K I E R O N

Chapter |4| Fate Is Cruel

K I E R O N ' S P. O. V

"Don't laugh, you'll wake him up." The stern voice echos, dragging from the lulls of sleep.

A high pitched giggle follows after. My mouth itches at the etching of pen over my skin, but I try to keep a stern mouth.

Then I peek one eye open. Calista sees me and gasps, wide eyed like she's about to be sent to time out again.

I wink to ease her concern, and she smiles. My finger edges to my lip but I quickly drop it and shut my eyes the moment Stasia turns around.

"What else should we draw?" Calista responds with a plethora of giggles.

I can sense the pen moving closer to my face again, and just at the tip presses into my cheek, I shoot up, snatching Stasia in my arms and tickle her until the pen drops.

"Excuse me missy, I was trying to sleep."

"I'm...sorry," She struggles to get out, hysterical with laughter. Unfortunately for Anastasia Romano, who loves to act older than her age, she has several weak spots for tickling.

"You're not being fair Uncle Kieron." I cease and gently drop her onto the bed.

Calista raises her arms up and I rise with her in my hold. She loves to tug on my beard, and longish hair that's in dire need for a trim.

Unfortunately for me, I have a meeting today with Kiara. The potential partner is an architect hoping to receive an investment and as per protocol Kiara needs someone else with her for advice.

I listen to the pitch and advise from there since architecture is something I actually enjoy discussing.

Otherwise I would have let the girls draw happily all over my arm for a while whilst I watch the business channel and drink my coffee.

Although being 31, I occasionally stay at my sister's house since my apartment is a stone away from their colonial mansion. It also means more time with my nieces.

Takes the stress off my sister since she's pregnant. Again.

I glance in the mirror, trying to hide the shock at the mess on my face. Anastasia cringes in the mirror reflection, Calista is oblivious and just laughs.

That makes me smile. "Sorry again."

"It's fine, it's just ink. It'll come off." In time for the meeting I hope which is in...fuck, an hour.

An hour to clean my face, shower, shave, quickly shorten my hair down and dress.

You can f*****g do it, Kieron.

First, I leave the guest room to place Calista in the dining room with her dad. Aaron almost chokes, spluttering coffee everywhere.

I send him a scathing glare that's usually enough to make a grown man piss himself. Aaron just cracks a smirk and reaches for his crawling daughter.

"They got you again?"

I shrug, dumping like warm coffee in the cup. "I don't mind."

"But Kiara will, and she's...not very pleasant this morning." f*****g ace. "Do you might want to..."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it. I'll be quick."

Quick means standing in a cold shower whilst I attempt to lather soap on my body and shave my jaw at the same time. It also means kicking myself five times and accidentally buzzing the back of my hair too short.

Whatever. The client is there to impress me and not the other way round.

I quickly pat on some aftershave and throw on a suit. One leg dangles out of the pant hole as I'm trying to shove it in, hopping along the hallway.

I'm one minute late past the decided time to meet my sister. Unfortunately ever since she became the CEO is a multi million dollar business, she's become a stickler for deadlines.

"Do your belt," She swats my arm, glare hot enough to scorch the Earth.

"God, you're like mom." It grows hotter. "Actually mom's nicer." She shoves her tongue out at me. My eyes roll. Real f*****g mature.

My niece laughs away, amused by our petty fights. I tickle her chin, which brightens her laugh and lightens Kiara's mood. "You're so cute my little firecracker,"

Anastasia pretends to be unconcerned, playing in her iPad. She's seven, personally, I don't think she should have one, but I understand the inability to say no.

I'm yet to do so for my nieces so I doubt Aaron can for his daughters.

"You too, bunny. You're beautiful," Kiara smothers her oldest daughter's face with kisses, forcing Anastasia to drop the iPad to defend herself.

She hates hugs, kisses, most forms of human contact. We relate on that very topic. It's not something we can't do. To be honest, it's just an awkward interaction we would both rather avoid.

"We're going to be late," I would rather not have my sister force me to speed within New York traffic.

"Okay, okay," She puts Calista down, and kisses Aaron goodbye, before we can finally leave.

I drive since Kiara is sporting a large baby bump. Baby number three is on its way. "You okay?" My car is lower down than most, which I know she can find uncomfortable.

"For the fiftieth time, I'm fine. Just drive." My eyes can't help but notice she's drumming nervously on the dashboard.

"Nervous?"

"Not exactly...I just don't know what I should do."

"We'll you haven't heard the pitch?"

"I know, but dad thinks we should invest in architecture. It would come in handy for us in the future I guess. We could construct our own buildings, safe houses and it's another way to invest money, clean it to hide from the public face."

I frown, like I'm missing something. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"In theory, but that means whoever we're meeting has to be on board with this. With everything. They would become a business partner and a close member of the mafia. We would have to trust them, completely. I mean imagine if we explain everything to them and they just say no. They don't want to partner with us." She pauses, waiting for me to catch on.

"You'd have to kill them."

"Exactly, and I don't feel like getting blood on my dress today." To be fair it is a good dress.

"You don't have to tell them straight away."

She signs, "I know, but it'll be harder if I'm building a relationship with them before."

"I'll do it." I declare, without even processing the words.

But her eyes light up, her features awaken and I see my sister again. Not a woman drowning in the stress of running two businesses, one complexity illegal, whilst heavily pregnant.

"Really? You will?"

"If it comes it, then yes." I haven't killed anyone for a job in a long time. I was proud of that achievement, as pathetic as it sounds, but for her...it's worth it.

***

Ever since my sister came into power, my family's legacy has evolved.

First of all, I notice more women working in high positions, as part of the policies Kiara implemented to enforce it.

The place has also been recently renovated, creating a modern and sleek enterprise compared to before. I'm greeted with a coffee, steaming hot this time, and a file containing the business proposals.

I won't read it. Kiara already had, and besides I like coming in knowing nothing. It means I'm a fresh point of view.

My gaze keeps flirting to my sister's assistant. He's got a deep auburn hue to his hair and his build is slimmer than I'm usually attracted to, but the flirty smiles he keeps flashing lets me know he's interested.

Am I?

I haven't slept with anyone since my one night stand almost four months ago now. Thus, I should be jumping at the chance to f**k again.

Yet I look at Oscar, and nothing. Not like with Jacob, where everything was so easy and natural.

Most mornings I wake up cursing myself for leaving without his number, but it was only ever going to be a one night stand. And that's what you do.

Right?

You slip out before sunrise awakens the world, carrying any regrets with you.

Maybe I should ask Kiara about him first? Find out if he has any weird habitats or stuff I should know and then ask him out?

I make a note of it for later.

Right now, I focus on the task at hand.

"How did this guy even get a meeting with you?" My sister is harder to reach than f*****g Al Pacino.

"He's been trying for a while now and I admire persistence. Plus, dad's idea was relevant to his business and he seemed like a nice guy when we spoke over Skype."

"Skype? Is he not from New York?"

"No England, but he's relocating his business here." Sounds like Jacob.

Wait...

"Is this the guy I was supposed to meet at that swanky hotel bar?" Kiara straightens at my alarm, perceiving threat.

"Yes why?"

Oh f**k. No it couldn't be. He wouldn't do that. Jacob knew me, he would have said something otherwise, he would have told me if he was the man hoping to become my sister's business partner.

Oscar opens the door, a tall figure standing behind him. "Mr Harper is ready for you,"

I recognise the smile before anything else. It hits a pang in my heart, betrayal exploding like venom that seeps into my veins.

My jaw clenches tight, grinding my teeth in an effort not to f*****g scream.

The fact he still looks good, perfect even is destroying me.

His hair is near this time, professionally slicked back, unlike his mused bedroom hair I admired before slinking out of his hotel room. His suit is a deep blue, complimenting his own lightened eyes. It hugs his every muscle, outlining that toned body I know from memory.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Kiara Romano." Jacob hasn't noticed me yet.

I'm sulking a few chairs away from my sister and thankfully Oscar is blocking his view of me. Fortunately, I can still see him.

I watch as he flies effortlessly to my sister, shaking her hand firmly and offering the same respect as you would to a male boss. His body is turned slight and instinctively my gaze drops to his ass.

Fuck. I remember the feeling well. The way he squeezed around me tight as I thrust into him with rapid strokes.

Sex had never felt so good. Neither had time. I don't think I've ever had a day where I've felt as at peace as that one.

"And this is my brother, Kieron Romano. He'll be observing the meeting."

I should stand but my ass is glued the chair, unwilling to move. Jacob stiffens slightly, only for a second, before he falls back into his relaxed demeanour.

He turns to me, showing no surprise. "Nice to meet you," I get a nod.

A f*****g nod.

Now I've never been one to cause a scene, to let anger overrule judgement or professionalism but I let this guy in. I gave him a chance, I took a risk and until today I was happy with it.

But now, I just want a f*****g explanation.

My feet are already up and moving. I grip Jacob by the collar, raising him up so his toes barely skin the floor. I'm dragging him out, leaving not time to explain to my horrified sister and find the nearest supply room.

I shove him back against the printer, my hold loosening so he can breathe again.

"What the f**k?" He gasps loudly for air.

I simply roll my eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, it was two seconds."

"Without air!" He expresses, heat radiating in those usually cool irises. "And it was at leat ten seconds."

"What the f**k are you doing here? Or better yet why did you let me come up to your hotel room and f**k you, knowing full well you were the client I was supposed to be meeting?"

I'm angry. So f*****g angry that steam would be pouring out of my ears if we were in a cartoon.

But above all, I'm hurt. And I hate that gnawing sensation that eats at my chest, that creates a pit in my stomach large enough to make me feel hollow inside.

"I didn't know you were meeting me. I was supposed to be meeting Kiara."

"But you cancelled. Why?"

Charming hesitates, losing all the confidence I met at the bar. "It's...personal."

I scoff. "Letting someone inside of you is personal, but you were game for it within fifteen minutes of meeting me."

Cheap shot, but I'm an asshole when I'm pissed.

Jacob inhaled a harsh breath, looking away from me. "You have no idea what I was going through," He murmurs softly.

I almost reach out to touch his hand, hold him close to me, but insecurity forces me to stay still.

"You can tell me, you know?" I'm offering the tree branch, desperately hoping he'll take it.

Part of me wants to hear him out, praying he didn't just f**k me as a way to get closer to my sister. But that he actually wanted me.

That someone in this f****d up world saw a slither of light that was worth saving in me.

His face glows as that serene smile graces his charming face once again. "It's a lot. Maybe too much for you to hear,"

Stepping closer, I bathe in his rich scent. The woodsy aroma sends shivers down my slimes, reminding what it tasted like to lick it off his bare skin.

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?" I offer a rare undisclosed smile. "Charming,"

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A/N: What did you think of the cute moment with Kieron and his nieces ???

Also on Kiara and Aaron's appearances