Grim Offerings (Aisling Grimlock Book 2) (9 page)

“I have no intention of getting in the way,” Griffin said. “And, when we’re done, I’ll take you out for a nice lunch and then we’ll … go to church.”

“Very good,” Cillian said. “Okay, someone pass me the syrup.”

“Hand me some chips,” I ordered.

“No, you said you didn’t want chips when we stopped at the gas station,” Aidan said. “You can’t change your mind now.”

“Oh, give me some chips!”

“No.”

From the passenger seat of Aidan’s car Cillian reached over and cuffed his brother. “Will you give her some chips?”

“Do I have to spell it out for you?” Aidan asked, irked. “N.O.”

Cillian studied him for a moment and then he reached over and grabbed the bag of dill-pickled delight from his lap and handed it to me. I shoved a handful in my mouth, meeting Aidan’s gaze in the rearview mirror as I chomped on them noisily.

Griffin rolled his eyes from the backseat. “Is this how all of your stakeouts go?” We were sitting outside of Morgan Reid’s apartment building. We’d arrived early so we could get a handle on who was going in and out of the building.

“Pretty much,” Cillian said.

“Very professional,” Griffin deadpanned.

Because I’d shoved so many chips in my mouth I was having trouble swallowing. I slapped Aidan’s shoulder and pointed toward his bottle of water.

“No.”

I mimed coughing.

“It serves you right.”

Cillian sighed and snatched the bottle of water. “What is it with you two?”

I swallowed half the bottle for good measure before handing it back. When Aidan took it, his face was murderous. “Oh, man, you backwashed!”

“I don’t backwash,” I argued.

“I’m going to beat the crap out of both of you,” Cillian warned. “What is going on here?”

No one answered.

“Is this because you saw her naked?”

“I didn’t see her naked,” Aidan said. “Don’t give me nightmares.”

“Hey!”

Cillian shifted in his seat, his gaze bouncing between us. “Why are you two acting like this?”

“We’re acting how we always act,” I grumbled.

“No, you’re not,” Cillian countered. “I haven’t seen you two act this … poorly … since middle school.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Ask him.”

“I’m asking both of you.”

“They’ve been fighting for days,” Griffin said. “I think it’s because of me.”

“What did you do to Aidan?”

“I didn’t do anything to Aidan,” Griffin replied. “He just has attitude with me. I understood when he attacked me because he thought I was cheating on her. I have no idea what his problem is now.”

“I don’t have a problem,” Aidan sniffed. “She’s just acting like … a beyotch.”

“Oh, good grief,” Cillian said. “It
is
like you’re back in middle school.”

“Did they fight a lot in middle school?” Griffin asked.

“It was unbelievable,” Cillian said. “Dad finally had to put them in different wings of the house because they kept hurling statues at each other.”

“That sounds … expensive.”

“It was,” Cillian said. “They got over it eventually. I’m not waiting three years for you two to start getting along again. Just be forewarned.”

“Then don’t listen to us,” Aidan snapped.

“I’m going to have Dad put you in the dungeon,” Cillian warned. “You’re seriously on my last nerve. Either tell me what’s wrong or move on.”

“She’s irritating me.”

“How? She just asked for some chips.”

“And she backwashed in my water,” Aidan pointed out.

“Oh, I’m totally done,” Cillian said, popping open his door. “We need to break up into teams. Aisling, you’re coming with me. Griffin, you can go with Aidan.”

“That’s a terrible idea,” I said.

“No one asked you,” Cillian said.

“I happen to think it’s a terrible idea, too,” Griffin added.

“Well, here’s my problem,” Cillian said. “My father ordered me not to let Aisling out of my sight. You could come with us, but that leaves Aidan alone.”

“I’m fine with being alone,” Aidan said.

Cillian ignored him. “I need Aisling with me.”

“I came to watch her,” Griffin argued.

“Fine,” Cillian said, running his hand through his hair, exasperated. “Sit in the car. I don’t care. Come on, Aisling.”

I shot Griffin an apologetic look. “He’s technically my boss.”

“Go,” Griffin said. “Let’s get this over with. I can’t take much more time with your family right now.”

“Oh, but we really love you,” Aidan snapped.

“Hurry,” Griffin reiterated.

“DO
you want to tell me what’s wrong with you and Aidan?”

Cillian led me behind the apartment building, studying every alcove and bush as we moved.

“He’s being mean to me.”

“He’s being mean to you?”

“I don’t know why,” I said. “At first I thought he was just doing it to bug Griffin. Now I think there’s something else wrong with him.”

“Maybe he has PMS?” Cillian suggested.

“That’s not funny,” I said. “You can’t call him a girl because he’s gay.”

Cillian snorted. “I like how you still stand up for him even though he’s being mean to you.”

“I’m not standing up for him,” I corrected. “I’m standing up for gay men everywhere.”

Cillian cupped the back of my head briefly. “Okay,” he said. “You two are going to have to figure this out, though. If he’s got a problem with Griffin then … .”

“Then what? I’m not breaking up with Griffin because Aidan is crying like I broke his favorite doll.”

Cillian made a face. “You can say that, but I can’t ask if he has PMS?”

“I wasn’t trying to slur him,” I said. “This whole thing just reminds me of when I broke his doll.”

“That wasn’t a doll,” Cillian said. “It was an action figure.”

“If you can take its clothes off and dress it up, it’s a doll.”

“No, that’s not true,” Cillian argued. “It was an action figure. It had a gun.”

“And bracelets.”

“That was a walkie-talkie.”

“It was a doll.”

“It was an action figure.”

“Is this a private argument, or can anyone join in?”

I froze when I heard the voice. Cillian glanced behind me, his face unreadable. “Can I help you?”

“That was going to be my next line,” the voice said. “Who is your friend?”

I clenched my jaw and turned, meeting Morgan Reid’s gaze evenly as it landed on me.

“Well, hello again,” Reid said.

“Hi.”

“Is this Mike Morrison?”

“Who?”

“Isn’t that the name of the man you said you were looking for yesterday when you stopped by my apartment?” Reid pressed.

How could he possibly remember that? “Um, yes,” I said. “This is Mike Morrison.”

Reid smiled at Cillian. “And you’re selling her a couch?”

“I am,” Cillian said.

“In the bushes beside the building?”

“We decided to get some exercise first,” I interjected.

“I see.” Reid obviously didn’t believe me. “You do realize you two look almost exactly alike, right?”

“I think he’s making fun of your hair,” I said to Cillian.

“I wasn’t,” Reid said. “I was pointing out there’s more than a passing resemblance between the two of you.”

“That’s because he’s my husband,” I said.

Reid waited.

“Why would I look like you if I was your husband?” Cillian was exasperated. “That makes even less sense than me selling you a couch.”

I fought the urge to strangle him. “I’m … not sure.”

“Are you two on a stakeout or something?” Reid asked. “Are you cops?”

I wrinkled my nose. “Do I look like a cop?”

“You look smoking hot,” Reid said.

“Hey,” Cillian warned. “That’s my … wife.”

Reid rolled his eyes. “What are you two really doing here?”

“We’re … um … thinking of moving into the building,” I said.

“Together?”

“We’re very close.”

“Because you’re married?”

“I’m her brother and she’s considering moving here,” Cillian said, pinching my wrist viciously. “She really liked the building yesterday when she was here to see the couch.”

“Did you buy the couch?”

“No. It looked like someone died on it,” I said.

“And now you’re considering moving into the building.” Reid pressed.

He’s so suspicious. I have a very honest face. I don’t deserve this. “I am.”

“And you brought your brother to look it over?”

“He wants to make sure it’s safe,” I said.

“Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?” Reid asked.

“Because … .”

“Because she’s a woman,” Cillian answered for me. “They like to play games.”

Reid’s face softened. “Is that what you’re doing? Do you want to play a game with me?”

Cillian shifted uncomfortably. “I’m going to check around the rest of the building,” he said. “Why don’t you guys … stay right here?”

I shot him a look. “What?”

“I … just stay here,” Cillian muttered. “I need to look around the rest of the building.”

“But … .”

“You’ll be fine,” Cillian said.

“Why wouldn’t she be fine?” Reid asked.

“Because you look like you have eight hands,” Cillian said, moving toward the back of the building. He paused long enough to fix Reid with a serious look. “If any of those eight hands land on my sister I’m going to beat the crap out of you. You’ve been warned.”

“You look like a fun guy,” Reid said, his face full of faux brightness.

“You have no idea,” Cillian said, disappearing around the back of the building.

“So, tell me a little about yourself,” Reid said, not missing a beat. “If you’re going to move into the building, we should be … friendly.”

I’d rather make friends with a professional cheerleader. “Oh, well, I’m pretty antisocial.”

“You don’t look antisocial.”

“I am.”

“You don’t look it.”

“Looks can be deceiving.” What is this guy’s deal? Does he think he’s charming? He’s got “creeper” written all over him. It’s right before “tool” and right after “douche” in the loser’s dictionary.

Either Reid didn’t notice my overt dislike or he didn’t care. I was leaning toward the latter. “So, do you have a boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

“Why isn’t he helping you look for an apartment?”

That was a very good question. “He’s here,” I said. “He’s with my other brother. They’re looking around, too.” I wanted Reid to realize Cillian wasn’t his only worry. I had no idea why.

“That sounds cozy.”

“It is.”

“Are you serious with your boyfriend?”

“She is.”

I jumped at Griffin’s voice, but I also was relieved. “Hi, honey!”

Griffin narrowed his eyes. “Dear,” he drawled. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Well, you found me.” Thankfully.

“What happened to your brother?” Griffin wasn’t sure what was going on but he obviously knew better than to blow our cover. He wasn’t a novice.

“He’s looking around the building,” I said. “He’s not sure he’d feel safe with me living here.”

Griffin caught on. “I agree with him. I’ve been watching the people going in and out. I don’t think you’d like it here.”

“Hey, I live here,” Reid said.

“Oh, honey bear, this is Morgan Reid. He lives in the building.”

Reid stuck out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Griffin’s face was immovable. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Something was bothering me about this situation – other than the obvious. Reid was supposed to be dead already. Again. Instead, he was wandering around outside of his apartment building. Who does that? Okay, who does that besides me?

“You know what, snookums, I’m going to run around and see if I can find … my brother,” I said. I didn’t want to reveal any names. “Why don’t you stay here and quiz Mr. Reid on the building?”

Griffin arched an eyebrow. “Well, baby doll, maybe I should go with you?”

“No,” I said, glancing around. “Someone should probably stay here and keep Mr. Reid company, you sexy beast.”

Griffin ran his tongue over his teeth. “But I want to spend some quality time with you, sweetie pie.”

The names were starting to get out of control, and yet I couldn’t stop. “You’ll be fine for two minutes, Tootsie Roll.”

Griffin scowled. “If you’re not back in two minutes, pain in my ass, I’m going to come looking for you.”

“Great,” I said and bolted in the direction Cillian had gone moments before.

“Wait! I thought we were going to get to know one another?” Reid called after me.