Page 79 of Declan

One last deep breath.

Dial.

“Viviana.” His tone was cold and surprised, but I knew he’d answer. My father’s curiosity always gets the better of him.

“Father.” I keep my voice steady, the same tone I always use with him.

“Wasn’t expecting you to call,” he says after a pause. “I heard things took a turn with the Callaghans.”

Asshole. Did he heard? He caused it all! I grip the edge of the desk, forcing myself to stay calm.“Then you must know why I’m calling,” I say, my voice dropping slightly, trying to sound hurt.

In a way, I am—just not at the Callaghans.

“Why are you calling, Viviana?” he asks, his tone cautious.

“I didn’t do anything to the Callaghans. I’ve been on my best behaviour, and they still dragged me to that damn warehouse and interrogated me like I was some goddamn terrorist!” My voice cracks with anger and venom.

“I see,” he says flatly. He keeps his distance, always speaking as little as possible. But I know how to deal with him.

“As you know, I couldn’t care less about your power plays with Declan or who’s running the show. That’s your game. But one thing I can’t stand is someone fucking with my integrity—my life! Now, he needs to pay!” I raise my voice, letting the rage spill out. “I will fuck him, Dad.”

There’s a long silence on the other end.

“Hmm,” he finally says. Another pause. “And what about what I did? Doesn’t that affect you? The… Elva situation?” His voice is probing now, testing.

Situation? He means cold-blooded murder. I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stay composed.

“It’s none of my business,” I say tightly. “I am pissed; you shouldn’t have killed her. She was innocent in all this.” I pause, drawing a shaky breath to steady myself. “But she’s gone, and if I have to choose between getting my life back or staying with the Callaghans… you know what my choice will be.”

Another silence. Jesus fucking Christ.

“All right,” he finally says, his tone unreadable. “Wait for my call. Maybe we can finally be on the same page, and you’ll actually do something for your family. For once.”

He hangs up.

I exhale deeply, slumping against the desk as I let the tension drain out of me. My chest heaves, my pulse pounding in my ears. Slowly, I feel my heart start to steady—until I feel warm hands wrap around me, pulling me into an embrace.

“You are amazing,” Declan whispers into my ear, his voice low. “I know that was hard.”

I turn to face him, and his eyes lock onto mine. They’re filled with understanding… and a flicker of fear.

“Let’s hope he believes it,” I draw in a ragged breath.

Declan pulls me closer, and I inhale his cologne, a mix of smoke, whiskey, and something distinctly his. A strange feeling crashes into me, something I’ve never felt before. It tightens in my chest and spreads through me like fire. I tilt my head up to meet his gaze.

“Kiss me,” I whisper, almost pleading. I need him right now.

His lips crash into mine without hesitation, hungry and demanding. He pulls me flush against him; his strength is overwhelming and grounding all at once. The door slams shut behind us with a loud thud as he shoves it without looking.

His hands grip my hips, strong and possessive, lifting me effortlessly. I wrap my legs around his waist, feeling the heat of his body as his kiss deepens. His tongue claims my mouth, and I let him take whatever he wants.

In one sweeping motion, Declan clears his desk, papers and objects clattering to the floor in a chaotic symphony. I fumble with my jeans, desperate to get them off.

“Fuck,” he moans, his voice low and raw as his dark eyes devour me. “What the fuck have you done to me, Viviana?”

His words send a shiver through me, but before I can respond, he crashes into me again, his lips blazing a trail down my neck. His kisses are furious, hungry, and completely unrestrained.

My hands move to his belt. I unzip his jeans, and his hard cock almost jumps out of his boxer shorts. My body feels like a fire being ignited. I grab his shaft and stroke it; he groans into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

---