Page 28 of Declan

Chapter 10

Declan

“We’ve got a big crowd coming tonight,” Hux says, leaning back in his chair at the head of the table, arms crossed casually over his chest.

“Always do when a fight pops up last minute,” Kaden replies with a cocky grin, tapping his knuckles on the wood grain of the table like he’s counting down to the chaos.

The room is buzzing with low chatter and anticipation, but I’m miles away from it all.

Lena walked out of my house, and I didn’t stop her.

Didn’t run after her. Didn’t say a damn word.

I couldn’t. Because if I had, I would’ve dragged her back inside, tossed her onto my bed, and done every filthy thing I’ve been fantasizing about.

So I let her go.

Now all I can do is sit here, pretending like my blood isn’t boiling from every possible thought of her. Who she’s with. Where she is. If she’s safe. If she’s thinking about me the way I’m thinking about her.

Hell, I haven’t heard a single thing being said at this table. I’ve been dodging Wesley’s eyes all night, afraid he’ll see the truth all over my face. He knows me too well. It won’t take much.

But all I can see is her. The way she looked in my bed, bare-legged in one of my shirts. Her body pressed against mine like it belonged there. Like it fit. Like she fit.

I can still feel her soft breath on my chest. Her fingers tracing lazy circles on my skin while I pretended not to be wrecked by every damn second.

My heart hasn’t calmed down since.

And the icing on the fucked-up cake? Twenty-five hundred in cash shoved into my sock drawer like I’m some damn charity case. I told her that money was hers. She never listens. It’s infuriating and it kills me to admit, but kind of hot.

“Declan? You with us?” Kaden’s voice cuts through the fog, dragging my attention back.

“Yeah,” I mutter, sitting up straighter.

Hux eyes me for a second before speaking again. “So, you wanna be the one to bring Jason into the ring or what?”

Now that gets my attention.

A slow, genuine smile tugs at my lips as I lean forward, my mood shifting instantly. “Fuck yes.”

Dragging Jason’s smug ass into that cage will be the highlight of my week. Hell, maybe even the month. A little taste of violence, of control, and I need that right now. I need something I can control.

“Great,” Hux says, pushing up from the table. “If there’s nothing else, let’s get ready for a fight.”

We all rise, chairs scraping against the concrete floor as we file out of the room. The sounds of Twisted Souls come alive beyond the office walls. The music pulsing, laughter rising, the unmistakable buzz of a crowd hungry for a good time.

“Hey,” Wesley says, falling into step beside me as we head down the back hallway toward the underground stairs. “What the fuck is going on with you?”

I glance at him, force a grin that feels stiff on my face. “Just didn’t sleep good last night.”

Not a lie. Just not the whole truth.

Wesley watches me for a beat, then claps a hand on my back. “I talked to Lena this morning. She’s good. I should’ve called you and let you know.”

I nod, trying not to show how much her name lights something wild and reckless inside me. “Good. Was I right?”

“Yep. Stayed with some guy,” he says, shaking his head. “She needs to stop that shit because it never ends well. We should both talk to her. Knock some sense into her before she really gets hurt.”

“Sure.” The word tastes bitter on my tongue.

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