Aideen (Slater Brothers)(19)

They were up to something.

 

“You’re stayin’ here with me,” I stated to Kane.

 

Ryder sighed and glanced to Kane. “Stay with her, I’ve got this.”

 

“Are you sure?” Kane questioned.

 

Ryder nodded and stood up, winking at me before he left the apartment. I looked to Kane and folded my arms across my chest.

 

“What the hell was that?”

 

Kane scratched his neck. “What the hell was what?”

 

“Don’t treat me like I’m stupid. Where were you goin’ with Ryder?”

 

He looked away. “I don’t need to tell you everything, Aideen.”

 

“Hold on a bloody second,” I snapped and grabbed hold of his jacket to stop him from walking away from me. “You do have to tell me because I know he is involved in drugs and God knows what else.”

 

“What Ryder does is his business—”

 

“I’m with you!” I cut him off. “What you do is me business if it’s associated with that bullshit.”

 

Kane set his jaw. “Can’t you just trust me?”

 

“On this?” I questioned. “No, I can’t. I don’t want you goin’ off with Ryder.”

 

Kane humourlessly laughed. “He’s my brother.”

 

“I don’t care if he is Jesus Christ himself,” I bellowed. “He is up to no good and I don’t want you involved in whatever he has his hands in.”

 

“What would you have me do?” Kane demanded. “Turn my back on my brother? The answer is hell fucking no. Being loyal is a part of who I am; I will never turn my back on my own. You know that.”

 

I shook my head in disbelief. “I’m not askin’ you to turn your back on Ryder, just the shit he is involved in.”

 

“Why’re you so sure he is up to something?”

 

That was a loaded question.

 

“Because you’re all actin’ differently. A few months ago, before I moved here, I was in your old kitchen at six in the mornin’, and he and Nico were goin’ somewhere so he could do some ‘business’. He doesn’t have a job so I know he is gettin’ his money from somewhere,” I angrily stated. “He wouldn’t let up on what that was, but deep down I knew it was somethin’ messed up. I had too much on me mind to take proper notice at the time. Oh, and not to mention the time that I almost sniffed cocaine that got onto my hand from his jacket in the same kitchen. Explain that.”

 

Kane pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not telling you Ryder’s business, so drop it.”

 

I blinked at the dismissal.

 

“I warned you that I would not be with you if you weren’t honest with me about stuff like this. I wasn’t jokin’ when I said I’d be gone if you went back to that life.”

 

Kane’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Don’t threaten me, Aideen. You’re mine.”

 

“And I’ll be yours forever, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stand by you while you do God knows what with your shady brother. I love Ryder, but he is an arsehole!”

 

Kane’s eye twitched so I turned and walked away from him knowing good and well he was past the point of reason. I walked into our bedroom and over my shoulder I said, “Enjoy the sofa.”

 

I reached for the door and turned to close it, but jumped back when Kane stepped into the room, blocking the way.

 

“You’re not kicking me out of our bed.”

 

“I don’t want to be near you right now so yes, I am.”

 

He didn’t move.

 

“Don’t make me choose. I can’t choose between you and Ryder, I love you both.”

 

I placed my hand over my face in despair for a moment before dropping it back to my side. “I’m not fuckin’ askin’ you to choose. I just don’t want you helpin’ Ryder with whatever it is that he has goin’ on. That’s it.”

 

“He needs my help though.”

 

I was furious.

 

“Just tell me what you’re doin’ with him.”

 

Kane hesitated then sighed and said, “I can’t. It’s up to him whether he tells people or not.”

 

I held up my hand.

 

“Last chance. Tell me where you were going to go with Ryder.”

 

Kane was torn between his loyalty for me, and his loyalty for his brother.

 

“I can’t, baby. Please just trust me that it’s not shady. I’m just trying to help him.”

 

I shook with anger. “I know he is involved with things from his past, and now you’re too. You promised me all that was behind us.”