I burst out into unexpected laughter. “You could say that.”

Keela smiled at me. “Who was more pissed?”

“James,” I sighed. “He hates the brothers, so do the other three, and now me da definitely does. He threatened to kill Kane with a baseball bat.”

Keela gasped, “The steel one?”

“That’s the one.”

“Fuck me.”

“Yep.”

Keela shook her head. “I don’t understand why this shite happens to the lads, they can never just talk stuff out.”

“The day they talk somethin’ out, is the day pigs fly.”

“I second that.”

I smiled, but it was forced and I couldn’t hold it for long.

“Are you goin’ to stay here for rest of the weekend?”

I nodded my head. “No offence to you, but I just want to be on my own to wrap me head around everythin’. I still can’t quite believe I’m pregnant. It’s just so crazy.”

Keela let out a little squeal, “I’m so excited.”

I genuinely smiled at her. “This might be the start of a baby boom in the Slater family.”

Keela nodded her head. “I think it will be. I’m perfectly content with Alec and meself goin’ at a slow pace, but I bet when the baby is born it will be me wantin’ to speed things up this time and not Alec.”

I chuckled, “Once you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

“I’m gettin’ there,” Keela said. “The four sessions I’ve had this week with me shrink are helpin’. We’re discussin’ things and it’s makin’ me feel better. Much better. Last night was the fourth night in a row that I didn’t have the nightmare. I’m takin’ it as a good sign.”

I reached over and squeezed Keela’s knee.

“It will get even better. Before you know it that horrible nightmare will be a thing of the past, just like its content.”

Keela smiled then waved her hand. “Enough about me, let’s get back to you.”

I groaned, “Let’s not.”

“Come on, you’re pregnant. This is huge.”

I grunted, “I know that, trust me.”

Keela was silent for a moment then she said, “Are you really goin’ to keep it?”

“The baby?” I asked, surprised. “Of course, I already told you that last night.”

Keela beamed. “I know, but I just wanted to make sure. I would support you no matter what you decided to do, but I’m glad to hear you say you’re really keepin’ it. I can’t wait to be an auntie.”

I blinked. “Givin’ the baby up never even entered me mind, neither did an abortion. I was just thinking about livin’ space, and money... and tellin’ Kane and me family.”

Keela chortled, “That’s normal. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t worry about being able to finance a child, but you can. You have a solid job with good pay. You can do this.”

I was still unsure.

“I guess, besides, it doesn’t look like I could get rid of Kane even if I tried. I’ve a strong feelin’ he came here with you and you just made him wait downstairs.”

Keela stared at me, unblinking. “Are you a Jedi?”

“Yes.”

“Seriously, how did you know he was downstairs?”

I shrugged. “I told him to leave me alone, so he will do the exact opposite of that. He is like his brothers—he doesn’t listen to a word we say.”

“I’m seriously freaked out right now,” Keela said and stared at me like I was Obi Wan.

I snorted. “Were you goin’ to tell me he came with you?”

She shrugged. “I wanted to judge how you were feelin’ first. I thought you’d be pissed, but you just seem... sad?”

I frowned. “I’m not sad, I’m just overwhelmed. It’s been one hell of a twenty-four hours. I’m ready for it to be over.”

A light knock sounded on the door then and Keela growled.

“I told him to wait in the car.”

I winked. “Told you, he doesn’t listen. Just like his brothers.”

Keela sighed and stood up from the sofa. “Will I drag him along with me?”

“Go for it. I want to see how long it takes for him to get past you.”

Keela silently laughed as she stood up and headed towards my front door. She opened it and instantly pressed her hands against Kane’s chest when he tried to step foot inside my apartment.

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

Kane growled, “Tough shit. She is going to see me whether she likes it or not.”

Stubborn arsehole.

“Don’t have me call me brothers, Kane,” I called out from my sofa.

“Because that worked out so well the first time around?” he hissed back.

Keela screeched, “Don’t even think of comin’ over here and takin’ your bullshit out on her. She has been through enough already. She’s stressed to the max and your presence is not helpin’ things. Can you not just do as she asks and leave?”

“No.”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed.

“What’s so damn funny?” Kane snapped.

“You,” I said still laughing. “You’re such a prick and so very predictable that it’s funny.”

“You should really—Hey! Kane! Let go of—”

I widened my eyes when my front door slammed and Kane was the one who shut it... in Keela’s face. He was going to die when she got her hands on him.

“You’re dead Kane Slater, do you hear me? D.E.A.D!”

Kane snorted as he flipped the lock on my door. “Whatever you say, short stuff.”

Keela screeched and smacked at my front door with her hands. “I’m gettin’ Alec and Nico and comin’ right back here to get you!”

“Good luck.”

I shook my head. “What was the point of that? I’ll just ignore you and when Keela gets her hands on you, she’ll kill you.”

“I’m not worried about Keela Daley, babydoll.”

You should be.

“Kane, I’ve been a wreck all day thinkin’ about this mornin’. I’m tired. I just want to go to bed and not wake up until Monday.”

I stood up and made a move to walk towards the narrow hallway that lead to my bedroom, but Kane stood at his full height in front of me and showed no signs of moving.

“Will you at least look at me?”

I grunted, “No, just get out of me way.”

“No.”

I growled, “Kane.”

“Aideen,” he calmly replied.

I balled my hands into fists. “You’re makin’ me mad on purpose. Just move.”

“Not until you hear me out.”

I threw my hands up in the air and turned my back to him. “There is nothin’ to hear out. You’re a pig just like your brothers, and just like me own brothers. You don’t respect me—”

“Bull-fucking-shit. I respect the hell out of you.”

I humourlessly laughed, “Is that why we always argue and fight with one another? Your respect for me requires that?”

“We argue because it’s just what we do. It’s our foreplay.”

I gasped, “Foreplay? You have got to be jokin’ me.”

I held my breath when Kane gripped my arm and turned me to face him. “I’m not kidding. You know good and well why we fight so much.”

“Nope, you’ll have to enlighten me.”

Kane growled, “It’s because you want me just as much as I want you.”

Sex.

It was always about sex.

“Sex with you just results in pregnancy. I’d rather be celibate, thank you very much.”

Kane placed his fingers under my chin and lifted my head until I looked at his face. My eyes zeroed in on his bruised jaw and black eye.

“Sex with me doesn’t usually result in pregnancy. I lost focus that night. There is just something about you. I couldn’t think about anything but being inside you.”

How often was he going to bring that bloody night up?

I gritted my teeth when I felt my cheeks heat up. “It was a moment of stupidity.”

Kane glared at me. “It was a long ass moment that was repeated three times in the space of a few hours.”

I turned my head away from him. “We talked about this, it is not happenin’ again. We have bigger problems than arguin’, sex, or even fightin’. I’m pregnant with your baby, Kane. This is serious.”

His face hardened. “I know damn well this is serious. Do you think I’d be here if I didn’t know that?”

I shook my head. “You’re here because you hit me this mornin’ and you feel bad about it.”