Page 58

DECLAN

Song- Hide and Seek, Klergy, Mindy Jones

“ F uck!” I roar, punching my fist into the wall beside me. I shake out the throbbing, fiery pain in my forearm, a dull ache that makes my hand tremble.

“Ebony has escaped the holding room. She’s armed and dangerous.” I pause. “Extremely fucking dangerous.”

“What do you want us to do with her?” Finn asks through the earpiece.

I rub my crotch. I should not be so turned on right now, watching the enemy take down one of my men with such ease.

But I am.

She’s a clever girl who took note of the thumbprint security system. I’m impressed and furious.

She has that effect on me. Like a witch casting a spell on my soul. I am at her mercy. That was always my fucking fear.

She is my weakness.

“Don’t hurt her.”

The words come out of my mouth before I can stop myself.

“It’s your chance to get your girl, brother,” Conan blurts out, and I clench my jaw.

“Unharmed and straight to my office. The rules have changed. Defend yourselves as required. But keep her alive or I’ll fucking end you,” I seethe.

I’m not angry at my men.

She’s mine to punish.

“We’re on our way,” Finn replies.

I tap my fingers on my desk as I watch her on the screen.

“There is nowhere to hide, heartbreaker.”

A smile breaks out on my lips.

I watch her sliding against the wall, the blade in her right hand, Asher’s thumb in the other.

The more I watch her, the more I realize I had an effect on her earlier.

I am her weakness, too.

Tapping my comms, I change my mind. There is only one way this is meant to go down.

“Change of plans. Stay back, everyone out. I’ll get her myself,” I tell them.

Sliding open the top drawer of my desk, I take my father’s blade and holster my gun. Not forgetting the special ingredient that I shove in my pocket. I might need it.

I won’t be played twice by her.

Clicking on the screen, I watch as she heads down the hallway and stops outside the door to the office. I pull up the control center and turn off the lights and the security footage, and my screen goes dark.

“It’s time to play, baby.” I run my hand over the warm screen and grin.

My heart hammers against my ribs as I jog towards the door, the cold air biting at my face.

I need to get to her before she finds the hidden door behind the bookshelf.

It’s time to play the real game.

And end it this time…