Chapter 8 Eight
Fianna.
Steam still clung to my skin as I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in nothing but one of Kian’s ridiculously expensive robes. I had a hard time looking for an empty room to stay in as it was so scary trying to move around the house alone.
Water dripped from the ends of my hair, sliding down my spine and pooling at my ankles. The bathroom itself was very large but nothing I haven’t seen before.
I felt so hollow.
I was exhausted and really hungry. I haven’t eaten a thing since I got up for the stupid ass engagement. My stomach growled and I pressed a hand to it, frowning. I could have ordered food but it was too risky. The Slanes had already ambushed us, who was to say they could not manipulate a delivery too. And the penthouse was also meant to be a secret hideout.
I had no idea what Kian had been feeding on because the fridge was empty like his head.
I sighed loudly, irritated with myself as I padded into the dressing room. There was nothing like sweatpants or tops in there. Way too empty. I wondered how those who dated this man these years survived. He was too unromantic and stiff.
Luckily, there was a hair dryer, probably owned by his girls. I sat in the vanity and carefully dried my hair, my eyes drifting to my reflection. I looked…..smaller. Never weak though.
But I felt alone.
Being alone had always scared me, even if I hated admitting it. It was my only weakness. In my house, silence was rare because guards were outside and maids were always moving. Someone was always nearby even when Ronan and Grandfather traveled for a business trip.
But this place was dead. It made me scared and nervous.
When I finished, I stood up and wandered to the bedroom, collapsing onto the bed with a huff. I unplugged my phone from the charger and stared at the screen.
Kian’s messages were still sitting there.
I barely looked at them before I tapped on Isla’s name. It rang for a long minute before she picked up and her face filled the screen.
“What are you doing?” I asked immediately.
She yawned loudly, then tilted the camera. What the actual fuck?
Two grown naked ass men sprawled across her bed, really dead asleep.
I gasped. “Isla! You are fucking insane, you bitch.”
She slapped her hand over her mouth and whispered. “Shh,” before standing up, still very naked and walking towards the bathroom.
I groaned. “Omg. Please cover those boobs. They are ruined with hickeys.”
She giggled and slipped on a bathrobe, leaning against the sink. “Now, care to talk to me because you’ve been impossible to reach.”
I exhaled loudly, remembering my fate. “You are not going to believe this.”
Her eyes sharpened instantly. “Try me.”
“Well, newsflash,” I said slowly, suddenly nervous about telling her when everything was already done. “I got engaged.”
Silence.
She picked up a brush calmly and put a paste on it before she brushed her teeth. She seemed to be taking her time to understand what I just said.
“Who is the unlucky man?”
I snorted loudly. “FUCK YOU.”
She sighed and removed her brush, turning serious. “To who?”
I swallowed.“Kian.”
She blinked once. Twice.
“Kian who?”
“Sullivan.”
Her scream was loud enough that I flinched and covered my ears. “ARE YOU OKAY, FIFI?!”
“I am fine,” I said quickly. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about this sooner. It’s been a lot. And about the engagement, I had to do it. My family was forcing me into an arranged marriage with some Slane idiot and I needed a shield.”
“And you choose that devil? Your childhood nemesis?!” She shrieked.
“Yes. I mean, he was the one available at that time.”
“And where are you exactly? This doesn’t look like your room.” She squinted her eyes, trying to get a perfect view.
“I’m in his penthouse.”
“ALONE?!”
I nodded. “He lives alone and he left already.”
She stared at me with horror like I had just confessed a murder. Not like she was new to the way my family operated. We always knew I was going to get into an arranged marriage now or sooner.
She whispered to me. “This is too much, too much information at once. I cannot process this without alcohol.”
“I cannot even leave the house,” I admitted quietly. “Not anytime soon. Things are….bad and I’m the biggest target.”
She softened. “I get that. Are you okay though? Really?”
I nodded and smiled gently at her concern. “I will be. I just need to wait until the security is tightened and I can have a bit of freedom at least.”
She sighed, shaking her head. “You should be on vacation with me. Enjoy life and enjoy dicks.”
“Eww. Men are assholes.”
I giggled as I thought about how carefree Isla had always been since we were in high school. She would constantly get into trouble for sneaking out to parties and hangout and would come tell me about her nights.
Callahan wasn't the biggest fan of her but my brothers loved her like their own sister.
She smirked hard. “Men are assholes, yes. But unfortunately, their dicks are worth dying for.”
I laughed. That was true.
She snapped her fingers. “I’m sorry but I can’t wrap my head around everything. Karma is a bitch. You being in Kian’s house is crazy as hell.”
I glared at her. “What do you mean by that?”
She shrugged, a smile pulling at her lips. “Oh. Nothing. Nothing. No shade, Fifi.”
I rolled my eyes as a loud yawn slipped free. “I’m so sleepy but I can’t sleep alone.”
“Then don’t. I’m here on the call.”
I nodded and plugged my phone back in, curling under the duvet. I stared up at the ceiling that wasn't mine. My thoughts drifted to how fast everything changed. How quickly I went from my comfort zone to whatever this was.
——-
The loud alarm ripped me out of sleep like a punch to my throat. My head throbbed really bad at the impact and I groaned.
“Stupid thing,”’I muttered, fumbling to turn it off. It was my fault that I forgot to turn the settings off since I didn’t need alarms here. The alarm was meant to wake me up for grandfather’s early morning training.
I checked my phone as it buzzed.
Ronan: Baby. Are you awake? I am getting your things here and will be there soon.”
I typed back. “Not everything please. Just enough for a few months.”
Ronan: Got you.
Relief settled in my chest. At least I was finally going to have some familiarity around me. But then, I thought about how I couldn’t walk around the house and meet my brother in a bathrobe.
I stood up and cracked the door open, stepping into the hallway. The place was just too silent for my liking. I looked around, trying to find Kian’s room. After a few wrong turns, I found a door darker than the rest.
I hesitated a bit before I tried the handle and it opened. My mouth parted in shock, I genuinely wasn’t expecting the door to be unlocked.
I stepped inside and his scent hit me. Musky and woody with a sweet undernote. Dark chocolate?
I breathed out softly at the dimmed place. “Wow.”
I looked at the closet and marched towards it carefully. Despite my brain telling me this was invasion and Kian and I aren’t close enough for me to wear his clothes. Somehow….I didn’t turn back.