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

I was just relieved the man was gone. Even though I couldn’t figure out what he wanted from me. I looked over every inch of Davey, just to make sure he was safe. I knew he hadn’t actually been touched by the man, but I felt paranoid.

I wasn’t sure I would ever feel safe again.

Twenty

Brendan

I knew I needed to stay away.

I needed to focus on the problems my family was facing. Besides, Rosalie had made it very clear that she didn’t want me around her or her kid.

For some twisted reason, she had decided I wasn’t good enough for them.

Not that I thought I was.

I knew I didn’t deserve a girl like her.

It was the reason why I had been so drawn to her that first night of the party four years ago. Because she was pure and sweet, smart and beautiful. Because she wasn’t particularly interested in me.

And now I couldn’t stay away.

I couldn’t rid myself of the feeling I experienced that morning while I had breakfast with them. It felt normal. It almost felt like that was exactly where I was supposed to be.

I tried distracting myself with work, I even hung out with Tristian and Nolan at our usual haunt. Nothing worked. Rosalie was the only thing on my mind.

I went back to her apartment. It was late. I figured she would be at work and Davey was probably with his grandmother. So when I knocked on her apartment door, I didn’t expect it to be opened. Least of all, by her.

Rosalie stood there still dressed in the same sexy leggings and sweater from the morning. I was about to apologize. I knew I shouldn’t have come over without asking first. She wouldn’t want Davey to see me.

But then I saw the expression on her face before I got the words out. I stopped.

She looked like she had been crying.

She looked like she was about to cry again.

“What the fuck happened?” I asked.

She threw herself at me, landing on me with a crash. I wrapped my arms around her. It felt good having her pinned to my chest, feeling the softness and perfection of her body, the smell of her hair.

“A man…this guy…from the bar…” She was mumbling, and fumbling with her words.

I pulled her away from me so I could look into her puffy red eyes.

“Hey, I need you to tell me exactly what’s going on. Which guy from the bar? What did he do? Did someone touch you?”

Rosalie wiped her nose with the back of her hand and sniffed deeply.

“I think I have a stalker. I think I have a creepy scary stalker, and I’m so scared Davey is going to end up getting hurt,” she cried.

I pulled her into my arms again so she had something to hold on to while she sobbed.

I let her cry for a while, but after that, I wanted answers.

I could hear sounds of the TV from inside the house.

“Is Davey in there?” I asked softly.

We were still standing at the door, embracing tightly. Rosalie looked up at me with her beautiful tear-stained cheeks.

“Yeah, he’s watching TV. I made him his favorite dinner. We’re way past bedtime but I don’t want to force him to go to sleep. He was pretty shaken up,” she said. She spoke in whispers, evidently trying to hide from Davey that she was still worried.

I cradled her face in both my hands, fighting the urge to kiss her.

“What did he do? The stalker.”

“He followed me here. To our block. Then he started making random threats. I don’t know what he was talking about. Some guy.”

It was confusing. I couldn’t make sense of what she was saying. I figured she just needed some time to calm down and put her thoughts together.

“He was staring at Davey with this weird slimy smile. I don’t know what he wants. I don’t even know if he’ll actually hurt me. But he saw me at the bar the other night, then found my apartment building. It’s so creepy,” she whispered hoarsely.

I rubbed my thumbs on her lips and she breathed in a deep sigh.

“I…I couldn’t go to work tonight. I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up losing my job. I’m already on the last straw with Rocky. And the diner, they’ve cut down my hours, so that’s out…” She was speaking to herself. I had to strain my ears to hear the things she was saying.

I threw an arm around her and pulled her to me again.

“How about you don’t worry about anything tonight? I’m here now. Nobody is going to hurt you or Davey,” I said.

She stopped mumbling and stared straight at me.

I hated seeing her this worried. I wanted to keep her safe. But I knew there were chances she would banish me from her apartment again. Rosalie was unpredictable.

“I didn’t expect you to show up here tonight, but I’m glad you did,” she said.

I took her hand in mine and held it up to my lips.

Davey appeared behind his mother right then.

“Brendan?” he said in a small weak voice.

Even just from the way he spoke, I could sense he was shaken up too.

I let go of Rosalie and scooped the kid up in my arms. He held on to me tightly. It was a strange feeling having a three-year old in my arms. He was so fragile, like a little bird.

I walked into the apartment with him and Rosalie shut the door behind us.

“I’m hungry, any dinner left?” I asked Davey. His eyes lit up and he smiled.

“Mommy made mac and cheese. You can have my leftovers,” he declared.

He seemed in a sudden better mood now and I was glad for it.

I realized I would have done anything to make the kid happy. I just felt like he needed me.

We sat on the floor around the TV and ate the remainder of the mac and cheese. Davey seemed to slowly come out of the shell he’d surrounded himself with.