Page 10 of Bound

“Yeah, shit like talking to the woman taking care of your kid. Andaboutyour kid,” I retort, trying to quell my anger over being so quickly dismissed. “I’m not letting this go, Dec.”

“Fine,” he huffs, sliding the glass across the island and pouring himself a new glass. “Hurry up and complain—so I can tell you no and get to the things Ineedto do.”

“Youneedto have this conversation,” I huff.

“Fine. Then have it.”

“Jesus,” I exclaim. “I needto know. Do you use up your daily allowance of niceness you are granted each day on Fiona? Or do you just enjoy being a boorish asshole to everyone else in your life?”

“You aren’t the first nanny that wants me to change the rules, Quinn. I’ve had this conversation more times than I can count, so just get it over with.”

My fingers dust around the rim of my glass as I try to maintain my nerve. “If everyone is saying the same thing to you, maybe you should listen.”

“She ismykid. I will raise her as I see fit,” he snarls.

“Then open your fucking eyes, Declan.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“You can’t keep her locked in this apartment. Holed up like a prisoner. Hiding the dozens of men you have watching her isn’t enough for her to grow up normally. She needs a life with pre-school, friends, the park…”—I throw my hands in the air—“For Christ’s sake, let the kid go outside to run and play.”

His eyes roam over me with a mix of anger and guilt. “You, more than anyone, know it’s not safe. I already can’t… I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to her.”

“Then use that big-ass terrace,” I demand. “Give her what she’s asking for.”

Declan’s gaze focuses on the terrace for a moment before turning back toward me and shaking his head.

“They’re the Bratva, Declan, not special forces or trained mercenaries. They aren’t putting fucking snipers across the way to take out your family.”

“Are you done?” he asks, clearly annoyed andnot interested in continuing this conversation.

“No.” I shake my head. Taking a large swig of the warm whiskey before me, I pause for a minute as the amber liquid heats my throat. “I might be your employee. I might need to follow your rules, no matter how much I think they’re actually hurting her instead of protecting her, but I will not ever be okay with you spying on me.”

I stand from my barstool and place the glass in the sink before heading down the hall toward my room, calling, “Now I’m done.”

CHAPTER NINE

DECLAN

“You’re so fucking infuriating,” I shout after her, annoyed with myself that I let her get under my skin.

“Maybe,” she quips without missing a step, “but you also know I’m right.”

That’s probably the part that angers me the most.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I scrunch my face in frustration and let out a deep sigh when Quinn, as she walks further down the hall, disappears into the darkness. Taking a sip from my glass, I mumble through the woodsy burn, “I’m fucking doing the best I can.”

Fiona…

Sarah…

Quinn…

I’m doing my best.

But my best is total shite.

I don’t know how to handle any of them correctly.Mo ghrá,Sarah. I just want to fulfill my promises to her. To honor her as per the vows I made when I became her husband. That’s always been the easy one—grieving her and staying true to her—but even that is becoming more of a challenge.

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