Page 14 of My Addiction
“So, who the fuck are you?” A voice from the doorway gets my attention. Another Ronan is leaning against the doorjamb.
“Don’t,” Ronan grits out.
“What, brother? I just came to see who has everyone’s attention,” fake Ronan says.
Ronan tilts his head toward his Dad. “What did you do? Send out a memo?”
“Yes,” Kieran says.
“I’m Colton. It’s nice to meet you,” I say, reaching out to shake fake Ronan’s hand. It’s weird seeing that Ronan has a twin.
His eyes roam over me. I can’t help the shudder that runs down my spine. Why is he looking at me like this? He may share a face with Ronan, but it’s not attractive on him.
“Oh, it’s very nice to meet you as well. I’m Liam.” He shakes my hand but doesn’t let go right away. I don’t like the way he’s looking me up and down. “I’m sure we will get to know each other. Ronan and I share everything. We’re twins, after all.” He ends his comment by winking before releasing my hand. I take a step back. A guttural noise comes from Ronan.
The blur that shoots past me makes me jump. Before I can process what I’m seeing, Ronan has Liam flat on his back. He’s on top of him in seconds, pinning him to the floor with one hand wrapped around his throat. Ronan’s face is unrecognizable. All that calm, controlled stillness is gone. His teeth are bared, eyes wild, his whole body tight with rage. For a second, I just stand there. Then Declan is there.
He hooks an arm around Ronan’s throat from behind and hauls him backward in a move I’ve only ever seen in action movies.
“What the fuck?” I choke out.
Ronan thrashes against him, face flushing red, but Declan doesn’t let go. Kieran is just standing there with his arms crossed like this isn’t complete insanity. Like this happens every day. Something cold crashes through me. I don’t think. I just move.
“Let him go!” I shove at Declan’s shoulder, grabbing at his arm with both hands. “He can’t breathe!”
I grab at Declan’s arm, trying to yank him off. He only tightens his hold. I feel his muscles bunch under my hands.
“Fucking let him go!” My voice cracks. “Get off him!”
I have no idea why I’m involving myself in this. Declan is huge and looks dangerous. If he wanted to hurt me, he could. But all I can think about is Ronan. About the color draining from his face and the sound he isn’t making. Panic twists so hard in my stomach that it makes me feel sick.
I claw at Declan’s hand, trying to pry his fingers loose, but it doesn’t do any good. Then Ronan’s eyes find mine. Even like this, even struggling for air, he looks right at me. He lifts one hand and taps Declan’s forearm. Declan lets go immediately. Ronan sucks in a harsh breath, then another. And the relief that hits me is so strong my knees nearly give out beneath me.
Chapter 7
Ronan
My vision goes red. Liam is going to pay for even implying he has some kind of claim on Colton. I barely get a hand on him before Declan is there, dragging me back with one of his fucking MMA moves. But I don’t care. I’ll rip free. I’ll put Liam through the floor if I have to. Then Colton is there. I don’t expect him to be. His hands grab at Declan’s arm, his voice sharp with panic.
“Fucking let him go! Get off of him!” Colton is pulling on Declan’s arms, which only makes him squeeze my neck harder, the fucker. I know what Declan wants me to do before he lets go of me, and damn it, I don’t want to. But the look of pure horror on Colton’s face makes me do it. I tap out. Declan joins in with Liam, laughing their asses off. Colton grips my hand and pulls me to my feet.
“Are you okay?” Colton’s hands slide over my neck, checking for bruises or damage. Normally, I hate being touched. I pull away from it automatically. But not from him. Never from him.
“What about me?” Liam asks, still grinning like this is funny. “I was the one he choked.” I lunge for him again without thinking. Before I can get to him, Colton hooks an arm around my waist and holds me in place. The contact should make me feel trapped. But it only grounds me.
“Boys!” Mom booms from the doorway. That quickly shuts both Declan and Liam up. “What is going on in here? I swear you all will pay if you wake the baby.” She eyes Kieran. “That includes you. Now what is going on?”
“Liam said something inappropriate about sharing Colton,” Dad says flatly. “Ronan took exception to that and jumped on him.”
Mom’s eyes widen.
“Declan pulled Ronan off,” Dad continues. “But he held on until Ronan tapped. Colton didn’t like that very much.”
“And you didn’t stop them?”
“Why would I? They fight all the time.” Dad isn’t wrong.
“Yes, they do,” Mom says. “But not in the office and certainly not when an innocent person could get hurt in the process.” Her voice stays calm, which somehow makes it worse.
