Chapter 25 Declan
DECLAN
After our rendezvous earlier, I pulled down the fabric I used to cover the windows.
Ewen likes sleeping with the moon as his nightlight.
I’m nothing but accommodating. The light shining in is enough to display his cat, holding a very dead mouse in his mouth.
He didn’t just catch it, he toyed with it. Feasted on it.
And his face looks of pure joy. I know that face, as I’ve worn it many times in life. He likes the kill.
Not wanting Ewen to see his furry companion so messy, I roll out of bed and pick him up.
He stays quiet while I wash him off in the bathroom.
Aren’t cats supposed to hate water? He clearly didn’t get the memo.
While drying him off, I scratch under his chin and he purrs.
“I think calling you Murder Mittens was spot on.” His purr ramps up, making me feel like he’s in agreement.
I clean up the dead mouse and wipe away any blood I find.
It’s been awhile since I’ve had to clean a scene, and this makes me miss killing.
And smoking. I haven’t had one since before my incident.
Ewen alone has sated me and the need for the damn things hasn’t been there.
Ewen slept the whole time I cleaned, exhausted from our playtime. Good because I will be doing that again. He is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to introduce Ewen to all the dirty, nasty things we can do together.
My phone rings. Nobody calls me this late unless there’s business to handle. Grabbing my phone before it wakes Ewen, I see I’m right. It’s Ciaran. “You know that problem I told you about?” he asks as I walk out of the bedroom.
“Yeah.”
He huffs. “It just got more complicated. I need to see you at my office.”
“Give me thirty minutes,” I say and hang up. There’s nothing else for either of us to say. He won’t tell me anything over the phone.
Thankfully my clothes are in the living room so it’s easy for me to get dressed.
I go back to say bye to Ewen. I don’t want to wake him, but I need him to know I’m leaving so he doesn’t think I just left.
Plus, I want to taste his lips before I leave.
Murder Mittens is curled in a ball next to Ewen.
He better not get too comfortable, that’s now my spot.
Ewen looks so perfect right now. He’s always perfect in my eyes.
I kiss his throat just above his Adam’s apple, traveling up to his lips.
By the time I reach them he returns my kiss.
My tongue dives in and he greets me so openly.
His hands reach up and pull me in deeper.
Fuck, I don’t want to leave. It takes everything in me to break the kiss.
“Baby, I got to go. Business.” I soften the blow by kissing his lips again. “I’ll call you later. Go back to sleep.”
Standing up, I turn to leave but he halts me with his words. “Don’t die. I couldn’t handle that.”
I turn back and kiss him passionately. “I promise I’ll come back to you. Nothing can keep me from you, Aingeal.” He hugs me tightly. And it’s that simple act that sets a goal in my head. I have to stay alive. I can’t ever let Ewen be hurt by me.
Slipping out the back entrance of his apartment, I do the short walk around the block to where I left my truck.
With the time of day, there’s practically nobody out so the drive is quick.
Parking along the street, I jump out and rush into the building.
I’ve been here so many times at the oddest hours, I sometimes forget this is a legitimate business during the day.
I don’t knock upon my arrival and find Ciaran pacing his office. His hair is disheveled, suit jacket and tie thrown on one of the chairs. He jumps at my approach, clearly distracted
“What’s the problem?” I ask, getting straight to business.
He picks up a decanter from his desk and starts chugging from it.
When he sets it down, he looks at me. His eyes appear haunted by sadness.
Something I’ve never seen on him. “Teresa has been found.” He lifts the liquor bottle again and starts pounding it.
He’s going to be shit-faced in a few minutes with how he’s drinking that whiskey.
“That’s good.” I drop into one of the chairs. “How’s that an issue?”
“She’s dead.” Tears gather in his eyes but he refuses to let them fall. “And that’s the problem. Whoever did it made it look identical to the calling card you left the Bianchis years ago.”
I jump up, knowing exactly which kill he’s referring to. “What do you mean?”
He hands me the decanter, but I decline.
“The scene is identical. The same alley you left Marcos in, same manner of death. Fuck man, she was even posed the exact same way you left him.” His head drops forward.
He shakes all over. “Did you do it?” His voice is so much smaller than I’m used to from him.
Did he just ask me that? I’ve killed women, I’m no saint, but I have had no reason to kill Teresa. Plus, I’ve always known Ciaran had more feelings for her than he ever admitted.
“The fuck? Of course I didn’t. You’ve been privy to every kill I have done,” I shout. “Ever since my last, unfortunate run in, I haven’t done shit. Haven’t even been at the bar.”
He raises his hands, trying to calm me. “Look D, I had to ask. I know you didn’t. I think we’re being framed. Someone is trying to start a war.” Ciaran slumps into his chair, exhaustion and booze finally reining him in. “For once, I have no idea what to do.”
“Have you talked to Shamus yet?”
Ciar nods. “Yeah, he’s the one who told me the details.
” He lifts his head and allows himself a moment to look at me.
“I loved her.” The tears finally fall. Ciaran is a strong man.
We were raised to be. I think the last time I saw him cry we were six and his puppy ran away.
Grandpa sat us down and told us men don’t cry.
We never shed another tear after that. Seeing my brother broken is something I never would have imagined.
My heart breaks for him. He finally admitted he loves her and the pain of her death brings him to tears.
That was true love in our world. I know at that moment I will avenge her death for him.
I will give him the head of the person who caused him this pain.
It’s like I’m fourteen all over again and protecting Fi.
Walking around the desk, I pull back his chair. “Come on. Let’s get you home. I’ll handle the business until you’re sober.”
I lift him up and help him stumble out. I get him in my truck and drive him to his fancy high-rise.
He doesn’t talk, just silently cries. With every tear that falls, my heart breaks even more.
To see such a polished man appear so broken…
did he ever tell her his true feelings, or will that be a regret he lives with for the rest of his days?
After getting him into his place, I promise him I will get justice.
Someone wants to start a war, then a fucking war is what they’ll get.