Chapter 29
NICO
Got him.
After four weeks and multiple threats, I found Austin’s hideout in Delaware. Both he and his cousin are holed up inside, probably planning their next move.
The car in the footage Declan showed me belonged to Brent’s ex and mother of his child, one of the cousins that Austin recruited to torture Declan. She let him borrow her car that day, since both Austin and Donny were on duty and they wanted to throw anyone off their scent if they were suspicious.
I had to resort to some…unsavory things to get her to give up Austin’s first location. Seeing the body of her child’s father will probably never leave her memory.
She’s lucky she didn’t join him after wasting my time for so many weeks. Her time will come soon.
I watch as Austin’s front door opens and he steps out.
Austin looks left and right, checking his surroundings before he hops in his car and pulls out.
I know where he’s going, so I leave and head back to Jersey, leaving a couple of my guys to tail him.
I don’t want to lose him and have him go deeper underground.
I’d already paid a visit to his mother at her nursing home in the city. Despite her dementia, she had no problem remembering when he was due to show up. I asked her tons of questions that she’ll never remember answering and she gave up every bit of information she knew.
She told me Brent and his brother Paul were the twin sons of Austin’s father’s oldest brother. They were close until Austin’s father got in bed with the Whitlocks and became estranged from his family. Apparently, Austin was getting back into their lives.
From what Brent’s ex told me, they were all reconnecting when Austin told Brent and Paul what Declan had done to their uncle. They started to plan and wanted to play the long game.
As I cross over the state line, I call one of the men I have staking out Brent’s ex and tell him to take care of her. She should have realized it was dangerous to go against the St. Clairs or Whitlocks. Now her kid will grow up an orphan.
I smile as I pull in front of Declan’s cabin. When we had to flee the Fensters attack on our family, we rallied here and made our plans to wipe them out. It’s secluded, only the men that traveled with us that day know it exists.
I’m thankful we had somewhere to take him where he could recover without worrying if he had to flee if the wrong person was around.
The men that stand guard have all been vetted by both Kai and Carter. They’re loyal, with no reason for retaliation against either family. If I’m gone and Carter and Kai aren’t here, Manuel sits with Declan. Manuel is a fucking shooter, not scared to pull the trigger to keep any of us safe.
I step inside the house, surprised to see Declan sitting on the couch in the living room, watching television. Since we brought him here to recover, he’s been in bed, only getting up to use the bathroom, shower, and to walk around to put weight on his ankle. Guess he needed a change of scenery.
He smiles when he sees me but quickly closes his lips around his chipped tooth. He shouldn’t worry that I’ll find him unattractive for that. He will always be handsome to me.
“Hey, baby,” I say, returning his smile. I clap hands with Manuel, who goes to stand guard outside. “What are you doing out here?”
“I don’t wanna lie in bed anymore.” He pats the couch beside him. I sit down and lean my head on his shoulder, letting out a long breath. “What were you up to today?”
“Working on your surprise.”
“A surprise? What? You got my name tattooed on your ass?”
“Yeah, no, that’s your lane.” I look up at him and wink. “That’s practically the only spot you don’t have ink. I think Property of Nico would look good there.”
“Fuck off with that bullshit.”
I lean up and wrap my arm around his shoulder, pulling him into me. Declan sighs and rests his casted hand against my belly.
It really hurts to look down at his hand and see only three fingers peeking out of his cast. I can’t wait to chop every fucking finger off Austin’s hand and make him swallow them.
I kiss the top of his head, breathing in the scent of his shampoo. “How you doin’, baby?”
“Still sore. Ribs feel better. Some of the feeling is coming back in my hand. Pins and needles and shit, mostly. My ankle feels fine and my elbow isn’t sore anymore.”
I’m glad to hear that he’s recovering physically, but that’s not what I mean.
“Up here?” I ask, tapping his temple.
Declan is quiet for a few beats and I wait him out, not wanting to rush him.
Finally, he says, “Not good. I don’t…I don’t know how I’ll get past being so fucking weak.
” He looks up at me, tears in his eyes. “I almost gave up, Nico. I wanted it to end. I wanted them to just off me because the pain was so fucking bad. I didn’t think I’d survive, but I was ready to give up before I knew for sure. ”
“Oh, baby.” I tip his chin up when he tries to hide his eyes from me. “That’s human nature. I don’t think I would have held out a week before I gave up. You’re so much stronger than any of us. Don’t ever think you have to be ashamed for wanting torture to stop.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re obsessed with me,” he says with a faint smile.
“A little. But no, it’s because it’s true. Ask anyone. We’re all tough, all killers, but actually being in a situation where you fucking taunt the person that is hurting you? That’s tough as fuck.”
I almost threw up when Declan told me he insulted Austin and his cousin Hugo while they were torturing him. He also told me he almost bit off Hugo’s ear. He’s such a badass. And he’s all mine.
Declan looks down at his cast, the missing fingernails on his other hand, then his wrapped ankle. “I’m all fucked up, Nico. I’ll have scars and pain in some areas for the rest of my life. You sure you still want me?”
I nudge him off me so he can see my face. “You tryin’ to get rid of me?”
His eyes widen. “What? No, I just—”
“Good. Because I’m not going anywhere. When you claimed me, I claimed you right back. Why would I leave you because of a couple scars? Would you leave me if I were in your shoes?”
“No, but—”
“But what? If you want to leave me, you’re going to have to say the words, because I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
“I don’t want you to leave me! I need you!” Declan shouts. He lowers his head to my chest, sobbing as he grips onto my shirt. “I don't want you to go.”
Wrapping my arms around him, I hold him close, letting him purge his soul.
“I’m not leaving you,” I tell him when his sobs turn into sniffles. “I’m not going anywhere. When I say I love you, I mean it. Forever. I’d marry you if you weren’t so resistant to taking my last name.”
“Why can’t you take mine?” he asks quietly.
I snort. “I will not be a fucking Whitlock. Besides, you’d look better as a Washington. Your initials would stay the same.”
Declan snorts a laugh. “Fine. I’ll be a Washington.”
Shocked, I move him back and look down into his face. “You’ll marry me?”
“Is that you asking? Terrible fucking proposal, Nico.”
“Want me to get down on one knee?” I ask sarcastically.
“That would be nice.”
Smiling, I rest him comfortably on the couch and kneel in front of him, taking his hands in mine.
“Declan, I don’t know how we got here since you don’t really like me”—he scoffs at that—“but I’m glad you let me in.
I’m glad you let me love you. Please, do me the honor of being my husband so I can love you until the day we leave this earth.
And if I have my way, beyond that. Forever. ”
He bites his lip, but a smile stretches his face. “Of course, I’ll marry you. But nothing big like what Kai and Carter did. That was tasteless.”
Barking a laugh, I lean forward and take his lips in a gentle but heated kiss. “I love you so much.”
“Love you too. You really can’t get rid of me now. I’ll take ‘til death do us part fucking seriously.”
“I know, baby. You sure you want to be with me for the rest of your life? I’ll only give you one out. Speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Declan doesn’t utter a word.