13. Declan #2
"It does." She holds my gaze. "You're not like my father. You're not like the other bosses. You care about your people. That's worth more than knowing which fork to use."
The words are unexpected. I don't know what to say, how to respond to this version of Elena who's defending me and seeing me as something other than an enemy.
"Thank you," I manage finally.
She nods and looks away. "We should go back inside. People will notice if we're gone too long."
"Right."
But neither of us moves. We stand there on the terrace, the cold air between us, until finally, Elena turns toward the door. "Come on. Let's get this over with."
I follow her back inside, and for the first time tonight, the weight on my chest feels a little lighter.
—
The next few days pass in an uneasy truce.
Elena and I move around each other carefully, like we're both trying to figure out new boundaries.
She doesn't undermine me, or make cutting remarks, or question my decisions in front of my men.
Instead, she focuses on the household, managing the details that I don't have time or inclination to handle. I focus on business.
We eat breakfast together most mornings and dinner some nights. The conversations are careful and polite. We talk about logistics and schedules, neutral topics that don't require us to acknowledge what happened between us. It's not comfortable, but it's not hostile either.
Two days later, I'm in my office when my phone rings. It’s Elena's father.
"Enzo," I say, keeping my voice neutral.
"Declan." His voice is cold and clipped. "We need to talk about Dante Moretti."
My jaw tightens. "What about him?"
"He's one of my men. Was one of my men. And now he's working for you." There's an edge to his voice, anger barely contained. "You're poaching my people."
"I didn't poach anyone." I lean back in my chair, trying to keep my irritation in check. "He came to me and said he wanted to work for someone who respected him. I'm not going to turn away a man who believes in my leadership."
"Your leadership." Enzo's laugh is bitter. "You've been in charge for what, a few months? And you think you have the right to take my men?"
"I think I have the right to accept loyalty when it's offered." My voice hardens. "If your men are coming to me, maybe you should ask yourself why."
The line goes quiet. "Careful, Murphy. You're still new to this world. Still learning the rules. Poaching another family's men is a declaration of disrespect. If you weren’t married to my daughter, it could lead to war."
"I don't want war." I force myself to take a breath and think before I speak. "Look, I didn't intend any disrespect. Dante approached me. I accepted him. But if it's causing problems, I'm willing to make a gesture of goodwill."
"What kind of gesture?"
"Next time you need extra men for something—a shipment, security, whatever—I'll send some of mine to help, as a show of respect and alliance."
"Fine," Enzo says finally. "But this doesn't happen again. Understood?"
"Understood."
He hangs up without another word. I set the phone down and run a hand through my hair. Elena was right about Dante. The defection is going to cause problems. I should have listened to her. Should have been more careful.
But I needed someone who believed in me, who saw me as a legitimate leader instead of an upstart pretender. Even if it cost me.
That night, after Elena has gone to bed, I pour myself a whiskey and call Lachlan. He answers on the second ring. "Declan. It's late."
"I know. Sorry." I take a sip of whiskey. "I just needed to talk."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's wrong. I don't know." I lean back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. "I'm fucking this up, Lach. All of it."
"What happened?"
"I had to apologize to Elena's father today for accidentally poaching one of his men.
The man came to me, but it still looks bad.
Went to a gala where everyone looked at me like I was something they scraped off their shoes.
My wife barely speaks to me unless it's about household logistics.
And I keep thinking—" I stop and swallow hard.
"I keep thinking I'm failing you. That you gave me this organization and I'm destroying it. "
"You're not destroying anything."
"How do you know? You're not here. You don't see—"
"I know because I know you." Lachlan's voice is firm. "You're one of the most capable men I've ever met. You led that motorcycle club through hell and came out stronger. You can do the same with this organization."
"The motorcycle club was different. Those men respected me, believed in me. These other families—" I shake my head even though he can't see it. "They look at me and see someone who doesn't belong. Someone who's playing at being a boss."
"Then prove them wrong."
"I'm trying. But every time I think I'm making progress, something happens that reminds me I don't know what the fuck I'm doing."
"Declan." Lachlan's voice softens. "You're being too hard on yourself. You've been in charge for what, three months? Four? That's nothing. It takes time to establish yourself and earn respect."
"I don't have time. If I don't prove myself soon, someone's going to challenge me. And if that happens—"
"If that happens, you'll handle it. The same way you've handled everything else." He pauses. "But you need to stop trying to be someone you're not. Stop trying to fit into their mold. Be yourself. Lead the way you know how. That's what worked with the club. That's what will work here."
"What if it's not enough?"
"It will be. I wouldn't have given you this organization if I didn't believe in you. You're not failing me, Declan."
I want to believe him, trust that I'm not destroying everything he built. But it’s difficult. "I did something I'm not proud of," I say quietly. "With Elena."
"What did you do?"
“I don’t want to go into details.” I clear my throat. “Although I’m sure if you asked around, you’d find out. But… it was humiliating. She wouldn’t listen, and she was undermining me. I let it get to me.”
Lachlan is quiet for a long moment. "That was a mistake."
"I know."
"Did you apologize?"
"Yes. She accepted it. Sort of. But things are still—" I search for the right word. "Complicated."
"Marriage is always complicated. Especially arranged marriages. Especially in this world." He sighs. "But you can't lead through fear and humiliation, Declan. Not with your wife. Not with your men. That's not who you are."
"I was angry and frustrated. I felt like I was losing control of everything."
"I get it. But it's not sustainable. You need to find a better way, one that doesn't compromise who you are."
"I don't know if I know who I am anymore."
"Yes, you do. You're the man who took care of his club and protected his people. That man is still there. You just need to remember him."
I close my eyes, letting his words sink in. Trying to believe them.
"I'm not coming back, Declan," Lachlan says quietly. "I left that life for a reason. For Adriana and our family. I'm not going to step back in just because you're struggling. You need to figure this out on your own."
"I know."