Chapter 3 – Declan
Chapter Three
Declan
Iwatch the situation unfold outside the Nash house with my jaw clenched. My nephews got their asses handed to them by the Nash twins, and I find it highly entertaining.
What I’m not looking forward to is being trapped on a tour bus with Cove. She was a sweet kid, who turned into a rotten teenager, and now she’s an absolutely beautiful woman.
It’s too bad she’s entitled, spoiled, and self-absorbed.
I think everyone is predisposed to being a little entitled and narcissistic during their teenage years and into their early twenties, but it would help her case a little if she ever thought about anyone but herself.
Ravvi stands a few feet away, giving Damian a pep talk. Neither of them has life goals of being a famous musician. They’re doing this because they didn’t want to be left behind when Cove pushed to get herself a contract.
I frown, watching Vince Riggs check Riot’s nose. If it’s not broken, then I’m going to do it. That little shithead doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. Cove was beet red when she let Lyric guide her off to the cars.
Riot and Creed aren’t bad guys, but they’re still too young to have gotten their heads out of their asses.
I don’t even know why I care.
I’m not fond of Princess Nash.
She’s got a lot of growing up to do herself. It’s too bad she has to drag Ravvi and Damian along for the ride, but they’re both head-over-dick in love with her and incapable of telling her no.
“You all set?” Griffin Stone asks, approaching me. He owns Stone Security, and he’s technically my boss. He’s also part of the pack I grew up in. He’s family, so I can’t be an asshole, but no, I’m not all fucking set.
I’m pissed he assigned me this job at all.
I get it.
In personal security, you don’t always get great clients, but you show up and do your job no matter what.
And I will.
Pops would have my goddamn head from the grave if I didn’t look out for the women around me, especially an omega on a tour filled with alphas.
I’m not worried about Ravvi or Damian. Hell, I’m not even worried about Riot and Creed. They’re idiots, not predatory assholes.
I’m uncomfortable with all the other alphas on tour, the endless fans, and the entire fucking vibe of the music industry.
I purposely avoided becoming a musician like Dexter.
Once I went to live with my brother and his pack, they were all “embrace your creativity” and “don’t you want to learn to play an instrument? ”
No.
I didn’t want any of those things.
I took the more simplistic military route.
“You’re still pissed,” Griffin grunts, squeezing my shoulder. “Did I ever tell you that I resented Lyric when I was a teenager?”
“What?” I scoff.
That makes no sense. He’s ten years older than Lyric, and he didn’t go to work for her until she was in her early twenties.
“You know my dad is an omega. Growing up, my uncle Michael was the one who took me to football games, practiced with me, taught me all the outdoors shit that my dad wasn’t into,” Griffin says, shaking his head.
The man never says more than a few words at a time. He’s speaking now, and he’s got my full attention. His uncle, Michael Stone, is the one who opened the original office of Stone Security, but I’ve got no idea where this little walk down memory lane is headed.
“Okay,” I say to let him know I’m listening.
“Michael got a job working for Lyric’s dad before Damian died.
She was still little then, not even double digits, but all I knew was that my uncle moved to California.
I barely saw him. I did, but it was here or there and nothing like I was used to.
” Griffin sighs. “I couldn’t understand why he wanted to be there, keeping some snot-nosed kid safe, rather than being with family.
I’ve never told Lyric this story. I disliked her for a lot of years without even knowing her.
It wasn’t until many years later that Michael assigned me to her.
I didn’t want to take the job, especially because it was in England.
But I did, and I was quick to realize she was nothing like who I made her out to be in my head. ”
Yeah, they ended up falling in love and have been together twenty-something years.
Griffin squeezes my shoulder, giving me a meaningful look. “I know you want no part in touring.”
“Then why fucking assign—”
He cuts me off. “Because I trust you.”
I swallow thickly.
I respect the hell out of Griffin. Hearing him say that hits me right in the gut.
“Cove is important to Ravvi and Damian.” His eyebrows rise. “I’ve also got eyes, and I’d say you’re more drawn to her than you’d like to admit.”
I scoff. I’ve got ten years on Cove. “She’s too young for me, but nice try—”
“Lyric is twelve and a half years younger than I am. You’re both adults.” He shrugs a giant shoulder. “I’m just saying, put some effort into getting to know the real Cove—”
Now it’s my turn to cut him off. “I get what you’re implying, but that shit will never happen.” I cross my arms over my chest. “I’ll do my job. That’s all I’ve got.”
Griffin pats me on the shoulder and nods. “Fair enough.” With that, he turns and walks away.
My head falls back, and I look at the sky.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?