Page 7 of Taken By the Mobster

“You didn’t keep her?” Clyde asked. He looked at the other men standing with Declan. “She might have been good … entertainment.” He chuckled, a dry, evil sound.

“I don’t need some bitch hanging around causing problems.”

Clyde nodded, apparently satisfied with Declan’s answer. When Declan looked away, Clyde glanced at one of his men and then at the house, a subtle tilt of his head no one else noticed, except for Olivia. She dropped the curtain and stepped away from the window.

Why did Declan lie to Clyde?

Olivia waited, counting to thirty in her head before she looked out the window again. As she watched, Clyde turned to the SUV and gestured to someone inside. A lanky, young man with shaggy brown hair unfolded himself from the back seat and stepped out of the car. At his full height, he stood several inches above Declan. One of Clyde’s men pulled a gun from inside his jacket and held it at his side.

“Hey, Deck,” the young man said. His voice cracked on the last word, and Olivia thought he might be close to crying.

“Drew,” Declan said. He took one step forward, but the man with the gun pointed the weapon at him.

“You know the rules, Quinn,” Clyde snapped. “Money for proof of life. A deal is a deal. Say hello but stay put.”

Declan growled, his shoulders tense and his fists clenched. “It’s been more than a year, Clyde—.” One of Declan’s men standing next to him put a hand on his arm and squeezed tightly.

“I know how long it’s been,” Clyde said.

“You said one year,” Declan said. “One year if I did as you asked. And I have done as you asked repeatedly, even after what you did to Sarah.” He let out a long, shuddering breath. “Just let my brother go, and we’ll be on our way. You have more than enough money.”

Clyde threw his head back and laughed, the harsh sound echoing through the night. “Oh, Deck, it will never be enough. There is no such thing as ‘enough money.’ If you want your brother to live, you keep doing what I want. You have no choice.” He turned to the younger man. “Get back in the car.”

The young man—Drew—nodded and climbed back into the SUV. He hunched over and put his head in his hands.

Declan took another step toward the SUV, but the man beside him grabbed his arm and held him back. He whispered something in Declan’s ear, something that made Declan drop his head and step back.

Clyde laughed. “Good boy. You do as you’re told.” He got in beside Drew and slammed the car door.

Declan stood in the driveway until the SUV was out of sight and the dust settled. It wasn’t until it was out of sight that he turned back and returned to the house.

Olivia carefully shut the window and returned to her seat on the bed. She tried to process everything she had just seen and heard, tried to make sense of it.

Apparently, Declan worked for Clyde, a man she hated and feared. If Declan found out who she was, if he remembered who she was, he wouldn’t hesitate to turn her over to the mobster. Clyde would be more than happy to hand over Declan’s brother for her.

She was a bargaining chip. An extremely important bargaining chip that Declan didn’t know he possessed. She meant to keep it that way.

The exchange between Declan and Clyde brought up more questions than answers for Olivia. Unfortunately, she couldn’t ask the questions she desperately wanted answered because it would give her identity away. She would have to keep quiet and play dumb to survive.

Olivia sat on the bed and watched the door, expecting Declan to walk through it at any minute. It wouldn’t surprise her if he came to end her life, to do what he told Clyde he’d already done. A strange sense of calm came over her at the thought that all of this would be over soon. At least she wouldn’t have to run anymore.

According to the watch on her wrist it was almost midnight; three hours had passed before she heard the key turning in the lock. Declan entered with a sandwich and a glass of water, which he put on the bedside table without a word. He was almost outside the door when she spoke.

“Why did you lie?” she asked. “To that man, about me?”

Declan froze and turned around. “You heard?” He glared at her, his jaw clenched, his hands in fists at his side. Anger rolled off him in thick, heated waves. “How much did you hear?”

Olivia shrugged. “Not much.” She stared at her hands, unable to meet his eyes. “But I heard you say you killed me. Why did you lie?”

He was quiet for a few seconds before he answered. “I don’t know.”

Olivia swallowed around the lump in her throat. “What are you going to do with me?” she asked.

Declan sighed. “I’m not sure yet.” His dress shirt tightened across his muscular shoulders and chest as he took a deep breath. He shook his head, as if he was having some internal argument with himself. He didn’t say anything else; instead, he flung open the door and left, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Olivia took a deep breath. She couldn’t wait any longer, and it was obvious no one was going to step up and offer to help her. She pounded on the door.

“Hello?” she yelled.

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