's voice called out from the sitting room.
I closed the door when Gavin stepped inside. "It's Gavin Collins, he wants to have a chat."
I smiled at Gavin then gestured towards the stairs and whispered, "We can go up to my room, she will only listen in if we stay down here."
Gavin chuckled under his breath making me snort. We headed upstairs then, with Branna's quizzical gaze on our backs until we were out of sight and safely inside my room.
"So… what's up?" I asked as I awkwardly walked towards my bed and sat on it, facing Gavin.
He sighed and ran his hands through his thick, wavy dirty blond locks and for a moment I found myself just staring at him. I know, I know, I was Dominic's girlfriend, but I was only human, and Gavin was hot. Anyone with eyes could see that so give me a break.
"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry, I was a complete fuckin' dickhead for bailin' on our date. I know things won't work out for us like a couple and that you're with Nico now, but I do want to be your mate. I've been feelin' like crap since that night and even worse when I saw your hand bandaged up at school."
I raised my eyebrows; I didn't know what I was expecting him to talk to me about, but an apology from him definitely wasn't it.
"Is it bad?" he asked, gesturing to my hand.
I looked down at my hand, looked back up and shook my head. "No, it's fine now, only a little stiff. The bruisin' on it has faded to yellow. After I get a check-up at the hospital next week, I can take the bandage off," I explained.
Gavin nodded at me then sighed as he stared. "You look good."
I blushed.
He smiled. "I'm not chattin' you up, I mean you just look… good," he said with a shrug.
I still continued to blush while he continued to smile.
I cleared my throat. "I'm not gonna lie, I did call you a few choice names in my head when you just left me last week in McDonald's but I do understand why. Dominic… he can be very persistent and overwhelmin' to deal with."
Gavin snorted as he came to sit next to me on my bed. "Understatement, Bee."
I smiled at him. "I forgive you, if that's what you need to hear. I don't hold grudges… unless you're Jason Bane. But since you aren't, no worries."
Gavin laughed and relaxed completely next to me. "I'll be thankin' God for small favours tonight before I go to bed."
I snorted, and it made Gavin cackle, which set me over the edge with laughter. I could not handle it when people cackle, it got me every time, and I had to laugh.
"I'll get goin', I just stopped by to get that off me chest. I hope we can be mates though? Like hangin' out and shite like that," Gavin said as turned his head to me.
I looked back at him and ignored the voice in my head that shouted 'no, we don't want any more change!' and gave Gavin a smile and said, "Yeah, I think a friend is just what I need."
Gavin beamed at me, and it made me feel shy; I actually had a beautiful lad as my friend and a complete stunner as my boyfriend… little me wasn't doing too badly for herself.
Gavin leaned in to hug me and I returned it. "I'll see you on Monday and-"
"No, Ryder, stop him!" Branna's voice suddenly screamed from downstairs.
Gavin and I pulled apart from our hug and turned to my door as footsteps pounded up the stairs.
"Oh, shite," Gavin breathed when the door was flung open.
I winced when it smacked out the wall, but full-on recoiled when I saw Dominic filling up the doorway, his face twisted in rage. I jumped out in front of Gavin and raised my hands up in surrender.
"Dominic, he just came over to apologise to me. He isn't tryin' to ask me out again or anythin', he just wants to be friends-"
Dominic shot forward and I had to fling myself
at him so he wouldn't dodge around me and get Gavin, whom I could sense was standing behind me waiting for a blow to hit him.
Dominic's arms were tight around me as I squeezed myself to him. He growled into my temple and tried to shake me off him, but I wasn't letting go for anything, and he realised this after a moment and relaxed a tiny bit to settle me against him.
"First and only warning you're getting, Collins. She's mine, if you try and take her away from me, I will kill you."
Holy. Fuck!
"Dominic-"
"Fuck you, Nico. She can be me friend if she wants to be-"
Dominic tried to push me away from him, but my arms were locked around his waist and weren't coming apart any time soon.
"GET OUT!" Dominic roared, which caused me to duck my head because the noise of it stung my ears.
"I'm goin', man. Don't worry," Gavin snarled and moved towards the door. "See you in school, Bee."
Dominic swung his arm and missed Gavin, because he ducked away and left the room, passing Branna and Ryder who were both standing outside my room looking in and watching.
I locked eyes with Branna and nodded for her and Ryder to leave. She nodded back at me and reached inside my room and closed the door leaving Dominic and myself alone. I removed my arms from around him and made a move to step backwards to give him some space, but he kept me in place, and it made me sigh.
"I'm just tryin' to give you some space to cool off-"
"Why was he here? In your room?" he growled down at me, cutting me off mid-sentence.
I shrugged. "He wanted to apologise and-"
"I got that but why. Was. He. In. Your. Room?"
I blinked at him for a moment then shook my head. "Because he wanted to talk."
Dominic's gaze on me was hard as he looked down at me. "Why in here? Why not downstairs?"
I sighed. "I don't know, I figured it would be easier to talk up here and-"
"You suggested you both come up to your room?" he roared.