Page 234 of Inferno

He is my safety. He is my future. But I’d give it all up, this love, this fierce devotion, for one thing. My daughter.

He can be her protector now. He’s already proven himself worthy of that.

We walk to the doors in silence, the only sound our joined breaths. Declan cracks the door open, sunlight slashing across the dusty floor like a blade. He leads, positioning his body as a barrier between me and the world.

The distant echo of slow and deliberate claps pulls my heart into my throat.

My fate is already sealed. It was the second I left that compound five years ago.

Vlad always has something else up his sleeve. He always plays the long game.

Declan stops suddenly, his breath catching. I step beside him, heart thundering.

"Wasn’t that a bit of fun?" Vlad’s voice slithers into the air, thick with mockery.

A growl rips from Declan’s chest.

"Yes, very," Declan bites out. "Although I’m not sure why you’re so amused that your army is dropping like flies, Vlad."

Vlad shrugs, his smugness unshakable. "It’s easy to regrow an army, Mr. Quinn. The world is a lot bigger than that tiny island you crawled from."

He pushes off the black truck, like a villain in an old western. Declan lifts his gun in response, steady and cold.

"Doesn’t my wife look beautiful today?" Vlad coos, gesturing to me like I’m a prize at an auction.

Declan’s jaw ticks, the tendons twitching under the skin.

"Oh, come on, Declan. I can call you that, right? Since you and I are on such friendly terms now." Vlad smirks, teeth flashing like a wolf.

I shift closer to Declan, my voice low. "He’s up to something. Keep your cool."

"Declan is fine," he replies stiffly.

A sudden gust of cold wind lashes my face, sending goosebumps down my arms.

"Where is my daughter?" Declan demands, voice gravel.

"Patience," Vlad croons. "Pleasure first. Then business. Move over and let me see my pretty wife."

Vlad waves at Declan like he’s instructing a waiter, arrogant to his core. Declan doesn’t move.

"Do it," I whisper. "I think she’s in the van."

"Listen to the whore. She’s quite bright," Vlad mutters, tapping his temple like he’s making some grand gesture of admiration.

Declan steps slightly to the side, exposing me fully to Vlad’s gaze.

"That’s close enough, Vlad," Declan growls.

"Oh, look at you," Vlad sighs. "Fresh-faced and glowing. So happy. So in love." He wipes imaginary dirt off his pristine shirt. "I’m itching to get my hands on you, printessa."

A violent shiver crawls up my spine. Declan inches closer, sensing it.

"Fuck you. Give us our daughter, and I won’t shoot you," I snap at him, and he laughs.

"That wasn’t the deal," Vlad hits back, his jaw clenching.

"Give. Me. My. Wife. Back." He spits on the ground between us.

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