Ryder (Slater Brothers 4)(100)

Shit. I thought. What the hell was up with Lana?

Dominic looked sullen as he said, “I’m not Damien, Alannah. I didn’t do those things to you.”

Alannah blinked her eyes then darted a scared look over her shoulder to make sure Damien wasn’t in earshot. Her shoulders sagged with relief when she didn’t see him. I looked over my shoulder too, and from my angle I saw he was leaning against the wall outside of the sitting room. There was no doubt from the expression on his face that he had heard everything she just said.

Fuck.

“I know,” Alannah then mumbled to Dominic, “it’s just hard for me to separate him from you sometimes. You have his face and when I see it, I hurt all over again.”

“Lana—”

“Look, I’m sorry,” she quickly stated. “I had a bad start to me day and I’m takin’ it out on all of you and that’s not fair.”

“What happened?” Ryder asked, and I heard it in his tone that he was concerned.

Alannah may not be dating any of the brothers, but she was part of our family and we all loved her.

“Some arsehole rear ended me and I’ve to fork out a fortune to get me car fixed. It’s the last thing I need. Shit has just been goin’ from bad to worse for me lately. I just can’t catch a break,” she said and shrugged her shoulders.

I felt like a pretty shitty friend because I had no clue she was having problems, and from the look on my sister’s face, she didn’t either.

“Talk to me,” she stood up and rounded the chair until she was in front of Alannah. “What’s wrong?”

Alannah looked at Bronagh then out of nowhere she burst into tears.

“Me da,” she cried. “He is havin’ an affair and me ma has no clue about it.”

“Oh, fuck,” Alec whispered when Bronagh folded her arms around Alannah.

Oh fuck was right.

“What am I goin’ to do, Bee?” she sobbed. “If I tell me ma it’s goin’ to break ‘er heart, and if I don’t, I’ll be the worst daughter for keepin’ it from ‘er.”

Bronagh hugged Alannah tightly.

“Are you sure he is havin’ an affair?” she quizzed. “Maybe you’re mistaken, babe.”

“I’m not,” Alannah sniffled. “I went into town yesterday evenin’ to get some ink cartridges for me printer, and as I was passin’ by a restaurant somethin’ told me to look through the window. I did, and there he was, sittin’ with a woman half his age at the table near the window where anyone could see them. I think she might be the same age as me! At first I didn’t even consider anythin’, then he reached out and took ‘er hand in his. One-second they were holdin’ hands, and the next he leaned over and they kissed!”

“Double fuck,” Alec whispered.

“I didn’t know what do,” she said, her lower lip wobbling. “I was scared he would see me so I just ran back to me car and drove back to me apartment. I rang me ma to see what she was doin’ and she said she was preparin’ dinner for me da, his favourite because he had been workin’ such long hours lately. She doesn’t know, Bronagh… how could he do this to ‘er? To our family? I hate ‘im.”

My heart broke for her, and for her unknowing mother.

“We’ll figure this out,” my sister said, consoling her friend.

I knew Bronagh was saying what she thought was necessary, but I could see from her face that she had no clue how she was going to help Alannah through this, but I knew she’d do everything possible to help her. We all would.

“About your car,” Aideen added, shifting the attention onto her. “I’ll ring me da and have ‘im hook your car up at his garage. Me brothers love you. Dante thinks you’re, and I quote ‘im, a goddess, so I’m sure he will work on it free of charge.”

Alannah pulled back from Bronagh’s hold and looked at Aideen.

“I’ll pay, I don’t want them to help me with no charge, but if it could be in instalments, that’d be perfect.”

Aideen said, “We’ll work it out, just don’t worry about it.”

Alannah nodded, but she wore her heart on her sleeve, and I could see worrying was all she would be doing. When I looked at her, I saw myself only a few months ago. She knew her whole life was about to change, and she wasn’t sure if she could handle it.

“Lana,” I said and stood up, feeling Ryder’s hand drop away from me. “Come with me, I want to talk to you.”

We left the room then, and went outside to the front garden where we could speak alone without being heard.