“She’s doing well, mate,” Uri says. “She’s been working security for Val, but she and the lad have moved back into the compound.”
I close my eyes and groan. I had a feeling she would move out of my place. Although I’d been holding onto a little hope.
“Thanks, Uri. I appreciate this.”
“Anytime. You know we’ll be heading across the pond for a bit, but I don’t think she’s coming along.”
“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”
I hang up and stare down at my phone. Without giving it much thought, I send another text. If only I knew what Missy said to Roni.
“Nephew,” Uncle Ronan croons. “What about ye?”
I look up from my phone and stop pacing. The wedding is pretty much over. A glance around tells me that Toby and Kamara have finally taken off.
“Hey, Uncle Ronan.”
My tone sound dry to me. Something I’ve been trying to work on. I’ve tried. I even got in on ribbing Brax, but my mind is half here. While the rest of the family has been laughing and telling jokes, I’ve been calling and sending unanswered texts.
“I know ye better than that, lad. What’s going on? We don’t have enough rope around here for you to truss up one of these birds.”
That brings a genuine smile to my lips. “Fuck off,” I scoff.
“Aye, there’s me nephew.” He smiles. “Your brothers have all disappeared. That means you have to spend time with yer ol steamin’ uncle.”
“You drunk? It looks like you’re just getting started,” I tease.
He pats my face. “See this is why yer one of my favorites. I have a baldy notion. Come on, take a dooter with me.”
I groan. Uncle Ronan and his bright ideas usually mean trouble. I’ll take a walk with him, but I’m sure nothing good will come out of it. When he saunters over to the bar and grabs a bottle of whiskey, I know I’m right.
He nods over his shoulder for me to follow him and I do with a sigh as I take one more glance at the unanswered texts on my phone. I tighten my jaw and shove the phone in my back pocket. A number of times I’ve calculated the flight to New York and back, knowing there’s no way I can make it and still be here for my little brother.
However, he’s taking a two-day honeymoon before we head to Africa. Maybe… I sigh. Yeah, this is going to take more than the few hours I can squeeze out.
“What’s going on with ya? What’s on yer noodle?” Uncle Ronan asks as we get a few yards away from the wedding tent.
I blow out a breath. “I got mixed up with this crazy chick. She might actually be stalking me, now that I think of it. Long story short. I found… fuck it. I found the one. Her situation is a bit complicated, but we’ve sort of moved things to the next level—”
“Aye, that’s my boy.”
“Wind your neck in, Uncle Ronan. That’s not what I mean. We’ve gone from friends to giving things a shot.
“There’s just a ton going on in both of our lives. She dropped in on me a few days ago and while I was in the shower, the other girl came by and… I have no fucking clue what happened. When I came out my girl was gone and the nut job I can’t seem to shake was there.
“I don’t even want to get into the rest. I’m here, my girl is in New York and I have a sick feeling in my stomach that by the time I go to fix this I’m going to be totally fucked,” I grumble.
“Next time ya tell me to be quiet, I’m going to cobbler ya.”
I snort. “That’s all you got out of all of that?”
“Naw, I got the rest. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Ye’ve got yerself into a pickle, ye have. Ye be planning to head to Africa with Toby, aye?”
“Yeah, I want to make sure it all goes smoothly.”
He takes a swig from the bottle of whiskey and hands it over to me. I take a drink and wipe the back of hand across my mouth. Staring up at the sky, I can’t help wondering what Roni’s up to. If Val has taken her under her wing and she’s doing security for her, I know she’s financially sound.
Not one of the accounts or cards I’ve given her have been touched in the last five day. She’s making her own money the way she wants.