CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
DECLAN
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Josh arriving early in New York is a godsend. I’m happy to see his face when the elevator opens.
“Hey, man.” I shake his hand, and Ryder follows him out of the cab. We slap one another’s shoulders and share a grin.
Josh and Ryder glance around, taking in the luxury space.
“White van across the road with two guys in it.” Josh walks over to the window when he spots Stella standing by the fireplace. “Ms. Voss. Good to see you again.”
She looks rattled but cute in her casual outfit. The sleeves are rolled up on the sweater, and her sweatpants look like they’re ten years old. It’s a stark contrast to her normal, polished self.
I like it.
That vision of us on the tropical island is looking better and better. Even staying here and watching her holding our baby with her hair in a messy bun.
God, I’d be a happy man.
The strange thing is that I’ve never thought about being a father. It’s occurred to me that one day I might, but no woman has ever had me seriously considering it.
Or rather, wanting it.
“Hi.” Stella crosses her arms, clearly unhappy with all of us. But because she’s been raised right, her manners kick in. “Would you like a drink?”
She’s already met Josh, so I introduce her to Ryder.
“Stella, this is Ryder. He’s my direct manager,” I say, and the two shake hands.
“Don’t worry about the drinks,” Ryder says. “You probably already know this is a bit of an intervention.”
I rub my temple.
Nice one Ryder, nice one.
“He’s been trying, but honestly, it’s not necessary.” She forces a smile.
“Sit.” Josh points toward the sofa.
I watch Stella’s mouth fall open.
She glances at me, blinking, and I nod. She walks to the sofa. Our sexual relationship has blurred the lines, and seeing Josh get a reaction like that, I realize I’ve been too soft.
Not that she would agree.
Tonight, the gloves come off, and it’s time she gave us names. To fucking protect her. I’m not letting her leave this house in that fucking white dress or the lingerie.
I’ll burn it and send the ashes to Marino to cry over.
Stella belongs to me.
“Let’s get this over with. I will tell you what I’ve told Declan,” Stella begins. “I can’t say a single thing unless you sign the NDA I have in my office. All of you.”
Josh sits in an armchair and lifts his ankle onto his knee. He glances at me, then back at Stella slowly. It’s a tactic. Not to delay, but to intimidate.
People hate tension and silence.
It unnerves them.
Stella surprises us by shaking her head and grinning. “Nice try. You won’t intimidate me. Have you met my father?”
I smirk and glance away, kind of proud of her. This sassy woman; she fucking owns my heart. I think I just fell a little more in love with her.
Ryder clears his throat.
Josh relaxes his body, drops his leg and leans forward, steepling his hands between his legs. “Then let me be clear: no one in this room is signing your contract, and if you want to stay alive and protect whoever is being threatened, you need to tell us exactly what is going on.”
“No.”
I stand and pace the room.
It’s going to be a long fucking night.
“It’s her father.” I stop at the wall to ceiling windows that look out over the balcony to Central Park, my back to the room. “The way he was with Marino last week screams of him either owing money or the guy has something illegal over him.”
“You don’t—”
“Why? Was Marino looking for a wife and decided Stella would be prime breeding stock?” Ryder asks, and I turn to find him tilting his head at her. “Yeah, I can see how that would go.”
“Excuse m—”
“Could be.” I take a few steps back toward everyone. “Wouldn’t be hard to set up a guy like Voss.”
“That’s n—”
“She’s the right age, that’s for sure,” Josh adds, nodding. “Fertile. Pliable.”
Stella leaps to her feet.
“That is NOT what happened. I’d never met him when Dad...”
We wait.
She licks her lips.
My heart pounds so fucking loudly I wait for someone to tell me to shut the hell up. Yes, we baited her, and yeah, we knew what we were doing. Zero apologies if—when—it saves her life.
“Keep talking.” Josh’s voice is low.
Stella plonks down and stares at her feet, cursing quietly.
Ryder glances at me, and I shrug one shoulder, shaking my head.
That’s when I hear her phone vibrating on the kitchen counter. I walk over and see her father’s name on the screen.
I carry it over to her.
“Answer it,” I instruct. “On speaker.”
“You can’t tell me what to do. I’ve hired you!” she snaps, fear and anger merging together.
She’s panicking. Feeling closed in.
I lean down and swipe the screen.
“Shit, God—hi, Dad.” She stumbles and thumps me on the chest.
“Stella, where the hell have you been all day?!” he demands. “I have been calling you for hours.”
She swallows.
“I had lunch with Charlotte and must’ve forgotten to take it off silent.” Her eyes briefly lock with mine. We both know she was in my apartment and in my bed.
“That doesn’t answer my question. Where are you?”
“In my penthouse.”
“That’s not true. Tony...never mind. Walk over to the window.” Victor instructs.
Josh’s brows lift at the same speed as mine.
“What? Why?” she frowns.
“Do as you're told, Stella.” Her father growls. “Now.”
I nudge her and mouth ask him what Tony wants.
“What does Tony want?” she demands of her father, and when she glances around the room, Josh indicates she should walk to the window.
I nod, and she does.
I follow and stare outside.
The time for games is over.
We all know what happened. Our guys created a diversion this afternoon so they couldn’t follow us home from lunch. When she wasn’t in her penthouse, it rattled them. That she asked to go to my place instead was even better.
Now we know Marino has been keeping very close tabs on her. The place isn’t bugged, or he’d know she was here, but he has eyes on her.
And he knows we’ve been intimate.
“He wants to know where his bride is. You are going to be his fucking wife, Stella. He owns you. He owns me.”
She panics, her eyes flaring as she quickly takes the phone off speaker and rushes across the room. With the phone to her ear, she starts talking fast. “Fine. Okay. Yes. Fine, Dad, I agreed, all right. I will see you tomorrow.”
Then she hangs up and we stare at her, waiting for an explanation.
He owns me.
“Why does Tony Marino own your father, Stella?” Josh asks.
I watch as her eyes dart around the room while she calculates the situation. Thinking she can outsmart two Navy SEALs and one Delta Force operator is very bold.
We wait.
She looks at me, and for a split second, I think I see a hint of what she feels for me, and it has my heart lurching inside my chest. Then an apology follows.
No.
Don’t you fucking d—
“Look, I hired your company to keep me safe. You have. Before I go to bed, I’ll email your office and give a month’s notice. I will pay it immediately. However, effective immediately, your services are no longer required.”
Is she fucking kidding me?
Her voice is cool, and she refuses to look at me.
“That’s a very bad decision, Stella.” Josh’s eyes narrow.
“Let us help you,” Ryder says. “We are three of the most skilled paramilitary men in the country. Special forces. We have the ability to help you.”
“And what? Go into protective custody. Move to Ohio? Leave everyone I care about and love?” She shakes her head.
Then her gaze flicks to me, as if she can’t help it.
Fuck.
Am I on that list? Because if that’s true, then there’s no fucking way I am letting her go. Then she does the one thing I thought she couldn’t do.
She outsmarts us.
“You need to leave. Now. All of you.” Stella points toward the elevator.
What the fuck?
No.
I glance around anxiously as Josh slowly stands, and Ryder lets out a sigh and does the same.
No!
“And,” her voice begins to break. “You too, Declan.”
My face hardens as I mentally demand that she look at me again. She doesn’t.
“Stella,” I growl.
“Go.” Her eyes lift and voice softens almost in resignation as she adds. “Or I will call the police.”
I press my lips together as disappointment fills my chest. My poor, beautiful girl; she’s terrified.
Turning to Josh, he nudges his head toward the exit, and I nod my agreement.
“Okay. I’ll pack my things in the morning and leave the key with security.” I run a hand through my hair as Josh and Ryder walk out of the room.
I wait.
Stella stares at the floor.
I’m not giving up, but right now we have to do as she’s asked and leave. I need her to know how I feel, so I do the only thing I can do: I walk over, lift her face, and gently kiss her lips.
“I’m keeping my promise.”
To not let that asshole touch her.