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DECLAN

H oly shit. I’m furious, but I’m not letting it take over.

She deserves better.

“Does he hurt his own daughter?” I ask and hold my breath, waiting for her answer.

If it’s yes, I’ll go there myself and burn his fucking home down to ashes.

She sniffles and pulls back, searching my eyes.

Fear lies beneath them, and I straighten my spine.

“She isn’t his.”

Frowning, I sit back, endless possibilities running through my head. That all seems to come to the same conclusion.

“How old is Isabella?”

I rub my hands on my pants as she looks away from me.

“No.” I use my index finger to guide her gaze back to me.

“Four.”

“Birthday?” I snap.

“May the tenth.”

“Fuck.” I run my hands over my face, all the blood draining from me as I stand up, holding onto the table for support.

“Does he hurt my daughter?” I spit the words out.

As soon as I say them, I regret it as she flinches.

She stands, and her chair goes flying across the room.

“No, he doesn’t fucking hurt her, because I sacrifice myself every day to that man. I let him chain me up. Beat me. Fuck me. Everything. I am his property to keep him away from her!” she screams, pushing against my chest, knocking me backwards.

“I don’t fucking matter anymore. And I’ll keep doing it until the day I die. Because I won’t be leaving this earth without that bastard. And then she will be safe. So don’t ‘my daughter’ me. I’ve done all I can. He hasn’t touched a hair on her head.”

Her nostrils flare and her chest heaves.

I still haven’t fully processed.

My daughter.

“Fuck!” she shouts, slamming her fist on the table.

“You need to let me leave. Please. Let me out of here. I can’t do this anymore. Just take the notepad for Enzo and let me finish this.”

As she tries to step past me, I grab her face to silence her.

“Enough, Charlotte.” I deepen my tone to let her know I’m not fucking around.

Releasing her, she bats my hand away.

“Get off me.”

“I’m not done talking.” I pull out a chair and maneuver her to it. She reluctantly sits.

Picking up the one from the floor, I place it next to her and sit facing her.

Reaching out, I place her hands in mine on her lap.

“I have a little girl?” I say softly.

I ignore the sharp pain in my chest. Four years I’ve missed.

Enough time for her to know her daddy is a piece of shit who hasn’t saved her.

Long enough for her to have her own personality now.

“You do.”

Her chin starts to quiver, and I squeeze her hands to reassure her.

“What’s she like?”

Her eyes snap to mine. That darkness that lies behind them, with that switch just like Conan has, is tempered for now.

“She’s perfect, Declan. Bright as a button. Loves to fight and draw. And stories. She loves me telling her stories.”

Rubbing my thumb on the back of her hand, I bite back the tears.

“She looks just like you. Those eyes. Every time I look at her, I see you.”

Letting out a hiss, I can’t help but scoot forward and wrap my arms around her.

“I’m not there to protect her, Declan. I need to go home.”

The thought of my baby girl being in that house with that monster makes my skin crawl.

“No, baby. That’s not how this happens. Not anymore.”

This changes everything and nothing.

Charlotte was destined to be part of my life. Now that just cements it.

“That is not your home and never should have been. You belong here, with me.”

“Not without Isabella.”

God, that knife in my chest twists.

“I’m a dad,” I whisper, resting my head on top of hers.

I hope I can be half the man my father was for her.

Starting now.

“Let me get her back, Declan.”

That fire in her voice returns, and I pull back, cupping her beautiful face in my hands.

“How I see it is we have two options. One, we keep inflicting the hurt on each other. Or, we flip the script. We take our suffering and use it to go after the people who did this to us.”

I will raise hell for this.

For everything they’ve done to her.

For keeping me from my daughter.

“There’s no way we can win. We won’t last a day in Russia. They’re powerful, Declan.”

The fear returns. For someone so fierce, they’ve broken her—yet created the most powerful woman I’ve ever met.

“Sweetheart, who do you think you’re talking to here?”

I arch my brow.

“I don’t run this empire by being weak, Charlotte. I’ve made some very powerful allies. We’re ready.”

Tearing down the Bowens can wait. This is far more important.

“That comes with a price, Declan. A big one.”

“Are you ready to sell what’s left of our souls to Mr. Volkov?”

Her eyes go wide, and a familiarity washes over her face.

“Ivan’s dead.”

I nod.

“I wouldn’t work with that piece of shit anyway. His son, Mikhail. He will be our ticket into Russia.”

I watch as the cogs in her head turn.

“I have a contact inside. We need to reach him.”

“Him?”

Jealousy rages through me.

“Drago. He’s why I’m alive and why Isabella doesn’t have a clue how awful these people are. He keeps her sheltered.”

“Yet sends you into Decadence.”

Running my hands through my hair. What are the chances Vlad knew I ran this game? Or that I’m her father?

Not many people know until they are entered into Inferno that the Quinn brothers run it. But I don’t see this being a coincidence.

I need Enzo. And I need my brothers.

Holy fuck, they are going to lose their minds over this.

Stepping forward, I run my fingers through her soft curls.

“I’ve got you, baby.” I lean in to kiss her and she turns her cheek.

“What?”

“I’m not some weak little princess that needs saving. Don’t treat me like that. Equals or nothing. She’s my daughter. He’s my husband—and my kill. I’ve saved a space for him on my arm already.”

A smirk tugs at my lips as I glance at the flowers delicately wrapping her arm.

“Ah. So that’s what they are.” I trace them with my finger.

“That’s a lot of kills. You naughty girl.”

She freezes, and I lean in, pressing a soft kiss on her shoulder.

“A warrior is never embarrassed or ashamed of their kills. Wear them with pride, not remorse. Every flower is a reminder you fought.”

“What if I’m always this monster?” she says quietly.

“You aren’t one. Not really. I see past you, just as you do me. Deep in here is the woman you truly are.” I press my finger in the center of her chest.

“But right now, we need that fighter in you to take the stage. For our little girl.”

Taking her face in my hands, I press a kiss on her plump lips.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“What for?”

“For beating the truth into me. For protecting our daughter. I’m so fucking proud of you.” I kiss the tip of her nose and wipe away her tears.

“I’d die for her, Declan.”

A breath catches in my throat, and I go cold.

“No. You’ve done enough. It’s my turn to step up now.”

I’ve never met my daughter, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t lay down my life for them both.

It’s the least I could do.

“Now, I need to make some calls. We need backup on this plan.”

“Can you get me access to my emails? Preferably something untraceable. I can make contact with Drago.”

“Consider it done. I’ll be back.”

I drop another kiss to her lips, this time deeper.

Running my hands into her hair and holding her in place as her hands wrap around my waist.

Looks like Finn was right. Kill the husband just became top of my to-do list.