“Harley, I’ve been looking for you,” Blake says as he walks into the attic, and Luke follows him in. I shut my laptop, so they don’t see the baby store I have open on it. I’ve ordered a lot of stuff to come tomorrow as a gift to Tilly but made sure that it’s all boxed up well and I will tell my family I’m having a room re done or something. I’ve never bought a girl anything, and here I am, ordering nappies and cot sheets. I don’t know if she will be okay with my buying all this stuff for her and the baby, but I want to help her. It can’t be easy, running from your past and leaving your family behind when you have a baby on the way. I know I didn’t get her pregnant, and she isn’t my responsibility, but I can’t walk away from her. It feels like she is mine, and has since I saw her.

“I could use a distraction,” I say with a laugh and walk over to the sofas, where Blake sits looking nervous. I share a look with Luke, who only grins.

“Okay, what’s going on? Blake, you look like your about to shit yourself, while Luke looks like he is waiting for you to do just that,” I say, and Blake laughs, but it’s a nervous one.

“I want to ask Izzy to marry me, and I would like your permission. She never had a father figure in her life, but she has told me on more than one occasion that she sees you like that,” he says, and I’m not entirely surprised he is asking me. I know how much he loves my sister and has done since he met her.

“You didn’t need to ask me, but yes. I’m going to say this once, though. If you hurt her or do anything other than love that girl, I’m going to beat the shit out of you,” I say, watching as he nods at me in understanding. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to protect my sister.

“Congrats, man, but what he said,” Luke says, and Blake laughs.

“I’d rather hurt myself than ever hurt her, so don’t worry,” he tells us, and it makes me feel a little better.

“Can’t believe you're actually going to be our brother-in-law. I always saw you as a brother before you started dating our sister.”

“I felt more like he was a guy who ate our food, lived in our house most of the time, and made sure Seb found his way home when he was drunk,” I comment, with a smile to show him I’m joking.

“Oi! I brought food here sometimes, like food my mum cooks for you guys,” Blake responds with a fake hurt expression.

“Oh, yeah. I’m coming to yours for tea tomorrow night,” Luke says with a dreamy look as he rubs his stomach. Even I have to admit the food she sends us is impressive.

“Fine, but no hitting on my mum, it’s not funny, anymore,” Blake says, and I can’t help but laugh when Luke winks at him.

“Your mum is hot, though. If only I were twenty years older,” Luke says, and Blake throws a pillow at him.

“Harley . . . just . . . thank you for bringing her into my life. I was lost until her, and I know I can’t really explain it, but I know I have you to thank for bringing her here.”

“I didn’t bring her for you. In fact, when we found out you two were together, I wanted to beat the shit out of you,” I tell him honestly.

“Understood. If I had a sister, I would be the same way,” Blake replies.

“Luckily, you don’t. If she looked anything like your mum–” Luke says, and Blake throws another cushion at him to stop that sentence.

“What’s the plan? How are you going to ask?” I ask, changing the conversation.

“Well, she loves the beach, so I’ve booked a private boat in a month, and I’m going to ask her on it,” he says.

“That’s a good plan,” I say, knowing Izzy told me about how her mum used to take her to the beach as a child. The fact he knows that, shows me that he listens to her. That he loves her.

“I had this ring custom made for her, I’ve been waiting for it for three months now, but I only want the best for her,” he says and hands me a small, white box. I open it to see a ring with one large diamond, and at the side of those are two, tiny, blue stones. I think they are sapphires.

“She will love it,” I reply and hand the box back to Blake. Luke doesn’t ask to see it, so I’m guessing he spoke to Luke before.

“How is Tilly settling in? Izzy is worried about her, and I’m not sure what to say to Izzy,” Blake asks.

“It’s been a week, but honestly, Tilly will talk to Izzy when she is ready,” I say, leaning back in my seat and trying not to think about Tilly. I know she still hasn’t told anyone about the baby, but she did listen to me when I suggested registering with the local doctors and hospital. I’m hoping she is going to say something to Izzy tomorrow when she goes out shopping with her. There’s no way the siren can hide this from everyone forever.

“A week of him following her around like a lost puppy. I’ve never seen you so hung up on a girl,” Luke comments, and I glare at him. I go to reply when my phone rings, and I pull it out of my jacket to see Arthur’s name flashing on the screen.

“What?” I answer, not wanting to talk to him right now, or ever. We have five fights left, that’s it now, and then my family will finally be free of him.

“I had an idea,” Arthur says, he sounds cold and calculating.

“I’m waiting,” I reply, standing up and walking away from Luke and Blake.

“Five fights left, now, and I want one of you to fight five guys, one after another,” he says, and there’s silence as I pause in shock. He has to be fucking kidding.

“That’s fucking crazy. There is no way any of us could win that,” I shout, and he laughs down the phone.

“I’m done with you King brothers, and I want this over. I will set up the fight and text you the details. I expect you to be there, Harley, or maybe that pretty, red-headed roommate of yours might go missing,” he tells me, and then the line goes dead.

“For fuck’s sake,” I say and throw the phone across the room, watching as it smashes into pieces across the floor.

“What happened?” Luke asks coming over, and I run my fingers through my hair and mentally groan as I look at Luke. I don’t want to tell him anything, but I know I won’t be able to hide this from my brothers.

“Arthur has decided to do the last five fights one after another. And, only one of us can fight them all,” I say, and Luke shakes his head. He knows the chances of any of us surviving that is low to impossible. It only takes one of them to hit too hard or another to bring a weapon in, changing the odds.

“Fuck, no,” Luke says as Blake comes over.

“It’s a death wish,” Blake comments, hearing the conversation.

“And mine to deal with,” I say with a sigh. I would never let any of my brothers do this for me. I would never let them die because of our father’s mistakes. The fact he threatened Tilly is another matter.

“You’ve always protected us, Harley, we aren’t going to let you fight this and die to protect us,” Luke says, grabbing my arm.

“It’s my choice,” I tell him and pull away. Except, it really isn’t my choice, and when I think of Tilly, I know I can’t be with her now. Not like I wanted to be. It would break her heart if I don’t walk out of that cage, and I can’t do that to her. I already like her too much to hurt her. For a second, I thought I had my happy ending; the girl I want and a future with a child that isn’t mine, but I would do anything to help bring the baby up. I can’t even have children, myself, not after one of the fights destroyed my chances to have children with one attack. That’s why I help with Jake as much as possible because I knew I’d never get that chance to hold a baby. But with Tilly, I could have been there for her and the child. Now, being there could only hurt her more. I walk out of the office and down the two flights of stairs and into the garden. I open the greenhouse up after walking across to it and pull out a shovel. I need to dig up the old soil by the tree and put some new soil down, before planting the flowers. I shove a bag of soil in the wheelbarrow and add the shovel before pushing it out of the greenhouse. I dig the shovel into the ground and get to work, looking up at the clouds that almost look like they might rain, but I need this distraction. I like gardening because it takes my mind off everything, and I can just work. I have most the soil dug up by the time the first bit of rain falls, and I shove my stuff back in the greenhouse just as the heavens open up, and it pours down. I am making my way back across the garden when I see Tilly looking at me from the window. She smiles gently at me, her eyes drifting over my soaking wet top and how my hair is down. I don’t think she has seen me like this before. Tilly and I just stare at each other before I get to the back door and I’m forced to look away. I wonder if she feels like I do; like all I want to do is walk into that kitchen and kiss her, and screw the consequences.