Page 93 of Saved By the Boss

She nods against me, though her entire body is trembling. I wish there was more I could do or say to make this okay, but all we can do is keep moving forward to get out of this hell hole while we still can.

The cold air hits us as we step outside, and I take a deep breath, the crispness of it grounding me. Jade shivers beside me, and I shrug off my coat, draping it over her shoulders. She looks up at me, her eyes soft and grateful, and for a moment, I forget about everything else.

“Let’s go home,” I say, my voice steady.

She nods, her hand slipping back into mine as we make our way to the truck.

29

Jade

When we get back to Declan’s house, I collapse into his arms, my body trembling as the adrenaline rush finally leaves me. The fear, the exhaustion, the relief all comes crashing down on me at once, and I can’t stop the sobs that wrack through me. His arms tighten around me, holding me like he’s afraid I’ll slip away if he lets go. His chest is solid and warm, and I press my face into it, letting his steady heartbeat calm the storm inside me.

“I was so scared,” I manage to choke out between sobs. My fingers clutch at his shirt, desperate for something solid, something real. “I thought we were going to die down there. And if Tawny had been killed, it would have been my fault.

He strokes my hair, his touch gentle, soothing. “I’ve got you,” he murmurs. “You’re safe now, Jade. I promise. No one’s ever going to hurt you again.”

I tilt my head back to look up at him, my vision blurry with tears, curiosity breaking through the relentless onslaught of fear.

“How did you find me?” I ask, my voice shaking. “How did you know where I was?”

He hesitates for a moment, his jaw tightening. “There’s a lot we need to talk about,” he says finally, his voice faltering just a bit. “A lot about my past.”

Before I can ask what he means, there’s a knock on the door. Declan gets up to answer it, though all I want to do is hide. I’ve had enough today, enough for a lifetime. Declan reappears with a familiar-looking man by his side, his presence commanding, even a little foreboding. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and sharply dressed, his dark suit immaculate. I suddenly realize that he was there in the basement with us and it takes everything in me not to hide. His eyes are sharp, calculating, and there’s a certain air about him that immediately sets my nerves on edge.

“Jade, this is my brother,” Declan says, his voice steady but cautious. “Patrick.”

The name hits me like a freight train, and for a moment, I just stare at the man in stunned silence. Patrick. Of course, Declan was meeting with his brother today. And here he is, in the flesh, his presence imposing in Declan’s living room.

Patrick McGregor.

The penny drops, and I suddenly realize I’ve heard that name before. He was the subject of a true crime podcast I listened to years ago, before I got wrapped up in my own podcast-worthy nightmare. He was, or is, one of the most feared criminals in all of Chicago, running the Irish Mafia there with an iron fist.

I knew a little about Declan’s past, of course, but it’s starting to unfold in front of my eyes like a bad movie, and I cower a little. It’s a lot to take in all at once.

My throat tightens as I take a step back, my eyes darting to Declan. “Your brother is Patrick McGregor,” I state the obvious, my voice barely above a whisper.

Declan’s expression softens, and he places a reassuring hand on my arm. “Yes,” he says quietly.

“And you’re the runaway brother who couldn’t hack it,” I go on, recalling the words of the podcaster, though after tonight I don’t believe that’s really the case.

“Something like that.” He smiles wryly. “But I need you to understand something, Jade. I left that life behind a long time ago. I have nothing to do with the business anymore. Patrick knows that and accepts it. Please believe that tonight was a one-time thing.”

Patrick nods, his expression unreadable. “He’s telling the truth,” he says, his voice smooth but firm. “Declan walked away years ago. He wanted nothing to do with it, and I respected that. The only thing that’s changed now is that he’s got family watching his back. Watching your back, too.”

I glance between the two of them, my mind racing. The weight of everything that’s happened presses down on me, and for a moment, I feel like I can’t breathe. But then Declan steps closer, his hands gently cupping my face, forcing me to focus on him.

“I promise you, Jade,” he says, his green eyes locking onto mine. “Whatever you’re feeling right now, whatever you’re thinking, none of it changes how I feel about you. If you want to walk away from this, from me, I’ll understand. But I swear, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. To keep you out of this life and to make sure that nothing like tonight ever happens to you ever again.”

I shake my head, tears streaming down my face. “It’s not that,” I whisper, my hand dropping to my abdomen as I suddenly think about the child growing inside of me and the life it’s being born into.

His brow furrows in confusion, but he remains gentle.

Then what is it?” he asks softly. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

I take a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. “There’s something I need to tell you, too,” I say, my voice trembling. “I’m in love with you, Declan. I know it’s crazy, and I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I love you. I don’t want to walk away from this.”

For a moment, he just stares at me, and I feel my heart drop. But then a slow, radiant smile spreads across his face, and he pulls me into his arms, holding me so tightly I can barely breathe.

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