Brendan (The Doherty Mafia Book 4) by Kasey Krane (summer reads TXT) 📗

Tristian was gone by this time too. Maybe with some of the girls he was with earlier. I’d interrupted his night by attacking those guys. He must have seen me across the bar and he came running to help. We always had each other’s backs.

I lit a cigarette angrily as I walked out of the bar. It was busy outside because this was New York. I kept replaying everything that had happened with Rosalie that night, and even though I felt like crap and a little insulted now that she was gone—I wouldn’t have changed anything.

I would have come to her rescue every night of the week if anybody tried to touch her. But how could I keep her safe when I didn’t even know where she was?

I wandered the streets like a lost puppy for hours before I eventually went back to my apartment that night. By the time my head hit the bed—I was pretty sure she had pulled a number on me.

Seven

Rosalie

I didn’t know if I would still have my job at the bar when I went back there the next night. Rocky expected me to return to my shift after the brawl Brendan started. But I disappeared after that.

I followed Brendan out of the bar, but when I recognized him I ran. I had made my way to the store room to catch my breath.

The shock of seeing him again after all these years was harsh. Memories, feelings, regrets—everything came flooding back to haunt me just from that one chance encounter.

I didn’t think I would ever see him again after that night at the house party. I’d somehow managed to push him to the back of my memories and I never thought about him. I’d convinced myself he was insignificant.

I was drunk and high that night.

I was sure he was drunk too.

So, whatever was said and done between us didn’t actually mean anything. And it was evident by the fact that four years later—he didn’t even remember me. He had no recollection of that night.

So I went to the storeroom to gather myself. Tears emerged in my eyes because seeing Brendan again was a reminder of what life had been like back then. All my hopes and dreams.

The last thing I expected was for him to turn up at the store room. I didn’t even know how he found me. But he came charging in and took control of the situation. How was I supposed to resist kissing him back?

How was I supposed to walk away when he had his hand down my underwear?

He had the same effect on me as he did the night we first met. I was entranced. It was like I was in another world. I wasn’t even myself.

But as soon as I came, sense returned to my brain again.

I had to get out of there. I couldn’t take it any further than that with him. I needed to get away from him so I could escape his spell.

So I ran. I left the bar. I didn’t even bother informing Rocky. At that moment, I didn’t care what happened with my job. What was more important—was saving myself from the clutches of Brendan Doherty.

I had been foolish the last time we met. I was just a silly teenager.

But I was older and wiser now. I was a mother with responsibilities. I wasn’t going to fall into his trap again.

So I went straight back to the apartment and dismissed Nina, who was surprised to see me. She wasn’t expecting me back this soon.

“Are you okay?” she asked before she left. She must have seen how ashen white I looked, the wildness in my eyes.

“I’ll be fine. I just need to be with Davey. I just need sleep.” I was telling myself more than speaking to her.

I thought I could cure myself of Brendan with a good night’s sleep.

Davey’s room was small, but it was sufficient for him. He was happy there, surrounded by his toys and books. He slept peacefully while I sat beside his bed in the dark. I just wanted to be close to him because he was my only source of comfort.

I hoped that seeing and being close to Davey would stop those memories from taking over me.

But they took over anyway.

I couldn’t make myself think about anything other than the night I first met Brendan. How he made me feel.

Excited. Liberated. On top of the world.

He had laughed at my stupid joke about Michael Jackson moon walking into a bar. Honestly, it wasn’t even a real joke.

Anybody else would have rolled their eyes and walked away, but not Brendan. He was amused by me. Maybe he looked at me as something shiny and new—nothing like the girls he usually hung out with.

Well, at least we had that in common, because he was nothing like the guys I usually hung out with either. He was something else.

We talked a little after that. He was quick at putting me at ease. Or maybe it was just the weed hitting my system that relaxed me.

I still had no idea why he was interested in me. We were in a house party full of people, surrounded by hotter and more interesting girls. But Brendan had eyes only for me.

I couldn’t take mine off him. Neither could anybody else.

I was starkly aware of the fact that we were being watched while we hung out by the pool together. I was sure Petra was somewhere in the house watching us from a distance too. We were going to discuss this to death later, I chuckled to myself.

Everyone wanted Brendan and I was the one who had his undivided attention.

He was relaxed and charming, handsome with a devilish grin. He seemed like the kind of guy who knew what he was doing. Not like the other boys I had casually dated in the past.

“Why don’t we find a quiet spot where we