“What does it matter? I’m here.”
Kieran shot a thumb in my direction. “It matters because Grant had to be busted out of rehab and made it here before you did. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had to get a nut off before coming.”
Anger flared on Casey’s face, and I quickly intervened when he lunged for Kieran. Not because I was fearful that Casey would hurt him, but the opposite. Kieran was a lover but also a fighter, and it wasn’t often that he backed down from a challenge. Casey would end up on his ass if he took a swing at Kieran.
“We’re not doing this,” I said, holding Casey by the collar of his shirt. “We’re all scared, and emotions are high right now, but we’re better than this.”
He ripped himself out of my grasp. “I’m sorry, but I’m not taking advice from the family screw-up.”
My eyes widened incredulously.
The family screw-up? Is that what I am now?
Chapter Thirty-Five
Kiyah
I rushed through my bedroom, snatching my professional attire off hangers and my leisure clothes out of dresser drawers while simultaneously booking a red-eye flight to San Antonio.
“Kiyah, please talk to me,” Todd pleaded. I haphazardly threw my clothes into my suitcase before finally taking a moment to breathe.
“My sister and sister-in-law were attacked, and Daisy’s in surgery. I need to leave to be with my family.”
He gasped.
“Oh, my goodness. That’s awful. Will they be okay?”
I shrugged listlessly and continued packing on autopilot. I was in a fog, unaware of what my hands were doing. For all I knew, I was throwing the TV remote and alarm clock into the suitcase with my toiletry bag. Losing Daisy was unimaginable. She was a scorching ray of sunshine with a wicked sense of humor. On the outside, she was tough as nails, but on the inside, she was as gooey as a molten chocolate lava cake, and our family wouldn’t be the same without her.
Confusion pierced the mental fog like low-beam headlights when I felt warmth and realized that Todd was holding me.
“Let it all out, Kiyah,” he said in what he may have thought was a soothing tone. Meanwhile, the unwelcome touch mademy body tense tighter than Kieran’s purse strings. I extricated myself from his embrace and turned to finish packing my bag.
“I’m going to need some time,” I said, pausing to wipe away cascading tears. “I don’t have much information on Daisy’s condition, but it sounded dire. I’m sorry to be leaving you high and dry without childcare, but—”
“Don’t think nothing of it, Kiyah. Family always comes first. Pete and I can manage in your absence.” I nodded and zipped up my bulging suitcase.
“Thank you, Todd,” I said, sliding my suitcase onto the floor. “I need to leave for the airport now if I want to make my flight.”
“Let me have Desi take you.”
“That’ll be great. Tell Pete I’ll see him soon.”
“I’ll let him know. Again, I’m sorry about Daisy and Nori. It shouldn’t have happened like that. I’m here for you if you need to talk.”
“Thanks, but I wouldn’t want to burden you, especially with everything you have on your plate. My family will give me more than enough support.”
He chuckled lightly. “Jesus, Kiyah. Do you always push people away?”
What kind of fucking question is that? You know what….
“Can I be honest with you, Mr. Branson?”
He hesitated before saying, “Of course.”
“I’m not sure this job is working out for me.”
His face fell in disbelief. “I beg your pardon?”