Page 86 of Declan

“There’s been… a development,” I manage, trying to sound composed, though inside, my nerves are a storm about to erupt. I hand him my phone. He grabs it, and as he reads it, his face goes cold, like ice. His knuckles whiten as his grip tightens around the device. Then he lifts his eyes to mine, colder than I’ve ever seen.

“What is it?” Flynn asks. Declan hands him the phone silently. Flynn’s eyes flick across the screen, and he starts reading aloud, slowly, stopping deliberately before saying, “Good girl.”

Connor’s gaze shoots to me, then back to Declan. The room feels suffocating.

“You knew each other from school, right?” Flynn’s chair creaks as he swivels to face me.

I nod, every pair of eyes pinning me to the spot. Declan’s, though, are the worst—piercing right through me like daggers.

Straightening my spine, I tilt my chin up, refusing to let them see me squirm. Screw this. It was ages ago. We all have a past.

“We had a one-night stand after I started college,” I say, proud of myself for sounding calm even though I feel like I’m unravelling inside. “He was visiting some friends; there was a party… it happened. That’s all.” It’s not exactly what happened but I’m not about no poke the damn bear by telling what really happened.

“I thought you said you didn’t give him, or Nolan, the time of day,” Flynn says, brushing his fingers thoughtfully over his beard.

“I did. Because it was no one’s business what I did back then,” I snap, turning to face him fully, fire burning in my chest now. “And to be very clear, this was years before the Dark Wars. It meant nothing.”

Declan stands abruptly and turns to the window. His shoulders stiffen, his whole frame taut with tension. The vein in his neck throbs visibly, and his hand is still clenched around my phone like he might crush it any second.

Ding.

I want to see you, Viviana.

Declan glares at the phone in his hand, reading the message aloud through gritted teeth. “He wants to see you.” His voice is sharp, practically dripping venom.

I stare at his back, my resolve hardening. “Good. This is exactly what we wanted, right?” I say, keeping my tone steady and confident.

This is what we’ve been waiting for. I can’t keep feeding my father fake targets forever; the Callaghans will run out of options soon. No, this isn’t ideal, but if meeting with Alek gives Declan the chance to take him down, then I’m all for it.

“No.” Declan’s voice is low and dangerous, trembling with anger. His hand trembling as he turns to face me, his jaw set like stone. “There is no way you’re meeting Aleksandr Koslov.”

Our eyes lock, and an unspoken battle of wills ignites between us.

“She’s right, mate,” Flynn finally says, breaking the tension. Connor nods in agreement. “It’s been weeks without a single fucking tip about him. This is perfect.”

“The fuck it is,” Declan snaps, his voice rising. “Alek is all kinds of fucked up. I’m not using my wife as bait.”

Wife.

The way he says it this time—it’s not sarcastic or biting like before. This time, it feels real, like he means it. And just like that, it hits me again. I’m his wife.

“I’ll be safe, Declan—” I start, but he cuts me off before I can finish.

“Safe?” His voice is harsh, his hand slamming against the desk. “What if he knows you’ve been lying? Would Alek really risk crawling out of whatever fucking hole he’s hiding in just for you?”

Just for me?

The words sting sharper than I expect. Like I’m not good enough. The exact comment my sister had the day he chose me and that stirs something inside me, a sadness I can’t control.

Without another word, I turn on my heel and storm out of the office.

“Fuck,” I hear him curse behind me, his voice strained. “Wait, Vi. I didn’t mean it like that.” His footsteps close the distance between us quickly. Before I can take another step, his handgrabs my arm, spinning me around and pinning me firmly against the wall.

“I know every man lucky enough to know you would do anything for you,” he says, his voice low, raw. “I know because I would. I did.” His body presses against mine, his heat and strength grounding me even as my head spins. “I can’t lose you, Viviana. And if by some chance he knows—” His voice falters as he shakes his head, his breath hot against my cheek.

He leans closer, his eyes locking onto mine. They’re red, heavy with shadows. Elva’s name lingers in the silence between us without being spoken, a ghost haunting him still. He couldn’t protect her

back then. There’s no way he could’ve known, but the guilt hasn’t let him go—not in all these years.

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