Chapter 31

There was a soft tap at the door and Ran sighed as he rose from his chair. His gaze lingered on Niall, as he slept, before he went to answer it. Roman was waiting and waved for Ran to step into the hall.

“You didn’t ring for breakfast and it was getting late, I thought I’d make sure you were both all right,” he said softly as Ran shut the door.

“I didn’t want to wake Niall or leave him alone. You have no idea how much he’s suffered and how extraordinary all of this is. He’s a shy scientist. He lives for butterflies!” He exclaimed quietly. “I thought I was protecting him but he’s endured hell and risked everything to save me. It was all a lie and Isla was pulling his strings but he believed she would destroy him if he defied her because she absolutely would have, if she had real proof. She’s a monster,” he said and Roman nodded.

“Your boathouse is in a million pieces and floating down the Thames. Isla and Simon have already told the police the two of you had a dramatic falling out after your affair was revealed. They claimed they hurried to Lachlan House to warn you but they were too late.” He cleared his throat and stepped closer. “Several of your clothing and personal items may have been slipped back into the river and there’s some concern you might not have escaped,” Roman explained then held his hands up innocently. “Somehow,” he added and Ran laughed softly.

“That will buy us some time to come up with a plan but I don’t want to hide for too long. I don’t want them spreading too many rumors about us,” he said and Roman ducked his head in agreement. The door opened and Niall peeked around it. He blushed and his eyes dropped as Roman smiled knowingly.

“I hope you’re well rested, Lord Brewarden,” he said. “You had quite a night,” Roman purred and Niall nodded quickly.

“Thank you, it was pretty wild,” he agreed absently then winced at Ran. Roman’s lips twitched and his eyes sparkled.

“Wild, indeed. I believed the walls were a lot thicker up here,” Roman said as he waved his hand vaguely and Niall’s eyes flared as he caught up.

“I…” He was wearing a white robe and hugged it tighter around him as he studied his feet.

“I think you wanted to say something,” Ran said and Niall pushed out a hard breath before he offered them a tight smile.

“I heard you mention Isla and Simon and I didn’t want to miss anything,” he said then cleared his throat. “And there are a few things you should know before you decide how you want to deal with them,” he added and Roman clapped his hands together.

“I was able to have your clothes moved over from the hotel without anyone noticing,” he said to Ran then turned to Niall. “Quinn’s clothes may be just a little off in the shoulders and waist, you’re a bit slimmer but not by too much. You’ll find clothes in the closet and I’ll have a late breakfast prepared. Meet in the dining room in half an hour?” He suggested and Niall nodded but Ran hissed as he shook his head.

“I think it’s going to take closer to an hour but we’ll meet you downstairs and Niall can fill us in on the rest as we eat,” he said and Niall fled back into the room as his face turned red. Ran and Roman exchanged winks and grins. “Butterflies,” Ran repeated as he pointed at the door and Roman hummed as he patted his cheek playfully but affectionately.

“He seems very calm, cautious and patient. All things you are not. He’ll balance you out nicely and he’ll take good care of you. You’ll take care of each other and that’s all that matters. I’m going to see what Darius found out and we’ll talk more in an hour,” he said then excused himself.

“Why are you dressed?” Niall complained as soon as Ran shut the door. His arms slid around Ran’s waist as his nose pushed into his hair and there wasn’t a thing he needed in the world. Justice, Ram reminded himself as he hugged Niall’s arms protectively.

“I didn’t want to wake you, we were up really late,” he said then turned and growled softly as he untied the cord around Niall’s robe then pushed it over his shoulders.

“I’m awake now,” he said as he took Ran’s hand and pressed it against his skin. Ran’s eyes followed as his fingers dragged down his chest and Niall was hard and a bead of pre-cum formed on the head of his erection.

“I can see that,” Ran croaked weakly then licked his lips as he collected the drop with his finger. He sucked it clean and hummed as he backed Niall toward the bed. “Sweet as May dew,” he said and a laugh burst from Niall and his eyes glittered as he covered his mouth.

“I hope you’re not planning to wash your face in it,” he teased before he thought it through and Ran sighed in utter delight as he kissed him.

“That does sound like a splendid idea, now that you mention it,” he said and nipped at Niall’s lips as he blushed.

“Can we do something that requires me to talk less?” Niall requested and Ran grinned as he found the lube.

“I don’t think you’ll be doing much talking,” he warned as he guided him back, onto the bed then parted his thighs. “I wouldn’t mind if you did a little more screaming, though,” he mused as he coated his fingers then spent much of the next hour fingering Niall and covering his face in his cum. Ran fucked Niall hard and deep before they took a quick shower together then dressed.

They joined Roman and Quinn in the dining room and Reginald was sitting cross legged on a sofa in a hotel room, on the laptop’s screen. They sat around the end of the long dining table and Reginald was positioned in the center so everyone could see him.

“Now that Ran and Niall have had a chance to get over the understandable shock, I think it’s time we were brought up to speed,” Roman said as he stirred his coffee. Quinn nodded in agreement as he buttered a scone for Roman while Grigore set a full English in front of Niall and Roman. Niall forced out a hard breath and shook his head before pushing the plate away. He never ate a large breakfast but he looked even less interested in food than usual.

“We missed dinner. Try to eat just a little, please,” Ran urged and Niall’s nose scrunched before he took a scone then reached for the blackcurrant jam. “I assume Simon and Isla are trying to kill me for my money. How did you get involved?” He asked and Niall took his time as he spread jam on half of his scone.

“First of all, Isla’s had four abortions, that I’m aware of. I don’t think she’s ever seen the inside of an actual spa,” he said and Ran blinked at Niall’s scone as he reeled.

“So… Every time I asked her to do us all a favor and take herself off to a spa…”

“She thought it was hysterical. She’d laugh as soon as you left the room,” Niall said and Ran’s face twisted then he cleared his throat as he prodded his beans.

“None of them were yours,” he said cautiously and Niall turned in his seat and stared at him in horror.

“Are you out of your mind? They were all Simon’s,” he said and Ran dropped his fork as he fell back in his seat.

“Is it my eyes or my brain? Why didn’t I see that? I’m blind and stupid,” he realized.

“Why would anyone’s brain go there? Isla and Simon get off on hiding everything in plain sight and making everyone play along. She loved to break my things because she knew I’d repair them and never tell you,” Niall explained as he set down his knife. Ran’s brows pulled together as he leaned to see his eyes.

“She broke your things?”

“Almost everything you’ve ever given me. Unless I could hide it first,” Niall confessed and his lips pulled tight as he pushed a crumb across his plate with the tip of his finger. “I loved the handkerchief because I didn’t think there was any way she could break it and I could always carry it with me but she set it on fire. I put up with all of it because I didn’t want you to be disappointed or think I didn’t take good care of the things you gave me but I wouldn’t let her have any children. Definitely not his. I wasn’t going to claim them. They tried to pressure me into accepting the first two because Isla thought a baby would be entertaining. Simon thought it would be fun because he believed you’d make the child your heir if you thought he was mine, because of your feelings for me,” he said and Roman whistled as he pressed his fingertips together then nodded.

“We could be rid of them by dinner and spend the evening buying Niall new things,” he suggested and Ran shook his head.

“Everyone thinks Niall and I died in a dramatic murder-suicide after a long, illicit affair. Coming back from death right when my brother and sister disappear or turn up dead would be suspicious and more of a cloud than I’d like to see over our heads.”

“I suppose…” Roman muttered.

“I’m sure we can find a clever way to deal with them, if we put our heads together. Some of us are professionals,” Reginald reminded them and Roman nodded in agreement as he pointed at the screen.

“Some of us are quite experienced. And then I can help Niall find new treasures…” he mused and Niall shrugged.

“I still have them and they’re still treasures but that jade pendant has significantly less value on the market now. That’s how Isla and Simon were. They liked being broken and evil right under people’s noses because they loved to see what they could get away with. Simon practically flaunted their relationship because he knew you’d never believe they’d actually fuck each other. They forced me to be an accomplice as much as they could but I knew they were up to something truly terrible when they started hiding their plans. Oh!” Niall stopped and pushed the scone aside and grabbed Ran’s hand. “If they’re here, Catriona’s with them. I’m afraid she could get caught up in this or hurt. We have to make sure she’s alright. I wouldn’t have been able to stop them at Gallahide if she hadn’t helped me,” he explained and Ran’s head cocked forward.

“Isla’s maid?” He asked and Niall nodded. “Of course, we’ll make sure she’s safe first,” he said and Niall relaxed.

“Simon had someone, he goes to the parties and he’s in over his head with gambling debts and he’s embezzled quite a bit. They paid him a lot of money to draw you away from the house party so you could be murdered on the way back to Brown’s or in your room. Simon wanted it to be a scandal and thought it was fitting. He didn’t think anyone would be surprised and wanted that to be your legacy,” he said and Ran cringed.

“Live by the gun, die by the gun,” he teased and Niall’s eyes flicked upwards.

“I’m not feeling as philosophical and accepting of that as I used to be. Keep your gun firmly in your holster from now on,” he said and Ran, Roman and Reginald all gasped. Quinn hummed happily as he golf clapped.

“And another overconfident, oversexed man whore bites the dust. The people of Great Britain thank you for your sacrifice and service, Niall,” he declared and Niall ducked his head.

“It’s hard work but someone’s got to do it,” he muttered then slid Ran a wink. Ran flinched and coughed to cover his shock. An intentional pun and flirting? Niall was finally testing his wings. And making Ran slightly uncomfortable. He shifted in his seat and rested his elbows on the table.

“You discovered their plan,” he said and waved his hand in a circle to get him to continue. Niall gave him a sheepish smile as he scrubbed the back of his neck.

“I got in the habit of sneaking around and eavesdropping on everyone, even you. I knew when you were planning to leave before they did then watched them put together their scheme,” he said and Ran smiled as he reached for Niall’s jaw and cradled it.

“You stepped in as Icarus and put a wrench into it every time by hiding me until you knew I was safe,” he said and Niall’s nose scrunched as he nodded.

“Thanks for being such a good sport about all the times I’ve drugged and kidnapped you and thank you for letting me tie you up when you clearly could have escaped at any time,” he said quickly and Reginald spit champagne at his screen as Roman and Quinn fought to keep straight faces.

“Jesus Christ, I hope he’s being serious,” Reginald said as he wiped then shrugged and Ran nodded.

“Completely and it was absolutely spectacular,” he said tenderly and Niall waved his hands in front of his face and it was bright with heat as he sat back.

“I didn’t intend for any of that to happen, I just needed him to stay hidden until I knew he was safe. Taking his clothes was a mistake,” he admitted and Roman jumped to his feet and hurried to the window. He clasped his hands behind his back calmly but there was a strangled choking sound as he pretended to admire the garden.

“Good Lord. You roofied Ranulf MacEachern, got him naked, tied him to a bed and lived to tell the tale. That’s remarkable,” he said then turned and cocked his head in salute. “You’re quite brave for a lepidopterist, Lord Brewarden. And creative,” he added and Niall pushed his hands into his lap and became very concerned with them as he fidgeted.

“You get a lot of ideas, living with Ran for six years,” he mumbled. “So many ideas…” He whispered to himself and Roman swung back to the window as Reginald fell onto his side and giggled hysterically while Quinn bit the hell out of his knuckle.

“I’m dying!” Reginald sobbed. “He’s brilliant, Ran,” he said and Ran groaned as he shifted in his seat again.

“You have no bloody idea,” he complained. “Can we focus? I’ve six years of that to make up for,” he said and Niall sighed.

“Isla and Simon realized it was me when you got upset last night and I told her it was over. I was going to come clean about everything. I didn’t care if you had me thrown out or thrown in jail or if I died, I couldn’t live with you thinking I’d betray you like that. Isla knew you’d left everything to me so it was even more convenient to get rid of me as well, it would all go to her in the end,” Niall said and Ran cursed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Let’s see what these psychopaths have been up to this morning,” Reginald said as he sobered and his fingers tapped rapidly as his eyes darted about the screen.

“Darius has the men who blew up your boathouse and they’ve been very helpful,” Roman said as he sat at the head of the table. “They were hired on three previous occasions to stab Ran after he left the party, en route to his hotel or in his room and were instructed to make it very messy and humiliating,” he stated then smirked. “He also has the young lord they blackmailed and bribed into being bait.”

“He may have been forced. They had something on him and he was very resistant until they put a lot of pressure on him and gave him a hell of a lot of money,” Niall said and Roman nodded.

“Darius said the same. Got high and drunk, ran a man down and killed him. Simon happened to be there as well,” he said and Ran groaned.

“Which means Simon was probably behind the wheel. He ran someone down while this poor idiot was drugged then made him think he was driving. I thought they were miserable, spoiled wannabe socialites, I had no idea they were capable of this,” Ran said and Niall shook his head.

“They hid things from you like you were their father and believe it or not, they were usually on their best behavior when you were around.”

“Jesus,” Ran sighed heavily. “Do you have any idea how dangerous they’ll be once they realize I’m still alive and they’re cut off? They’re going to rob banks and go on a murdering spree,” he predicted and Niall paled.

“What do you want to do with them?” Roman asked and Ran looked to Niall but he shook his head.

“It’s your call. I think you should have turned them out after you buried your father. You did far more for them than they deserved,” he stated as he crossed his arms over his chest and Ran winced.

“I would have had a hard time explaining why I kept you around,” he argued and Niall gave him an impatient look. Roman cleared his throat as he reclined and crossed his hands in his lap.

“The simplest solution would be to let me handle it. Mr. Bishop and I could take care of them this evening,” he suggested but Ran shook his head.

“I need to give them one more chance,” he said. Niall opened his mouth to argue and Ran squeezed his hand. “I don’t want them on my conscience when I lay my head on my pillow at night, they’re not going to take another moment of peace from me. But it’ll be their idea of hell and they’ll never be free again. I can’t let them hurt anyone else,” Ran explained.

“Turn them over to the police then. We’ll never be able to trust them or rest,” Niall said and everyone shook their heads, cringed, swore and/or laughed.

“You’re forgetting that half their crimes were committed in a place that doesn’t exist and no one saw anything. And would you like to explain to the police that you kidnapped and drugged Ran multiple times and are somehow an innocent party in this?” Roman asked and Niall deflated.

“This is why I never leave the house,” he grumbled and Ran grinned.

“I won’t lose sleep if I know I’ve done everything I could. I can’t feel guilty if they did this to themselves.”

“I’d say they’re asking for it,” Reginald said and everyone looked at the laptop. “I’ve been watching them and they appear to be making plans for a very special night…” He drawled and Quinn frowned.

“When you say you’re “watching them”, you don’t mean literally, right?” He said and Reginald nodded.

“I’ve turned his phone’s camera on,” Reginald stated. “I’ve got a less than inspiring view of the ceiling at the Ritz but they’re making plans to attend a party at a certain house,” he explained and Ran snorted in disbelief.

“He’s taking her to the party,” he said and Reginald hummed.

“He’s calling it a victory lap and giving her a tour of his favorite hunting ground,” Reginald said and Niall seethed as he looked at Ran.

“It’s where he trapped me and his other accomplice and tried to trap you,” he said and Reginald made a thoughtful sound.

“There may have been a few more, he’s made good use of that place. He’s likened it to a watering hole and considers himself a dangerous predator,” he continued before his face twisted and he pulled out an earbud. “He’s disgusting.”

“It scares me to hear you say that,” Ran murmured and Reginald gave him a pointed look.

“He particularly enjoyed the ones who didn’t wake up,” he said flatly and Roman hissed.

“Disgusting but it’s comforting to know you do have a line,” he said and Reginald laughed as he fell back in his seat.

“Who are you talking to?” A man asked as he leaned into view and looked over Reginald’s shoulder. Ran gasped as he set his elbows on the table and craned his neck to get a good look at him.

“Paul, wave to my friends,” Reginald requested and Paul waved hesitantly as he squinted at the screen. He was Asian-American and very handsome but Ran immediately recognized the same cautious, quiet analysis he found in Niall except Paul carried himself like a man familiar with violence.

“Jesus, is that Roman?” Paul asked in concern.

“Hello, Agent Sloan,” Roman said brightly and Paul darted out of view.

“He seems nice,” Ran decided and Roman chuckled.

“He’s smart enough to know when he needs to stay out of something,” he said and Reginald nodded in agreement.

“We won’t trouble him with this, he’s looking for a man who collects young women’s noses,” he said and Quinn choked on his coffee.

“Not literally,” he argued and Reginald nodded.

“Literally. He cuts off their noses to spite their faces and leaves them naked, with their phones jammed in their mouths,” he added dryly and Quinn bit his knuckle again as he swallowed a scream.

“I wish him the best of luck with that. Truly,” Roman murmured.

“I’ll let him know. Where were we?” Reginald asked breezily and Niall and Quinn exchanged tense looks.

“Before we were discussing your line?” Quinn said and Reginald nodded as his eyes flicked upwards.

“Yes, right! Simon’s enjoyed the opportunity and protection the party offered to find men to prey upon. For blackmail, sexual assault and occasionally necrophilia,” he continued. “If it were my show, I’d feel obliged to meet him there,” he stated and Roman nodded.

“I’m a firm believer in justice and he’s violated the sacred order of things. It’s all fun and games to roofie a man who’s hoping to get roofied but there’s an implicit trust to that sort of transaction. It’s a shame the two of us never crossed paths,” he observed and Ran grimaced as he ruffled his hair.

“I did my best to keep them contained in Gallahide and only let them out for good behavior. Part of me wishes I’d let him run loose in London so you or Darius could have dealt with him,” he admitted and Niall shook his head.

“You thought you were doing what was right and taking the brunt of their abuse,” he objected and Ran gave him a flat look.

“We were taking the brunt of the abuse with you hiding the worst of it,” he stated and Niall held up his hands.

“I thought I molested a child, Ran. It felt like the honorable thing to do,” he said simply. Roman looked up and over his shoulder and Ran jumped to his feet as a large man appeared in the dining room. Large by Ran’s standards. He was a few inches taller and twice as wide as him and Ran felt his first real whiff of natural fear. Roman offered the hulk a warm smile as he waved at him.

“Gentlemen, allow me to introduce my esteemed associate, Mr. Bishop,” he stated and Mr. Bishop’s head tilted a degree in greeting as Ran slowly lowered to his seat. “There’s a maid, Catriona, please have her delivered to Carlton House and make sure she’s comfortable. I want her out of harm’s way before we begin,” Roman said and Mr. Bishop’s head ducked just slightly again.

“Yes, sir,” he rumbled and Niall let out a long breath and smiled at Roman.

“Thank you. We made a bit of a pact, we take care of each other,” he explained and Roman’s eyes were bright and clear as they sharpened.

“Is that so?” He asked as he sat forward and watched Niall closely.

“Yes…” He said slowly as he raised a brow back at him. “Isla has something on her but Catriona said helping Ran was the right thing to do and we had to take care of each other,” he said and Roman turned and offered Mr. Bishop a firm nod.

“Bring her to Carlton House,” he repeated.

“Yes, sir,” Mr. Bishop said as he backed out of the room and Roman winked at him.

“I couldn’t agree more,” he replied then turned back to the table. “We’ll find something for her here,” he decided then flicked his hand. “And I think I have a plan,” he added silkily and Ran pointed at him.

“If possible, I’d like us to find a solution at Lachlan House, not on one of your yachts,” he stipulated and Roman slid him a calculating smile.

“Of course, it would be the right thing to do and you’re not a murderer. I am but you’re actually honorable so we’ll do this the “right” way,” he agreed and Ran smirked.

“Not that I’d be heartbroken if they do find themselves at the bottom of the North Sea.”