Chapter 004. Are You Pucking My Brother?!

I stared at Attorney Anderson, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence.

"What?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "You have to be mistaken. Killian and I? Together?"

"I am not mistaken, Daphne," Anderson said softly, offering the certified document. "Adam and Kimberly knew how much you both loved Sophie. They also knew that neither of you had the life setup to raise a child alone—especially with Killian's nocturnal work hours and your demanding corporate career. They wrote in a mandatory co-habitation clause. If either of you refuses to share a residence and raise her together, the state will step in and place Sophie in temporary foster care until a custody hearing can be arranged."

"Foster care?" Killian's voice dropped into a register so dark it made the hair on my arms stand up. His hand tightened around my waist, his grip possessive and unyielding. "Like hell. Adam's child is not going into a state facility."

He snatched the papers from Anderson's hands, his eyes scanning the words with terrifying speed. I stood there, numb, looking up at the man I had spent six years loathing.

The man who had mocked my devotion to his brother. The man who represented everything volatile and unpredictable in Chicago.

I had just escaped Finn's golden cage. And now, I was being legally chained to his terrifying older brother.

"We take her," Killian said flatly, looking down at me. The vulnerability he'd shown moments ago while holding me was gone, replaced by the hard wall he always wore. "We get her from the babysitter, and you move into the penthouse tonight."

"Move into your penthouse?" I choked out, pulling back from his touch. "Killian, we can barely stand to be in the same room for ten minutes! I can't move in with you."

"Look around you, Daphne." He snapped back, stepping directly into my personal space until I had to tilt my head back to look at him. "Your sister is in a coma. Your brother-in-law is dead.You want to argue about personal space, or do you want to keep your niece safe?"

The truth of his words hit me. He was right. Sophie was all that mattered now.

"Fine," I breathed, my heart hammering against my ribs. "Fine. But we set boundaries, Killian. Strict ones."

A smirk tugged at the corner of Killian's lips, a flash of the arrogant predator I knew all too well. "Setting boundaries with me has never worked out for you, Dolphin. But feel free to try."

An hour later, Killian's black G-wagon pulled up to a tower in downtown Chicago.

Killian walked ahead, carrying the heavy baby carrier containing the seven months old sleeping, thumb-sucking Sophie. His long strides were effortless, his posture commanding as the doorman bowed his head in quiet respect. I trailed behind, carrying a diaper bag, and a little bag containing her clothes, feeling like an alien landing on a foreign planet.

We took the private elevator directly to the top floor. When the doors slid open, my breath hitched.

So this is where Killian fucking Hawthorne lived.

The penthouse was massive, modern, and clean—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Chicago, dark hardwood floors, leather furniture, and a floating staircase leading to the upper suite. The penthouse smelled like Killian in the best way possible. It looked exactly like the lair of a man who run a dark entity.

"Guest room is down the hall to the left," Killian said, setting the baby carrier gently onto the plush sofa. He moved with a surprising, quiet grace around the baby, stepping lightly so as not to wake her. "It has its own bathroom. I'll have my people fetch the rest of your things from your apartment tomorrow morning. And have Sophie's nursery set up."

"I can get my own things," I said quickly, crossing my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling deeply exposed in the massive space.

Killian paused, turning slowly to face me. He leaned against the back of the sofa, folding his arms across his broad chest, his dark eyes locked onto mine. "You're living under my roof now, Dolphin. That means my security, my rules, and my logistics. You wanted boundaries? Here's mine: nobody touches what's mine, and right now, keeping you two safe is my job."

My stomach flipped violently. "I am not yours, Killian."

"You're in my house," he murmured, his voice dropping into a raspy purr that sent a sudden, unwanted shiver down my spine. "That's close enough."

Before I could fire back a retort, my phone buzzed violently in my hand. I looked down at the screen.

58 Missed Calls from Finn.

12 Text Messages. All from Finn.

Before I could react, a loud banging on the front door resounded. I jumped,my heart vaulting into my throat.

Killian didn't say a word as he turned and strode toward the door. He pulled the heavy door open halfway, leaning his broad shoulder against the frame and blocking the entrance completely.

Standing in the hallway was Finn.

My breath caught in my chest. He looked like absolute hell. His chestnut hair was a disheveled mess, his expensive designer shirt was crumpled, and he was hunched over slightly, clutching his midsection with one hand while holding onto the doorframe for balance. The arrogance that usually defined his face had been replaced by sweat.

Killian looked him up and down, his eyes dripping with amusement. "Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in," Killian drawled, his voice laced with mockery. "Why do you look like shit, little brother?"

Finn glared up at him, breathing heavily through his teeth. "I just checked out of the emergency room."

Killian leaned further into the frame, utterly unbothered. "Really? What for?"

"None of your fucking business, Kill." Finn snapped, his temper flaring, though he winced sharply as if the sudden movement hurt his lower body. "I'm only here because I tracked Daphne's phone. She has been ignoring me. But I got information that she is here. Where the fuck is she?"

I stepped out from behind until I was standing right beside Killian's shoulder.

Finn's eyes locked onto mine, widening in disbelief and anger.

"Came looking for me so soon, Finn?" I said, keeping my voice deadpan as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Wanna get tased again?"

Killian slowly turned his head to look at me, a genuine, slow-burning grin spreading across his sharp features. "Woah, you tased him already? That was one hell of a fast way to use a gift, Dolphin."

"Yeah," I replied smoothly, not taking my eyes off Finn. "Straight to the balls."

Killian let out a low chuckle that vibrated through my chest.

Finn looked between the two of us, his expression twisting from pain to pure shock. Like the pieces were moving around in his head, but he couldn't make them fit.

"Wait..." Finn stammered, his knuckles turning white against the doorframe. "Daph? Why the hell are you here? I thought you hated my brother. We just had a little misunderstanding and you...quickly run to him?"

Neither of us answered him.

Finn took a step forward, his eyes burning with a sudden, ugly rage as he looked at Killian, then back at me. "Are you fucking my brother now, Daphne? Is that what this is?"