Page 68

DECLAN

W e drive to my house in complete silence.

I’m furious.

When Conan called through on the headset, I just knew.

We cannot underestimate her skill.

I look up in the rearview mirror and find her blue eyes staring back at me.

Entering the code in my gates, I pull up past the fountain and switch off the engine.

Her mouth falls open as she looks at my home.

As she goes to speak, I hold up my hand to silence her.

“I don’t want to hear a single word that comes out of your mouth. We’re done talking,” I tell her harshly.

Sliding out of the driver’s side, I open up her door, and she shuffles out. Extending my arm to help her, I loop it around her waist so she can drop down to the ground.

My hand on her bare skin sends electricity up my arm and I jolt back.

“Ladies first.” I nod to the steps to my mansion.

I keep my eyes off her ass as she struts up them. But I can’t resist.

Damn, it’s perfect.

Sliding out my keys, I open it up and allow her to walk in.

“Up the stairs, first on your right. Go.”

She doesn’t falter. She’s learning, perhaps, and heads straight up the stairs.

Unlocking her door, I push it open and she walks in.

“Clothes are in the wardrobe. Shower and get cleaned up. Emilia will be preparing dinner soon, she will bring it up. I’ll get you a notepad and pen for Enzo’s task. This will be your new home until he is done with you.”

She doesn’t look back at me, she just heads into the room towards the en-suite.

“Any questions?”

I tighten my grasp on the handle.

“You told me not to speak.” Her voice is quiet.

“Speak when I ask questions. Better?”

“I guess.”

I sigh. She was going to shoot my brother. She tried to escape.

The thought of her leaving me abruptly again hurt, more than I’d like to admit.

I open my mouth, intending to tell her I’ll be in the next room, but I stop myself, leaving us in an awkward staring contest.

“I’ll go shower then.”

Closing the door and locking it, I head back down the stairs and pour a coffee, shooting a text to Finn for him and Con to meet me here. She’s a flight risk, and I can’t trust anyone with her.

Luckily, Conan unloaded his gun before he went in.

The man is smarter than he lets on, it’s all part of his tactic.

It’s really how the Quinn brothers all thrive.

“Everything okay, sir?” Emilia asks as she comes out from the laundry room.

“We have a guest staying for a while. She will be staying in her room, but will require meals and laundry.”

She gives me a sweet smile, making her eyes wrinkle. She worked for my father for thirty-five years. I didn’t think she would want to relocate to America, but after her own husband's passing, she chose to come with us.

“That wasn’t my question, Declan.” She shoves her hand on her hip and drops down the washing on the counter.

“Yes. Everything is fine, Mrs. Richards.”

She steps forward and squints at me.

“Is that chocolate on your face?”

“Yes. Long story.”

“You seem stressed. Is it to do with the girl upstairs?”

“Partially.”

“Why’s she here?”

The questions give me a headache. She was my mom’s best friend over the years. Basically part of the family. She’s watched us all grow up.

“She’s a ghost from my past and causing me problems again.”

She smiles like she knows something I don’t.

“What?” I ask, grabbing a mug and pouring her a cup.

“She’s the one, isn’t she?”

“The one?”

She nods and takes the mug from me.

“The one who gets your blood flowing. Brings the light back in your eyes. I see past your anger, boy. Your mom and dad fought like cat and mouse at the start too, you know?”

The front door opens, and relief washes over me. My brothers can be my escape from this conversation.

“This is different. Mom never tried to kill dad.”

Her mouth makes an ‘o’ and it’s my turn to laugh.

“How many love stories start with attempted murder?” I say as a joke.

Her features soften, her eyes creasing as she looks at me.

“You never know. Fate works in mysterious ways, Declan. Keep your eyes and your heart open, you never know when it might try to kill you or give you the woman of your dreams.”

“Noted.” I hold up my mug to her and pull out my cigarettes.

“You good?” I ask a red-faced Conan.

“Are you impressed?” he replies, snatching my coffee out of my hand.

“With who? Me and Finn saved your ass.”

“I was just about to snatch her!”

Finn slips onto the barstool. Mrs. Richards pours him and me another coffee.

“Thank you,” I mouth, turning my attention back to Conan.

“Yes. I’m impressed you removed your bullets. Less so that you gave her room to try and escape. We’re under orders to keep her held here.”

“Look, I saw the marks over her wrists, and I probably didn’t do the cuffs up tight enough. I felt bad, okay?”

I tilt my head.

“See. You aren’t a monster, Con. But this time your heart was misplaced.” I keep my voice stern, but his words trigger my brain.

Those marks, her pain, it has an effect over me that I want to swallow down.

“Wait. Here?” Finn pipes up behind me.

“Yes. Here I can keep an eye on her.”

He taps his rings against his mug and I turn to him.

“Inferno is much more secure.” He arches his brow.

“We’ve all seen what she’s capable of. She’s my responsibility, she stays here.”

He nods and takes a slow sip of his coffee.

“She might kill you in your sleep.”

“She won’t.”

“She did try and shoot me, Dec.” Conan appears beside me.

“Where?”

“She aimed for the thigh.”

I grin.

“So she wasn’t aiming to kill. See? I’m safe. Don’t worry about me.”

Finn blows out a breath.

“I’m not worried about your safety. I’m now worried you’ll let her in.”

I roll my eyes and get a cigarette out of the packet.

“I won’t let her get to me again. She’s just here until Enzo gets the information he needs, then she will be gone and we can move on. I’ll just spend a year without an official sub. I’ll survive.”

Sliding open my door, I head into the yard and light up.

Do I even want another sub?

She’s here because she has to be, not because I want her in my home.

Perhaps if I keep gaslighting myself, I’ll eventually believe my own lies.

I don’t want her.

Chuckling to myself, I flick the ash from my cigarette onto the ground.

“Bullshit,” I mutter out loud.

I’m fucked.