Page 57 of Arranged Addiction

“I’ll drop Sheila back home,” Siobhan says, gathering my aunt up. “And maybe we’ll see you later for dinner?”

“We’ll be there,” Declan says.

Siobhan kisses his cheek. She looks like she wants to say more, but she only smiles sadly and leads my aunt away.

Declan watches her go before turning to me. “Are you ready?”

“I guess there’s no reason to hang around.” I nervously follow him back to the street. “What now? Are we going on a honeymoon?”

“Do you want to? Where would you go if you could?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, considering. “Somewhere warm. Somewhere with sand.”

“I know plenty of good tropical spots we could visit.”

“Would you take me sometime?”

“I’d like that. But you’d have to let me dress you.”

I let out an awkward laugh. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll buy you bikinis. They’ll be extremely inappropriate. You’ll have to wear whichever I choose.”

“You really like bossing me around.”

“Yes, Casey. I really do.” He stares at me. The fire in his eyes is a shock. He’s been so distant until right now, but it’s suddenly like the mention of me in a bikini burns him to a crisp. I shiver despite myself, and I’m tempted to beg him to take me there right now.

Before I can, one of Declan’s guards comes running over the second we’re back out the front doors. “Sorry to bother you, sir, but you have to see this.” The young man looks deeply shaken, his face pale and his shoulders hunched like he’s flinching at every little movement. He’s holding something under his jacket, and it’s only after we start following that I realize it’s probably a gun.

My stomach flips with nerves as we approach the car. Declan’s men are swarming all over. He holds my arm protectively, pulling me closer as he barks out at an older man standing over an object on the hood.

“You should take a look, boss.” He glances at me and frowns slightly. “And maybe it’s better if your wife turns away.”

“What’s going on?” I ask him.

“Just show me, Rian.”

The guard shrugs and pulls back some newspaper from a crumpled-up bundle. It looks like trash at first until he reveals a human hand.

My mind rebels at the sight. It doesn’t make sense. I think it’s fake at first, but that’s the most detailed recreation I’ve ever seen.

I take a step back, my heart racing with fear.

“Motherfuck…” Declan whispers, staring at the severed limb. “Cover it up. Who left it?”

“We didn’t see anyone,” Rian says, hastily wrapping it. “There was this homeless guy who walked through, but?—”

“Find him,” Declan snarls, gesturing violently. “All of you, fan out right now. Find that homeless man.”

Rian looks surprised, but he hurries to obey Declan’s order. Half the guards scatter, most of them jogging down the block.

I stare at the bundle. My heart’s racing so fast I feel like I might pass out. Suddenly, I feel like I’ve been dipped into slime and sprayed down with blood.

“Why is there a human hand on your car?” I whisper and force myself to look at my husband. “Declan, what’s happening?”

He flinches and gestures at Rian again. “Get that thing out of here. I’m taking my wife home.”

“Yes, sir.” Rian grabs the bundle and steps away.