Page 32 of Declan

“Viv, look at me.” I raise my hands slowly, holstering my gun, trying to show her I’m not a threat. Not to her. “Eyes on me, firecracker. Come on.”

Her gaze is frantic, darting between us. “I can’t do this, Declan,” she whispers, her voice cracking. “It’s too much.” Her eyes flick toward the two men near the stairs. Fuck. She’s going to make them shoot her.

“Am I that bad?” I take a careful step forward, my hands still raised. My heart’s racing, but I can’t let her see that.

She shakes her head, her finger twitching on the trigger. “Yes… I mean, no, but it will be bad Declan; it’s going to be so bad,” a manic laugh escapes her lips as her gun swings toward my men, Kian signalling them to stay still.

“Viv,” I swallow hard, dread curling in my gut. “Please don’t do this.”

She doesn’t let me finish. Her voice shatters like glass. “I’m tired.” Her hands shake violently now, the gun lowering slightly.A sob escapes her lips, and her finger twitches dangerously close to the trigger.

“I know you are, and it’s my fault.” Another step closer. I need to end this before she completely breaks.

“Yes, why did you have to choose me?” She spits, her voice venomous. “I don’t belong in this life.”

The fire I’ve seen in her eyes since the gathering is gone. In its place, only darkness. What the fuck happened? Is all of this because of what I said in the room over Elva?

“I was free! The only reason I went to that stupid gathering was to see one of my sisters,” she whispers, her gun still trembling between us. “And now I’m here, with you.”

I take a deep breath, my mind racing for a solution. She’s spiralling, and I can see the moment she decides she doesn’t care anymore. I whistle once, a signal. Connor moves fast, stepping forward and drawing her attention just for a second. That's all I need.

Kian fires a shot into the air, and Viviana spins toward him. I lunge, grabbing the gun from her hand and tackling her to the floor. Her body thrashes beneath me, the gun firing with a deafening crack, the bullet disappearing into the ceiling. I twist her wrist until the gun falls from her hand, clattering to the ground.

“Viv,” I whisper, her sobs shaking her body beneath me. Her chest heaves with every broken breath.

Kian grabs the gun, and the men rush in. Connor’s already barking orders, securing the area and making sure there are no more of Koslov’s men hiding in the shadows.

I pull Viviana up with me, but her legs give out. I scoop her into my arms, her face pressing against my chest. Her cries are muffled, but they cut deep, echoing in the cold night air.

“You’ll kill me, Declan,” she whispers, her words thick with tears.

Her words stop me cold. What the hell is she talking about?

Chapter 10

Viviana

Waking up, my forehead throbs with a sharp, relentless pain. Yesterday was chaotic. I had an escape plan ready, an emergency exit in case things went south. Carlos had given me a burner phone the day before the wedding, just in case. The scuba gear had been waiting by the lake since the day of the ceremony, stashed by one of the wedding staff he’d paid when no one was looking.

All I had to do was reach it. The moment I got to the lake, I texted Carlos, telling him to get me immediately. I didn’t give him the real reason I needed to escape. No one can know. If anyone discovers it, if Declan discovers it, I’m dead. Not just me but my entire family.

When the Koslov’s men arrived, I thought that was it. I didn’t have enough bullets to go head-to-head with them. But then Declan showed up.

He and his brothers saved me. I pointed a gun at him, provoked them, to forced them to end it right there. Maybe. I don’t even know what I was thinking. My mind was spinning. Too much was happening at once, but he stopped anyone from hurting me.

He was so angry when he stormed into that room. I thought he might actually kill me. He can’t let me escape; his reputation is on the line. One fiancée dead, and now a wife slipping through his fingers?

The Irish Consortium would never let him stay in power. But if people knew he killed me for defying him… that would raise his Devil score a few points.

I glance around. This isn’t my room. It’s larger, darker. The bed is draped in red silk sheets and black covers, soft and luxurious. A scent lingers in the air, woodsy and spicy. A man’s cologne, expensive and overpowering.

I get up and head to the bathroom. A large tub dominates one corner, and a massive walk-in shower takes up the other side.

The tiles are a sleek mix of grey, black, and gold. Black towels hang near the shower, and men’s products clutter the counter. After finishing up, I return to the bedroom, my stomach sinking as I notice the suits lining the walk-in closet.

Shit. This is Declan’s room.

I’m way too nosy to stop myself from digging through his closet. I move his suits around, all dark, mostly black, and white shirts. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Declan outside the mansion in anything other than a suit.

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