Page 9 of Tristian (The Doherty Mafia)
“See, you didn’t even have to take your clothes off,” he said.
He said he was going to take a shower and then disappeared for fifteen minutes.
I was still in shock from what happened between us.
It had all been a fantasy up until now. I knew I wanted Tristian. It was a physical desire that I experienced the moment I saw him. It was undeniable; he was too hot for my own good.
But I thought he hated me. I thought he didn’t believe a word I told him about my story and relationship with Aldo. I thought I wasn’t anything more than a burden to him because his brother tasked him with watching over me and keeping me out of trouble.
I definitely didn’t expect him to kiss me first.
I eyed the front door while sitting on the couch, at a loss for what to do.
Maybe this was my opportunity to leave. I was allowed to change my mind, right? The Dohertys technically weren’t holding me prisoner. I had surrendered myself to them on my own terms.
Could I really run the risk of trusting them with my safety?
What if they were just like Aldo Baron? What if I was a prisoner here too?
I couldn’t decide fast enough. There wasn’t enough time.
Tristian appeared again with his hair damp from the shower. He’d changed into different clothes and was freshly shaven. I got a whiff of his strong cologne and I nearly swooned.
As suspicious as we were of each other, I’d never forget the way he made me feel. How much control he had over my body. How did he know how to touch me?
“You’re free to have a shower if you want. I can arrange some change of clothes for you eventually. I’ll speak to my sisters-in-law,” he said.
“Thank you.”
I followed him with my eyes as he walked around his apartment—filling a glass with water to drink from the faucet. Grabbing an apple from the fridge. Slipping his jacket on, then his shoes. Brushing a hand through his hair. It seemed like he avoided looking at me, on purpose.
Maybe he regretted it.
Did I regret it too?
But it’d felt so good. It’d felt so right.
“I have to go. I need to speak to the rest of the family about you. Come up with a plan,” he said. He was already at the door. He wasn’t leaving me with any instructions. What was I supposed to do while he was gone?
Ever since Aldo came into my life, I had lost all sense of freedom and freewill. I wasn’t sure if I was capable of making my own decisions anymore.
“Okay,” I replied in a small voice.
He gave me a nod and then left. Just like that.
I had no idea when to expect him back. If he’d ever come back.
It seemed like he tried to run as far away from me as possible.
Six
Tristian
“Where’s Brendan?” I asked, walking into my father’s office at the family home.
The rest of my brothers were there, talking excitedly to each other.
“He’s at home with his brand new family,” Aidan replied, thumping my shoulder with the smack of a hand.
“I can’t believe he’s a dad. Brendan’s a dad! We have a nephew!” Nolan exclaimed with a chuckle. The others shook their heads in disbelief with big smiles on their faces. We had a new Doherty in the family. One we hadn’t been aware of for the past three years. It was a pleasant surprise for all of us.
Our father walked in and he looked like he was in a good mood.
Things were looking up for us. No matter what Aldo tried to do, and all the ways that he tried to get to us—we prevailed over and over again.
The general consensus was he’d eventually give up and scurry away when he realized he wasn’t going to win this war.
“You’re a grandad!” Killian said.
Our father laughed and looked proudly at us, shaking our hands.
“I can’t wait to meet the little kid, but Brendan said they all need some time to adjust to the new life. Apparently, the kid had no idea Brendan’s his dad.” Dad spoke to us with a shine in his eyes.
I wanted to rejoice in the shared excitement my brothers experienced. I was happy for Brendan too. I knew he was in love with Rosalie. They’d be good for each other. Most of all, they’d be good for the kid. But my mind was stuck on something else.
Someone else.
Elsie Harlow and how fuckin’ hot she was.
I hadn’t yet done a good job of resisting her. It hadn’t even been a full twenty-four hours and we’d already crossed the line.
I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to hold myself back from all the other things I wanted to do to her.
She seemed pretty shaken up after what happened. I wasn’t sure if she regretted it. If she was mad at me and herself.
