Chapter 29
29
Jade
W hen we get back to Declan’s house, I collapse into his arms, my body trembling as the adrenaline rush finally leaves me. The fear, the exhaustion, the relief all comes crashing down on me at once, and I can’t stop the sobs that wrack through me. His arms tighten around me, holding me like he’s afraid I’ll slip away if he lets go. His chest is solid and warm, and I press my face into it, letting his steady heartbeat calm the storm inside me.
“I was so scared,” I manage to choke out between sobs. My fingers clutch at his shirt, desperate for something solid, something real. “I thought we were going to die down there. And if Tawny had been killed, it would have been my fault.
He strokes my hair, his touch gentle, soothing. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “You’re safe now, Jade. I promise. No one’s ever going to hurt you again.”
I tilt my head back to look up at him, my vision blurry with tears, curiosity breaking through the relentless onslaught of fear.
“How did you find me?” I ask, my voice shaking. “How did you know where I was?”
He hesitates for a moment, his jaw tightening. “There’s a lot we need to talk about,” he says finally, his voice faltering just a bit. “A lot about my past.”
Before I can ask what he means, there’s a knock on the door. Declan gets up to answer it, though all I want to do is hide. I’ve had enough today, enough for a lifetime. Declan reappears with a familiar-looking man by his side, his presence commanding, even a little foreboding. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and sharply dressed, his dark suit immaculate. I suddenly realize that he was there in the basement with us and it takes everything in me not to hide. His eyes are sharp, calculating, and there’s a certain air about him that immediately sets my nerves on edge.
“Jade, this is my brother,” Declan says, his voice steady but cautious. “Patrick.”
The name hits me like a freight train, and for a moment, I just stare at the man in stunned silence. Patrick. Of course, Declan was meeting with his brother today. And here he is, in the flesh, his presence imposing in Declan’s living room.
Patrick McGregor.
The penny drops, and I suddenly realize I’ve heard that name before. He was the subject of a true crime podcast I listened to years ago, before I got wrapped up in my own podcast-worthy nightmare. He was, or is, one of the most feared criminals in all of Chicago, running the Irish Mafia there with an iron fist.
I knew a little about Declan’s past, of course, but it’s starting to unfold in front of my eyes like a bad movie, and I cower a little. It’s a lot to take in all at once.
My throat tightens as I take a step back, my eyes darting to Declan. “Your brother is Patrick McGregor,” I state the obvious, my voice barely above a whisper.
Declan’s expression softens, and he places a reassuring hand on my arm. “Yes,” he says quietly.
“And you’re the runaway brother who couldn’t hack it,” I go on, recalling the words of the podcaster, though after tonight I don’t believe that’s really the case.
“Something like that.” He smiles wryly. “But I need you to understand something, Jade. I left that life behind a long time ago. I have nothing to do with the business anymore. Patrick knows that and accepts it. Please believe that tonight was a one-time thing.”
Patrick nods, his expression unreadable. “He’s telling the truth,” he says, his voice smooth but firm. “Declan walked away years ago. He wanted nothing to do with it, and I respected that. The only thing that’s changed now is that he’s got family watching his back. Watching your back, too.”
I glance between the two of them, my mind racing. The weight of everything that’s happened presses down on me, and for a moment, I feel like I can’t breathe. But then Declan steps closer, his hands gently cupping my face, forcing me to focus on him.
“I promise you, Jade,” he says, his green eyes locking onto mine. “Whatever you’re feeling right now, whatever you’re thinking, none of it changes how I feel about you. If you want to walk away from this, from me, I’ll understand. But I swear, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. To keep you out of this life and to make sure that nothing like tonight ever happens to you ever again.”
I shake my head, tears streaming down my face. “It’s not that,” I whisper, my hand dropping to my abdomen as I suddenly think about the child growing inside of me and the life it’s being born into.
His brow furrows in confusion, but he remains gentle.
Then what is it?” he asks softly. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
I take a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. “There’s something I need to tell you, too,” I say, my voice trembling. “I’m in love with you, Declan. I know it’s crazy, and I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I love you. I don’t want to walk away from this.”
For a moment, he just stares at me, and I feel my heart drop. But then a slow, radiant smile spreads across his face, and he pulls me into his arms, holding me so tightly I can barely breathe.
“I love you, too,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “Of course, I do. How could I not?”
“Are you sure?” I ask, my voice breaking. “Are you really sure?”
He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his hands framing my face.
“Jade,” he says firmly. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Everything I did, even trusting Patrick to have my back, is because I love you. The moment I knew you were in danger, I felt like the world was crashing down on me. I don’t want to be in a world you aren’t in.”
Relief floods through me, and I press my forehead against his, a soft laugh escaping my lips. But then the weight of my secret crashes back down on me, and I pull back, biting my lip nervously.
“There’s something else I’ve been keeping from you.”
He frowns slightly but nods. “Okay,” he says, grabbing my hands and squeezing gently. “Whatever it is, just tell me. We’ll get through it together.”
I take a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly in his. “I’m pregnant,” I say, the words rushing out before I can second-guess myself. “I found out yesterday.”
For a moment, he doesn’t say anything, his expression unreadable. My heart pounds in my chest, and I brace myself for whatever reaction might come. But then he smiles a wide, genuine, joyful smile, and a laugh bubbles out of him.
“Are you serious?” he asks, his voice filled with wonder. “We’re having a baby?”
I nod, tears streaming down my face again. “Yeah,” I whisper. “We’re having a baby.”
Saying those words fills me with an instant sense of relief, replaced quickly by the same joy on Declan’s face. After everything we’ve just come through, it’s so amazing that there’s something so precious to look forward to.
He lets out a whoop of laughter, lifting me off the ground and spinning me around before pulling me into a kiss. “Jade, that’s amazing,” he says, his voice choked with emotion. “You have no idea how happy this makes me.”
Before I can respond, Patrick steps forward, clapping a hand on Declan’s shoulder and grinning. “Congratulations, little brother,” he says, his voice warm. “Looks like I’m going to be an uncle.”
Declan laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. “I swear,” he says, his voice softening as he looks at me. “This is the last of the violence you’ll ever see. I’m going to make sure of it.”
I nod, my heart swelling with love for this man, for the future we’re building together, even if it feels like it’s still precariously balanced. Patrick eventually excuses himself, telling us he has to make sure Ron’s store is fully restored. I watch as he and Declan share a moment, something between them strengthening before my eyes.
I wrap my arms around myself to stay grounded, to keep myself from getting overwhelmed after everything that’s happened in the last few hours. As horrible as that basement was, it’s over now. Fabian is gone for good and I’m free for the first time in two years.
More than that, though, I’m in love with a wonderful man, we have a baby on the way, and he’s actually happy about it. It’ll take me some time to get used to this new reality, but I can already tell that it’s going to be wonderful.
Declan sees Patrick off, then comes back in, turning to me with a mischievous glint in his eye. “So,” he says, his voice teasing. “Paris or Milan?”
I blink at him, confused. “What?”
“For a honeymoon,” he says with a grin. “I need to start planning, don’t I?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re insane.”
“Maybe,” he says, leaning down to kiss me. “I’m madly in love with you.”
And as I kiss him back, the rest of the world fades away.