Chapter 60: Keeping up with the Knightdarshians

Ivy’s pov

I stared in disbelief, my jaw practically on the bed.

Were these the same men who had been radiating menace and power just minutes ago? Because now they were ambling around the room, groaning in unison.

"I thought she wasn’t supposed to be back until next week!"

"Fitzgerald called her back early," Gideon grunted, dragging his palm down his face.

A loud, female voice echoed from the hallway outside in a sing-song voice. "I know you guys are home! Harry told meeeee! Deon! Deon, I know you’re here! Dukey, come on, go find them!"

"Ugh, she brought that stiffie again?" Kai groaned, looking utterly betrayed. "Fuck this." He didn’t hesitate, bolting for the walk-in closet and disappearing inside.

Roman shot me an apologetic look, pressing a finger to his lips, before dashing into Kai’s bathroom, pulling the door shut behind him.

Gideon just sighed in deep resignation. He straightened his tie, squared his shoulders, and walked to the door, opening it as if he were about to face a firing squad.

I was left on the bed, completely bewildered. Who on earth was this woman who could turn the Knight brothers into frightened children? It wasn’t Tatianna; I knew that witch’s screech, and they never hid from her.

"Deon!" the woman shrieked from the doorway. I heard a loud thud, followed by a peal of shrieking laughter.

"You’re no fun! Can’t I even hug you? Where’s Kai and Ro? Are they hiding from me again?"

My mind flashed back to the call on Kai’s phone.

I swung my legs off the bed, my feet touching the plush carpet. I needed to get out of here. I had just stood up, a little unsteady, when a whirlwind of energy blew into the room.

She was a sight to see. Her wild, curly brunette hair tumbled around a face with striking ice-blue eyes. She was dressed in a bright peach Loro Piana pantsuit. The linen flowed around her lithe frame.

She skidded to a halt, her eyes locking on me, standing there by Kai’s bed. Her jaw dropped.

"Oh my god!" she gasped, her ice-blue eyes wide with delight. Then a brilliant, megawatt smile spread across her face. "Hi! I’m Irene! Who are you? Where are they? Are they hiding from me again?"

I automatically pointed toward the bathroom. "Ro’s in there," Then at the closet, and her eyes lit up with mischief.

"Excellent!" She cackled and launched herself at the bathroom door.

"Roman Knight, you come out here right now!" she yelled, pounding on the door. I heard Roman’s deep laugh from inside, refusing to budge. "Duke! Come help me get them out!"

Duke?

A shadow fell across the doorway, and I gasped as a huge fella filled the doorway. I didn’t think I could see a man as tall as Gideon, but this duke guy looked like he was pushing for it.

His black hair was chopped in a buzz cut, and his face was as stony as ice. He was formidable, hard-looking, with a somber expression and silver dog tags peeking from his black round-neck T-shirt.

His eyes flitted over me like I didn’t exist, fixing directly on the girl pounding on the bathroom door. "Reenie," he murmured, his voice a low rumble.

"You need to calm down."

He kicked the door down with one swing, and Ro groaned, walking out of the bathroom. "Fine, you got me, Irene."

I stood frozen, a statue of disbelief in the middle of Kai’s bedroom, as the woman, Irene, scrambled onto Roman’s back.

"Gotcha!" she shrieked, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. "Now you’re my noble steed! To the closet, Sir Ro! We must fetch the last of the Knights."

Roman grunted, but a wide grin was plastered on his face as he staggered dramatically under her weight. "Ren, you’re going to break me. I’m a delicate soul."

"A delicate soul my ass," she shot back, giggling directly into his ear. "Giddy up!" ℯℯ𝘭.

Irene’s bodyguard, Duke, walked past them, into the closet, then came out dragging a very disgruntled Kai by his good arm. Kai was scowling, his hair mussed up.

"Unhand me, you fucking glorified brick wall," Kai grumbled, trying to wrench his arm free.

"This is a violation of my personal space. I’m calling my union."

"You don’t have a union," Duke replied in a flat, monotone voice, as he unceremoniously deposited Kai next to Roman and Irene.

She twisted on Roman’s back, her ice-blue eyes zeroing in on his arm, and flew off. "Oh my gosh, Kai, what happened?"

"I fell," He grunted, swatting her away from him like she was a fly. "You didn’t have enough fun in Santorini; please go back."

She beamed cheekily up at him while I awkwardly slid towards the door, my head swimming with way too many thoughts. Who was this lady, and how did she have them so... at ease?

Roman immediately hurried to my side, the lights dimming in his hazel eyes. "You two have fun; I have to drop Vivi home."

Irene immediately flew away from Kai and landed right in front of me, grabbing my hand. She was adorable, like a little bird. "Vivi! I love that name!" she gushed,

I flushed, trying to gently pull my hand back. "It’s Ivy, actually-"

"Only I can call her Vivi," Roman cut in, wrapping a possessive arm around my shoulders, pulling me flush against him.

Irene’s eyes widened, a slow, wicked smile spreading across her face. "Is that how it is?" she purred, looking from Roman’s possessive grip to my flushed face. "Well, I’m calling her Vivi too."

"No," Roman deadpanned. "You won’t."

"Oh, I think I will," Irene chirped, completely unfazed. "Vivi, Vivi, Vivi! See? It’s a great name. It suits her."

"She’s my housekeeper, Ren. Show some respect," Roman grumbled, but his hold on me didn’t loosen.

"Last I checked, she’s my housekeeper too," Kai piped up, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Stay out of this," Roman snapped at him and then they began bickering again.

Irene giggled shaking her head, her eyes fixed on me. "Men, am I right? Vivi and I are going to be best friends. Isn’t that right, Vivi?"

I just stood there, my mouth opening and closing like a fish, completely overwhelmed by the chaos. "I... uh..."

"See? She agrees!" Irene declared triumphantly. She finally let go of my hand, only to loop her arm through mine, starting to drag me toward the door.

"Come on, Vivi. We’re going to go raid Deon’s beer stash. He only has the boring stuff, but we can make it fun."

"Hey! No, you’re not." Roman moved to block our path. "She’s not going anywhere with you. You’re a bad influence."

"I am a delightful influence," Irene protested, trying to pull me past him. "I’m teaching her the ways of the world. The ways of the Knights."

"The last time you taught someone the ways of the Knights, we had to pay a fortune to get that poor Italian out of jail," Kai drawled, inspecting his fingernails.

"That was an adventure," Irene shot back, her eyes gleaming. "Vivi would love an adventure. Wouldn’t you, Vivi?"

"I think she’s had enough adventure for one day," Roman countered firmly, finally managing to extract me from Irene’s grip. He positioned himself in front of me like a human shield. "I’m taking her home."

Irene pouted. "Fine. But you owe me, Vivi. We’re having a girls’ day soon. No knights allowed. I’m Irene, by the way, their sister."

Their....what?