Page 107 of Declan

Declan walks toward Elva’s parents. The father starts to rise, but it’s the mother who stands first. Declan freezes, his eyes heavy with sorrow, but she gives him a gentle smile and takes his hand, whispering something to him. He kisses her cheek, and a tear slips down my face.

She approaches Alek, and Flynn yanks his head up by the hair, forcing him to his knees. Declan hands her a sleek black dagger, beautiful yet deadly. Tears streak her face as she grips it tightly.

“This is for my beautiful, amazing daughter,” she says, her voice trembling as she stabs him near the ribs. Alek lets out a groan.

I should look away, but I can’t. I’m frozen, my hand still clamped onto Connor’s. I notice him and Kian exchanging a glance. “I’m fine,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

Declan gently guides the woman back to her seat, offering the father the chance to take her place. The man shakes his head, pulling his wife into a tight embrace. “Thank you, Declan,” he says softly. Declan’s body tenses for just a moment before he regains his composed stance.

Next, Christian steps up. He wastes no time, plunging the dagger into Alek’s gut with brutal force. Blood pours out as Alek screams in agony, only to laugh through the pain.

“You can all go to hell,” he spits, his voice dark and taunting. “This war will never stop. The Koslovs will never stop.”

The crowd erupts, shouting for his death. Declan ignores him, stepping forward with a steely resolve. “For the good men we’ve all lost,” he says. Mike, the Callaghans’ head of security, takes the platform, smirking as he grabs the dagger. He leans down,whispering something into Alek’s ear before stabbing him on the other side of his ribs.

The room fills with Alek’s groans of pain. My breathing quickens, my stomach turning as the dizziness sets in.

“Breathe through your mouth, Viviana,” Kian murmurs, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back.

Declan steps forward again, standing tall and imposing. His presence dominates even from the back of the room.

“For the woman who made me want to be better,” he begins, his voice low and deliberate. “For the woman who melted my heart after it turned to stone, but also made me a more dangerous man.” His lips curl into a devilish smirk. “I never thought I could love again, Viviana. And Alek Koslov almost took that from me.”

He turns back to Alek, the dagger gleaming in his hand. With precision, Declan points the dagger to Alek’s stomach, but then he looks at me; his eyes are dark; he whispers something in his ear and plunges the knife right into his dick, twisting the blade until Alek can’t hold back his scream and he vomits. Blood pours out as Declan pulls the dagger free.

I clamp my hand over my mouth, fighting the urge to vomit. As well.

“Easy, Viviana. Breathe,” Kian whispers again.

I close my eyes, but the sounds around me are enough to make me question whether I should’ve come. A part of me needed this, to see him pay. But another part wonders if I’ll ever feel clean again.

“For the Irish Consortium,” Declan says, his voice booming. Flynn raises the dagger high, and everyone stands, echoing the phrase in unison. Flynn grabs Alek by the hair, exposing his neck, and slices through it in one swift motion.

Alek’s body crumples to the floor, blood pooling as his dying gargle fills the air. I can’t take it anymore. I bolt from theroom, rushing outside to lean against a tree. My stomach heaves violently, and I lose what little is left in me.

When it finally stops, I feel a hand on my back and another gathering my hair.

“I’ve got you, firecracker,” Declan’s soft voice cuts through the storm in my head.

“You’re too stubborn,” he whispers, his fingers gently stroking my hair. “I told you not to come.”

“Shush,” I say before another waterfall of food makes its way out of me.

“Did you just shush me again, firecracker?” His voice is amused, and I turn to stare at him.

“Fucking Irishman,” I say, shaking my head.

“At least we hold in our food,” he shakes his head, his voice full of judgment with amusement. He pulls me up. “This is too much. I warned you. Why did you come, Viviana?” His eyes are filled with concern.

“I needed closure, Declan, for everything he did,” I manage to say, straightening up. “I knew this was going to be bad, but I feel a sense of… justice.”

A kind of twisted justice, but Alek is a dangerous man; he deserved every stab, and Giovanni got clemency from Declan. Shooting him was the easy way out.

We arrive at the mansion, Kian and Connor heading straight to the main room, leaving me and Declan trailing behind.

“So, sister-in-law,” Connor begins, pouring whisky for everyone and handing me a glass. “Thinking of leaving us?” His tone is casual, but I can feel the tension shift. Declan clears his throat behind me, grabbing his drink as he steps closer.

“What do you mean?” I ask, confused, my gaze darting between the three of them.

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