Chapter 40 Declan
DECLAN
Ewen slept for two days. I was worried, but I also knew his body needed the rest. He went through some shit. I’m just glad it wasn’t worse. If I had someone to torture, they wouldn’t have been as well off as he was.
Ciaran called. He not only found Geno, but he was waiting for me so we could meet with the last surviving Bianchi. Our men wiped out their entire crew. No more Bianchis to fuck with our life. I promised Ciar I would come once Ewen was awake and feeling better.
Murder Mittens has been with my Aingeal, only leaving his side to eat or visit his litter box.
Ewen starts to wake when he smells breakfast. I made pancakes and sausage and added a side of fruit.
There’s also a fresh brewed cup of coffee with his half and half on the tray.
I even bought him two dozen roses, which are next to him on the nightstand.
I will show and tell this man until the day I die how much he means to me. He’s my whole world.
“Good morning,” I say and sit on the edge of the bed.
I want to fuck him, but he needs food first. In time, I tell myself.
First food and checking how he’s doing mentally.
Placing the tray on the bed between us, I lean over and kiss him.
He greets me back by deepening the kiss.
The need to pounce is overwhelming but I will myself to remain calm.
He makes me an animal with desire always coursing through my veins.
He pulls back and gives me the sweetest doe eyes ever. I can’t wait to see that face the rest of my life. “Morning ba—Declan.” He stutters over my name.
“Hey, why do you look so innocent and confused?” I ask.
He bites his lip before answering. “I wanted to call you babe,” his cheeks turn bright red with embarrassment, “but I’ve never said that before. I didn’t think it was appropriate.”
“You can call me whatever you want. If it’s babe, baby, or something else, you can.”
He sits up and kisses me on the cheek. “Okay, babe.” He eyes the food. I pick up the tray and set it on his lap.
“Eat, and then you can tell me all the ways you love me.” I chuckle and he smiles.
I was testing the waters. He said he loved me last night and my heart froze.
It was the single greatest thing I’ve heard in my thirty-two years of life.
The most beautiful person to ever touch the Earth is in love with me.
He takes a couple of bites of the pancakes. “You want to talk about what happened?” I ask.
He shakes his head no. “I just want to forget and move on.”
“You can talk to me about it.”
“No!” He looks at me with a fierceness in his eyes. “I lived through it. I did something I can’t believe. I just want to move past it. Please.”
I grab his hand and weave our fingers together. “Okay. I’m here if you ever need to.”
He nods once and I decide not to push him. He’s been through enough already. I have him back and that’s the only thing that matters.
Ewen had to practically shove me out of the house today. He knew Ciaran was waiting for me. Fiona and Caleb came over to hang out with him. I know the house is safe, but the thought of leaving him scares me.
Ciaran picked me up with a large, evil grin on his face. “Hello brother.”
“Sup. You look surprisingly happy.”
“Oh, I am the happiest man right now.” He turns his head to look at me. “I slayed the dragon.”
He takes off into traffic, driving us out of Boston to a small town about forty minutes north.
It’s close to where Ewen went to seminary school.
We don’t really talk but that’s normal for us.
We’ve always been comfortable with silence.
A perk of being raised together. We never competed against one another.
Were always told we’d run the family business alongside each other.
I never wanted to be in charge, I just wanted to be the Reaper.
But after everything I now know, we’re meant to conquer the world together as brothers.
Ciar parks in front of a cute little house with a white picket fence and blue shutters.
The definition of suburban hell. I look around, confused, but don’t question anything.
I know there has to be a reason for being here.
He hops out and grabs a duffle bag from the trunk and leads the way up the sidewalk so I follow him.
We stand side by side as he rings the doorbell.
A cute younger woman with a very large baby bump opens the door.
Her eyes pop with shock at seeing us. I have no idea who she is but based on her reaction she knows who we are.
“Geno!” she shouts over her shoulder, looking more afraid.
So, that’s why we’re here. To meet with Geno.
And it wasn’t planned. A large hand wraps around the door before pulling it back to reveal himself.
Geno Bianchi, the one who was supposed to take over the crew but went missing.
I remember Ciaran telling me a couple months ago Geno knocked up a girl.
I would put money on it that this is the chick.
Geno wraps an arm around her. “Go make some lunch. I’ll meet you in the back in a few.” He kisses her temple before she disappears into the house. He turns his attention back to us. “Well, if it’s not Ciaran O’Sullivan and Declan Murphy. What brings you here?”
He doesn’t open the door or invite us in. Rude but whatever. Ciaran lifts the bag. “Have a delivery for you. I don’t think you want these sweet neighbors of yours seeing it.”
Geno looks annoyed. He glances over our shoulders and sees there are in fact people out. Some doing yardwork, kids riding their bikes. All the prying eyes ready for a surprise. I still have no idea what’s in the bag, but I bet it’s something fun.
He grunts and steps back, motioning for us to come in. We step in and look around. The house is nice, if you like suburban décor. Beige and wicker, yuck.
We walk over to the couch and sit down like we’ve been here before. Ciaran drops the bag on the table and it thumps on impact. He leans back like he has zero concerns in the world.
Geno looks from the bag to us. “What do you want? And how the fuck did you find me?”
“We are here to talk about the Bianchi crew, and I found you because I am relentless. I can find anything I want in time.” He raises his arms, draping them over the back of the couch.
“I left. I gave up everything. Said fuck my father and his crew. I don’t want that life,” Geno says. He turns to look toward where the woman went. “I have a reason to leave. My brother can have it all.”
Ciaran clears his throat and Geno moves his attention back to him. “Well, how close were you to your brother?”
“Not at all. I hate him. I heard he was the one to kill our sweet sister.” Geno’s eyes grow sad while Ciar clenches his fists at the mention of Teresa. “He could be dead and I wouldn’t bat an eye. He’s a terrible person. Has been ever since he shot out of our mom.”
Ciaran holds his face to neutral but his jaw grinds. He’s reining in his anger. He stands and bends to open the duffle. “I have a present for you.” Reaching in he looks like a magician about to pull a rabbit from a hat.
It’s a rare day when Ciar surprises me. Raising his hand, fingers threaded through hair, holding up a very dead Enzo’s head. He cut his fucking head off. My Reaper wants to shout with excitement.
Geno freaks out and jumps up. “What the fuck are you doing?” He comes at Ciaran. I instantly stand and move closer. Nobody threatens my family.
“I needed you to know I got justice for Teresa. I don’t care about you leaving, I’m glad your crew will no longer be a stain in Boston.
” He drops the head back into the bag, then puts his hands up to show Geno he means no harm.
“I loved her. God’s honest truth. I never told her.
That’ll be my burden to carry the rest of my days.
But I wanted to see you today to see how you felt about things.
I think we’re okay with each other. I’ll leave you alone for the rest of our lives as long as you do the same. ”
I never thought I’d see the day that Ciaran not only admitted he loved her to anyone else but also offered a truce. Ciaran motions for Geno to sit like this is his house. Geno does and we follow, sitting and waiting with bated breath for what’s to come.
Geno finally breaks the silence. “I loved my sister too. Thank you for getting her killer. I promise you I will never betray your family. We’re good. I wish you guys all the best.”
Ciaran reaches over to shake hands. Geno accepts. A truce has been set in stone. “Now please leave and take that with you,” Geno says while eyeing the bag. “I don’t need others seeing that.”
“Gladly.” Ciaran stands and takes the bag and I shadow after him. I was only here to be a shadow. This was about Ciaran and Geno.
Geno walks us out. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry you and Teresa never got your time together. She loved you as well. Fought our father on the arranged marriage.” Geno’s words stop Ciar in his tracks. He stands still, absorbing what he heard.
He turns back to Geno standing in the doorway. “She was too good for this world.” Both men nod in agreement.
We take off toward the car, and Ciaran drops the bag in the trunk. Once he slams it shut I stop him by bringing a hand down on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry you lost her.”
“Maybe one day I’ll be with her.” He looks up at the sky, hoping, I think, to be with her in Heaven.
He climbs in the car and I follow him. We don’t talk, but this time I feel it’s because he’s remembering his time with his love.
A love he never got to tell how he felt.
They never got to live a life together. My heart aches for him.
I never thought I would love anyone. Not until Ewen.
He made me want to love. To be the reason he smiles, to hold him when he has a bad day, to be the one he spends the rest of his life with so I can tell him until we’re old and gray how much I love him.
To be deprived of that would be unbearable.
My phone alerts me that Fi and Caleb leave just before we get to our neighborhood. I don’t like the thought of Ewen being alone, but don’t dwell because I’m almost there.
Ciaran pulls up and parks in front of my house. “I’m happy everything worked out for you,” he says. He sounds sad. I’ve never wanted to hug him like I do right now.
“And I’m sorry you didn’t get your happy ending.”
“I’ll be fine. I know she wouldn’t want me to be sad forever. Now, go and tell him how much he means to you. Never hold back your feelings. He’s a good guy.”
“I will.” I look at my place and think of what our future holds. “I will always tell him.”
He gives me a small smile. “Take care, brother. We have work to do tomorrow.”
The moment the door is closed, he speeds off.
I don’t wait to watch him leave. I rush toward the house and go in.
Ewen is all alone, cooking in the kitchen.
I fucking love seeing him be domesticated for me.
He glances over at me and the most amazing smile graces his face.
He turns from the stove to greet me and I take him in my arms. I kiss him like he’s the air I need to breathe.
Because he is, he’s the life force that’ll drive me forward until I die.
He giggles and pulls back. “Hi to you too.”
“I want to greet you every time with a kiss.”
He blushes. “I can be okay with that.”
I sit down on one of the stools at the island before I take him upstairs, or hell, right here in the kitchen.
He’s cooking, which isn’t a thing he’s known for doing well, so I don’t want to mess him up.
“Where’s Fi and Caleb?” I know they left not long ago, but I ask anyway to see if there was a reason.
He turns back to the stove. He’s making spaghetti again, the scent of the garlic mixed with the tomato smell tells me this. I guess it’s his staple meal. “They left about ten minutes ago. I told them to go. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“But I want them with you when I’m not.”
Ewen spins around and gives me a stern look. “I’m not a child. Yes, some bad things happened but I refuse to live my life being fearful of what could happen.”
My heart swells even more for him. He lived through something terrible. Yet he won’t let it be what defines him. My Aingeal has grown so much since I met him.
I lift my hands in surrender. “Alright, my bad, baby. I just want to make sure you’re safe, always.”
“I am safe here. You have gone above and beyond to make sure I am.”
“I have, and I won’t apologize for that.”
He huffs and plants his hands on his hips. “Which I never asked for. I appreciate it, truly. But please never make me feel smothered by your need for protection. I know the world can be terrible. But I won’t live afraid. I will decide how I want to live.”
“I promise I will never do that to you. It’ll be tough so please just tell me. I will listen.” He smiles at me and comes forward, placing a small kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you.”
I watch Ewen cook and my mind wanders to what our future will be. This time when I start down that road, I know we actually have a path together, side by side. Maybe one day he’ll wear a ring I put on his finger.
I won’t leave my family or my role with them. I won’t be the Reaper because I don’t want to risk him losing me, but I will always be part of the O’Sullivan crew.
The uncertainty doesn’t scare me. Ewen will be mine, I will be his. Until time ends and even past that. Forever.