Page 103 of Exile and Embrace

Bile rises in my throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Declan. Put Dad back on the line. He and I aren’t done talking.”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Ava may not be with me right now, but she is mine. She’ll always be mine and one day, I’m going to force her back home where she belongs.”

At this moment, there’s nothing I want to do more than fly to the other side of the country and drive a knife through my brother’s chest.

I keep tight reins on my anger, even though I could break the steering wheel in half right now. “You’re going to stay the fuck away from her, Declan. She wants nothing to do with you. She’s mine.”

Declan’s laugh is manic. “You’re doing this to piss me off, and it’s not going to end well for you, Finnigan. I think it’s time I take back Ava and show her what a real man is. She might’ve had fun playing with you, but that’s over now.”

“If you put a hand on her, I will kill you.” There’s no way that I’m going to let him get close to Ava.

She’s mine.

Declan scoffs. “You’ve stolen what’s mine, Finnigan, and for that, you’re going to pay. Everything you love in the world is going to be destroyed. And hell, if going after the one person you seem to care about gets you to respect Dad and finally bend to his will, then that’s what it takes.”

A sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach tells me that I need to get home as soon as possible. If Declan and my father are already in Oregon, then Ava is in danger.

I promised her that I was going to do everything I could to protect her.

I’ll be damned if my brother ever gets his hands on the woman I love again.

Gritting my teeth, I press the accelerator down, zipping through traffic. “You touch her, and the last thing I’m going to do is work for Dad again. I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure that the pair of you pay for whatever you think you’re going to do to Ava.”

“I don’t think I’m going to do anything to her. I know I am. She might be on a plane in a couple hours, but I’ll be coming for her soon. Don’t you worry.”

“You’re going to stay the fuck away from her! Declan, I swear to God. Set a fucking foot near her, and it’ll be the last move you ever make.”

“Oh, would you look at that. She just got to the airport. Funnily enough, I have a ticket for that same flight, and my car just arrived. Dad’s going to miss me, don’t you think? At least he has one son who respects him.”

“Get on that fucking plane with her, and I’ll kill you the second you step off in Oregon.”

“Calm down, baby brother, I’m just kidding. Taking her now would be too easy. I want you to suffer. I want you to be looking over your shoulder constantly, wondering if this is the moment I take what’s mine.”

My sharp inhale is enough to have him laughing.

The call ends as a shiver runs down my spine.

I drive faster, needing to get to the house. Ava’s plane should be taking off in less than an hour and when it lands, her aunt is picking her up from the airport.

Their drive back from the airport should give me enough time to sweep the house and make sure that there’s nothing hidden.

Including my family.

There are too many places they could be hiding in Oregon and not enough time to search them all.

Although, they may not be in Oregon either. They could be back home in Virginia, hoping that I rush back home to kill them, leaving Ava open in Oregon.

Dad could have people planted around the state, ready to attack at any moment.

Declan could be lying about not being at the airport with Ava. He could be there and waiting until they get on the plane to confront her.

Declan’s always loved playing mind games. He wants to keep me spiraling and wondering what’s going on.

Until I figure out what his plan is and where he is, Oregon isn’t safe.

Declan wants me to spend time looking over my shoulder. He knows that I’m not going to relax until I find him and make sure that he never hurts Ava.

His threats are more than enough to send my blood boiling.

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