Page 50 of Exile and Embrace

“I don’t belong to you.” Venom is in my voice, though my hands are shaking.

This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.

Declan chuckles. “You should sound more excited to hear from me, pet. I told you when you left that I was going to track you down one day. You’ve had a few years of freedom, but did you really think it was going to last?”

“It’s over between us, and it’s been over.” I stand up and go to the security panel on the wall, making sure that all the doors and windows are still locked. “I’m going to block this number.”

“Block it all you want. I’ll call back from another one, pet. This little cat and mouse game has been exciting, but now who is going to protect you? Your daddy is dead.”

The security system chimes as the front lock beeps. Finn walks in, blood stains on the hem of his light gray shirt.

My eyes widen at the sight of more blood on him, but right now, Declan is the bigger problem.

“You’re going to leave me alone.” I’m proud when my voice doesn’t waver, even though I feel like I’m going to break down. “You’re not going to call this number again, and I’m certainly not yours.”

His chuckle makes my stomach turn. “You would think that, wouldn’t you, pet? It’s funny how easily you’ve forgotten the way we used to be together.”

Finn’s eyebrows shoot up his forehead.

I don’t know if he can hear his brother’s voice, but the look on his face is murderous.

“Is Finn there now?” Declan’s voice is a purr that promises pain.

It still has me shaking and wishing to be anywhere else.

“No.” I shake my head as Finn holds out his hand. “He’s not here.”

Finn tries to take the phone from me, but I spin out of his way.

Declan blows out a long exhale on the other end of the line. “How many times have I told you not to lie to me, Ava? Put my brother on the phone. Now.”

Finn loops one arm around my waist and pulls me to him, plucking the phone from my fingers before letting me go.

I wrap my arms around my torso, trying to hold myself together as Finn lifts the phone to his ear.

“Declan. Why the hell are you calling my fiancée?” Finn leans against the wall, crossing one leg over the other at the ankle.

Declan says something that makes Finn pull the phone away from his ear and take a deep breath.

I shift my weight from one side to the other, wanting to be done with this conversation as soon as possible.

Finn brings the phone back to his ear. “You are not going to call her again. If I find out that you did, you’re going to have me to answer to.”

His tone is dangerous.

A shiver crawls along my spine looking between Finn and the blood on his shirt.

If he is willing to speak to Declan like that, what did he say to the person he made bleed?

Finn ends the call and puts the phone on the console table. “I’m sorry that he was able to get in contact with you. I should have made sure that all his numbers were blocked when I gave you the new phone.”

“It’s not your fault. He would have just changed his number and tried again.”

This isn’t the first time that Declan has contacted me over the years, but I’ve never spoken to him that long before. Most times, I hear his voice and hang up. And today shouldn’t have been any different. I should have just hung up and blocked the number.

I rub my arms, trying to chase away the chill that’s running through my body. “I’m sorry that I’ve put you in a difficult position with your family.”

Finn lets out a short laugh and kicks off his boots. “I’ve never been in anything but a difficult position with them. You didn’t put me into anything.”

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